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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 [[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 Cemeterysuggests 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, which dates to around 4600 BCthe find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite in society.<ref>For detailed more information about the Varna NecropolisNahal Qanah cave, see: Ivanov Gopher, Ivan SimeonovAvi, Tseviḳah Tsuḳ, and Mai︠a︡ Avramova, edsI. Carmi. 20001996. Varna Necropolis: ''The Dawn of European Civilization. Treasures of Bulgaria 1. SofiaNaḥal Qanah Cave: Agatʹo PublEarliest Gold in the Southern Levant''.<Monograph Series /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. SurprisinglyTel Aviv University, out Sonia and Marco Nadler ''Institute of the more than 200 graves foundArchaeology'', many of them contained gold and other metal finds (primarily copper; Figure 1)no. This indicates a society that had already developed a strong affinity toward gold and it became a status object for many members of society12. 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 Tel Aviv: Institute of gold (Figure 2). This could indicate that this society had begun to develop a type Archaeology of chiefdom society, where one individual did accumulate more power than others and consequently have more gold than the other gravesTel Aviv University Publications Section. </ref>

[[File:Sofia - Symbolical Burial from What the finds at Nahal Qanah and Varna Necropolisshow is that early from gold's history it had already become an object that differentiated wealth and status in societies.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 1In 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. Example Clearly this relates to the traits of its beauty and rarity, although it is one of the Varna Necropolis gravesonly 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.]]

[[File:Or de Varna - Nécropole.jpg|thumbnail|right|Figure 2. A burial of a high status individual at Varna Necropolis; this individual stands out from among the graves In Egypt and seems to have a substantial amount of gold compared to other graves.]] In Mesopotamia, the southern Levanttwo main regions where early urban cultures developed, a cave 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 gold was used by the 4th 5th millennium BC. These In Egypt, significant mining was likely already taking place in areas where gold objects deposits were commonly found, mainly in the form areas of gold rings. In fact, the find suggests gold could have already become the privy of the most elite in societysouthern Egypt and Nubia. <ref>For more information about the Nahal Qanah cavegold mining and gold in Egypt, see: Gopher, AviKlemm, Tseviḳah TsuḳRosemarie, and IDietrich Klemm. Carmi2013. 1996. The Naḥal Qanah Cave''Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Earliest Geoarchaeology of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Southern LevantEgyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts''. Monograph Series New York: Springer.</ Tel Aviv Universityref> 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, Sonia gold became mostly associated with priests/temples and Marco Nadler Institute 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 Archaeologyhow gold was possibly used by households in ancient Mesopotamia, see: Nemet-Nejat, noKaren Rhea. 1998. ''Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia''. 12The Greenwood Press “Daily Life through History” Series. Tel AvivWestport, Conn: Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University Publications SectionGreenwood Press, pg. 123.</ref> What the finds at Nahal Qanah Gold, for private households, becomes a way for families to preserve and Varna Necropolis show is that early from gold's history it had already become an object that differentiated pass on wealth , given its great value and status in societiesnon-perishable nature.[[File:Peru Zeremonialmesser Sican EthnM.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 3. HoweverA ceremonial knife from Peru, dated to 850-1500 AD, the finds in the south Levant showed showing that gold was even more restricted, perhaps to developed independently in the most elite members of societyNew World. ]]In both many cases, where gold has been discovered, it was found in the form of body jewelleryas an alloy with silver (i.e., electrum). At times, gold was also alloyed with lead, showing indicating that its early development led to it becoming associated as a body adornmentpure gold was generally more rare. <ref>For more information on the analysis of the Nahal Qanah findsabout gold in Mesopotamia, see: ShalevLeick, SarielGwendolyn. 19952010. “Metals in Ancient Israel: Archaeological Interperetation Historical Dictionary of Chemical AnalysisMesopotamia. 2nd ed.” Israel Journal Historical Dictionaries of Chemistry 35 (2)Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras, no. 26. Lanham: 109–16Scarecrow 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.

