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==Introduction==__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. This suggests The use of gold expanded during this is a period when because pyrotechnologies improved. As pyrotechnologies improved, allowing metals to be developed such as gold and copper became more substantiallyflexible. 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.

One [[File:Or de Varna - Nécropole.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 2. A burial of a high status individual at Varna Necropolis; this individual stands out from among the oldest known uses graves and seems to have a substantial amount of gold appears compared to be other graves.]]In the southern Levant, a cave in Bulgaria, the area of Nahal Qanah contained eight artifacts from a site burial context that is called Varna Necropolis or Varna Cemetery. The site is suggests a type of elite burial ground could have been established by the 4th millennium BC. These gold objects were a number in the form of gold artifacts were found to be in clear burial contexts with human skeletonsrings. SurprisinglyIn fact, out the find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite in society. <ref>For more than 200 graves foundinformation about the Nahal Qanah cave, see: Gopher, Avi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, many of them contained gold and other metal finds (primarily copper)I. Carmi. 1996. ''The Naḥal Qanah Cave: Earliest Gold in the Southern Levant''. One individual seemed to have far more gold buried with himMonograph Series / Tel Aviv University, with objects including a gold maceSonia and Marco Nadler ''Institute of Archaeology'', jewelry, and even a penis sheath made no. 12. Tel Aviv: Institute of Archaeology of gold (Figure 1)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 of 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 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 it may have only been accessed by the most elite members of society. In both in the Bulgaria and south Levant cases, gold was found in the form of body jewellery; in the majority of early finds of gold known, in fact, gold was often associated as a 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 Interperetation 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 to 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 areas of 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 did attempt 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 gold was possibly used by households 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|right|Figure 3. 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 more rare.<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 shinning 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. Similar to other regions, gold was generally found as part of 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>

==Role in Society==[[File:Reconstructed sumerian headgear necklaces british museum.JPG|thumbnail|Figure 4. The gold headdress of Queen/Priestess Puabi. Gold, by the 3rd millennium BC, had become associated with royalty and the religious elite of society in Mesopotamia and Egypt.]] In the southern Levantcases 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 cave status symbol in life but also something to be taken to the area next life. Interestingly, in many of Nahal Qana contained eight artifacts the finds from the Old and New World indicate that gold, despite its rarity, was from its onset a burial context that suggests way to display power in the afterlife and as a type 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 elite burial ground could have been establishedstate societies. In factKingship, and by extension the find suggests state, begin to utilize gold could have already become the privy more frequently for burials and in many of these cases it was a way to display power in the most elite in societypresent and afterlife.

In Egypt and Mesopotamia, Perhaps this reflects the two main regions where early urban cultures developed, gold was also used next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by the 4th millennium BCsocial stratification. In Egyptfact, mining was likely already taking place as social hierarchy developed in areas where gold deposits were foundancient societies, particularly which seems to be true both in the Wadi Hammamat region New and Old Worlds, gold was common among societies that differentiated individuals in southern Egyptpower and prestige. In Mesopotamia, we begin to get references So in addition to gold being evident in texts by the 3rd millennium BCfinds from Bulgaria and southern Levant, showing it becoming an important object for imports. However, is also evident in many casesEgypt, where gold has been discoveredPeru, it was found as an alloy with silver (i.e.and Mesopotamia, electrum). At times, gold was also alloyed with lead, indicating that pure gold was generally more rareshowing the diversity of cultures where this trait develops.

By the early 3rd millennium BCNevertheless, there are key differences with how gold becomes symbolic with royal authority was treated in Egypt. Expeditions were now organized for mines containing goldearly societies. In the Indusancient Near East, gold was often found as jewelry with women, by suggesting women often wore gold as representing family wealth or were often the ones who literally wore the 3rd millennium BCfamily's wealth. <ref> For further information on women in ancient Near East society and wealth, and likely earliersee: Chavalas, gold was also utilized extensivelyMark W., reflecting its increased importance ed. 2012. ''Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Routledge Sourcebooks for elites the Ancient World''. London: Routledge.</ref> One can consider gold and tradewomen's jewellery as a repository of the family wealth. Similar to other regionsThis could also be one reason why we find female burials often having large quantities of gold, as not only did they literally carry the gold was generally found as part but the family wealth is best shown off utilizing the female members. For example, the burial of the Queen or Priestess of Puabi from the ancient city of electrum, which Ur is also a natural alloyone example of this (Figure 4).

