The Squash Blossom Necklace

The squash blossom necklace is the representative piece of Navajo jewelry. The distinctive "naja" is crescent-shaped. While it was taken from the Spanish, the crescent-shaped pendant symbol derives from the Moors who had occupied Spain for some 700 years. The naja symbol is a legacy of the Moors' Islamic influence. Other Native Americans also use this design in their jewelry.

Curious how European history and its clashes or confluence with Islamic culture found their way into the squash blossom necklace!