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==Early Use __NOTOC__[[File:Sofia - Symbolical Burial from the Varna Necropolis.jpg|thumbnail|400px|left|Figure 1. Example of one of the Varna Necropolis graves.]]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 clear burial contexts associated with human skeletonsa 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). One individual seemed to have far more gold buried with him, with objects including This indicates a society that had already developed a strong affinity toward gold mace, jewelry, and even it became a penis sheath made status object for many members of gold (Figure 1)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.  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 south Levant cases, gold was found in the form of body jewelry; in the majority of early finds of gold known, in fact, gold was often associated as body adornment, whether for the living or the dead. <ref>For more information on the analysis of the Nahal Qanah finds, see: Shalev, Sariel. 1995. “Metals in Ancient Israel: Archaeological Interpretation of Chemical Analysis.” ''Israel Journal of Chemistry 35'' (2): 109–16.</ref> This suggests gold, at the very least, was an element intended for display, whether to the living or the dead, and can be considered a type of showing off perhaps, to impress others, the gods, or even spirits. In 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: Klemm, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm. 2013. ''Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts''. New York: Springer.</ref>  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 13. A ceremonial knife from Peru, dated to 850-1500 AD, showing that gold developed independently in the 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 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 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 earliest Great Pyramid, and other pyramids, were adorned with gold graves found, in particular, the top part of the pyramid was likely made of gold so that it could shine at a great distance. In part, for Egypt, the site shine of Varna Necropolisgold resembled the sun's shining characteristics, where representing the chief god Ra for Egyptians.<ref>For more description on the high status individual is buried 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 substantial amount 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 regions, gold was generally found as part of the electrum, which is also a natural alloy. <ref>For more information about goldin 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 southern Levant, One can consider gold and women's jewelry as a cave in the area repository of Nahal Qanah contained eight artifacts from a burial context that suggests a type family wealth. This could also be one reason why we find female burials often having large quantities of elite burial ground could have been established by the 4th millennium BC. In factgold, as not only did they literally carry the find suggests gold could have already become but the privy of family wealth is best shown off utilizing the most elite in societyfemale members.<ref>For more information about example, the Nahal Qanah cave, see: Gopher, Avi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, and I. Carmi. 1996. The Naḥal Qanah Cave: Earliest Gold in burial of the Southern Levant. Monograph Series / Tel Aviv University, Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute Queen or Priestess of Archaeology, no. 12. Tel Aviv: Institute Puabi from the ancient city of Archaeology Ur is one example of Tel Aviv University Publications Sectionthis (Figure 4).</ref>

In Egypt and Mesopotamia, By the two main regions where early urban cultures developed, gold was also used by the 5th 3rd millennium BC. In Egypt, mining was likely already taking place in areas where we begin to see gold deposits were foundhaving more of a trade value, probably in areas although very likely this occurred earlier. We see evidence of southern Egypt or even Nubia. <ref>For more information about gold mining and gold being shipped in Egyptfrom distant regions, see: Klemmsuch as India or Anatolia, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm. 2013. Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Desertsplaces such as Mesopotamia. 2012. New York: Springer.</ref> In Mesopotamia, the first gold appears in the 5th 2nd millennium BC during , when the Ubaid period. We begin to get references to trade in gold became more substantial in texts by the 3rd millennium BCeastern Mediterranean region, showing it becoming an important object for importsis during this active time of trade that gold becomes a standard used to measure value of other commodities. HoweverIn fact, in many cases, where gold has been discovered, it was found as an alloy with silver (i.e., electrum). At timesbetween 1600-1200 BC or the Late Bronze Age, gold was also alloyed with leadbecoming the basis of value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and the Mediterranean, indicating that pure gold was generally more rareincluding metals such as tin and copper.<ref>For more information about on the Late Bronze Age gold in Mesopotamiastandard, see: LeickEdwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen, Gwendolyned. 20102003. Historical Dictionary ''History of Mesopotamiathe Middle East and the Aegean Region C. 1380 - 1000 B.C.'' 3. 2nd ed. Historical Dictionaries of , 6. printing. The Cambridge Ancient Civilizations and Historical ErasHistory, Vol. 2, noPt. 262. LanhamCambridge: Scarecrow Cambridge Univ. Press, pg. 79.</ref>

