Karlis Karklins - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Karlis Karklins

Unpublished report, 1996

A series of protohistoric and historic burials were recovered from the Asotin site in southeast W... more A series of protohistoric and historic burials
were recovered from the Asotin site in southeast
Washington in 1956 and 1972. The historic Nez Perce
burials contained numerous historic grave goods
including glass and brass trade beads dating
approximately from 1850 to 1865. The protohistoric and
possibly prehistoric graves contained few grave goods
except for abundant shell beads. Incised dentalia
beads exhibited typical Plateau design elements and are
compared to other southern Plateau sites.

In the late 1950s, John M. Goggin of the University of Florida initiated a report on European bea... more In the late 1950s, John M. Goggin of the University of Florida initiated a report on European beads found at early contact archaeological sites in Florida and adjoining states. Unfortunately, he died before the report was completed. The task of finalizing it was undertaken by colleague Charles H. Fairbanks and resulted in the attached manuscript report. While a bit out of date, this report is one of the earliest detailed studies of North American trade beads and a classic in its own right. The attached copy was provided by Andreia Martins-Torres and held by the Nels Nelson North American Archaeology Laboratory, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

The Bead Forum, 2023

Early seven-layer chevron beads with faceted ends are known to have been produced in several Euro... more Early seven-layer chevron beads with faceted ends are known to have been produced in several European centers, principally Venice, but also Amsterdam and Middelburg in the Netherlands and Rouen in France. Neulautern and Walkersbach, two glassmaking sites in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, may now also be added to the list.

Archaeological Chemistry: Materials, Methods and Meaning, 2002

Presents the results of INAA analysis of a large sample of variously colored beads recovered from... more Presents the results of INAA analysis of a large sample of variously colored beads recovered from the wasters of a glassworks in Amsterdam. Initially believed to have operated from 1601 to 1610, that date was subsequently revised to 1621-1657.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

It was in 2012 that the University of Tübingen started the proper excavation of the temple of Kin... more It was in 2012 that the University of Tübingen started the proper excavation of the temple of King Ptolemy XII at Athribis. This temple was reused for many years during the Late Roman (Coptic) and medieval (Islamic) periods until its destruction between the mid-10th and the mid-11th century. During that time the temple was filled with debris and rubbish, and several rooms were temporarily used as animal pens. Besides a variety of objects such as wood, fabrics, and coins, we found hundreds of beads, several pendants, and other jewelry, like horn bracelets, bronze rings, and hairpins. We have started to classify the beads in order to produce a catalog of all the jewelry as a basis for further in-depth research.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

Research on Borneo's heirloom beads has so far largely focused on the Dayak tribes of Sarawak in ... more Research on Borneo's heirloom beads has so far largely focused on the Dayak tribes of Sarawak in Borneo's north. To expand the study area, the author has undertaken fieldwork in both Sarawak and Kalimantan and focused on Borneo's links with regional and international trade routes along which its heirloom beads traveled. A further area of research has been British and Dutch colonial literature and collections of heirloom beads outside Borneo.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

The island of Failaka (Kuwait) is favorably situated in the Persian Gulf at the inlet of the Meso... more The island of Failaka (Kuwait) is favorably situated in the Persian Gulf at the inlet of the Mesopotamian harbor cities of the 3rd to 2nd millennia BC. The island was investigated between 1958 and 2017 by several different archaeological projects focusing on the remains from the Bronze Age. Two settlements (Al-Khidr and Tell F3) and two large monumental buildings (Tell F6) were uncovered. A substantial number of beads made from semiprecious stones (carnelian, agate, jasper, turquoise, and lapis lazuli) were found. Lesser numbers were made of glass, faience, and paste, as well as bone, shell, ostrich eggshell, and clay. The majority of the beads must have been brought to the island as finished goods since raw materials for their production were not locally available and little evidence of bead production has been identified on the island. The beads found at Failaka suggest that the island was tied into extensive trading networks reaching from the Indus region to the Mediterranean.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2022

Over the millennia, glass beads have been used to ornament a wide array of objects. A rare applic... more Over the millennia, glass beads have been used to ornament a wide array of objects. A rare application in the 18th century was their use to personalize and adorn firearms used on the North American continent. Only five examples have been encountered so far.

