How 'bling' began 4,000 years ago

'Bling' is associated with rappers such as 50 Cent

Schoolchildren are to learn that the modern fashion for "bling" has its roots in the Bronze and Iron ages.

An initiative running in the Highlands and Islands will attempt to show where a fascination with wearing large jewellery - and lots of it - began.

Historic Scotland's Kings of Bling project has started with Struan Primary School on the Isle of Skye.

Pupils in Inverness-shire and Ross and Cromarty will also get an insight into ancient "bling".

The scheme involves trips to Bronze and Iron age sites.

Struan pupils were taken on a visit to Dun Beag Broch, an ancient building believed to have been occupied until the 18th Century.

As part of the scheme experts will explain how jewellery was a mark of powerand will show examples of massive bronze armlets and lunula necklaces.

Youngsters will also get lessons on bronze axe and spearheads and flint arrowheads.

ANCIENT HISTORY True bronze is a combination of 10% tin and 90% copper Europe-wide trade in bronze expanded from the island of Crete The Iron Age in Britain lasted for about 800 years, from 750 BC to Ad 43

Tricia Weeks, of Historic Scotland's education unit, said: "The aim of the initiative is to encourage pupils to take an interest in their local heritage by introducing them to prehistoric sites in the region and replica artefacts from the Bronze and Iron Ages.

"This teaches the children how such archaeological evidence is used to help us understand what daily life in prehistory was like."

Further sessions are planned to run during September for schools in Caithness, Sutherland and Inverness.

The Bronze Age came to Britain from Europe about 4,000 years ago and historians see it as a crucial link between the Stone and Iron Ages.