In the beginning was the shell
The oldest jewelry found by archaeologists were three shell beads. They were 100 thousand years old
Two shell beads were found in Israel in the Skhul cave. Chemical and hydrocarbon analysis showed that they are about 100 thousand years old. Another shell was found in eastern Algeria and is about 90 thousand years old
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According to scientists, such jewelry had social significance. The shells had holes for a braid to wear them as a necklace or bracelet.
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These shells belong to a variety of sea mollusks nassarius.
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Archaeologists say this is evidence of elements of modern culture in ancient people. Such jewelry was not worn just like that. People wanted to show their power, attractiveness or belonging to a social group.
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The shells found in the Skhul cave are now in the London Museum of Natural History, and the shell from Algeria is in the Museum of Man in Paris.
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Did you make jewelry from shells when you were a child?