Proceedings of the 1982 Glass Trade Bead Conference, edited by Charles F. Hayes III. Rochester Museum and Science Center, Research Records 16, 1983

Provides a background for the author’s project on “Glass Trade Beads among the Iroquois.”

Proceedings of the 1982 Glass Trade Bead Conference, edited by Charles F. Hayes III. Rochester Museum and Science Center, Research Records 16, 1983

Discusses then-current research needs on North American glass trade beads as an archaeological re... more Discusses then-current research needs on North American glass trade beads as an archaeological resource.

The Bead Forum, 2022

Possibly as early as the late 18th century, Haudenesaunee women began to produce non-traditional ... more Possibly as early as the late 18th century, Haudenesaunee women began to produce non-traditional beaded items specifically for sale to tourists. This article investigates the various venues.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2020

A new analytical methodology using trigonometric functions of Elliptical Fourier transforms (EFTs... more A new analytical methodology using trigonometric functions of Elliptical Fourier transforms (EFTs) is presented for studying morphometric proportions of stone beads. The methodology was tested using ethnographically produced bead types from a single workshop compared to a discrete assemblage of stylistically similar archaeological beads from the Levant. The two-dimensional outlines of the shapes of both sets of beads were analyzed using the same methodology and EFTs were used to classify beads by their stylistic types and calculate their average morphometric values. These data defined the variation present within a techno-stylistic workshop tradition. EFT data from the modern bead groups were compared to the archaeological samples and both shared the quantitative characteristic of a single workshop tradition. The archaeological samples can be interpreted as reflecting a distinctive workshop tradition. This pilot study suggests that EFT analysis provides meaningful, empirical demonstrations of shared group membership, in terms of style and metrics.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2020

To reconstruct and understand adornment practices during the Kushana period of Gandhara (1st-3rd ... more To reconstruct and understand adornment practices during the Kushana period of Gandhara (1st-3rd centuries CE), this article compares selected examples of beads recovered from the stratigraphically excavated site of Barikot (Swat Valley, Pakistan) with the forms of beads carved into regional iconography, i.e., sculptures of Bodhisattva (Buddhist divine beings) deriving from the Gandharan world. This article evaluates bead shape, size, and style to determine if the carved depictions represent actual ornaments or if they are simply symbolic or imaginative. This analysis can provide new insight into how ornaments were worn in the early historic period of South Asia and into the accuracy of iconographic depictions.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

This article presents beadmaking in Paris during the second half of the 16th century as seen thro... more This article presents beadmaking in Paris during the second half of the 16th century as seen through period documents and artifacts. Parisian archives document beadmaking by artisans called patenôtriers who made a wide range of glass buttons and jewelry, including beads. Records of the patenôtriers' guild provide an idea of the number of artisans engaged in this activity, while notarial contracts and estate inventories reveal individual careers and the material dimension of beadmaking in Paris. Patenôtriers obtained their materials-soda glass and enamel supplied as tubes, rods, or ingots-from glassmakers in rural France, Altare in Italy, and a small glassworks that operated in the suburb of Saint-Germaindes-Prés in 1598-1608. They exported rosary beads to Iberia and trade beads to North America. In European terms, Paris was a major beadmaking center during the 16th century and we know its products from a small number of archaeological finds and museum holdings.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

Nueva Cadiz and associated beads are among the earliest categories of European glass beads found ... more Nueva Cadiz and associated beads are among the earliest categories of European glass beads found in the Americas. Named after the site in Venezuela where they were first identified, these tubular, square-sectioned beads occur in regions of 16th-century Spanish colonial trade. A similar style occurs around Lake Ontario in northeastern North America in areas of 17th-century Dutch and French colonial trade. We compare the chemical composition of beads from South America and Ontario, Canada, to explore their provenience and technology. Differences in key trace elements (Hf, Zr, Nd) strongly indicate separate sand origins for the two bead groups. Comparison with soda-lime glass made in Venice and Antwerp reveals chemical similarities between the South American beads and Venetian glass, and between the Ontario beads and Antwerp glass. The analysis also sheds light on beadmaking technologies.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2019

