![scrapbook page with pictures of jade beads, pendants, a necklace, ear spools, sculptures and a Kunz Axe](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_jatw_mesoamerica/4214879-7-eng-US/ii_jatw_mesoamerica_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_jatw_mesoamerica/4214879-7-eng-US/ii_jatw_mesoamerica_full_990.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_jatw_mesoamerica/4214879-7-eng-US/ii_jatw_mesoamerica_full_1468.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_jatw_mesoamerica/4214879-7-eng-US/ii_jatw_mesoamerica_full_1980.jpg 926w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/ii_jatw_mesoamerica/4214879-7-eng-US/ii_jatw_mesoamerica_full_2475.jpg 926w)
![jade necklace of round beads and dangling pendants](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_necklace/4200728-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_necklace_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_necklace/4200728-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_necklace_full_990.jpg 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_necklace/4200728-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_necklace_full_1468.jpg 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_necklace/4200728-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_necklace_full_1980.jpg 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_necklace/4200728-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_necklace_full_2475.jpg 960w)
necklace
Look at this magnificent necklace full of jade beads and pendants. It belonged to the ancient Olmec people who lived in Mesoamerica. It was a region made up of Central and Southern Mexico and parts of Central America.
![strings of apple-green jade beads](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_beads/4200732-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_beads_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_beads/4200732-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_beads_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_beads/4200732-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_beads_full_1468.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_beads/4200732-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_beads_full_1980.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_beads/4200732-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_beads_full_2475.jpg 1000w)
beads
These beautiful beads were carved by the Maya, a civilization that rose after the Olmec. They also adored jade and used different colors of jade. The finest objects were carved from apple green and emerald green jade.
![bright green carved Mayan ear spools](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_earspools/4200744-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_earspools_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_earspools/4200744-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_earspools_full_990.jpg 800w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_earspools/4200744-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_earspools_full_1468.jpg 800w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_earspools/4200744-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_earspools_full_1980.jpg 800w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_earspools/4200744-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_earspools_full_2475.jpg 800w)
ear spools
These are ear spools worn by the Maya. They symbolized power and importance. Could you imagine wearing them?
![carved Kunz axe with mouth in the shape of a jaguar](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_kunzaxe/4200748-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_kunzaxe_full_495.jpg 445w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_kunzaxe/4200748-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_kunzaxe_full_990.jpg 891w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_kunzaxe/4200748-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_kunzaxe_full_1468.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_kunzaxe/4200748-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_kunzaxe_full_1980.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_kunzaxe/4200748-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_kunzaxe_full_2475.jpg 1000w)
Kunz Axe
The Kunz axe is part human and part beast. Look closely at its face. Its mouth is in the shape of a jaguar!
![jade carved bead](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_bead/4215848-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_bead_full_495.jpg 487w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_bead/4215848-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_bead_full_990.jpg 974w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_bead/4215848-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_bead_full_1468.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_bead/4215848-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_bead_full_1980.jpg 1100w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_bead/4215848-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_bead_full_2475.jpg 1100w)
bead
The Olmec treasured jade as the most precious stone on Earth. Their favorite jade was translucent blue-green, like this bead.
![carved jade pendants with faces](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_pendants/4200740-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_pendants_full_495.jpg 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_pendants/4200740-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_pendants_full_990.jpg 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_pendants/4200740-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_pendants_full_1468.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_pendants/4200740-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_pendants_full_1980.jpg 1000w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_pendants/4200740-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_pendants_full_2475.jpg 1000w)
pendants
Look at these intricate jade pendants. Do you see the carved faces and bodies?
![Olmec sculpture](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_sculpture/4200736-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_sculpture_full_495.jpg 454w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_sculpture/4200736-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_sculpture_full_990.jpg 908w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_sculpture/4200736-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_sculpture_full_1468.jpg 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_sculpture/4200736-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_sculpture_full_1980.jpg 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/earth/jade/jatw-jade-around-the-world/mesoamerica_sculpture/4200736-1-eng-US/mesoamerica_sculpture_full_2475.jpg 960w)
sculpture
The Olmec became master jade carvers and created beautiful sculptures. We think that the Olmec were the first civilization in Mesoamerica to use jade at around 2000 B.C.
Image Credits:
All photos: courtesy of AMNH, Denis Finnin