Many engravers in ancient times used engraving for the same reason we do today — to make or decorate things that were needed in everyday life. The same Mesopotamian carvers who made seals also carved and polished thousands upon thousands of beads for use in daily activities. Cloisonné work of gemstones set into gold was also quite popular among these people. Engravers in Central and South America worked primarily with jade to create earplugs, masks and plaques, among other household items.
One of the most significant purposes of engraving through the ages has been to record history. While the Mesopotamians were carving seals, gemstone carving was reaching a peak in Egypt. One of the most commonly engraved products found in Egyptian civilization was the scarab, an oval-shaped carving that looks something like a beetle, which was often worn as an amulet to remind Egyptians of the afterlife. The important connection with history, however, is the engraving on the scarabs. The rounded back of the beetle was usually carved with a design, and the flat side included hieroglyphics that ranged from prayers for the dead to records of memorable events in Egyptian society.