An updated assessment of the trade beads in the Jamestown collection has long been overdue since ... more An updated assessment of the trade beads in the Jamestown collection has long been overdue since Heather Lapham's 1998 study. The size and variation of the collection has expanded to include nearly 4,000 glass beads representing over 100 Kidd and Kidd varieties, as well as nearly 100 lapidary beads made of amber, coral, jet, amethyst, carnelian, chalcedony, agate, and quartz. The Jamestown assemblage strongly resembles those found at 16thcentury Spanish colonial sites, due to the presence of navy blue Nueva Cadiz beads manufactured in Venice and faceted quartzcrystal beads likely produced in Spain. Other beads in the collection, however, may have been imported from Venice, the Netherlands, or elsewhere. Investigation of their origins has significance for understanding the position of the Jamestown settlement within the development of early 17th-century international and local trade. The compilation of counts and typology establishes a necessary baseline upon which to build.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

Analysis of the elemental composition of glass has gained traction over the past few decades. The... more Analysis of the elemental composition of glass has gained traction over the past few decades. The growing interest and utilization of non-destructive and micro-destructive analytical techniques has allowed for a more in-depth understanding of glass production, distribution, and consumption. The analysis of glass trade beads in particular has led to the development of a chronological sequencing for non-diagnostic seed beads opacified with metal oxides as well as ore sourcing for cobalt-blue and red beads. There is deficient research on 18th-century glass bead composition, especially of black glass beads. This article explores the elemental composition of 149 black seed beads from three 18th-century sites in Pensacola, Florida, and compares the assemblage to a small sample of similar glass beads (N=11) recovered from two sites in the United States as well as three potential glass production centers in Europe.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2017

Intricate cloisonné beads in Japan track the 19th-century upheavals in technological development ... more Intricate cloisonné beads in Japan track the 19th-century upheavals in technological development and society. While late Edo Japan had developed its own aesthetic based upon Chinese sources, the Meiji quest for Western technology produced a uniquely Japanese cloisonné industry unmatched elsewhere in the world. Cloisonné beads mirror this change, beginning in the 1830s with decorative motifs derived from Ming cloisonné and Edo glass beads, and morphing throughout the Meiji era into tiny masterpieces demonstrating a uniquely Japanese art form captured in advanced enamel technology.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

This paper reconstructs the history of a family of French beadmakers in Eu County, Normandy, from... more This paper reconstructs the history of a family of French beadmakers in Eu County, Normandy, from 1687 to 1747, as well as the context of their migration from the urban beadmaking center of Rouen. While Normandy had produced windowpane and bottles since the Middle Ages, artisans who made "crystal" soda glass-the glass of beads-were newcomers from Italy and Languedoc. They founded glassworks in Paris and Rouen in the late 16th century. Conflicts with Rouen artisans and merchants led the Mediterranean glassworkers to migrate to Eu County in 1634, where their crystal factories spun off a rural beadmaking trade. The present research builds on 19th-century archaeological reports of beads and beadmaking wasters in the villages of Aubermesnil-aux-Érables and Villers-sous-Foucarmont. We have identified three generations of the Demary family of beadmakers in the Eu Forest. Using genealogical methods, we have traced their migration from Rouen, their family history, and their links to Mediterranean crystal glassmakers. The example of the Demary patenôtriers sheds light on a transitional period of beadmaking in Normandy, characterized by its ruralization and its proximity with forest glassmaking in the second half of the 17th century.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2019

The dialog surrounding glass beads found in Scottish contexts is limited, particularly those foun... more The dialog surrounding glass beads found in Scottish contexts is limited, particularly those found in Iron Age and Early Medieval contexts. These discussions focus largely on a narrative of diffusion from neighboring groups. This paper, however, examines the beads from a local perspective and finds that they differ significantly from those found in contemporary neighboring contexts. In fact, designs such as the triskele, marbled, and whirl beads do not appear elsewhere in the world and demonstrate significant skill and artistry on the part of local populations within Scotland. Colors also differ from neighboring groups, with deep blues and bright yellows favored over opaque reds and whites. These differences and the skill evident in the creation of these beads provide significant reason to examine the Scottish material in further detail.

Unpublished report, 1996

A series of protohistoric and historic burials were recovered from the Asotin site in southeast W... more A series of protohistoric and historic burials
were recovered from the Asotin site in southeast
Washington in 1956 and 1972. The historic Nez Perce
burials contained numerous historic grave goods
including glass and brass trade beads dating
approximately from 1850 to 1865. The protohistoric and
possibly prehistoric graves contained few grave goods
except for abundant shell beads. Incised dentalia
beads exhibited typical Plateau design elements and are
compared to other southern Plateau sites.

