| Archeologists believe the necklace was born | | | | could be worn by women or buried along with |
| during the stone age about 40,000 years | | | | the dead. From about the first century on, |
| before than previously believed. April 2004, | | | | Roman Jewelry began to distinguish itself. |
| scientists were excavating a cave in South | | | | Gemstones came into use and were usually cut |
| Africa discovered forty-one mollusks that may | | | | in circles or rectangular shapes. |
| have been strung as neck jewelry about 75,000 | | | | |
| years ago. | | | | In the end of the second century gold |
| | | | piercing techniques were invented. It |
| Before this discovery the oldest known | | | | produced a lace like quality in gold neck |
| necklace to have been found about 30,000 B.C. | | | | jewelry. The favored style of the time was a |
| They are made mostly of shells, bones, | | | | chain of differently colored gemstones |
| stones, animal teeth or claws, strung on a | | | | connected by gold links. |
| thread. Basically the same concept is used | | | | |
| today though there are some variations | | | | In the second and third century it became |
| | | | popular to wear multiple necklaces all at the |
| In 2500 B.C. gold was starting to be used in | | | | same time. The types of neck jewelry |
| neck jewelry. Gold neck adornments and | | | | sometimes indicated the level of wealth or |
| chokers have been discovered at the Royal | | | | class of the wearer. Necklaces were very |
| Grave of Ur. They are in what is now known as | | | | popular in whatever form could be made. Over |
| Iraq. 2000 B.C. was when Sumerian bead neck | | | | the next few centuries the popularity of |
| jewelry started to use alternating patterns | | | | wearing of necklaces waned significantly. In |
| of colored stones and gemstones and metals | | | | the late 14th century necklaces started to |
| such as copper or silver. | | | | regain their popularity due to fashions |
| | | | décolletage. |
| Ancient Egyptian neck jewelry evolved from | | | | |
| simple stringed beads to complicated patterns | | | | Since then however, necklaces are very |
| and include the 'broad collar' and pectoral | | | | popular among all the classes. A favorite |
| type. They were worn by both sexes, mostly | | | | gift of children to their mothers is the |
| royals and wealthy citizens. They were often | | | | famed or infamous macaroni necklace. What |
| buried with their dead owners. | | | | mother doesn't love such a gift from the |
| | | | heart? They are precious not in gemstones or |
| During the Classical Greek period from about | | | | gold but in sentiment and heart value. |
| 480 to 300 B.C. most necklaces were three | | | | |
| dimensional pendants. They were mostly in the | | | | Necklaces are worn now for a variety of |
| form of heads, seeds, or acorns. They were | | | | reasons not the least of which personal |
| suspended from a row of flat elements usually | | | | adornment. Many people wear medals that are |
| some type of rosettes. | | | | religiously significant such as those with |
| | | | images of the Saints or Jesus Christ. Many |
| Alexander the Great in 356 - 323 B.C. | | | | wear a plain cross while still others will |
| conquered the Orient. Gold was plentiful | | | | wear a Crucifix which is a cross on which the |
| throughout the Greek Empire. It was often | | | | image of the body of Christ is fastened. It |
| used on making in necklaces and other types | | | | stands to reason that it can be said that |
| of jewelry for several centuries. | | | | necklaces have been and will remain a piece |
| | | | of jewelry that is completely versatile in |
| In Ancient Rome the wearing of jewelry was | | | | its design and the intent of the wearer. |
| frowned upon. Laws regulated how much gold | | | | |