First written reference to pearls

[Richard W. Wise]

I found an Assyrian reference. Anyone find anything older that 2450 BC?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

The oldest I was aware was in the Epic of Gilgamesh but, at best, that would have been 2100 BC (to be sure, I would have to check if the oldest fragments include the 11th tablet and the pearl divers reference I was thinking of).

Not a direct reference but perhaps a curious tangent. The Egyptian hieroglyph for gold (S12 in the Gardiner list) is sometimes described as a pearl necklace. However, I have not yet found a source that explains this (why pearl instead of simply bead necklace?).

 

[sanahamilton24]

I didn't know pears of that much age are still out there.