The history of the jewelry is that of a facet of the art and science, through which it can be dated back to times as early as 3500 BC. Experts point to a Neolithic Egyptian bracelet, featuring an engraved onyx gem in its center as being one such ancient artifact.
Jewelry has been present since the dawn of man—found in varying shapes and sizes around the world. These objects have served a valuable purpose by not only adorning their owners, but also by serving practical functions that have long been essential to humankind's survival throughout history. Consumption of precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum has made jewelry one worth owning for millennia.
Jewelry can be made from a variety of materials. For example, early in the 15th century, Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus wrote about natives on Haiti who decorated themselves with gold to show their rank. Indigenous people, like native North Americans, wore beads made from animal bones as jewelry. Shells were also common materials for making jewelry in ancient times and have been recovered by archaeologists from virtually every ancient site around the world where significant trading took place. Many ancient cultures attached spiritual significance to particular gems and would use them as amulets or talismans.
It is believed that the first gemstones were formed by natural processes, such as volcanic eruption. These stones were often pieces of lava or obsidian found on the ground. However some early humans were able to fashion precious jewels from these stones and this was no doubt a result of their knowledge, skill and practicality. (Bracelet made from Obsidian which is made from lava)
A Neolithic Egyptian bracelet featuring an engraved onyx gem in its center as being one such ancient artifact.
Jewelry has come a long way since then. In fact, it has come to be seen as an integral part of human culture; a symbol of individuality and style, and personal wealth. Jewelry has evolved from its humble beginnings into a sophisticated art form, able to carry messages of love, hope, and beauty. In fact, for many cultures around the world jewelry is a form of personal expression that is used to express personality and to communicate important messages through the wearing of certain ornaments.
Jewelry plays a very unique role as it can be worn both individually, as well as on the part that can be linked together with other pieces of jewelry to create one piece that will last for generations. In this case, we can therefore see how jewelry is not only an object of decoration but also a precious family heirloom.