In It is also by the New World3rd millennium BC that we begin to see gold having more of a trade value, the region although very likely this occurred earlier. We see evidence of the Andesgold being shipped in from distant regions, such as India or Anatolia, in Peru specificallyplaces such as Mesopotamia. In the 2nd millennium BC, has when the earliest dated trade in gold findsbecame more substantial in the eastern Mediterranean region, where objects date it is during this active time of trade that gold becomes a standard used to around 2000 BC have been foundmeasure value of other commodities. InterestinglyIn fact, these early gold finds are in , between 1600-1200 BC or the Late Bronze Age, was becoming the form basis of jewelry value for many valuable objects now being traded between Central Asia and found in burial contextthe Mediterranean, including metals such as tin and copper. <ref> For more information on the Late Bronze Age gold standard, see: Edwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen, similar to ed. 2003. ''History of the Middle East and the Old World discoveriesAegean Region C. 1380 - 1000 B.C.'' 3. ed. This could suggest, similar to other regions6. printing. The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 2, Pt. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.</ref> However, this was a relatively exceptional period, that as social hierarchy and stratification became established, gold in most other Bronze Age periods silver was one object that differentiated considered the status more common standard, given its greater prevalence. <ref>For a history of humans within society. In other words, gold becomes associated with wealth and power soon after it begins to be usedits role in ancient societies, see: Bernstein, Peter L. 2004. The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession. Illustrated ed. New York: Wiley.</ref>

==Role in SocietyEvolution 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. 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 derives from the concept of gold and royalty we had seen in the third millennium BC graves and other royal or high elite status. In effect, coinage and gold become established as the privy of the state <ref>For a history and presentation of types of ancient gold 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>

In the cases where gold was found at relatively early dates, several characteristics are evident. For oneEventually, as gold is often found in funerary contexts, suggesting it was both a status symbol in life but also something coins continue to be taken to the next life. Perhaps this reflects the next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification. In fact, as social hierarchy developed in ancient societiesutilized, which seems to be true both in the New use of gold and Old Worlds, how much gold was often one object that differentiated individuals in many societiescoins becomes standardized more substantially. This is evident The concept accelerates in finds from Peru, Bulgaria, Egypt, southern Levant, and Mesopotamia. In the ancient Near Eastlate 1st millennium BC across the Mediterranean world, where gold was often found as jewelry with women, suggesting women often wore gold as representing family wealth or were often is always the ones who literally wore top-level currency and can only be minted by the family's wealthgovernments controlling a given region. It is also by This concept of gold currency continues into the Medieval world, in particular for Europe after the 3rd millennium BC that we begin to see gold having more reemergence of a trade value, although very likely this occurred earlierstates. We see evidence <ref>For example of gold being shipped and how it was used for currency in from distant regionsthe Medieval World, such as India or Anatoliasee: Allen, Martin. 2012. Mints and Money in places such as MesopotamiaMedieval England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. </ref>. In Arguably, one of the 2nd millennium BC, when chief motivations for the trade Spanish conquests in the New World was gold became more substantial in the eastern Mediterranean region, it is during this active time and much of trade that became refashioned into gold becomes also a standard -level currency used to measure value by the governing bodies and banks of Spain after their conquest. This helped launch Spain and other commodities. Between 1600-1200 BC, the Late Bronze Age saw European powers eventually into a global race not only for power but one can argue a race to 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 it symbolized the more common standard, given its greater prevalencenew power of Europe.

During What the 1st millennium BCexample shows is 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.