By the early 3rd millennium BCHowever, this was a relatively exceptional period, gold becomes symbolic with royal authority as in Egypt. Expeditions were now organized for mines containing gold. In the Indusmost other Bronze Age periods, by silver was considered the 3rd millennium BCmore common standard, given its greater prevalence. <ref>For a history of gold and likely earlierits role in ancient societies, gold was also utilized extensivelysee: Bernstein, reflecting its increased importance for elites and tradePeter L. 2004. Similar to other regions, gold was generally found as part The Power of Gold: The History of electrum, which is also a natural alloyan Obsession. Illustrated ed. New York: Wiley. </ref>

In ====Evolution of Gold====During the New World1st millennium BC, by around the region of the Andes, 6th century BC in Peru specifically, has the earliest dated gold findsNear East and eastern Mediterranean Hellenistic states, where objects date we begin to around 2000 BC have been foundsee coins now utilized with gold. Interestingly, these early gold finds are in <ref>For more on the form evolution of jewelry early coins and found in burial contextgold coins, similar to the Old World discoveriessee: Leslie Kurke. 1999. This could suggestCoins, similar to other regionsBodies, that as social hierarchy Games and stratification became established, gold was one object that differentiated the status Gold. The Politics of humans within societyMeaning in Archaic Greece. Princeton: Princeton University Press. </ref> In other wordsfact, gold becomes associated with wealth and power soon after it begins is one of the first metals to be used (Figure 2)fashioned into coins, suggesting gold coins and coins i general were first intended for high value exchange.

[[File:Peru Zeremonialmesser Sican EthnM.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 2. A ceremonial knife from PeruWhile this largely reflects gold’s role as an object utilized for trade and exchange, dated it now also shows royal authority was beginning to 850stamp gold with iconography as a way to show government-1500 ADlevel backing. This derives from the gold and royalty concept we had seen in the third millennium BC graves and other royal or high elite status. In effect, showing that coinage and gold become established as the privy of the state <ref>For history and presentation of types of ancient gold developed independently in coins, see Friedberg, Arthur L., Ira S. Friedberg, and Robert Friedberg. 2003. ''Gold Coins of the New World: From Ancient Times to the Present: An Illustrated Standard Catalogue with Valuations''. 7th ed. Clifton, N.J: Coin and Currency Institute. ]]</ref>

==Role Eventually, as gold coins continue to be utilized, gold and how much gold in Society==coins become standardized more substantially. The concept accelerates in the late 1st millennium BC across the Mediterranean world, where gold is always the top-level currency and can 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 used for currency in the Medieval World, see: Allen, Martin. 2012. Mints and Money in Medieval England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. </ref>

In the cases where gold was found at relatively early datesArguably, several characteristics are evident. For one, gold is often found in funerary contexts, suggesting it was both a status symbol in life but also something to be taken to of the next life. Perhaps this reflects chief motivations for the next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification. In fact, as social hierarchy developed in ancient societies, which seems to be true both Spanish conquests in the New and Old Worlds, World was gold was often one object . Much of that differentiated individuals in many societies. This is evident in finds from Peru, Bulgaria, Egypt, southern Levant, and Mesopotamia. In became refashioned into 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-level currency used by Spain's wealthgoverning bodies and banks after their conquest. It is also by the 3rd millennium BC that we begin to see gold having more of This helped launch Spain and other European powers eventually into a trade valueglobal race for power, although very likely this 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 2nd 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 but one can argue a standard used race to measure value of other commodities. Between 1600-1200 BC, the Late Bronze Age saw accrue as much gold becoming the basis of value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and the Mediterranean, including metals such as tin and copper. However, this was a relatively exceptional periodpossible, as in most other Bronze Age periods silver was considered the more common standard, given its greater prevalenceit symbolized Europe's new power.

During the 1st millennium BCThe example shows that gold had, by around the 6th century BC in the Near East and eastern Mediterranean Hellenistic statesvery early, we begin to see coins now utilized with goldestablished itself as a metal distinct from all other metals. In factIt quickly became a prestige good that changed media, it is one of the first metals to be fashioned into coins, suggesting such as in 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. This helps establish but the concept prestige continued irrespective of currency and standardized value more substantially. The concept accelerates in the late 1st millennium BC across the Mediterranean world, where gold became associated with top-level currency and utilized for high value exchanges. This concept of gold currency continues media and was retained into the modern era.

====Conclusion====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.

Gold seems to be one of these objects that has independent origins in many societies in the New and Old worlds (the Americas, Asia, 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 as a basis for economies. By the time currency or coins are used, gold becomes a high level standard that royal authority supports can only support and uses as a basis in economic exchange by placing the image of the king on currency. This helps 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, while gold’s value and importance to society has have only increased since ancient periods.

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[[Category:Metal Economic History]]