The commercialization of jewelry probably began when man first formed societies and some type of barter system. This article does not deal with the facts of the actual concept of the sale of or the commodity of jewelry but an abstract view of how jewelry may have come to be in prehistoric times.
Imagine how ancient man lived, constantly sturggling to survive the elements as well as staving off beasts and opposing tribes. Caves provided shelter; rocks became tools, eventually leading to weapons. Man soon learned that certain rocks could produce metal, which would later be forged into better tools and weapons. It is this time period I believe early man began to appreciate how certain rocks appealed to him as adornment, or to protect him from the unknown, or as a spiritual connection with game he may have killed, in a specific area abundant with a certain rock.
Since clothing was of the simplest form, I doubt early man filled their pockets with smooth shiny stones, so the method evolved to bind the item to clubs or clothing. The first jewelry may have been a simple rock bound with a piece of rawhide or leather and tied to the wrist or the garment. Another member of the clan may have liked what they saw and wanted one for themselves. Since I don’t know how communication was at the time, let us interpret the conversation as modern language, I believe it would go something like this:
- Caveman 1: Hey man watcha got their?
- Caveman 2: A rock.
- Caveman 1: where’d ya get it?
- Caveman 2: Over in the valley. I was huntin for birds and I was crawlin through the grass, I saw many birds and I picked up this cool lookin rock and killed one. It’s my lucky rock!
- Caveman 1: Wow, I got to get one!
- Caveman 2: Well I’m goin back tomarrow you can come with me and see for yourself maybe you can find one.
So off they went the next day they found many birds and more of the fanciful rocks. They both made many kills and thus was born the idea that certain rocks were magical. They fashioned leather and sinew, binding their prized rock and wore it proudly for all to see.
Granted this is an over simplization of what may have happened, but could very well have been the scenario leading up to the adornment of smi-precious rocks. Certainly this yarn could very well lead to the presenting of gifts to females or even as tokens to certain leaders within the tribe. Whatever role was developed, it has evolved into a multi-million dollar commodity worldwide; and man still equates many rocks with magical properties. The question begs to be asked, How far have we really developed from our ancient cousins? And Where’d ya get that rock?
