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For ancient American peoples gold and jade were high status materials reserved for rulers, priests and other elites.

In addition to gold and jade, tropical feathers, obsidian, and copal, a tree resin used for incense, were also highly prized materials.

Among some cultures, gold was associated with the power and brilliance of the sun. Jade was associated with fertility and water.

Because bronze and iron tools were not known to ancient American peoples, jade, a very hard stone, had to be sculpted using stone tools.