| Archeologists
believe the necklace was born during the stone age about 40,000
years before than previously believed. April 2004, scientists
were excavating a cave in South Africa discovered forty-one
mollusks that may have been strung as neck jewelry about 75,000
years ago.
Before this discovery the oldest known necklace
to have been found about 30,000 B.C. They are made mostly
of shells, bones, stones, animal teeth or claws, strung on
a thread. Basically the same concept is used today though
there are some variations
In 2500 B.C. gold was starting to be used in neck jewelry.
Gold neck adornments and chokers have been discovered at the
Royal Grave of Ur. They are in what is now known as Iraq.
2000 B.C. was when Sumerian bead neck jewelry started to use
alternating patterns of colored stones and gemstones and metals
such as copper or silver.
Ancient Egyptian neck jewelry evolved from
simple stringed beads to complicated patterns and include
the ‘broad collar’ and pectoral type. They were
worn by both sexes, mostly royals and wealthy citizens. They
were often buried with their dead owners.
During the Classical Greek period from about 480 to 300 B.C.
most necklaces were three dimensional pendants. They were
mostly in the form of heads, seeds, or acorns. They were suspended
from a row of flat elements usually some type of rosettes.
Alexander the Great in 356 - 323 B.C. conquered the Orient.
Gold was plentiful throughout the Greek Empire. It was often
used on making in necklaces and other types of jewelry for
several centuries.
In Ancient Rome the wearing of jewelry was
frowned upon. Laws regulated how much gold could be worn by
women or buried along with the dead. From about the first
century on, Roman Jewelry began to distinguish itself. Gemstones
came into use and were usually cut in circles or rectangular
shapes.
|
|
In the end of the second century gold piercing techniques
were invented. It produced a lace like quality in gold neck
jewelry. The favored style of the time was a chain of differently
colored gemstones connected by gold links.
In the second and third century it became popular to wear
multiple necklaces all at the same time. The types
of neck jewelry sometimes indicated the level of wealth or
class of the wearer. Necklaces were very popular in whatever
form could be made. Over the next few centuries the popularity
of wearing of necklaces waned significantly. In the late 14th
century necklaces started to regain their popularity due to
fashions décolletage.
Since then however, necklaces are very popular among all the
classes. A favorite gift of children to their mothers is the
famed or infamous macaroni necklace. What mother doesn’t
love such a gift from the heart? They are precious not in
gemstones or gold but in sentiment and heart value.
Necklaces are worn now for a variety of reasons
not the least of which personal adornment. Many people wear
medals that are religiously significant such as those with
images of the Saints or Jesus Christ.
Many wear a plain cross while still others will wear a Crucifix
which is a cross on which the image of the body of Christ
is fastened. It stands to reason that it can be said that
necklaces have been and will remain a piece of jewelry that
is completely versatile in its design and the intent of the
wearer.
|
