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{{Mediawiki__NOTOC__[[File:banner1}}Sofia - Symbolical Burial from the Varna Necropolis.jpg|thumbnail|400px|left|Figure 1. Example of one of the Varna Necropolis graves.]]
One Perhaps, though, there are differences in its view, as seen by these early societies. For instance, the finds in the south Levant showed that gold was even more restricted, suggesting the most elite members of society may have only accessed it. In both Bulgaria and the oldest known uses south Levant cases, gold was found in the form of body jewelry; in the majority of early finds of gold appears to be known, in Bulgariafact, gold was often associated as body adornment, from a site that is called Varna Necropolis whether for the living or Varna Cemetery, which dates to around 4600 BCthe dead.<ref>For detailed more information about on the Varna Necropolisanalysis of the Nahal Qanah finds, see: IvanovShalev, Ivan Simeonov, and Mai︠a︡ Avramova, edsSariel. 20001995. Varna Necropolis“Metals in Ancient Israel: The Dawn Archaeological Interpretation of European CivilizationChemical Analysis. Treasures ” ''Israel Journal of Bulgaria 1. SofiaChemistry 35'' (2): Agatʹo Publ109–16.</ref> The site is a burial ground were a number of This suggests gold artifacts were found to be in burial contexts associated with a variety of individuals. Surprisingly, out of at the more than 200 graves foundvery least, many of them contained gold and other metal finds (primarily copper; Figure 1). This indicates a society that had already developed a strong affinity toward gold and it became a status object was an element intended for many members of society. Howeverdisplay, we also begin whether to see that not all individuals were treated equally. One individual seemed to have far more gold buried with him, with objects including a gold mace, jewelrythe living or the dead, and even a penis sheath made of gold (Figure 2). This could indicate that this society had begun to develop can be considered a type of chiefdom societyshowing off perhaps, where one individual did accumulate more power than to impress others and consequently have more gold than , the other gravesgods, or even spirits.
[[FileIn Egypt and Mesopotamia, the two main regions where early urban cultures developed, gold was used by the 5th millennium BC. In Egypt, significant mining was likely already taking place in areas where gold deposits were commonly found, mainly in southern Egypt and Nubia. <ref>For more information about gold mining and gold in Egypt, see:Sofia - Symbolical Burial from the Varna NecropolisKlemm, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 12013. Example of one ''Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Varna Necropolis gravesAncient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts''. New York: Springer.]]</ref>
In the southern Levant, a cave in the area of Nahal Qanah contained eight artifacts from a burial context that suggests a type of elite burial ground could have been established by the 4th millennium BC. In fact, the find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite in society/ <ref>For more information about the Nahal Qanah cave, see: Gopher, Avi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, and I. Carmi. 1996. The Naḥal Qanah Cave: Earliest Gold in the Southern Levant. Monograph Series / Tel Aviv University, Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology, no. 12. Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University Publications Section.<dh-ad/ref> What the finds at Nahal Qanah and Varna Necropolis show is that early from gold's history it had already become an object that differentiated wealth and status in societies.
By This concept continues when we see the early 3rd millennium BC, gold becomes symbolic with royal authority in Egypt. Expeditions were now organized for mines containing golddevelopment of state societies. <ref>For more information about gold expeditions, see: Der Manuelian, PeterKingship, and Thomas Schneider, eds. 2015. Towards a New History for the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Perspectives on the Pyramid Age. Harvard Egyptological Studies, volume 1. Leiden ; Boston: Brill, pg. 445.</ref> In the Indus, by extension the 3rd millennium BC, and likely earlierstate, begin to utilize gold was also utilized extensively, reflecting its increased importance more frequently for elites burials and trade. Similar to other regions, gold in many of these cases it was generally found as part of electrum, which is also a natural alloy. <ref>For more information about gold in the Indus, see: McIntosh, Jane. 2008. The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO’s Understanding Ancient Civilizations Series. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, pg. 145.</ref> In the New World, the region of the Andes, in Peru specifically, has the earliest dated gold finds, where objects date way to around 2000 BC. Interestingly, these early gold finds are in the form of jewelry and found display power in burial context, similar to the Old World discoveries. <ref> For more information about the earliest gold artefacts from Peru, see: Aldenderfer, M., N. M. Craig, R. J. Speakman, and R. Popelka-Filcoff. 2008. “Four-Thousand-Year-Old Gold Artifacts from the Lake Titicaca Basin, Southern Peru.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105 (13): 5002–5. doi:10.1073/pnas.0710937105. </ref> This could suggest, similar to other regions, that as social hierarchy and stratification became established, gold was one object that differentiated the status of humans within society. In other words, gold becomes associated with wealth present and power soon after it begins to be used (Figure 3)afterlife.
