Peruvian necklace identified as oldest gold artifact in the Americas
{{date|April 1, 2008}}

[[Image:Jiska2002.jpg|thumb|Excavations at {{w|Jiskairumoko}} in 2002. {{Image source|[[w:User:Nathancraig|Nathancraig]]}}]]
The oldest known gold artifact in the Americas is a necklace from [[Peru]], according to [[University of Arizona]] anthropology professor Mark Aldenderfer.  The necklace comes from a village in the {{w|Jiskairumoko}} range near {{w|Lake Titicaca}} and consists of gold that had been hammered and rolled into nine cylindrical beads, then strung with turquoise on a wool string.

{{w|Radiocarbon dating}} places the manufacture of the necklace from 2155 to 1936 B.C., which makes this item about 600 years older than the next oldest gold artifact that has been discovered the Americas and the oldest example of metalworking of any kind in the Americas. 

Gold metallurgy is almost always associated with agricultural societies.  Since the materials used in the necklace are not found in the {{w|Lake Titicaca basin|Titicaca basin}}, the existence of the necklace implies the region had trade routes and a hereditary elite.

Although this discovery was made in 2004, Professor Alenderfer and his team delayed publication in order to have the gold chemically analyzed and to minimize the risk of looters damaging the site before excavation was complete.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
{{wikipediapars|[[w:Jiskairumoko|Jiskairumoko]] and [[w:Peruvian Ancient Cultures|Peruvian Ancient Cultures]]}}
*{{source|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331200242.htm
|title=Oldest Gold Artifacts in the Americas Discovered
|author=
|pub=Science Daily
|date=April 1, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://uanews.org/node/19071
|title=Anthropology Professor Mark Aldenderfer led an excavation in the Peruvian Andes that uncovered the earliest gold jewelry dating back 4,000 years
|author=Jeff Harrison
|pub=University of Arizona
|date=March 31, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN3141194020080331
|title=Necklace is oldest gold artifact in the Americas
|author=Will Dunham and Maggie Fox
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 31, 2008}}

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[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Peru]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:University of Arizona]]
[[Category:Archaeology]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Tucson, Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Agriculture]]
[[Category:Jewellery]]
Nathancraig
The oldest known gold artifact in the Americas is a necklace from Peru, according to University of Arizona anthropology professor Mark Aldenderfer.  The necklace comes from a village in the Lake Titicaca and consists of gold that had been hammered and rolled into nine cylindrical beads, then strung with turquoise on a wool string.

 places the manufacture of the necklace from 2155 to 1936 B.C., which makes this item about 600 years older than the next oldest gold artifact that has been discovered the Americas and the oldest example of metalworking of any kind in the Americas. 

Gold metallurgy is almost always associated with agricultural societies.  Since the materials used in the necklace are not found in the Titicaca basin, the existence of the necklace implies the region had trade routes and a hereditary elite.

Although this discovery was made in 2004, Professor Alenderfer and his team delayed publication in order to have the gold chemically analyzed and to minimize the risk of looters damaging the site before excavation was complete.
South America Peru History University of Arizona Archaeology Science and technology Tucson, Arizona Arizona United States North America Agriculture Jewellery