How did prehistoric people decorate their bodies before precious metals were discovered?

Before the discovery of precious metals, prehistoric people adorned their bodies using a variety of natural materials sourced from their immediate environments. These ornaments were often transformed from their raw state into elaborate forms through mechanical or physical treatment to satisfy aesthetic concepts.12

Coastal populations frequently utilized shells, fishbones, fish teeth, and colored pebbles to create necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and headdresses. In inland regions, people relied on materials from animals hunted for food, such as reindeer antlers, mammoth tusks, and various animal bones. Other common materials included bird feathers, animal skins, amber, and lignite.12

Beads were a significant form of decoration, often worn for both aesthetic and magical purposes. Early examples included plant seeds, small fossils, and pierced canine teeth from animals like Arctic foxes and chamois. By the Upper Paleolithic, more sophisticated items such as carved mammoth ivory beads were common. These ornaments were worn on various parts of the body, including the neck, hips, ears, and even attached to eyelashes.3