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

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.