Frog-shaped jade ornament

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.
MaterialNephrite
Sizelength: 3.64 cm
width: 2.7 cm
Createdc. 600 BC
Discovered1994
Hualien, Taiwan
Present locationTaitung 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

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  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "花岡山文化蛙形玉飾". 國家文化資產網. 文化部文化資產局.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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).