In Egypt and Mesopotamia, By the two main regions where early urban cultures developed, gold was used by the 5th 3rd millennium BC. In Egypt, significant mining was likely already taking place in areas where gold deposits were commonly found, mainly becomes symbolic with royal authority in areas of southern Egypt and Nubia. <ref>For more information about gold mining One has to remember the Great Pyramid, and other pyramids, were adorned with gold in Egypt, see: Klemm, Rosemarie, and Dietrich Klemm. 2013. Gold and Gold Mining in Ancient Egypt and Nubia: Geoarchaeology particular the top part of the Ancient Gold Mining Sites in the Egyptian and Sudanese Eastern Deserts. 2012pyramid was likely made of gold so that it could shine at a great distance. New York: Springer.</ref> In Mesopotamiapart, for Egypt, the first shine of gold appears in resembled the 5th millennium BC during the Ubaid period. We begin to get references to gold in texts by sun's shinning characteristics, representing the 3rd millennium BC, showing it becoming an important object chief god Ra for imports. However, 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 rareEgyptians.<ref>For more information about description on the qualities of gold in Mesopotamiaand its association with Ra, see: LeickPerl, GwendolynLeila, and Erika Wells. 20101988. Historical Dictionary of Mesopotamia. 2nd ed. Historical Dictionaries ''Mummies, Tombs and Treasure : Secrets of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras, noEgypt''. 26. LanhamLondon : Scarecrow Press, pg. 79Hodder and Stoughton.</ref>

By To obtain more gold for both domestic consumption and trade, expeditions became organized by the early 3rd millennium BC, gold becomes symbolic with royal authority in Egypt. Expeditions were now organized 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. Similar to other regions, gold was generally found as part of 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 region of the Andes, 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 burial context, similar to the Old World discoveries. <ref> For more information about the earliest gold artefacts 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 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 Peru, dated to 850-1500 AD, showing that gold developed independently in the New World. ]]

In Perhaps this reflects the cases where gold was found at relatively early dates, several characteristics are evidentnext life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratification. For oneIn fact, gold is often found as social hierarchy developed in funerary contextsancient societies, suggesting it was both a status symbol in life but also something which seems to be taken to the next life. Interestingly, true both in many of the finds from the New and Old and New World indicate that Worlds, gold, despite its rarity, was from its onset a way to display common among societies that differentiated individuals in power and prestige. So in the afterlife and as a way addition to remind others of being evident in the power finds from Bulgaria and prestige of the individual to members of society after they had passed away. <ref>Boylesouthern Levant, Robert W. 1987. Gold History and Genesis of Deposits. Bostonit is also evident in Egypt, 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. KingshipPeru, and by extension Mesopotamia, showing the state, begin to utilize gold more frequently for burials and in many diversity of these cases it was a way to display power in the present and afterlifecultures where this trait develops.

Perhaps this reflects the next life or afterlife similarly is characterized by social stratificationNevertheless, there are key differences with how gold was treated in early societies. In factthe ancient Near East, gold was often found as jewelry with women, suggesting women often wore gold as social hierarchy developed representing family wealth or were often the ones who literally wore the family's wealth. <ref> For further information on women in ancient societiesNear East society and wealth, see: Chavalas, Mark W., which seems to be true both ed. 2012. ''Women in the New and Old Worlds, Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World''. London: Routledge.</ref> One can consider gold was common among societies that differentiated individuals in power and prestigewomen's jewellery as a repository of the family wealth. 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 gold but the family wealth is evident in finds best shown off utilizing the female members. For example, the burial of the Queen or Priestess of Puabi from Peru, Bulgaria, Egypt, southern Levant, and Mesopotamiathe ancient city of Ur is one example of this (Figure 4).

Nevertheless, there are key differences with how gold was treated in early societies. 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 in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World. London: Routledge. </ref> This could be one reason we find female burials often have large quantities of gold. For example, the burial of the Queen or Priestess of Puabi from the ancient city of Ur is one example of this (Figure 4). [[File:Reconstructed sumerian headgear necklaces british museum.JPG|thumbnail|Figure 4. The gold headdress of Queen/Priestess Puabi]] It is also by the 3rd 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 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 a standard used to measure value of other commodities. Between In fact, gold, between 1600-1200 BC, or the Late Bronze Age saw gold , was 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. <ref> For more information on the Late Bronze Age gold standard, see: Edwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen, ed. 2003. ''History of the Middle East and the Aegean Region C. 1380 - 1000 B.C. '' 3. ed., 6. printing. The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 2, Pt. 2. Cambridge: 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 and its role in ancient societies, see: Bernstein, Peter L. 2004. The Power of Gold: The History of an Obsession. Illustrated ed. New York: Wiley. </ref>

 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>