jade

jade [Ma].
A hard semi-precious stone that comes in a range of colours from reddish brown through greens to white. Outcrops in East Asia were used from Neolithic times onwards for the manufacture of ornamental and ritual objects. Sources in the Alps of southern Europe were also exploited from early times, and objects such as axes, pendants, and bracelets were traded over vast distances. A JADEITE AXE deposited in about 3807 BC beside the Sweet Track in Somerset, England, was more than 1200km from it source.