Beaded Necklace with Bar Pendant Possibly 300 - 700

This beaded necklace with a bar pendant was created by the Nicoya people. As you consider this piece, think about adornment, identity, and cultural expression. Necklaces like this were not merely decorative. They were potent symbols of status and identity within the Nicoyan society. The blue-green beads could have been crafted from jade or similar stones, highly valued materials associated with power, fertility, and spiritual well-being. The bar pendant at the center could have signified something specific to the wearer – perhaps their lineage, social role, or personal beliefs. Such an artifact deepens our understanding of how gender, class, and spiritual identity were communicated and understood in this pre-Columbian culture. The necklace connects us to the personal and communal histories of the Nicoya people, reflecting both individual stories and shared cultural values.