Figure-celt Pendant

Para español, véase más abajo.

Greenstone pendants were manufactured from a variety of raw materials in the Central and the Greater Nicoya regions of Costa Rica starting as early as 500 BCE, until around 800 CE. Although some of those materials were locally available, the nearest known source specifically of jadeite is in the region of the Motagua River in Guatemala. Therefore, the use of jadeite in ancient Costa Rica reveals long-distance connections across Central America. The appearance of this distinctive style of pendant, made from imported materials, during a period of incipient social inequalities, suggests that they were a sign of prestige and differentiation.

This axe-shaped pendant is exceptionally thin and flat. Human features are represented with incised geometric lines starting with the hands in the middle section of the axe, then the neck, mouth, and nose. A high level of detail was employed in the depiction of a woven headband, as well as the hairstyle which resembles portrayals of braided hair in stone sculptures from the area. The face is completed with two partial perforations for the eyes. A hole across the neck, visible only from the side view, is where a thread would be inserted in order to use this as a pendant.

Amanda Suárez Calderón, 2025

Further Reading

Hoopes, John. “Magical Substances in the Land between the Seas.” In Golden Kingdoms. Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas, edited by Joanne Pillsbury, Timothy Potts, and Kim N. Richter. Los Angeles: The J. Paul Getty Museum and The Getty Research Institute, 2017.

Kuboyama-Haraikawa, Waka. Celtiform Pendants from Pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2023.

McEwan, Colin, and John Hoopes, eds. Pre-Columbian Art from Central America and Colombia at Dumbarton Oaks. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2021.

Los artesanos de las regiones Central y Gran Nicoya de Costa Rica fabricaron pendientes de una variedad de piedras verdes, llamadas genéricamente jade, aproximadamente desde el 500 AEC hasta el 800 EC. Aunque hay fuentes locales de algunas de estas piedras, la fuente más cercana conocida hasta ahora específicamente de jadeíta se encuentra en la región del Río Motagua en Guatemala. Por lo tanto, el uso de esta piedra en la antigua Costa Rica demuestra la existencia de conexiones a larga distancia a través de Centro América. La aparición de estos pendientes con su estilo distintivo durante un periodo de surgimiento de desigualdades sociales sugiere que eran símbolos de prestigio y diferenciación.

Este pendiente en forma de hacha es excepcionalmente delgado y plano. Varios rasgos humanos están representados con líneas geométricas incisas, empezando con las manos en la sección media del hacha, y continuando con el cuello, la boca y la nariz. La representación de una banda tejida en la cabeza muestra un alto nivel de detalle, así como el peinado trenzado que se asemeja al de otras esculturas en piedra del área. La cara la completan dos pequeñas perforaciones parciales a modo de ojos. Un orificio a través del cuello permitiría pasar un hilo o cuerda para utilizar esta pieza como colgante.

Amanda Suárez Calderón, 2025

Lecturas adicionales

Hoopes, John. “Magical Substances in the Land between the Seas.” In Golden Kingdoms. Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas, edited by Joanne Pillsbury, Timothy Potts, and Kim N. Richter. Los Angeles: The J. Paul Getty Museum and The Getty Research Institute, 2017.

Kuboyama-Haraikawa, Waka. Celtiform Pendants from Pre-Columbian Costa Rica. Oxford, UK: BAR Publishing, 2023.

McEwan, Colin, and John Hoopes, eds. Pre-Columbian Art from Central America and Colombia at Dumbarton Oaks. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2021.