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