[[File:Peru Zeremonialmesser Sican EthnMPerhaps this reflects the next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 3As social hierarchy developed in ancient societies, which seems to be true both in the New and Old Worlds, gold was common among societies that differentiated individuals in power and prestige. A ceremonial knife So in addition to being evident in the finds from Bulgaria and southern Levant, it is also evident in Egypt, Peru, dated to 850-1500 ADand Mesopotamia, showing that gold developed independently in the New Worlddiversity of cultures where this trait develops. ]]
==Role Nevertheless, there are key differences with how gold was treated in Society==early societies. In the ancient Near East, gold was often found as jewelry with women, suggesting women often wore gold as representing family wealth or were often the ones who literally wore the family's wealth. <ref> For further information on women in the ancient Near East society and wealth, see: Chavalas, Mark W., ed. 2012. ''Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World''. London: Routledge.</ref>
In the cases where One can consider gold was found at relatively early dates, several characteristics are evidentand women's jewelry as a repository of family wealth. For This could also be one, gold is reason why we find female burials often found in funerary contexts, suggesting it was both a status symbol in life but also something to be taken to the next life. Interestingly, in many having large quantities of the finds from the Old and New World indicate that gold, despite its rarity, was from its onset a way to display power in as not only did they literally carry the afterlife and as a way to remind others of gold but the power and prestige of family wealth is best shown off utilizing the individual to female members of society after they had passed away. <ref>BoyleFor example, Robert W. 1987. Gold History and Genesis the burial of Deposits. Boston, MA: Springer US. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1969-6.</ref> This concept continues when we see the development Queen or Priestess of state societies. Kingship, and by extension Puabi from the state, begin to utilize gold more frequently for burials and in many ancient city of Ur is one example of these cases it was a way to display power in the present and afterlifethis (Figure 4).
Perhaps By the 3rd millennium BC, we begin to see gold having more of a trade value, although very likely this reflects occurred earlier. We see evidence of gold being shipped in from distant regions, such as India or Anatolia, in places such as Mesopotamia. In the next life or afterlife similarly 2nd millennium BC, when the trade in gold became more substantial in the eastern Mediterranean region, it is characterized by social stratificationduring this active time of trade that gold becomes a standard used to measure value of other commodities. In fact, as social hierarchy developed in ancient societiesgold, between 1600-1200 BC or the Late Bronze Age, which seems to be true both in was becoming the New basis of value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and Old Worldsthe Mediterranean, including metals such as tin and copper. <ref> For more information on the Late Bronze Age gold was common among societies that differentiated individuals in power standard, see: Edwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen, ed. 2003. ''History of the Middle East and prestigethe Aegean Region C. 1380 - 1000 B.C.'' 3. ed. This is evident in finds from Peru, Bulgaria6. printing. The Cambridge Ancient History, EgyptVol. 2, southern Levant, and MesopotamiaPt. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. </ref>
NeverthelessHowever, there are key differences with how gold this was treated a relatively exceptional period, as in early societies. In the ancient Near Eastmost other Bronze Age periods, gold silver was often found as jewelry with womenconsidered the more common standard, suggesting women often wore gold as representing family wealth or were often the ones who literally wore the family's wealthgiven its greater prevalence. <ref> For further information on women a history of gold and its role in ancient Near East society and wealthsocieties, see: Chavalas, Mark W. Bernstein, edPeter L. 20122004. Women in the Ancient Near EastThe Power of Gold: A SourcebookThe History of an Obsession. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient WorldIllustrated ed. LondonNew York: RoutledgeWiley. </ref> This could be one reason we find female burials often have large quantities of gold. For example, the burial of the Queen or Priestess of Puabi from the ancient city of Ur is one example of this (Figure 4).
