Gold was used to make most jewelry in ancient times, since, even though it is a precious metal, it is easy to find. Native gold occurs as small nuggets carried along by river currents. By the time of the Roman empire, people had begun to mine certain gold ores. The gold mines closest to Syria were located in the Caucasus region. It is certain, however, that goldsmiths played an important role in transforming gold into ornaments, for Pliny the Elder claims that the Phoenicians were responsible for the invention of gold and the methods of processing it. Gold is very ductile and this property makes it ideal for jewelry-making, since it can be stretched without breaking. Agate is a semiprecious stone with different colored bands produced by successive layers of minerals being deposited as the stone is formed. In the Middle East, agates are found in India.
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