‘Olmec Blue’ and Formative jade sources: new discoveries in Guatemala

Abstract

as a Maya jade source. While abundant and accessible, what is produced today for the tourist trade, mainly between Estancia de La Virgen and Teculután (Harlow, 1994), is mostly opaque and dull-colored. It scarcely resembles the translucent and colorful "Olmec " bluegreen jade found in Formative horizons in Mexico. This qualitative disparity has led to a search for Olmec jade sources elsewhere in Mesoamerica. The Sierra de las Minas and the highlands south of the Motagua River have recently yielded some remarkablytranslucent, fine-grained jadeitites that closely resemble those worked in Formative times. Geological reconnaissance has expanded the known jade-bearing area at least six-fold. The first deposits examined are at an elevation of

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