Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
Did you know the mineral Jadeite can make you immortal? From shark toothed artifacts to other mysterious discoveries made of jade.
5. Lord Pakal’s Funeral Mask
During the excavations of the crypt at Palenque in 1952, archeologists unearthed a mosaic jade mask of Pakal the Great. It is dated to be around 1500 years old and composed out of different elements besides jade, including quartz, albite, and obsidian. The mask consists of 300 mosaic tiles and was attached to the deceased king's face. The discovery of Lord Pakal’s mask gained worldwide attention and grabbed the interests of many people around the globe.
The mystery around this mask is so mesmerizing that it had its share of controversies as well. On Christmas Eve 1984, it was stolen from the National Museum in Mexico, by thieves who entered the building through air ducts. Since the mask is so famous and recognizable, the thieves weren't able to sell it and were caught five years later.
Historias believe that the mask depicts Lord Pakal’s likeness very accurately, as it closely matches other paintings and carved images representing him. Some legends even believe Pakal to be a giant, or an otherworldly creature, that had an elongated skull and six fingers on each hand. With that being said, there are still too many uncertainties, and who knows what secrets Lord Paksl’s funeral mask still holds.
4. Heirloom Seal Of The Realm
The Heirloom Seal Of The Realm was carved from a single piece of jade and has a touching and heartbreaking story attached to it. According to the legend, it was found before 283 BC by Bian He. Using the great jade seal the emperor Qin Shi Huang united several fighting neighboring states into a dynasty what we today know as Qing. The seal was so powerful that mere possession of it was enough for a regime to be considered legitimate.
The seal was passed on from one generation to another until it completely disappeared around 900 AD. It's unclear why this symbol of power disappeared, though theories say that later emperors were obsessed with hoarding seals in an effort to reduce the importance of the Heirloom seal. To this day, it remains as one of the most amazing ancient Chinese artifacts with a powerful story mixing truth and legend.
3. Liangzhu’s Mysterious Cong
A cong is a mysterious enigmatic form of Chinese artifact whose earliest discoveries go back to the Neolithic Liangzhu culture dating back to 3400BC. In fact, the cong was so important in Chinese culture that other Chinese civilizations continued to make it for thousands of years after the first cong was found. Why the Liangzhu people created the jade cong is unknown still.
Unfortunately, the Chinese people didn’t have a developed system of writing. This means that there are no written documents to record their culture, history, or religious beliefs. All that we know is that the jade cong is done with such precision and care, that it must have been of great importance to the ancient Chinese Civilisation. Without written records, we can only speculate about the meaning and significance of the mysterious jade cong, as well as their purpose and use in ancient Chinese culture.
2. Deadly Jade Axes
First found in Scotland, the jade axes have been located all over Europe. Archeologists have discovered quarries in the mountains of Northern Italy that date back to 5,200 BC. All of these axes were made near high mountains, and the people who made the axes found in Northern Italy climbed to heights over 2000 meters (6500 ft) in the Alps, to dig up the material. Today, there are over 1600 jade axes known to be in existence all over Europe.
Since the axes are so meticulously crafted and polished to near perfection, historians think that they were used in ancient ceremonies and were more of a status symbol and a luxurious confirmation of the prestige and wealth of the owner. Researchers believed that ancient people associated the jade pieces with the gods, and believed that the axes had powers which will protect and heal them.
1.The Jade Mask Offering
It's no secret that ancient cultures used to bury their dead alongside rich offerings. One of the most interesting and amazing jade artifacts ever discovered was the Jade Mask at Teotihuacan. Found alongside a seashell, this small mask is thought to be a portrait. It was found at the 85th meter of the tunnel, inside a constructive wall filling. Upon finding the mask, archeologists decided to expand the exploration site and probe further. Soon after, they found a rich deposit south of the mask locations, with several levels of objects. the many different objects that used elaborate materials and techniques. Researchers said that this setup looked like an offering to the Pyramid of the Moon, though the incredible site still remains shrouded in mystery.