[[File====Evolution of Gold====During the 1st millennium BC, by around the 6th century BC in the Near East and eastern Mediterranean Hellenistic states, we begin to see coins now utilized with gold.<ref>For more on the evolution of early coins and gold coins, see:Reconstructed sumerian headgear necklaces british museumLeslie Kurke.JPG|thumbnail|Figure 41999. Coins, Bodies, Games and Gold. The gold headdress Politics of QueenMeaning in Archaic Greece. Princeton: Princeton University Press.</Priestess Puabi]]ref> In fact, it is one of the first metals to be fashioned into coins, suggesting gold coins and coins i general were first intended for high value exchange.
It is While this largely reflects gold’s role as an object utilized for trade and exchange, it now also by the 3rd millennium BC that we begin shows royal authority was beginning to see stamp gold having more of with iconography as a trade value, although very likely this occurred earlierway to show government-level backing. We see evidence of This derives from the gold being shipped and royalty concept we had seen in from distant regions, such as India or Anatolia, in places such as Mesopotamia. In the 2nd third millennium BC, when the trade in gold became more substantial in the eastern Mediterranean region, it is during this active time of trade that gold becomes also a standard used to measure value of graves and other commoditiesroyal or high elite status. Between 1600-1200 BCIn effect, the Late Bronze Age saw coinage and gold becoming become established as the basis privy of value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and the Mediterranean, including metals such as tin and copper. state <ref> For more information on the Late Bronze Age history and presentation of types of ancient gold standardcoins, see: EdwardsFriedberg, Arthur L., Iorwerth Eiddon StephenIra S. Friedberg, edand Robert Friedberg. 2003. History ''Gold Coins of the Middle East and World: From Ancient Times to the Aegean Region C. 1380 - 1000 B.C. 3Present: An Illustrated Standard Catalogue with Valuations''. 7th ed.Clifton, 6. printing. The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 2, Pt. 2N. CambridgeJ: Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref> However, this was a relatively exceptional period, as in most other Bronze Age periods silver was considered the more common standard, given its greater prevalence. <ref>For a history of gold Coin and its role in ancient societies, see: Bernstein, Peter L. 2004. The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession. Illustrated ed. New York: WileyCurrency Institute. </ref>
During the 1st millennium BCEventually, by around the 6th century BC in the Near East and eastern Mediterranean Hellenistic states, we begin to see as gold coins now utilized with gold. In fact, it is one of the first metals continue to be fashioned into coins, suggesting coinage and gold were used for high value exchange. While this largely reflects gold’s role as an object utilized for trade and exchange, it now also shows royal authority was beginning to stamp gold with iconography as a way to show government-level backing.<ref>For a history and presentation of types of ancient how much gold in coins, see Friedberg, Arthur L., Ira S. Friedberg, and Robert Friedberg. 2003. Gold Coins of the World: From Ancient Times to the Present: An Illustrated Standard Catalogue with Valuations. 7th ed. Clifton, N.J: Coin and Currency Institute.</ref> This helps establish the concept of currency and become standardized value more substantially. The concept accelerates in the late 1st millennium BC across the Mediterranean world, where gold became associated with is always the top-level currency and utilized for high value exchangescan only be minted by the governments controlling a given region. This concept of gold currency continues into the Medieval world, in particular for Europe after the reemergence of states.<ref>For example of gold and how it was retained into used for currency in the modern eraMedieval World, see: Allen, Martin. 2012. Mints and Money in Medieval England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.</ref>
==Conclusion==Arguably, one of the chief motivations for the Spanish conquests in the New World was gold. Much of that became refashioned into the gold-level currency used by Spain's governing bodies and banks after their conquest. This helped launch Spain and other European powers eventually into a global race for power, but one can argue a race to accrue as much gold as possible, as it symbolized Europe's new power.
Gold seems to be one of these objects The example shows that has independent origins in many societies in the New and Old worlds (the Americasgold had, Asiavery early, and Africa). This suggests the qualities of gold as being attractive to human societies seems almost universal or innate. Gold utilization in societies evolves over time established itself as a basis for economiesmetal distinct from all other metals. By the time currency or coins are used, gold becomes It quickly became a high level standard prestige good that royal authority supports and uses changed media, such as a basis in economic exchange by placing coinage, but the image prestige continued irrespective of the king on currency. This helps to standardize its value media and this concept continues into the modern era, while gold’s value and importance to society has only increased since ancient periods.
[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Ancient History]][[Category:Economic History]]{{Contributors}}By the time currency or coins are used, gold becomes a high level standard that royal authority can only support and uses as a basis in economic exchange by placing the image of the king on currency. This begins to make gold as something to be controlled by state societies and their primary privy rather than that of common individuals. With the control of gold by governments, this begins to help standardize its value, and this concept continues into the modern era. In contrast, gold’s value and importance to society have only increased since ancient periods.
