Mary Ann Conger, age 14, of Pittsfield, Mass., for her question:

WHEN WAS GOLD FIRST USED TO MAKE JEWELRY?

Goldsmithing is the art of making jewlery and other objects from gold. It is one of the oldest forms of art known to man. Ancient goldsmiths were skilled at shaping and soldering gold as early as 3500 B.C.

The oldest examples of goldsmithing come from Egypt and Mesopotamia. In England, the art of goldsmithing goes back at least to 1180, when the first known goldsmiths' guild was established. The English goldsmiths acted as money lenders and bankers in addition to making jewelry and other gold and silver objects.

Goldsmithing probably reached its greatest development during the Renaissance in Italy. Benvenuto Cellini was probably the greatest Italian goldsmith.

Today goldsmithing is part of the jeweler's art. But methods of making gold objects have changed very little from ancient days.