Afghanistan: A carved elephant made from Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli is a relatively rare, semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color. Lapis lazuli has been mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years, and trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian sites and lapis beads at neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and even as far from Afghanistan as Mauritania.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Arpingstone (PD)

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

Silk Road