Final answer:
The historical value of the jade pendant is significant as it provides insights into ancient practices and possesses cultural importance and the potential for mystical associations, which would be compromised if discovered by looters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the jade pendant not having been discovered by the looter is multifaceted, encompassing aspects of historical value, protection from illegal trade, and preservation of cultural heritage. When artifacts such as the jade pendant are unearthed by archaeologists rather than looters, they can be studied in context, which provides invaluable information about the object's original use, cultural significance, and the civilization it came from. Indeed, the historical value of such objects is immense, as they offer insights into ancient practices, social structures, and beliefs. The jade pendant, much like the Narmer Palette or the gold mask of Tutankhamun, is a treasure of the civilization that crafted it, revealing the complexity of its imagery and its use in rituals or religious contexts. Non-commercial cultures like early ones in East Asia regarded such objects as indicators of power and status, often related to their mystical powers or association with the divine. Thus, the integrity and location of the discovery of the jade pendant are crucial for historical and cultural preservation, as opposed to the potential loss of knowledge when such items are looted and sold clandestinely.