The Meaning of Jewelry...

What does jewelry mean? We look at magazine spreads of celebrities wear glamorous specimens rich with gold and gemstones, the diamond rings given for betrothal and yarn friendship bracelets tied sweetly onto wrists and there is jewelry’s meaning covers a vast spectrum.

Is it because metals and gemstones were born in the earth and we feel a connection? There is so much folklore regarding gemstones and their mystical powers, it can’t be said for certain what if any is true.

A fact that provokes thought is that humans have been making jewelry for roughly 100,000 – 135,000 years, that is approximately 70,000 years prior to the earliest cave drawings. A collection of 41 shell beads, found in the Skhul cave in Israel between 1931-1932 is a fascinating discovery. Scientists recognize these as beads because they are all of equal proportions and the drilled hole of each was of equal proportions. Another factor of these being intention was that this location was situated at least a days walk from the ocean at that time, this collection was purposeful and definitely the beginnings of Jewelry.

Pictured here the first (Paleolithic) beads; dirt from the sediment was chemically tested against the bones found alongside, between 100,000 – 135,000 years old.

Realizing that jewelry, adornment, was a thought toearly humans previous to written language is awe-ing. It denotes evidence of a possible spiritual life, vanity, and love. Jewelry being first is also evidence of our ancestor’s high creative ability and their predilection to symbolic thought.

Jewelry became more intricate throughout the Neolithic period, beginning 8000/7000 BC. The beads became regular and made from material such as stone, clay, bone, and shell even metal. Very rare find but there were even dangling gold earrings of cut leaves. The Minoan goldsmiths began filigree and granulated jewelry of naturalistic representations of insects, animals and birds.

Late Minoan Bee Pendant, Gold.

As a side note on the role of jewelry in mans history and development is dentistry. The tools and metals of jewelry fabrication lent the way to dentistry. Research suggests that in 3000 BC the Egyptians used gold wire to bind replacement teeth together. Files and picks used for carving wax molds for jewelry began to be used to clean teeth, wax molds themselves to make replacement teeth.

Pictured here, the earliest dental bridges with gold wire. Gold wire was used for it's antibacterial quality as of today still.

As religions began to form important sociological bonds, jewelry became important to conform and strengthen beliefs. Gold and jewels were used as gifts for the maintenance of worship, decorating temples and churches throughout the world.

Breast ornaments worn about the neck by ribbon chain, were thought of as portable shrines for gods in most cultures throughout Egypt, Greece, Europe and the middle east.

The importance of jewelry has been prevalent in since the beginnings of human culture. It is easy to shirk the value when the intention seems only to assert wealth and status, but that has simply been a side effect of the impact.

Closing off this article with images of Jewelry that is not well known, historical and breathtaking.

Mucha Jewels, Art Nevaou. Known as “The Spanish Inquisition Necklace”

Italian Carvel Pendant, Museum de Heritage

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