Celtiform Pendants From Pre-Columbian Costa Rica: Production, Distribution, And Experimental Replication (International)

This volumeelucidates the lapidary technologies and social organisation of pre-ColumbianCosta Rica (500 BCE - 900 CE) by analysing the manufacturing and social role oflapidary ornaments, known as celtiform pendants. These pendants arecharacterised by skilfully decorated carvings on celtiform semiprecious rocksand minerals, such as jadeite. A human or animal face is carved on the poll ofthe axe, and these sophisticated images require large amounts of time and effortto create, hence they are interpreted as status symbols and prestigiousobjects. They represent a thousand years of tradition of the manufacture ofhigh-status ornaments and were used by elite members of Indigenous Costa Ricansocieties. Although ancient Costa Rican society was formed by differentsocial-cultural groups, to some extent societal integration was achieved by awidely shared material culture: celtiform pendants. In addition tostylistic evaluations of these objects in specific sites and features, the textexamines their manufacture via experimental archaeology and traceology.

• | Author: Waka Kuboyama-Haraikawa
• | Publisher: British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd
• | Publication Date: Aug 23, 2023
• | Number of Pages: 168 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1407314963
• | ISBN-13: 9781407314969