Beaded necklace in the shape of a medallion

This necklace is worn by the Haratin people in the Ben Abbas region in southern Algeria. It is used as jewellery and also has an amulet function. The two square motifs on the chest probably symbolise a saint's grave (koubba). The necklace is tied around the neck with a copper lock. \The entire shape of the necklace appears to be inspired by a buffalo head. The buffalo is seen as an animal that symbolizes order and stability. According to a legend in North Africa, the globe rests on the horns of a buffalo. This buffalo can cause earthquakes when it moves the earth from one horn to the other. The buffalo head motif appears notably in the jewelry, weapons, and garments of the Tuaregs, as well as on petroglyphs and in mask forms (H.Hugot and M. Bruggman: 1999, Le Quellec: 1993, Huard: 1964). \The motif of the buffalo head is almost identical to a letter of the Tifinagh (a Berber script), namely the letter Gh which is written as a Y shape.Ó The necklace consists of two bands of coloured beads strung together to close around the neck. The bands are decorated with diamond shaped compartments. In the middle, a shield-shaped decoration is sewn on the chest, which is strung in the same way as the bands. The shield-shaped decoration has the form of a medallion and is divided into four diamond-shaped compartments. The motif on the two diamond-shaped compartments in the breast area is reminiscent of the dome of a shrine. The edges of the necklace are trimmed with black beads. At the bottom the necklace is decorated with fringes that are attached to the jewelry with copper rings. Some of the beads are probably made of glass and others of plastic.