Adornment & Status
📋 What it is
Jewelry and body adornment (beads, metal, shells, tattoos, paint) can mark wealth, belonging, life stage, or protection. The MATERIAL often carries the meaning — rare metals and stones for status, shared beadwork for community.
🗣️ Coach says
Adornment is a message worn on the body. Ask what a piece is MADE of and who could get that material — the answer usually explains why it mattered. Read it respectfully, as identity, not costume.
🧠 Memory hook
Adornment sends a message — its rarity or shared craft signals status or belonging.
😲 Whoa!
Cowrie shells were used as both jewelry AND money across several regions for centuries — the same object could adorn you and buy your dinner.
✅ Quick check: Why does the MATERIAL of an ornament often reveal its meaning?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Because rare or hard-to-get materials signalled status, while shared local materials signalled belonging.
Access to the material is what tied an ornament to wealth, rank, or community identity.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Think of a piece of jewelry someone keeps for a special reason — what does it “say” about them?