In the days before European domination, Costa Rica was inhabited by some indigenous communities considered part of the pre-Columbian culture. Like other nearby indigenous communities, they learned of the existence of jade and it amazing connection with the afterlife, besides its many other attributes. Like other nearby indigenous communities, they learned of the existence of jade and amazing connection with the beyond, besides its many other attributes. The extraction of this stone was made in specific parts of the region. The jade found in Costa Rican soil was oval shape. Aboriginal located in this space, despite been influenced by the Olmec culture had an incomparable artisan creativity.
The pre-Columbian culture of Costa Rica was governed by a social pattern considered as a Chiefdom ; the figure of Usékar made in jade, was rated as the highest political and spiritual authority; here derives the significance of this stone for people from these areas; this carved jades were used only by the leaders, noting its control and power.
The Usékar was so sacred, out of respect, many of the people showed their love and commitment by not look at him directly into the face. These villagers believed that jade had a connection with the supernatural, which allowed him to communicate with the dead. In the rituals where these acts were experienced, the holder of the tUsékar title made use of hallucinogens, while others performed dances and sacred songs.
This type of hypnosis was known as the “magic flight” in which the main character transcended the limits of the earth, with the help of the assistant animal. Those who get to experience this journey into the unknown, after a long learning process, are called “shamans”. Birds are the animals that are most related, because birds have the ability to move in two media, air and land.
One of the places of Costa Rica with higher extraction of jade is located in the peninsula of Santa Elena, belonging to the province of Guanacaste, to the northeastern region of the country, between the Gulf of Papagayo and Junquillal Bay on the Pacific Ocean.
Some of these gems, at the time of collection, were oval; this was a result of water operated wear down. These stones were decorated using abrasion, which consists of wear down a hard surface with a harder body. The sgraffito technique was also applied to the jade decoration; it involves making drawings on a shank surface so that the drawing made remain the same color as the stone. This was an exclusive art of the prehistoric inhabitants. In the jade platelets performed a vertical cut, right in the middle; these pieces were known as “inheritance” because one half was delivered to some deceased, while the other was passed from generation to generation of their relatives. This type of carving is only observed in the soils of this country.
Costa Rican pre-Columbian inhabitants left large beliefs and stories, jade was also an important piece for this culture, so, today is still remembered and known by those who now inhabit the same land were our roots where born.
ALFA