In the late 1950s, John M. Goggin of the University of Florida initiated a report on European bea... more In the late 1950s, John M. Goggin of the University of Florida initiated a report on European beads found at early contact archaeological sites in Florida and adjoining states. Unfortunately, he died before the report was completed. The task of finalizing it was undertaken by colleague Charles H. Fairbanks and resulted in the attached manuscript report. While a bit out of date, this report is one of the earliest detailed studies of North American trade beads and a classic in its own right. The attached copy was provided by Andreia Martins-Torres and held by the Nels Nelson North American Archaeology Laboratory, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

The Bead Forum, 2023

Early seven-layer chevron beads with faceted ends are known to have been produced in several Euro... more Early seven-layer chevron beads with faceted ends are known to have been produced in several European centers, principally Venice, but also Amsterdam and Middelburg in the Netherlands and Rouen in France. Neulautern and Walkersbach, two glassmaking sites in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, may now also be added to the list.

Archaeological Chemistry: Materials, Methods and Meaning, 2002

Presents the results of INAA analysis of a large sample of variously colored beads recovered from... more Presents the results of INAA analysis of a large sample of variously colored beads recovered from the wasters of a glassworks in Amsterdam. Initially believed to have operated from 1601 to 1610, that date was subsequently revised to 1621-1657.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

It was in 2012 that the University of Tübingen started the proper excavation of the temple of Kin... more It was in 2012 that the University of Tübingen started the proper excavation of the temple of King Ptolemy XII at Athribis. This temple was reused for many years during the Late Roman (Coptic) and medieval (Islamic) periods until its destruction between the mid-10th and the mid-11th century. During that time the temple was filled with debris and rubbish, and several rooms were temporarily used as animal pens. Besides a variety of objects such as wood, fabrics, and coins, we found hundreds of beads, several pendants, and other jewelry, like horn bracelets, bronze rings, and hairpins. We have started to classify the beads in order to produce a catalog of all the jewelry as a basis for further in-depth research.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

Research on Borneo's heirloom beads has so far largely focused on the Dayak tribes of Sarawak in ... more Research on Borneo's heirloom beads has so far largely focused on the Dayak tribes of Sarawak in Borneo's north. To expand the study area, the author has undertaken fieldwork in both Sarawak and Kalimantan and focused on Borneo's links with regional and international trade routes along which its heirloom beads traveled. A further area of research has been British and Dutch colonial literature and collections of heirloom beads outside Borneo.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2022

The island of Failaka (Kuwait) is favorably situated in the Persian Gulf at the inlet of the Meso... more The island of Failaka (Kuwait) is favorably situated in the Persian Gulf at the inlet of the Mesopotamian harbor cities of the 3rd to 2nd millennia BC. The island was investigated between 1958 and 2017 by several different archaeological projects focusing on the remains from the Bronze Age. Two settlements (Al-Khidr and Tell F3) and two large monumental buildings (Tell F6) were uncovered. A substantial number of beads made from semiprecious stones (carnelian, agate, jasper, turquoise, and lapis lazuli) were found. Lesser numbers were made of glass, faience, and paste, as well as bone, shell, ostrich eggshell, and clay. The majority of the beads must have been brought to the island as finished goods since raw materials for their production were not locally available and little evidence of bead production has been identified on the island. The beads found at Failaka suggest that the island was tied into extensive trading networks reaching from the Indus region to the Mediterranean.

BEADS: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2022

Over the millennia, glass beads have been used to ornament a wide array of objects. A rare applic... more Over the millennia, glass beads have been used to ornament a wide array of objects. A rare application in the 18th century was their use to personalize and adorn firearms used on the North American continent. Only five examples have been encountered so far.

Proceedings of the 1982 Glass Trade Bead Conference, edited by Charles F. Hayes III. Rochester Museum and Science Center, Research Records 16, 1983

Provides a background for the author’s project on “Glass Trade Beads among the Iroquois.”

