Jade Head

See our informative profile sheet on Altun Ha, where the Jade Head was found, here: https://www.academia.edu/34208357/Maya_Sites_-_Altun_Ha

The Jade Head, the largest jade Maya artifact ever found, was found at Altun Ha in 1968 by Dr. David Pendergast, while he was excavating for the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. The Jade Head was found in a large tomb under a staircase, inside of Structure B4, the Temple of the Masonry Altars. The older male buried there was about 5-1/2 feet (1.7 meters) tall and was placed in the temple between 600-650 AD. He was buried with many objects, including other pieces of jade, shells, and stones. Researchers believe he must have been a priest or king to have had such a fine burial.

A recreation of where the Jade Head was found was built by the Museum of Belize

The green stone weighs 9.75 pounds (4.5 kg) and is about 6 inches (15 cm) tall. It is finely carved from a single stone brought in from the Montagua River Valley in Guatemala, one of the main sources of jade in the ancient Maya world. Jade was prized by the ancient Maya the way gold is prized today. Its green color resembled both life giving water and the maize (corn) plant, which Maya religion says the gods used to fashion people.

Archaeologists believe the image to be Kinich Ahau, the sun god. It features crossed eyes (considered a desirable trait by the ancient Maya), fangs, and the "ahau" glyph on the forehead.

The Jade Head, called the "Crown Jewel of Belize"

However, there are other possibilities for who is portrayed on the Jade Head. There are also resemblances to Tlaloc, the rain god of Teotihuacan, a city closely associated with Altun Ha. There is also a resemblance between the Jade Head and the large carved masks at the base of Structure B4. The masks may represent the "Jester God," associated with royalty in the eastern part of the Maya World. The Jade Head was found in such good condition - highly polished and with little wear - that archaeologists believe it was for ceremonial use only and perhaps was made specifically for this burial.

One of the carved masks at the base of Structure B4, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, which bears some resemblance to the Jade Head

The Jade Head, often called the "Crown Jewel of Belize," is a featured design element on all Belizean paper money and is stored securely at the Central Bank of Belize when it is not on display in museums.

See a short video showing the Jade Head while it was on display at the Museum of Belize here: