Vintage
Turquoise Bead Information
Native
American Turquoise Bead History
Prehistoric
Indians mined turquoise and turned it into jewelry — primarily
drilled beads and other hanging ornaments. However, archeological
findings include appliqué on shell and other rock, which means
that turquoise was probably used with wood for ear decoration as well
(the wood would have deteriorated). Extensive evidence of prehistoric
mining operations has been found in several areas: the Cerillos and
Burro Mountain regions of New Mexico, the Kingman and Morenci regions
of Arizona, and the Conejos area of Colorado. Turquoise jewelry found
in southern Mexico and in excavated mounds east of the Mississippi has
been identified as originating from New Mexico’s Cerillos mining
area.
The
most famous of the Native American Vintage Turquoise Bead finds
was located at Pueblo Bonito in Chaco Canyon. Here archeologists found
a large amount of ancient Anasazi Turquoise Beads, along with pottery,
tools and more. The same types of bead deposits were found in several
of the mining claims in the Cerrillos Mining District outside of Santa
Fe, New Mexico.
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Egyptian
Turquoise Bead History
Did
you know that archaeologists excavated the oldest group of Turquoise
Jewelry known in the world at the cemetery of the royal tombs at
Abydos, in upper Egypt? Gold and Turquoise bracelets, among other items,
found are now in the Cairo Museum. These items are claimed to be from
approximately 5500 B.C.
The
Egyptian loved turquoise. They made many, many beads. Some of these
beads date back to 5500 B.C. The Egyptians made many kinds of Turquoise
beads such as, barrel beads, heishi, and roundel beads. Most of
these beads were mixed with Carnelian, obsidian, glass and Moss agate
beads.
Egyptian Turquoise Jewelry
can be seen today in the Cairo Museum and other major museums world
wide.
Tibetan
Turquoise Bead History
Mined
from the Himilayas, Tibetan
Turquoise is the most sought after type of turquoise for its beautiful
colors, veins, and its cultural significance amoung the Tibetan and
Nepalese people. Turquoise is found on nearly all types of jewelry worn
by the the various ethnic groups that live among the Himilayas, and
continues today to be a highly valued item.
Turquoise,
with its unique sky blue hue, is among the oldest known gemstones. It
graced the necks of Egyptian Pharaohs and adorned the ceremonial dress
of early native Americans as well as Tibetans and has been attributed
with healing powers, prosperity and spirituality.
It
is a known fact that every person in Tibet and Napal ones at least one
piece of Turquoise. Many have vast amounts of turquoise beads, Turquoise
bracelets, Turquoise pendants, Turquoise earrings, Turquoise rings,
even Turquoise encrusted headstalls for their horses. Most tibetans
wear turquoise beads on a daily basis and have had this practice for
thousands of years.
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