Jewelry has been used to adorn humans for hundreds of thousands of years. The first signs of jewelry came from people in Africa. Perforated beads made from snail shells have been found dating 75,000 to 100,000 years ago in a cave in South Africa. In Kenya, beads made from perforated ostrich egg shells have been dated to more than 40,000 years ago. The first copper jewelry has been found in Turkey, dating from about 7,000 years ago.*

Jewelry can be used to indicate wealth, express culture, and/or simply make a personal style statement. Often, jewelry has religious symbolism. Jewelry has been used to modify the body. In several cultures, necklaces are used to lengthen the necks of females. In others, earrings are used to lengthen the earlobes.

Jewelry has been made to adorn nearly every part of the body, from fingers to stomach. Jewelry is a “desire to capture the essence of beauty.”**

Gallery Serengeti has a beautiful collection of copper and brass necklaces, bracelets and earrings hand crafted in South Africa. Be sure to come by, or browse our online store, and make this jewelry a part of your personal adornment.

**The History of Jewellery: Origins of Jewellery Design
*Holland, J. 1999. The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. Kingfisher books.