Maya Jade Mask

Timeline

1. 600–700Maya lowlands · Maya lowlandsJade objects, including necklaces, ear ornaments, deity figurines, and facial masks, were commonly buried in Classic-period Maya elite tombs; jade was regarded as a sacred substance for reaching the underworld and communicating with deities.
2. 701–800Royal tombs at Tikal and Palenque · MexicoMaya jade masks excavated from the 8th century are renowned for fine openwork, inlay, and polishing techniques; eye sockets were often inlaid with shell or obsidian, and some works depict divine features rather than realistic human faces, reflecting religious symbolism.
3. 734Tomb chamber of Tikal Temple I · Petén DepartmentA jade-inlaid mask and numerous other jade grave goods were found in the tomb of Jasaw Chan K'awiil I inside Tikal Temple I, one of the most representative archaeological discoveries of 8th-century Maya royal burials.