New Study Finds Maya Child Had Jade Tooth Inlays

Up to 50 percent of Maya adults sported gems in their teeth, but this is one of the first times dental inlays have been seen in children.

Archaeologists have long known that dental inlays were common among Maya adults, but now new evidence shows that children as young as seven years old also sported jade tooth gems.

An examination of three loose teeth with jade inlays revealed that each tooth came from a child between the ages of seven and 10. It’s still unknown how widespread this practice was among children, but researchers are hypothesizing that these gems were likely a rite of passage or a way to signify social maturity.

The Discovery Of Jade Inlays In Maya Children’s Teeth

A new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports analyzed three isolated teeth wit