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Elizabeth Stillwaggon
ANT102
Richard Robbins
Problem 1 Essay
TOPIC: JEWELRY
In todays society, it is extremely normal to pass down a certain road and see several strip malls or shopping centers. It is expected in America, in fact. This generation is filled with consumers and shopaholics. People today are materialistic and money hungry. Jewelry is a huge source of these greedy feelings people hold. Why do we have these tendencies to want luxurious items that in some cases we know we cannot afford? How did jewelry come about? How is it made? How does it affect us?
For starters, the word “jewelry” is derived from the Latin word jocale, meaning “plaything,” and the word jewel, which was anglicized during the 13th century from the Old French word “jouel.” The word “jewelry” (spelled jewellery in European English) is used to describe any piece of precious material (such as gemstones, noble metals, etc.) used to adorn ones self (“The History of”). Before written language, or the spoken word, there was jewelry. In the late 1800s, British archaeologist Archibald Campbell Carlyle said of primitive man “The first spiritual want of a barbarous man is decoration”. More than just a trinket from the past, jewelry, like art, is a window into the soul of humanity, and a strong reminder of that which separates humankind from the animal kingdom — a desire to capture the essence of beauty, to possess its secrets, and to unlock its mysteries (“The History of..”). After primitive man, it is believed that the Egyptians were the first to take up the art of jewelry-making. Egyptians crafted jewelry from gold, silver, gemstones and colored glass. Gold was their preferred metal. They also preferred glass instead of gemstones because of the variety of colors they could create. Ancient Egyptians wore jewelry as a symbol of status, but also for protection from evil. Each piece held religious significance. Next, there was the Ancient Mesopotamian Jewelry. After that, the Ancient Chinese produced jewelry, and after them, it was the Greeks, and the Romans. Then, there was the jewelry of medieval times. Then, there was the ancient Georgian and Victorian jewelry, followed by the jewelry of the Romantic era, it goes on until now! Jewelry has been around for a very long time, and it has only gotten more luxurious over the years. But how did these different cultures make these intricate pieces of jewelry?
For the many different types of jewelry that exist in this world, there are many processes involved in the creation of these pieces of jewelry. The earliest signs of metal refining occurred over 10,000 years ago, when humans first began using native copper, meteoric iron, silver and tin to create tools and possibly even jewelry ornamentation. Copper spikes that date back to around 7,000 BC have been found on the Anatolia plateau of eastern Turkey. These first crude attempts at metalworking appeared to be less than successful, as the original copper was not hardened using the process of cold-hammering, but was instead hammered using pyrotechnology, or the controlled use of fire. The first alloying of metal to make bronze was not developed until around 3,500 BC, ushering in the “Bronze Age.” (“The History of…”). The process of jewelry-making has change dramatically over the years. Today, gold jewelry is derived from the mining of gold, which is not a very safe process. That being true, there are many different types of jewelry. There is gold jewelry, silver jewelry, pearls, costume jewelry, and many more. Within that, there are earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, along with a large list of body jewelry. But how can this process of jewelry-making be safe for our environment? Its not.
The making of certain kinds of jewelry has a horrible impact on the environment. Gold mining uses mercury and cyanide to separate the metal from ore, and leaves behind mountains of toxic waste – more than 20 tons of this waste to make just one gold ring (Leonard). Since 2008, Macys has taken a stand against this unclean process of creating gold and jewelry with their No Dirty Gold campaign. The No Dirty Gold campaign is not calling for a boycott of gold; it is a way to educate consumers, retailers, and the general public about the impacts of irresponsible gold mining, and to ask for their support to improve the harmful mining practices. It is calling on the mining industry to provide alternatives to irresponsibly mined gold, which today is too often produced at the expense of communities, workers, and the environment. In addition to that, more than half of all gold comes from indigenous peoples lands. In places as diverse as Ghana, Indonesia, Peru, and the U.S., gold mining operations have evacuated people from their homelands against their will, destroyed traditional jobs, and damaged ecosystems. Native people in particular disproportionately suffer the negative effects of gold mining, adding to the injustices they already endure. The No Dirty Gold campaign supports the rights of communities to determine their own futures – not to have it decided for them by corporations (“FAQs and Fact Sheet…”). There are many different types of jewelry besides our own American jewelry.
When we truly explore the different types of jewelry there are, we may discover the way jewelry is presented and fashioned in other cultures. Body jewelry dates back a long, long ways. Many people associate piercing and body jewelry with current times because it has become widely accepted among people of all ages and ways of life. While body jewelry is very popular right now, the idea of piercing ones body and decorating it with various types of jewelry is nothing new. While body jewelry is simply a fashion statement today, there are reasons that people wear it in some cultures. For instance, in the roman warriors piercing and wearing jewelry was