Earrings sit near the face, where most of us look while speaking to someone, so they're an immediate indicator of someone's rank, sense of style, or wealth. Ancient Sumerian women's earrings are the earliest earrings archaeologists have discovered—they date from perhaps 2500 B.C.E. and are typically gold hoops.
Earrings have remained popular for more than 7000 years, and originated in ancient Asia. Egyptians would once wear earrings to signify the fact they were wealthy or of a higher class. However, in ancient Rome, earrings were worn only by slaves, and in ancient Greece by prostitutes.
The archaeological pieces of evidence, especially from Egypt, suggest that men's earrings date back to 7000 BC. But, then, wall carvings indicate earrings worn by Persian men. Back then, only the ones with wealth and ranking positions wore men's jewelry. It communicated their royalty.
Ear piercing tradition is said to have started about 5000 years ago by the Europe's oldest mummy named Otzi, who was found on the border between Austria and Italy with her ears pierced.
Gold, silver and bronze hoop earrings were prevalent in the Minoan Civilization (2000–1600 BCE) and examples can be seen on frescoes on the Aegean island of Santorini, Greece. During the late Minoan and early Mycenaean periods of Bronze Age Greece hoop earrings with conical pendants were fashionable.
Jewelry Trends in Ancient Africa
Popular looks included earrings, nose rings, headdresses, headbands, clasps, corsets, anklets, and more. Materials used for jewelry depended on what was available locally although trade systems were in place that allowed for outside influence.
During the Song dynasty that women started to piece their two ears and wore er dang; these earrings could be made with gold and pearls. Wearing earrings among Chinese women then became popular in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The oldest mummy ever discovered in Egypt had ear piercings. Ancient African civilizations had customs of piercing lips and tongue. In fact, the earliest evidence of facial piercing was discovered in 2020 in the skeleton of a man who lived about 12,000 years ago.
Did Vikings have piercings? Surprisingly, Vikings did not have ear piercings, not any other type of piercing, for that matter. They were conscious of their appearance, wore plenty of jewelry such as necklaces and rings, and encouraged self-expression, but piercings was not something that ever seemed to take off.
The Vikings did not wear hoop earrings – not as we know them today. There is no evidence that hoop earrings were ever popular among these people. Instead, they probably used simple studs or pins in their ears.
Earrings In the Early Jomon period, a kind of earring that did not require earlobes to be pierced was worn. This type of earring found only on the Kanto plain, consisted of a flat, circular stone with a slit to insert the lobe in.
Egyptians adorned themselves in a variety of embellishments including rings, earrings, bracelets, pectorals, necklaces, crowns, girdles and amulets. Because jewelry was so universal and pervasive we can learn a vast amount from studying even a single bead.
During the 13th Century, the Catholic Church forbade ear piercing completely. This decision was made because of the stigma that surrounded body modification, that people should not alternate their body in any way because they were created in an image of God.
Neanderthals Came First
Historians believe that by stringing together animal teeth and shells they may have created the world's first jewelry around 130,000 years ago. In Croatia, researchers found an era set of eagle talons they believed were part of a man's most likely worn necklace or bracelet.
Ear piercing practice dates back to about 5,000 years ago. This is backed by evidence of a mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman, a man who lived during the 4th millennium. It was discovered that his ears had piercings on them.
The earliest known piercing was discovered on “Otzi the Iceman”, the oldest mummified body in the world, found in 1991 in an Austrian Glacier, where tests show him to be over 5000 years old. He was discovered to have had pierced ears!
The oldest mummified remains ever discovered had earrings, attesting to the existence of the practice more than 5,000 years ago. Nose piercing is documented as far back as 1500 BCE.
Some speculate that the tradition of Indian nose piercings began with the arrival of the Mughals from Central Asia in the 16th century. Others cite ancient Ayurvedic texts published between the 1st and 8th century BCE that suggest it has been around for much longer.
Invariably initiates might have their ears or nose pierced. During the Initiation process a boy was trained in the skills, beliefs and knowledge he needed for his role as an adult in Aboriginal society. Many initiation ceremonies were secret and only attended by men. Women were forbidden to be present.
Exodus 21:1-6
“Pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.”
Earliest Evidence of Facial Piercing in Africa Discovered in 12,000-Year-Old Skeleton. The earliest evidence of facial piercing in Africa has been discovered in the skeletal remains of a young man who lived around 12,000 years ago.
A wide variety of jewelry types were produced in the Hellenistic period—earrings, necklaces, pendants, pins, bracelets, armbands, thigh bands, finger rings, wreaths, diadems, and other elaborate hair ornaments (1987.220).
Ear piercing is an ancient Indian practice, which is also known as Karna Vedha. It is one of the 16 sacraments, rituals and sacrifices done to mark the various stages of human life and to signify cultural heritage and upbringing.
The Egyptians became very skilled when making jewelry from turquoise, metals like gold and silver, and small beads. Both men and women adorned themselves with earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces and neck collars that were brightly colored.