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Prehistoric Indians mined turquoise and turned it into jewelry consisting primarily drilled beads and other ornamental object. Extensive confirmation of prehistoric mining operations has been found in numerous areas: the Cerillos and Burro Mountain regions of New Mexico, the Kingman and Morenci regions of Arizona, and the Conejos region of Colorado.

Further evidence of turquoise originate in Hohokam excavations in southern Arizona dates back to 200 B.C. Likewise, turquoise from central Mexico dates back to about 600–700 B.C., from South America, 900 B.C., some even earlier.

Jewelry styles were diverse in every American Indian tribe, but the differences were less marked than with other arts forms, because jewelry and the materials used for making it was essential trade object prior to European arriving in America. After colonization, Native American jewelry making traditions remained unyielding, rather than being replaced by new resources and techniques. After Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo artists learned silversmith from the Spanish in the 1800's, metal jewelry arts flourished in the Southwest, with distinctive Native American jewelry such as turquoise inlays developed from the blending of the new techniques with traditional designs.

The most primitive work consisted of hammered work with engraved by handmade designs Turquoise was an extremely popular and appeared in silver jewelry around 1880. It is important to note that turquoise, as a jewelry item, had existed for centuries first noted in the Hohokam excavation. It had been used in combination with other stones, shells, and metals long before 1880. Even so, the early Indians attached the turquoise to the stone, shell or metal.

Early on silversmith used Mexican and U.S. coins for their silver. Often, received there metal from locals, in the variety of candlesticks, tea pots, etc. to melt for their work. They preferred to use melted Mexican silver coins because of the convenience (9275 fine). The next preferable source was whatever sterling silver was available (925 fine). Least desirable, but most obtainable and resilient, was silver from melted U.S. coins (900 fines). In 1890, the U.S. made it unlawful to melt or deface (by soldering on hooks, eyes, jump rings or by “doming”) coins for beads. However, this was complicated to implement, and U.S. coinage continued to be used in the developing silver industry. Now that there was a demand for materials and tools, the reservation traders began to stockpile the material need. Earlier piece were not marked but the silversmith and dating items can be somewhat cumbersome.

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Written by Nolan of Annetiques, Inc., Langhorne, PA.

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