The Frog-shaped jade ornament was unearthed in the archaeological site at Yenliao, Hualien, Taiwan in 1994.[1] It can be dated back to 2,800 to 2,300 years ago (B.P.; or 851-351 BC).[2] It is one of the most significant jade ornaments of the Huakangshan Culture during the Neolithic period. It is thought to have been used as a pendant.[3]
| Frog-shaped jade ornament | |
|---|---|
 Frog-shaped jade ornament (National Treasure) collected in National Museum of Prehistory. | |
| Material | Nephrite |
| Size | length: 3.64 cm width: 2.7 cm |
| Created | c. 600 BC |
| Discovered | 1994 Hualien, Taiwan |
| Present location | Taitung City, Taitung, Taiwan |
This ornament, made of nephrite (Taiwanese jade) is 36.4 millimetres (1.43 in) in length and 27 millimetres (1.1 in) in width. The shape is reminiscent of a frog, with a pair of big, round eyes, as well as forking limbs. There is a notch on the head,[4] possibly to allow the ornament to be worn on a string. The ornament is unique and rare for being a complete animal-shaped jade ornament dating from prehistoric Taiwan. It demonstrates the jade production techniques of prehistoric Taiwan, and was therefore designated as a national treasure in 2014.[5] It is now held in the National Museum of Prehistory collections.
References
edit- ^ 葉美珍 (Yeh Mei-Chen) (2004-02-01). "花岡山文化─臺灣東海岸另一個史前玉器文化". 發現史前館電子報 (28). 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (National Museum of Prehistory).
- ^ "花岡山文化蛙形玉飾". 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (in Chinese). 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "花岡山文化蛙形玉飾". 國家文化資產網. 文化部文化資產局.
- ^ 江美英 ( Chiang Mei-Yin). "台灣出土玉器的技與藝—兼談古物分級" (PDF). 美學與視覺藝術學刊 (7): 77–94.
- ^ 夏麗芳 (Hsia Li-Fang) (2015-08-01). "臺灣史前文化郵票的發行". 發現史前館電子報 (304). 國立臺灣史前文化博物館 (National Museum of Prehistory).
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