| Since man (and woman) first walked the Earth, | | | | In ancient Mesopotamia (approximately 4,000 |
| humankind has been fascinated by the shiny | | | | years ago) jewelry making had taken over as a |
| gems, rocks, and precious metals that make up | | | | predominant role in the cities of Sumer and |
| the jewelry we all know of today. In many | | | | Akkad. The Royal Cemetery of Ur serves as the |
| ancient cultures, wearing jewelry largely | | | | most significant archaeological evidence to |
| correlated with religious and spiritual | | | | date. Home to hundreds of burials dating |
| symbolism; whereas today jewelry wearing is | | | | 2900-2300 BC, the cemetery contained a |
| more tied with self-expression, fashion, and | | | | massive amount of artifacts in gold, silver, |
| self-decoration. However, the desire to adorn | | | | and semi-precious stones. |
| oneself and express status through jewelry is | | | | |
| one trend that has continued throughout the | | | | Greek and Roman jewelry dates back to beads |
| ages, transcending both time and cultures. | | | | that were shaped into shells and animals. In |
| | | | later years, around 1400 BC, both |
| Body adornment with jewelry dates back | | | | civilizations started using gold and gems in |
| 100,000 years to the old Nassarius shells | | | | their jewelry. The main purpose of jewelry to |
| that were made into beads. These shells are | | | | the Greeks and Romans was to ward off evil |
| thought to be the oldest known jewelry in | | | | spirits and the ?evil eye,? given by other |
| existence. In addition to shells, the first | | | | people. While Greek men and women rarely wore |
| pieces of jewelry were made from natural | | | | jewelry (it was mostly worn for public |
| materials, such as bones, animal teeth, wood, | | | | appearances or on special occasions), Roman |
| and carved stone. | | | | men and women dressed themselves in a |
| | | | considerable amount of jewelry. Both Roman |
| In addition to satisfying the human need for | | | | men and women wore rings with a carved stone |
| body ornamentation, throughout history | | | | on it, used with wax to seal documents. This |
| jewelry has also been used for a variety of | | | | act would carry well into medieval times when |
| other reasons including currency, symbolism, | | | | kings and noblemen used the same technique. |
| protection, artistic displays, displays of | | | | |
| romantic affection, and simple functional | | | | The history of jewelry carries on throughout |
| uses (think pins, clasps, buckles). Made out | | | | several civilizations post the fall of the |
| of nearly every material known on the planet, | | | | Roman Empire. Unique jewelry designs and uses |
| the varieties of jewelry around the world are | | | | paved its way throughout the Middle Ages, and |
| virtually endless. | | | | the eras of the Renaissance, Romanticism, Art |
| | | | Nouveau, and Art Deco. Jewelry also played a |
| Early History of Jewelry | | | | major role in American history, with the |
| | | | Native Americans, the Spanish discovery of |
| Over 40,000 years ago, the Cro-Magnons | | | | gold, the modern jewelry movement, and more. |
| (ancestors of Homo sapiens) showed the first | | | | |
| signs of jewelry with pieces such as crude | | | | Jewelry Today |
| necklaces and bracelets made of bone, teeth, | | | | |
| and stone hung on pieces of string or bone. | | | | Within the past thirty years, Western |
| Jewelry from this time period was also found | | | | civilization has experienced major |
| to have been crafted using shell or | | | | technological advances and social changes. |
| mother-of-pearl pieces. | | | | Jewelers of today have reflected these |
| | | | changes by using their originality and |
| In Southern Russia, bracelets that were | | | | expertise within their designs for modern day |
| carved using mammoth tusks have been found. | | | | wearers and collectors. Today?s jewelry |
| Many pieces of ancient jewelry were commonly | | | | designs embody both past and present |
| found as grave-goods, which are items that | | | | cultures, with famous jewelers such as |
| were buried or preserved along with the | | | | Cartier, Asprey, and Tiffany continuing to |
| deceased, often serving as offerings to the | | | | produce time-honored designs using precious |
| gods. | | | | metals and gemstones. In addition, new ideas |
| | | | and designs are surfacing among the less |
| Around 3,000 to 5,000 years ago, the first | | | | pronounced but equally talented |
| signs of jewelry making were prevalent in | | | | artist-jewelers throughout the world. |
| Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians most commonly | | | | |
| worked with gold, for its luxury, rarity and | | | | While the jewelry of today serves mostly |
| workability. Wealthy Egyptians adorned gold | | | | aesthetic purposes, it continues to serve |
| jewelry in their life and death, as jewelry | | | | other purposes as well. Like so many past |
| was often placed among grave goods. | | | | cultures, jewelry is still representative of |
| | | | one?s social status or official ranking. It |
| In addition to gold and silver, and in place | | | | continues to serve as an emblem of religious, |
| of precious gems, the Egyptians also used | | | | social, and political affiliation, as well as |
| colored glass to design jewelry. | | | | a symbol of love and commitment in several |
| | | | cultures. |
| Jewelry making was also prevalent through | | | | |
| Asia, starting in China over 5,000 years ago. | | | | The history of jewelry is quite extensive, |
| Asian jewelry was decorative, | | | | with several different uses among an array of |
| religion-oriented, and used mainly in | | | | cultures. Jewelry has endured for thousands |
| ceremonies. Also in Asia, India has the | | | | and thousands of years, providing unique |
| longest continuous heritage of jewelry making | | | | insights into all sorts of cultures. It will |
| in the entire world. | | | | continue to remain an important part of |
| | | | society and culture as the years go on. |