Proceedings of the 1982 Glass Trade Bead Conference, edited by Charles F. Hayes III. Rochester Museum and Science Center, Research Records 16, 1983

Discusses then-current research needs on North American glass trade beads as an archaeological re... more Discusses then-current research needs on North American glass trade beads as an archaeological resource.

The Bead Forum, 2022

Possibly as early as the late 18th century, Haudenesaunee women began to produce non-traditional ... more Possibly as early as the late 18th century, Haudenesaunee women began to produce non-traditional beaded items specifically for sale to tourists. This article investigates the various venues.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2020

A new analytical methodology using trigonometric functions of Elliptical Fourier transforms (EFTs... more A new analytical methodology using trigonometric functions of Elliptical Fourier transforms (EFTs) is presented for studying morphometric proportions of stone beads. The methodology was tested using ethnographically produced bead types from a single workshop compared to a discrete assemblage of stylistically similar archaeological beads from the Levant. The two-dimensional outlines of the shapes of both sets of beads were analyzed using the same methodology and EFTs were used to classify beads by their stylistic types and calculate their average morphometric values. These data defined the variation present within a techno-stylistic workshop tradition. EFT data from the modern bead groups were compared to the archaeological samples and both shared the quantitative characteristic of a single workshop tradition. The archaeological samples can be interpreted as reflecting a distinctive workshop tradition. This pilot study suggests that EFT analysis provides meaningful, empirical demonstrations of shared group membership, in terms of style and metrics.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2020

To reconstruct and understand adornment practices during the Kushana period of Gandhara (1st-3rd ... more To reconstruct and understand adornment practices during the Kushana period of Gandhara (1st-3rd centuries CE), this article compares selected examples of beads recovered from the stratigraphically excavated site of Barikot (Swat Valley, Pakistan) with the forms of beads carved into regional iconography, i.e., sculptures of Bodhisattva (Buddhist divine beings) deriving from the Gandharan world. This article evaluates bead shape, size, and style to determine if the carved depictions represent actual ornaments or if they are simply symbolic or imaginative. This analysis can provide new insight into how ornaments were worn in the early historic period of South Asia and into the accuracy of iconographic depictions.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

This article presents beadmaking in Paris during the second half of the 16th century as seen thro... more This article presents beadmaking in Paris during the second half of the 16th century as seen through period documents and artifacts. Parisian archives document beadmaking by artisans called patenôtriers who made a wide range of glass buttons and jewelry, including beads. Records of the patenôtriers' guild provide an idea of the number of artisans engaged in this activity, while notarial contracts and estate inventories reveal individual careers and the material dimension of beadmaking in Paris. Patenôtriers obtained their materials-soda glass and enamel supplied as tubes, rods, or ingots-from glassmakers in rural France, Altare in Italy, and a small glassworks that operated in the suburb of Saint-Germaindes-Prés in 1598-1608. They exported rosary beads to Iberia and trade beads to North America. In European terms, Paris was a major beadmaking center during the 16th century and we know its products from a small number of archaeological finds and museum holdings.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

Nueva Cadiz and associated beads are among the earliest categories of European glass beads found ... more Nueva Cadiz and associated beads are among the earliest categories of European glass beads found in the Americas. Named after the site in Venezuela where they were first identified, these tubular, square-sectioned beads occur in regions of 16th-century Spanish colonial trade. A similar style occurs around Lake Ontario in northeastern North America in areas of 17th-century Dutch and French colonial trade. We compare the chemical composition of beads from South America and Ontario, Canada, to explore their provenience and technology. Differences in key trace elements (Hf, Zr, Nd) strongly indicate separate sand origins for the two bead groups. Comparison with soda-lime glass made in Venice and Antwerp reveals chemical similarities between the South American beads and Venetian glass, and between the Ontario beads and Antwerp glass. The analysis also sheds light on beadmaking technologies.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2019

An updated assessment of the trade beads in the Jamestown collection has long been overdue since ... more An updated assessment of the trade beads in the Jamestown collection has long been overdue since Heather Lapham's 1998 study. The size and variation of the collection has expanded to include nearly 4,000 glass beads representing over 100 Kidd and Kidd varieties, as well as nearly 100 lapidary beads made of amber, coral, jet, amethyst, carnelian, chalcedony, agate, and quartz. The Jamestown assemblage strongly resembles those found at 16thcentury Spanish colonial sites, due to the presence of navy blue Nueva Cadiz beads manufactured in Venice and faceted quartzcrystal beads likely produced in Spain. Other beads in the collection, however, may have been imported from Venice, the Netherlands, or elsewhere. Investigation of their origins has significance for understanding the position of the Jamestown settlement within the development of early 17th-century international and local trade. The compilation of counts and typology establishes a necessary baseline upon which to build.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

