Ancient Jewelry
As humans settled along the banks of rivers and discovered agriculture and animal husbandry, they also found new sources of materials for jewelry, such as gold, silver, copper, bronze, and gemstones2. These metals and stones allowed for more complex and diverse forms of jewelry, such as rings, earrings, brooches, tiaras, and crowns. Jewelry also became a sign of wealth, power, and prestige, as well as a medium of exchange and a form of artistic expression. Some of the most ancient and influential civilizations that developed sophisticated jewelry traditions include Sumer, Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, Greece, Rome, and Persia.