East African Personal Decoration


All over the world, in most cultures, people use personal decoration to make themselves distinctive. Elaborate decoration can make public statements about status, prestige and personal beliefs.

Jewelry, tattoos, piercing, clothing and hair styles, scarification and changing body size and shape have all been used.

Archaeologists often find jewelry and other evidence of personal decoration. Sometimes these give clues about ancient social organization, social change, politics and religion.



East African Personal Decoration



These photographs were taken in Tanzania in 1960.

Imagine an archaeologist of the future was to find these items of jewelry in the remains of a house. What could an archaeologist infer from these items?