Featured image: Examples of dental inlays found in the teeth of ancient Maya individuals. These are not the teeth examined in the new study. (CC0)

7-Year-Old Maya Child Wore Jade “Tooth Gem” in Ancient Ritual Practice

Maya children as young as seven years old received elaborate jade dental inlays centuries ago, marking what researchers believe was a significant social milestone or coming-of-age ceremony. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about when these ornamental dental modifications began in Maya society. Archaeologists have long documented tooth inlays among adult Maya populations, but new research