Greenstones and the World of the Dead: New Insights into the Amazonian Muiraquitãs

Navarro, Alexandre Guida

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17642327.

Vol. 56 (2025), pp. 173–178 •

1.20 MB

RESEARCH NOTE

Greenstones and the World of the Dead: New Insights into the Amazonian Muiraquitãs

Alexandre Guida Navarro

Archaeology Laboratory, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), Brazil

(altardesacrificios@yahoo.com.br)

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Abstract

Greenstone artifacts, or muiraquitãs, were objects of luxury and prestige appreciated by Amerindians throughout all pre-Columbian America. Generally these artifacts are shaped like a toad or frog. This paper presents a new discussion over these greenstones associated with the world of the dead in Amazon and Mesoamerica, highlighting spheres of interaction between both cultural areas.

Keywords

Muiraquitã, greenstones, stilt villages, Amazon, Mesoamerica, chacmool.

Resumen

Los artefactos de piedra verde o muiraquitãs fueron objetos de lujo y prestigio apreciados por los pueblos amerindios en toda la América precolombina. Generalmente, estos artefactos tienen forma de sapo o rana. Este estudio presenta una nueva discusión sobre estas piedras verdes asociadas con el mundo de los muertos en la Amazonia y Mesoamérica, evidenciando esferas de interacción entre ambas áreas culturales.

Palabras clave

Muiraquitã, piedras verdes, palafitos, Amazonia, Mesoamerica, chacmol.

Cite as

Navarro, A.G. 2025.
Greenstones and the World of the Dead: New Insights into the Amazonian Muiraquitãs. Arqueología Iberoamericana 56: 173–178.

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Other Persistent Identifiers

PURL: purl.org/aia/5619. ARK: ark:49934/396, ark:49934/396.

Received: October 15, 2025. Modified: November 9, 2025.
Accepted: November 13, 2025. Published: November 20, 2025.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Anna C. Roosevelt and CNPq for the grant (Process 302990/2024-0, FAPEMA UNIVERSAL-06209/22, and CAPES Financial Code 001).

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