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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 of What 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, finds at Nahal Qanah and Mai︠a︡ Avramova, eds. 2000. Varna Necropolis: The Dawn of European Civilization. Treasures of Bulgaria 1. Sofia: Agatʹo Publ.</ref> The site show is a burial ground were a number of that early from 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 's history it had already developed a strong affinity toward gold become an object that differentiated wealth and it became a status object for many members of societyin societies. HoweverIn fact, we also begin to see can say that not all individuals were treated equally. One individual seemed gold seems to have far more gold buried be associated with himhierarchy, with objects including a gold mace, jewelrydifferent levels of power, and even a penis sheath made different access to wealth at its inception of gold (Figure 2)use. This could indicate that Clearly, this society had begun relates to develop a type the traits of chiefdom societyits beauty and rarity, where although it is one individual did accumulate more power than others and consequently of the only types of elements we have known that seems to have more gold than the other gravesthese cultural attributes true for a large number of societies.
[[FilePerhaps, 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:Sofia - Symbolical Burial from the Varna NecropolisShalev, Sariel.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 11995. Example “Metals in Ancient Israel: Archaeological Interpretation of one 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 Varna Necropolis gravesgods, or even spirits.]]
In Perhaps this reflects the southern Levantnext life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification. As social hierarchy developed in ancient societies, a cave which seems to be true both 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 factNew and Old Worlds, the find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite was common among societies that differentiated individuals in society/ <ref>For more information about the Nahal Qanah cave, see: Gopher, Avi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, power and Iprestige. Carmi. 1996. The Naḥal Qanah Cave: Earliest Gold So in addition to being evident in the Southern finds from Bulgaria and southern Levant. Monograph Series / Tel Aviv University, Sonia it is also evident in Egypt, Peru, and Marco Nadler Institute of ArchaeologyMesopotamia, no. 12. Tel Aviv: Institute showing the diversity 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 societiescultures where this trait develops.
In Egypt and Mesopotamia, the two main regions where early urban cultures developedNevertheless, there are key differences with how gold was used by the 5th millennium BC. In Egypt, significant mining was likely already taking place treated in areas where gold deposits were commonly found, mainly in areas of southern Egypt and Nubia. <ref>For more information about gold mining and gold in Egypt, see: Klemm, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm. 2013early societies. Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts. 2012. 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 BCancient Near East, showing it becoming an important object for imports. However, in many cases, where gold has been discovered, it was often found as an alloy jewelry with silver (i.e., electrum). At timeswomen, suggesting women often wore gold was also alloyed with lead, indicating that pure gold was generally more rareas representing family wealth or were often the ones who literally wore the family's wealth.<ref>For more further information about gold on women in Mesopotamiathe ancient Near East society and wealth, see: LeickChavalas, GwendolynMark W. 2010, ed. Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia2012. 2nd ed''Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Historical Dictionaries of Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras, no. 26World''. LanhamLondon: Scarecrow Press, pg. 79Routledge.</ref>
By the early 3rd millennium BC, One can consider gold becomes symbolic with royal authority in Egyptand women's jewelry as a repository of family wealth. Expeditions were now organized for mines containing This could also be one reason why we find female burials often having large quantities of gold, as not only did they literally carry the goldbut the family wealth is best shown off utilizing the female members. <ref>For more information about gold expeditionsexample, see: Der Manuelian, Peter, and Thomas Schneider, eds. 2015. Towards a New History for the Egyptian Old Kingdom: Perspectives on burial of the Queen or Priestess of Puabi from the Pyramid Ageancient city of Ur is one example of this (Figure 4). Harvard Egyptological Studies, volume 1. Leiden ; Boston: Brill, pg. 445.</ref> In the Indus, by By the 3rd millennium BC, and likely earlier, gold was also utilized extensively, reflecting its increased importance for elites and trade. Similar we begin to other regions, see gold was generally found as part having more of electruma trade value, which is also a natural alloyalthough very likely this occurred earlier. <ref>For more information about We see evidence of gold being shipped in the Indusfrom distant regions, see: McIntoshsuch as India or Anatolia, Jane. 2008. The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives. ABC-CLIO’s Understanding Ancient Civilizations Series. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, pg. 145in places such as Mesopotamia.</ref> In the New World2nd 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 a standard used to measure value of the Andes, in Peru specificallyother commodities. In fact, has the earliest dated gold finds, where objects date to around 2000 between 1600-1200 BC. Interestinglyor the Late Bronze Age, these early gold finds are in was becoming the form basis of jewelry value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and found in burial contextthe Mediterranean, similar to the Old World discoveriesincluding metals such as tin and copper. <ref> For more information about on the earliest Late Bronze Age gold artefacts from Perustandard, see: AldenderferEdwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen, Med. 2003. ''History of the Middle East and the Aegean Region C., N1380 - 1000 B. MC. Craig, R'' 3. Jed. Speakman, and R6. Popelka-Filcoffprinting. 2008The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. “Four-Thousand-Year-Old Gold Artifacts from the Lake Titicaca Basin2, Southern PeruPt.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105 (13): 5002–52. doiCambridge:10.1073/pnasCambridge Univ.0710937105Press. </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 and power soon after it begins to be used (Figure 3).
[[File:Peru Zeremonialmesser Sican EthnM.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 3. A ceremonial knife from PeruHowever, this was a relatively exceptional period, as in most other Bronze Age periods, dated to 850-1500 ADsilver was considered the more common standard, showing that given its greater prevalence. <ref>For a history of gold developed independently and its role in the ancient societies, see: Bernstein, Peter L. 2004. The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession. Illustrated ed. New WorldYork: Wiley. ]]</ref>
In the cases where gold was found at relatively early dates, several characteristics are evident. For oneWhile this largely reflects gold’s role as an object utilized for trade and exchange, gold is often found in funerary contexts, suggesting it now also shows royal authority was both a status symbol in life but also something beginning to be taken to the next life. Perhaps this reflects the next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification. In fact, stamp gold with iconography as social hierarchy developed in ancient societies, which seems a way to be true both in the New and Old Worlds, gold was often one object that differentiated individuals in many societiesshow government-level backing. This is evident in finds derives from Peru, Bulgaria, Egypt, southern Levant, and Mesopotamia. 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 ancient Near East society and wealth, see: Chavalas, Mark W., ed. 2012. Women royalty concept we had seen in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World. London: Routledge. </ref> It is also by the 3rd third millennium BC that we begin to see gold having more of a trade value, although very likely this occurred earlier. We see evidence of gold being shipped in from distant regions, such as India graves and other royal or Anatolia, in places such as Mesopotamiahigh elite status. In the 2nd millennium BCeffect, when the trade in coinage and 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 other commodities. Between 1600-1200 BC, the Late Bronze Age saw 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>
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 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 have 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 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 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 compared to 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).
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====Role in Society====
In the cases where gold was found at relatively early dates, several characteristics are evident. For one, gold is often found in funerary contexts, suggesting it was both a status symbol in life and something to be taken to the next life. Interestingly, in many 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 the afterlife and as a way to remind others of the power and prestige of the individual to members of society after they had passed away. <ref>Boyle, Robert W. 1987. ''Gold History and Genesis 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 of state societies. Kingship, and by extension the state, begin to utilize gold more frequently for burials and in many of these cases it was a way to display power in the present and afterlife.
==Role in Society==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: Leslie Kurke. 1999. Coins, Bodies, Games and Gold. The Politics of Meaning in Archaic Greece. Princeton: Princeton University Press.</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.
==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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