Jewellery is a universal form of adornment. Jewellery made from shells, stones and bones survives from prehistoric times. It is likely that from an early date it was worn as protection from the dangers of life or as a mark of status or rank. In the ancient world, the discovery of how to work metals was an important stage in the development of the art of jewellery. Gold, for example, a rare and highly valued material, was buried with the dead so as to accompany its owner in the afterlife.
