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Olmec Jade Celts

Type Object Region Mesoamerica Time c. -1200–-400

Olmec jade celts are ceremonial axe-shaped objects ground from jade or nephrite in Mesoamerica's Olmec culture, current from about 1200 to 400 BCE.

Timeline

  1. c. -1200–-900San Lorenzo · VeracruzOlmec elites used ground jade celts as symbols of power and religion; the form retained the axe-blade outline but usually lacked practical cutting function, reflecting a trend toward ritualization.
  2. c. -900–-400La Venta · TabascoJade celts were finely carved with supernatural-feline and serpent motifs, and were often buried as offerings in ritual caches or elite tombs, asserting the ruler's connection to supernatural powers.

Sources