All his fingers were bleeding from the cuts he received
His brown body bent over the jade head he was creating
The priceless cold stone became alive 'neath his touch
He paused once to spit out the tobacco he was chewing
This work was a special order from the Mighty Chief
Who's life ebbed faster than the sun sinks in the west
The head was to be placed in his tomb at his death
With forty relics the head would certainly be the best
Each day brought many folks who passed and gathered
The young carver was not too bothered by the chatter
The devoted man worked for months to complete the job
Sometimes his fingers were sore which did not matter
Thus the exquisite jade head was found in the tomb
Where eyes have not seen it since first it was placed
The head hides a silent secret within its green stone
Belize holds it forever in her embrace
copyrightŠIrene2012
Note:
The jade head was discovered in the Belize District's Maya site
of Altun Ha in 1968 by Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada.
The head, along with forty other objects, had been placed within a large tomb that
was located below the stair block on the Temple of the Masonry Altars (Structure B4).
At the center of the tomb were the remains of an elderly adult male. This elite person
was likely an important ruler of the site during his lifetime and may have commissioned
an artist to produce the large carved object. We do not know the exact date that the head
was carved, but analysis of cultural remains within the tomb suggests that the burial,
and accompanying grave goods, were deposited in the structure sometime between
600 and 650 A.D.
Weighing 9.75 pounds and standing almost 6 inches high, the jade head remains the single
largest carved jade object yet discovered in the Maya area. Its crossed eyes, fang-like
elements on either side of the mouth, and the ahau glyph on the forehead all identify the
head as a representation of the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau. Along with Chac (rain god) and
Yum Kax (corn god), Kinich Ahau was among the most important deities in the Maya pantheon.
The Altun Ha jade head is truly a remarkable object and exquisite work of art. It is the
only one of its kind in all of Mesoamerica. Because it was carved with nothing more than
stone tools, we know that it may have taken many months, if not years, to produce.
It was also carved from one large solid piece of jade that was imported from the
Motagua River Valley region of Guatemala. Jade was also the most precious of stones
to the Maya. Beside its exotic origins, its green colour reflected that of water
and the corn plant, the two most precious, life sustaining substances to the ancient
Maya of northern Belize.
As it undoubtedly was to the prehistoric inhabitants of Altun Ha, the jade head continues
to be a most important icon to the people of Belize today. It is prominently displayed on
all Belize currency and has become an important symbol of our young nation. It is truly a
remarkable work of art and everyone should make every effort to view it whenever it goes
on display. - Dr. Jaime Awe.