Natural Science in Archaeology

Chapter 5
Gemstones, Seal Stones, and Ceremonial Stones
5.1 Introduction
Human beings have been fascinated by brightly colored minerals since prehistoric
times. The earliest gemstones probably were found as small, polished pebbles lying
in rivers and streams or in deposits of heavily weathered aggregates (Arem 1977).
Initially, these objects may have been carried by hand or in small containers as
highly prized personal possessions. Some were tied together or pierced for use as
beads, and eventually adhesives were developed in order to secure the stones to
metal settings. The art of gem carving dates at least back to the 7th millennium BCE
in the Indus Valley.
Gemstones very early became associated with folklore and superstition. Without
an understanding of mineral formation or chemical composition, people developed
myths as a way to explain the colors of gemstones. According to ancient folklore of
India, for example, gems were formed when the blood of a slain heavenly dragon fell
to earth in droplets, crystallizing into stones of various colors (Jangl and Jangl 1989,
p. 3). In some societies, individual gemstone colors were believed to have magical
influence over the lives of humans. They could bring health or sickness, luck or
misfortune, depending on the type of stone. In medieval Europe, gems were thought
to reflect the morality and health of the wearer and certain stones were believed to
lose their color as a result of the immoral behavior or death of the owner (Kunz
1971, p. 24). Some of these associations are provided in this chapter, but the treatment
is not extensive.
Gemstones were also important cultural indicators of social rank, profession, and
religious belief. In ancient Aztec society, only the gods, priests, and royalty were
permitted to wear turquoise (Pogue 1915). The association of gemstones with the
sacred is also found in the Old Testament, where the high priests of the temple wore
a breastplate containing 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel (Wright and
Chadbourne 1970). In medieval times these 12 gems became affiliated with the 12
signs of the zodiac. The modern custom of birthstones is derived from this tradition.
Because highly valued stones were not always locally available, gemstones serve
as a valuable indicator of trade patterns. A well-known example of this is found in
the ancient use of lapis lazuli. Although Afghanistan was the only known source
G. Rapp, Archaeomineralogy, 2nd ed., Natural Science in Archaeology,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-540-78594-1_5, © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009
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