Jadeite axeheads considered 'pieces of places' imbued with sacred mountain power. Petrika's team used their knowledge from Papua New Guinea about beliefs concerning rocks taken from mountains Alison Sheridan cited Richard Bradley's phrase that these were 'pieces of places' If mountains were believed sacred and imbued with power of gods and ancestors, anything taken from them would also be imbued with that power
Alison Sheridan cited Richard Bradley's phrase that these jadeite objects were 'pieces of places'—if mountains were sacred and imbued with divine power, anything taken from them carried that power too. From 4,600 BC, the finest luminous green jadeite from the Ouanchingo Valley was targeted, ground thinly to glow around edges in sunlight. That glassy polish? Scholars describe it as 'the original solar power.'
Key Facts
- Petrika's team used their knowledge from Papua New Guinea about beliefs concerning rocks taken from mountains
- Alison Sheridan cited Richard Bradley's phrase that these were 'pieces of places'
- If mountains were believed sacred and imbued with power of gods and ancestors, anything taken from them would also be imbued with that power
- From 4,600 BC, the finest luminous green jadeite from the Ouanchingo Valley below Monte Viso was targeted
- This jadeite could be ground thinly and when held to sunlight, produced a glow around its edges
- The polishing to a glassy finish was meant to reflect sunlight, described as 'the original solar power'
Source: THE MAGICAL ALPINE AXEHEADS of Neolithic Europe | Interview with Dr. Alison Sheridan by The Prehistory Guys