Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC)

Jade Celt

Greenstone (jade) is a common stone found in our river gravel bars or traded from the interior. Our ancient builders started making jade celts around 3,500 year ago. Celts were used as the blades for woodworking tools, from axes to chisels to adzes. Jade pieces were sawn from cobbles and ground into shape, making smooth, sharp working edges easily sharpened by grinding.