Gemstones Seal Stones and Ceremonial Stones

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.