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Lapis lazuli, lapis
lazuli jewelry,
lapis lazuli bead,
lapis lazuli
bracelet, lapis
lazuli earrings
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Lapis Lazuli is a opaque - translucent semiprecious gemstone
composed of lazurite and calcite
with all kinds of shades in the blue spectrum.
Lapis Lazuli
was very sought-after in the ancient world for all kind of
jewelry - we know- which
was at that time mainly the area of present day middle east
and Egypt.
One
of the very first use of lapis lazuli for jewelry
was discovered in a 4500 year
old cemetery in the ancient city of Ur on the Euphrates
river in present day southern Iraq.
Plenty of Sumerian artifacts were discovered in this ancient
burial site.
Among the Mesopotamian treasures discovered in the late 1920
-ties by British archaeologist C. Leonard Woolley were
jewelry made from lapis lazuli, carnelian, gold and
alabaster bowls.
The discovery and opening of the royal tomb in Ur gave a
interesting insight into the live and -death- of the the
ancient Sumerian culture, actually, according to the Bible
Ur was the home town of Abraham.
Some other objects found was a
lyre with a gold and lapis lazuli bull's head, Lady Puabi’s
lapis lazuli and carnelian jewelry, an electrum drinking
tumbler, and a gold ostrich egg—as well as Lady Puabi’s
headdress and other treasures.
The royal cemetery tomb of Lady
Puabi,
like the tomb of King
Tutankhamen, was a very special find since it was still
intact, no looting happened. The tomb had a vaulted chamber
set at the bottom of a pit. the lady was buried lying in a
coffin on a wooden stand.
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A cylinder seal with her name on
it was found on her body. The seal was carved in cuneiform
and written in Sumerian language, probably the world's first
written language.
 Lady Puabi had a headdress of
gold leaves, gold ribbons, strands of lapis lazuli and
carnelian beads, a tall comb of gold, chokers, necklaces,
and a pair of large, crescent-shaped earrings. Her upper
body was covered in strings of beads made of precious metals
and semi-precious stones stretching from her shoulders to
her belt, while rings decorated all her fingers. An ornate
diadem made of thousands of small lapis lazuli beads with
gold pendants of animals and plants was on a table near her
head. Many more artifacts were discovered by Leonard Woolley
in the cemetery.
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The
Precious Gem Stones of Afghanistan - Emerald, Ruby, Lapis and More
I recently had the opportunity to
work in Afghanistan as a translator for the US Department of
Defense. I met with the head of the Department f Mining and
Minerals of Kunar province, Afghanistan. He came asking for support
from the US forces to improve the situation for his extremely under
budgeted office that was working to stop people from looting the
national treasure of gem stones. It has one the finest quality
Lapis, Emerald and Ruby in the world which are often extracted
illegally using improper methods such as explosives. There are many
gem stone selling shops in almost all US and Nato military bases in
Afghanistan.
My curiosity for gems and Afghan rugs brought me to the
Chicken Street, in capital city Kabul. This is the largest market
for Afghani
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crafts and gems. The trick to find
better bargain is to not let the shop keepers know that you are a
foreigner. Otherwise, you have to be a really good negotiator. I was
amazed to see the raw uncut Ruby that looked like any ordinary rock.
If I had found it I would have probably thrown it away. The uncut
Lapis Lazuly is sold
by kilos.
| If you want to know
more on various precious stones have a look here,
Chantaburi in Thailand is the main trading point
on precious stones in Asia, most people just don't
know it. |
Afghanistan is primary known for its Lapis Lazuli production, but
now more and more precious stones such as Emerald that is
similar to Columbian Emerald from north eastern Punjsher valley, and
fine quality Ruby from Jegdelag mines. Also, various colors of
Tourmaline and kunzite from bright blue to sparkling peach colors
have emerged from Hindu Kush mountain of Afghanistan. The harsh
climate on top of these mountains and the safety of miners due to
unstable political climate might be diminishing the production of
these valuable stones. However the future of their gemology will
once again rock when the dust settles .
My parents are from Afghanistan. I was born there but I lived
most of my early life in Pakistan before coming to the United States
about twenty years ago. I served in the US Navy for eight years. I
worked for DOD as a translator in Afghanistan. By Ghulam Abbas |
Thailand's Chantaburi
the trading place in Asia for precious and semi precious stones.
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