Why is turquoise so common in Native American jewelry?
Because turquiose was in the area, people who inhabited the area used it. “Turquoise has been native to jewelry in the Southwest for over 2000 years” It isn’t used in all Native American jewelry, mostly that of tribes located in the Southwest United States. The following site has information about the tribest that used it most, and a long history of native american jewelry.
Although chemically just a hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminum, turquoise with its beautiful range of blue-green colors has stirred a passion in people of different cultures for centuries. Turquoise has been found in Egyptian tombs, it has been used in early Persia (Iran), Tibet and China. In our own Southwest, turquoise mines have been worked by Native Americans long before the birth of Christ. Turquoise with its many colors and varieties is considered one of the finest gemstones and like the people who wear it each piece is just as individual. Turquoise is commonly associated with southwestern north american indians primarily because of its availablility to these cultures.
