TRADITIONAL ALGERIAN JEWELRY, IDENTITY AND APPURTENANCE - “ALZARUF” OR “THREAD OF THE SOUL” AS AN EXAMPLE

Traditional jewelry represents one of the most important tributaries of a community's identity due to the material and symbolic structures it contains, carrying the values, customs, beliefs and traditions of the community.Each piece expresses its popular imagination and the myths, stories and folk tales preserved in the collective memory.Jewelry also represents an artistic profession and an ancient traditional craft that has been passed down from generation to generation.In this study, we will highlight the "Zrouf" or "Thread of the soul" as an important element of traditional Algerian head jewelry, which reflects artistic taste and expresses identity and belonging.