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What was gold used for in ancient times?
Gold was generally used for a couple thousand years solely to create things such as jewelry and idols for worship. This was until around 1500 BC when the ancient empire of Egypt, which benefited greatly from its gold-bearing region, Nubia, made gold the first official medium of exchange for international trade.
How was jewelry made in ancient Egypt?
Everyone wore jewellery in ancient Egypt, from poor farmers to wealthy royals. For the wealthy, pieces were made from semi-precious stones, precious metals and glass beads. The poor substituted these with painted clay, stones, shells, animal teeth and bones.
Why is gold so attractive to humans?
Gold doesn’t corrode, providing a sustainable store of value, and humans are physically and emotionally drawn to it. Societies and economies have placed value on gold, thus perpetuating its worth.
How much gold has been mined since the beginning of time?
The best estimates currently available suggest that around 197,576 tonnes of gold has been mined throughout history, of which around two-thirds has been mined since 1950.
What evidence is there that gold was used in the past?
Most archaeological evidence shows that humans who came into contact with gold were impressed by the metal. Since gold is found all over the world, it has been mentioned numerous times throughout ancient historical texts.
Where did ancient civilizations get gold from?
Another source known to the ancient cultures was in the region of Midia, below the Gulf of ‘Aquaba. From Macedonia, gold came from the mines on the flanks of Mount Bermius. Another city-state was Alaca-Huyuk in central Turkey that supported a culture which buried gold with its kings.
What kind of jewelry did ancient people wear?
The ancient people wore jewelry made of feathers, bones, shells, and colored pebbles. These colored pebbles were gems and gems have been admired for their beauty and durability and made into adornments. Diamonds were not popular until people learned how to cut them to show their brilliance,…
What is the history of gemstones and jewelry?
Gemstones and jewelry have been a part of mankind since before history was written. It began when time began and man first walked on Earth. Of course, the jewelry they wore in the old days was not made like we make it today.