A Costa Rican Jadeite Hybrid Pendant Amulet, Late Formative to Early Classic period ca. 300 - 500 CE Byzantine with scattered small areas of

with scattered small areas of cosmetic restoration

It is held within an ancient high-karat gold bezel

and remarkable survival underscore the symbolic power these works held for the communities that commissioned and revered them

it seems probable that they were used in daily life for large horses

Condition: The seal is intact and in excellent condition

A Costa Rican Jadeite Hybrid Pendant Amulet, Late Formative to Early Classic period ca. 300 - 500 CE Byzantine with scattered small areas ofThis finely carved pendant depicts a composite zoomorphic figure, merging characteristics of an armadillo and a bird, rendered in the abstract, angular style of Greater Nicoya jade artistry. The compact, armored body, rounded snout, and upright posture evoke the nine banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), a nocturnal burrowing animal common in Central America. In contrast, the prominent tail, raised crest, and flared rear elements resemble avian