Bracelets And Bangles Are As Old As Mankind
If two things set humans apart from every other species on the planet, it’s the fact that we wear clothes and we like to adorn ourselves with things. Anthropologists have found evidence of personal adornments like bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry as far back as they’ve found tools. It just seems to be something we do.
It may sound silly, but maybe it is because we have a deep sense of insecurity as a species. Being without fur, we are inherently vulnerable. In order to survive, we adapted by becoming clever. That is something we are very proud of as a species, but maybe it actually shouldn’t be. After all, we became clever because we lacked something other animals had.
Whatever the reason, adorn ourselves we do. One reason we do so is to identify ourselves as part of a group or tribe. That is obvious when you look at indigenous cultures. It’s not so obvious, though, when you look at the hodge-podge of styles and fashions that we have in western cultures. Look more closely, though, and it becomes very obvious.
As human beings, we need to feel like we’re part of a tribe. The whole is too overwhelming. So, we pick a subculture to belong to, according to our talents, our aspirations, our backgrounds and a host of other reasons, both conscious and unconscious. Some of us identify with goths and wear clothing and jewelry that reflects that tribal affiliation. Some of us wear gold watches, in order to display our affiliation with the more affluent classes.
Another thing that compels us to wear specific adornments is the special occasion. We wear one kind of clothes for dating, another kind for working and yet another for going to war. There is also appropriate jewelry such as a necklace and makeup for every occasion. This is exactly what our prehistoric forefathers did, too. There is nothing new about it.
One more reason why we wear bangles and other adornments is to display our status in society. While many of the things we wear are functional, they too reflect our status. If we work outdoors, we may wear a straw hat. However, a man who wears a top hat is not wearing it to shade his face. He is wearing it to show his status.
Aside from all the deeper inclinations of personal adornments, there is the personal factor. We like to express our individuality, too. That’s why there are so many styles of jewelry to choose from. While we may be part of a group, we are individuals, too.
Next time you are looking at bracelets and other personal adornments in your jewelry box, think about the story they are telling. It will be a story as old as humankind.
