Afghanistan: Lapis Lazuli from the Hindu Kush mountains. Photo by Ra'ike (CC BY-SA License). Lapis lazuli (sometimes abbreviated to lapis) is a relatively rare semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue colour. Lapis lazuli has been collected from mines in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan for over 6,000 years and there are sources that are found as far east as the region around Lake Baikal in Siberia. Trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian and ancient Sumerian sites.

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Size: 5250px × 3293px
Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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