Admin moved page How Did Gold Become Desired by Ancient Civilizations? to How Did Gold Become Desired by Ancient Civilizations
Gold is first known to have been acquired by ancient human societies in the 4th millennium BC, a time when copper and metals were beginning to be utilized more frequently. The use of gold expanded during this period because pyrotechnologies improved. As pyrotechnologies improved metals such as gold and copper became more flexible. In fact, when gold appears in the New World, it also appears to be associated with the early development of pyrotechnologies, suggesting gold develops early as metallurgy developed. This likely also means gold, and its luster properties, were desired early on by societies able to master pyrotechnologies to extract and create gold artifacts.
====Early Use of Gold====[[File:Or de Varna - Nécropole.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Figure 2. A burial of a high status individual at Varna Necropolis; this individual stands out from among the graves and seems to have a substantial amount of gold compared to other graves.]]One of the oldest known uses of gold appears to be in Bulgaria, from a site that is called Varna Necropolis or Varna Cemetery, which dates to around 4600 BC.<ref>For detailed information about the Varna Necropolis, see: Ivanov, Ivan Simeonov, and Mai︠a︡ Avramova, eds. 2000. ''Varna Necropolis: The Dawn of European Civilization''. Treasures of Bulgaria 1. Sofia: Agatʹo Publ.</ref> The site is a burial ground were a number of gold artifacts were found to be in burial contexts associated with a variety of individuals. Surprisingly, out of the more than 200 graves found, many of them contained gold and other metal finds (primarily copper; Figure 1). This indicates a society that had already developed a strong affinity toward gold, and it became a status object for many members of society. However, we also begin to see that not all individuals were treated equally. One individual seemed to have far more gold buried with him, with objects including a gold mace, jewelry, and even a penis sheath made of gold (Figure 2). This could indicate that this society had begun to develop a type of chiefdom society, where one individual did accumulate more power than others and consequently have more gold than the other graves. In the southern Levant, a cave in Nahal Qanah contained eight artifacts from a burial context that suggests a type of elite burial ground could have been established by the 4th millennium BC. These gold objects were in the form of gold rings. In fact, the find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite in society. <ref>For more information about the Nahal Qanah cave, see: Gopher, Avi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, and I. Carmi. 1996. ''The Naḥal Qanah Cave: Earliest Gold in the Southern Levant''. Monograph Series / Tel Aviv University, Sonia and Marco Nadler ''Institute of Archaeology'', no. 12. Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University Publications Section.</ref> What the finds at Nahal Qanah and Varna Necropolis show is that early from gold's history it had already become an object that differentiated wealth and status in societies. In fact, we can say that gold seems to be associated with hierarchy, different levels of power, and different access to wealth at its inception of use. Clearly, this relates to the traits of its beauty and rarity, although it is one of the only types of elements we have known that seems to have these cultural attributes true for a large number of societies.
In Mesopotamia, the first gold appears in the 5th millennium BC during the Ubaid period. We begin to get references to gold in texts by the 3rd millennium BC, showing it becoming an important object for imports. What early texts also show is that states had a large control of the gold trade, although it was not exclusive to states. Nevertheless, gold became mostly associated with priests/temples and royalty. Private households also traded gold and often attempted to acquire it as an important long-term holding, but rarely was gold buried by private houses with graves (i.e., it was probably far too valuable for common households to remove this item from their wealth). <ref>For examples of how households possibly used golds in ancient Mesopotamia, see: Nemet-Nejat, Karen Rhea. 1998. ''Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia''. The Greenwood Press “Daily Life through History” Series. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, pg. 123.</ref> Gold, for private households, becomes a way for families to preserve and pass on wealth, given its great value and non-perishable nature.[[File:Or de Varna - NécropolePeru Zeremonialmesser Sican EthnM.jpg|thumbnail|right200px|left|Figure 23. A burial of a high status individual at Varna Necropolis; this individual stands out ceremonial knife from among Peru, dated to 850-1500 AD, showing that gold developed independently in the graves New World. ]] In many cases, where gold has been discovered, it was found as an alloy with silver (i.e., electrum). At times, gold was also alloyed with lead, indicating that pure gold was generally rarer.<ref>For more information about gold in Mesopotamia, see: Leick, Gwendolyn. 2010. Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia. 2nd ed. Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and seems Historical Eras, no. 26. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, pg. 79.</ref> In fact, in addition to providing extra strength, alloys also allow the one to utilize more of gold find to have create larger objects that look like gold. This gives an appearance of an even larger gold object. By the early 3rd millennium BC, gold becomes symbolic with royal authority in Egypt. One has to remember the Great Pyramid, and other pyramids, were adorned with gold, in particular, the top part of the pyramid was likely made of gold so that it could shine at a substantial amount great distance. In part, for Egypt, the shine of gold compared to resembled the sun's shining characteristics, representing the chief god Ra for Egyptians.<ref>For more description on the qualities of gold and its association with Ra, see: Perl, Leila, and Erika Wells. 1988. ''Mummies, Tombs and Treasure : Secrets of Ancient Egypt''. London : Hodder and Stoughton. </ref> To obtain more gold for both domestic consumption and trade, expeditions became organized by the royal authorities for mines containing gold. <ref>For more information about gold expeditions, see: Der Manuelian, Peter, and Thomas Schneider, eds. 2015. ''Towards a New History for the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Perspectives on the Pyramid Age''. Harvard Egyptological Studies, volume 1. Leiden ; Boston: Brill, pg. 445.</ref> In the Indus, by the 3rd millennium BC, and likely earlier, gold was also utilized extensively, reflecting its increased importance for elites and trade. Like other gravesregions, gold was generally found as part of the electrum, which is also a natural alloy. <ref>For more information about gold in the Indus, see: McIntosh, Jane. 2008. ''The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO’s Understanding Ancient Civilizations Series''. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, pg. 145.]]</ref>
In the New World, the Andes region, in Peru specifically, has the earliest dated gold finds, where objects date to around 2000 BC. Interestingly, these early gold finds are in the form of jewelry and found in a burial context, similar to the Old World discoveries. <ref> For more information about the earliest gold artifacts from Peru, see: Aldenderfer, M., N. M. Craig, R. J. Speakman, and R. Popelka-Filcoff. 2008. “Four-Thousand-Year-Old Gold Artifacts from the Lake Titicaca Basin, Southern Peru.” ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105'' (13): 5002–5. doi:10.1073/pnas.0710937105. </ref> This could suggest, similar to other regions, that as social hierarchy and stratification became established, gold was one object that differentiated humans' status within society. In other words, gold becomes associated with wealth and power soon after it begins to be used (Figure 3).
====Role in Society====In Egypt and Mesopotamia, the two main regions cases where gold was found at relatively early urban cultures developeddates, gold was used by the 5th millennium BCseveral characteristics are evident. In EgyptFor one, significant mining was likely already taking place in areas where gold deposits were commonly is often foundin funerary contexts, mainly suggesting it was both a status symbol in areas of southern Egypt life and Nubiasomething to be taken to the next life. <ref>For more information about gold mining and gold in EgyptInterestingly, see: Klemm, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm. 2013. Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology many of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in finds from the Egyptian Old and Sudanese Eastern Deserts. 2012. New York: Springer.</ref> In MesopotamiaWorld indicate that gold, despite its rarity, was from its onset a way to display power in the first gold appears in afterlife and as a way to remind others of the 5th millennium BC during power and prestige of the Ubaid period. We begin individual to get references to gold in texts by the 3rd millennium BC, showing it becoming an important object for imports. However, in many cases, where gold has been discovered, it was found as an alloy with silver (i.e., electrum). At times, gold was also alloyed with lead, indicating that pure gold was generally more raremembers of society after they had passed away.<ref>For more information about gold in MesopotamiaBoyle, see: Leick, GwendolynRobert W. 20101987. Historical Dictionary ''Gold History and Genesis of MesopotamiaDeposits''. 2nd edBoston, MA: Springer US. Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras, nohttp://dx. 26doi. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, pgorg/10. 791007/978-1-4613-1969-6.</ref>
==References==Conclusion====<references/>Gold can be seen to be something of great desire in many societies in the New and Old worlds (the Americas, Asia, and Africa). Despite the diversity of where gold was first found, at the onset, gold was seen as a way to differentiate the power of individuals in this life and the afterlife. This suggests the qualities of gold as being attractive to human societies seem almost universal or innate. Gold utilization in societies evolves as a basis for economies.
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