Patterns of Maya Jade Disposal at Blue Creek, Belize

Jade was the most valued material in the Classic Maya world. Large numbers of jade artifacts have been recovered from diverse contexts from the Maya site of Blue Creek, Belize. This database allows for analysis of the distribution and disposal of jade artifacts. Further, jade’s role in Classic Maya political economies is unclear, with views alternating between jade having functioned as a currency and jade having been controlled by royal elites. The Blue Creek database is used to test the implications of both models.