The History of Jewelry | Origins of Jewellery Design
Jewelry From The Dawn of Man
The word Jewelry is derived from the Latin word jocale, meaning "plaything," and the word jewel, which was anglicised in the 13th century from the Old French word jouel. The word "jewelry" (spelled Jewellery in European English) is used to describe any piece of precious material (gemstones, noble metals, etc.) used to adorn one's self.
Jewelry in its most basic form has been used since the dawn of of man's use of tools and clothing. Until recently, researchers had believed that the ability to use symbolism did not develop until humans had migrated to Europe 35,000 to 40,000 years ago. Recently discovered mollusk or nassarius kraussianus shells that had been perforated to be made into beads are now thought to be some of the oldest known man-made Jewelry. This mollusk jewelry was discovered in a cave in Blombos, South Africa, and dates back to the Middle Stone Age 100,000 years ago. Other readily available natural materials used to make the first jewelry include animal teeth, bone, various types of shells, carved stone and wood. Most likely, jewelry started out as a functional item used to pin articles of clothing together and was later adapted to a purely aesthetic adornment.
Used as a symbol of wealth and/or status as well as to protect against harm, ward of evil, and heal ailments, jewelry was used to adorn nearly every part of the body and has been made out of almost every material known to mankind.
Prolific jewelry making began with the ancestors of Homo Sapiens, the Cro-Magnons over 40,000 years ago when they began to migrate from the Middle East to Europe. Cro-Magnons eventually replaced the Neanderthals as the dominant species. Jewelry from that period includes crudely fashioned necklaces and bracelets made of bone, teeth, mother-of-pearl, shells and stone strung together with a piece of twine or animal sinew. The earliest signs of metallurgy, using copper to make jewelry, was seen around 7,000 years ago.
Back To: Jewelry Home Page
Bibliography & Suggestions for Further Study on Ancient Jewelry
1. Ian Shaw, Illustrated History of Ancient Egypt  . Oxford University Press
2. John Baines, Atlas of Ancient Egypt. Facts On File Press
3. Christina El Mahdy, Mummies, Myth and Magic. Thames and Hudson
4. Carol Andrews, Ancient Egyptian Jewelry. Harry N. Abrams Press
5. Joan Aruz, Art of the First Cities . Metropolitan Museum of Art
6. Virginia Schomp, Ancient Mesopotamia: The Sumerians, Babylonians, And Assyrians . Franklin Watts
7. Caroline Perry, Jewelry Inspired by Ancient Cultures . Running Press
8. Vivienne Becker, Art Nouveau Jewelry . Thames & Hudson;
9. Andrew Oliver, Patricia Davinson, Ancient Greek & Roman Jewelry . Brooklyn Museum
10. Elena Neva, Types and Forms of Ancient Jewelry from Central Asia . www.transoxiana.org
11. Christie Romero - Center for Jewelry Studies, Antique, Period, & Vintage Jewelry
12. Untracht, Oppi., Traditional Jewellery of India. New York: Abrams
13. Nassau, K., Gems made by man. Gemological Inst of America
15. Pliny., Natural History XXXVI.
16. Neich, R., Pereira, Pacific Jewellery and Adornment.
17. Tyler Adam, Mesopotamian Jewelry . www.tyler-adam.com
17. Lillian Helstad, Sacrifices in the Sumerian Culture sjsu.edu
18. Crystal Links, Ancient Greek Culture . www.crystalinks.com
19. Getty Museum, Hellenistic Period . www.getty.edu
20. Lisbet Thoresen, Gem Archaeology . ancient-gems.lthoresen.com
| 
