What Is The First Piece Of Gold Jewellery?

Gold is one of the most valuable materials in the world and has been used to make jewellery for thousands of years.

Part of the reason for this is how long-lasting gold is. As the metal does not oxidise or corrode, it has an exceptionally long lifespan compared to other metals.

This is why Fope jewellery, as well as other necklaces and earrings made of solid gold, do not rust even though they are constantly touching our skin.

Gold is a very easy material to work with as well, which is why gold jewellery has only increased in complexity over time.

The history of golden amulets, necklaces and rings spans thousands of years, with the first examples dating back as far as 4569BC.

The Oldest Gold

The Varna Necropolis in Bulgaria was a burial site that belonged to the Copper Age Varnas civilisation based in the northeast of the country.

The Varnas had a particularly sophisticated belief system when it came to the afterlife, and so many of the graves were symbolically filed with golden gifts and artefacts.

These range from golden bull symbols to rings, beaded necklaces and bracelets. These were buried with what is believed to be an elite in Varna society.

These finds are dated thousands of years before the Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians. Both civilisations also saw gold as a symbol of power and importance, both in life and in death.