Did you know the mineral Jadeite can make you immortal? From shark toothed artifacts to other mysterious discoveries made of jade.
5. Lord Pakal’s Funeral Mask
During the excavations of the crypt at Palenque in 1952, archeologists unearthed a mosaic jade mask of Pakal the Great. It is dated to be around 1500 years old and composed out of different elements besides jade, including quartz, albite, and obsidian. The mask consists of 300 mosaic tiles and was attached to the deceased king's face. The discovery of Lord Pakal’s mask gained worldwide attention and grabbed the interests of many people around the globe.
The mystery around this mask is so mesmerizing that it had its share of controversies as well. On Christmas Eve 1984, it was stolen from the National Museum in Mexico, by thieves who entered the building through air ducts. Since the mask is so famous and recognizable, the thieves weren't able to sell it and were caught five years later.
Historias believe that the mask depicts Lord Pakal’s likeness very accurately, as it closely matches other paintings and carved images representing him. Some legends even believe Pakal to be a giant, or an otherworldly creature, that had an elongated skull and six fingers on each hand. With that being said, there are still too many uncertainties, and who knows what secrets Lord Paksl’s funeral mask still holds.
4. Heirloom Seal Of The Realm
The Heirloom Seal Of The Realm was carved from a single piece of jade and has a touching and heartbreaking story attached to it. According to the legend, it was found before 283 BC by Bian He. Using the great jade seal the emperor Qin Shi Huang united several fighting neighboring states into a dynasty what we today know as Qing. The seal was so powerful that mere possession of it was enough for a regime to be considered legitimate.
The seal was passed on from one generation to another until it completely disappeared around 900 AD. It's unclear why this symbol of power disappeared, though theories say that later emperors were obsessed with hoarding seals in an effort to reduce the importance of the Heirloom seal. To this day, it remains as one of the most amazing ancient Chinese artifacts with a powerful story mixing truth and legend.
3. Liangzhu’s Mysterious Cong
A cong is a mysterious enigmatic form of Chinese artifact whose earliest discoveries go back to the Neolithic Liangzhu culture dating back to 3400BC. In fact, the cong was so important in Chinese culture that other Chinese civilizations continued to make it for thousands of years after the first cong was found. Why the Liangzhu people created the jade cong is unknown still.
Unfortunately, the Chinese people didn’t have a developed system of writing. This means that there are no written documents to record their culture, history, or religious beliefs. All that we know is that the jade cong is done with such precision and care, that it must have been of great importance to the ancient Chinese Civilisation. Without written records, we can only speculate about the meaning and significance of the mysterious jade cong, as well as their purpose and use in ancient Chinese culture.
2. Deadly Jade Axes
First found in Scotland, the jade axes have been located all over Europe. Archeologists have discovered quarries in the mountains of Northern Italy that date back to 5,200 BC. All of these axes were made near high mountains, and the people who made the axes found in Northern Italy climbed to heights over 2000 meters (6500 ft) in the Alps, to dig up the material. Today, there are over 1600 jade axes known to be in existence all over Europe.
Since the axes are so meticulously crafted and polished to near perfection, historians think that they were used in ancient ceremonies and were more of a status symbol and a luxurious confirmation of the prestige and wealth of the owner. Researchers believed that ancient people associated the jade pieces with the gods, and believed that the axes had powers which will protect and heal them.
1.The Jade Mask Offering
It's no secret that ancient cultures used to bury their dead alongside rich offerings. One of the most interesting and amazing jade artifacts ever discovered was the Jade Mask at Teotihuacan. Found alongside a seashell, this small mask is thought to be a portrait. It was found at the 85th meter of the tunnel, inside a constructive wall filling. Upon finding the mask, archeologists decided to expand the exploration site and probe further. Soon after, they found a rich deposit south of the mask locations, with several levels of objects. the many different objects that used elaborate materials and techniques. Researchers said that this setup looked like an offering to the Pyramid of the Moon, though the incredible site still remains shrouded in mystery.
