Jade and other so-called greenstones were considered precious materials throughout much of the ancient American world. These jade pendants come from what is now Costa Rica. Elite individuals likely wore these works to beautify themselves and mark their social status. Each artist carved their stone without the aid of iron or metal tools. They would begin by slicing a large block of stone into manageable pieces using saws made from plant fibers and carve details using rocks and stone tools. The final step involved polishing the fully sculpted artwork beeswax, plant fibers, or a piece of sandstone. Group label for: 1984.438, 1960.30.52, 1984.441, 1984.439, 1960.30.55, 1984.437, 1999.599