Analysis of the elemental composition of glass has gained traction over the past few decades. The... more Analysis of the elemental composition of glass has gained traction over the past few decades. The growing interest and utilization of non-destructive and micro-destructive analytical techniques has allowed for a more in-depth understanding of glass production, distribution, and consumption. The analysis of glass trade beads in particular has led to the development of a chronological sequencing for non-diagnostic seed beads opacified with metal oxides as well as ore sourcing for cobalt-blue and red beads. There is deficient research on 18th-century glass bead composition, especially of black glass beads. This article explores the elemental composition of 149 black seed beads from three 18th-century sites in Pensacola, Florida, and compares the assemblage to a small sample of similar glass beads (N=11) recovered from two sites in the United States as well as three potential glass production centers in Europe.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers, 2017

Intricate cloisonné beads in Japan track the 19th-century upheavals in technological development ... more Intricate cloisonné beads in Japan track the 19th-century upheavals in technological development and society. While late Edo Japan had developed its own aesthetic based upon Chinese sources, the Meiji quest for Western technology produced a uniquely Japanese cloisonné industry unmatched elsewhere in the world. Cloisonné beads mirror this change, beginning in the 1830s with decorative motifs derived from Ming cloisonné and Edo glass beads, and morphing throughout the Meiji era into tiny masterpieces demonstrating a uniquely Japanese art form captured in advanced enamel technology.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2021

This paper reconstructs the history of a family of French beadmakers in Eu County, Normandy, from... more This paper reconstructs the history of a family of French beadmakers in Eu County, Normandy, from 1687 to 1747, as well as the context of their migration from the urban beadmaking center of Rouen. While Normandy had produced windowpane and bottles since the Middle Ages, artisans who made "crystal" soda glass-the glass of beads-were newcomers from Italy and Languedoc. They founded glassworks in Paris and Rouen in the late 16th century. Conflicts with Rouen artisans and merchants led the Mediterranean glassworkers to migrate to Eu County in 1634, where their crystal factories spun off a rural beadmaking trade. The present research builds on 19th-century archaeological reports of beads and beadmaking wasters in the villages of Aubermesnil-aux-Érables and Villers-sous-Foucarmont. We have identified three generations of the Demary family of beadmakers in the Eu Forest. Using genealogical methods, we have traced their migration from Rouen, their family history, and their links to Mediterranean crystal glassmakers. The example of the Demary patenôtriers sheds light on a transitional period of beadmaking in Normandy, characterized by its ruralization and its proximity with forest glassmaking in the second half of the 17th century.

Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers , 2019

The dialog surrounding glass beads found in Scottish contexts is limited, particularly those foun... more The dialog surrounding glass beads found in Scottish contexts is limited, particularly those found in Iron Age and Early Medieval contexts. These discussions focus largely on a narrative of diffusion from neighboring groups. This paper, however, examines the beads from a local perspective and finds that they differ significantly from those found in contemporary neighboring contexts. In fact, designs such as the triskele, marbled, and whirl beads do not appear elsewhere in the world and demonstrate significant skill and artistry on the part of local populations within Scotland. Colors also differ from neighboring groups, with deep blues and bright yellows favored over opaque reds and whites. These differences and the skill evident in the creation of these beads provide significant reason to examine the Scottish material in further detail.

This article focuses on the elemental analysis of glass material found at the 17th c. glass bead ... more This article focuses on the elemental analysis of glass material found at the 17th c. glass bead production site at the Hammersmith Embankment in London, UK, using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The glass beads manufactured at this site are similar to those found at some North American Native sites. In order to better understand how bead production was organized in Europe and assess the possibility of sourcing glass trade beads found in North America and perhaps Africa, data obtained for the Hammersmith Embankment site are compared to that obtained from the Kg10 site located in Amsterdam, Netherland. This site yielded very similar material also dating from the 17th c. Results, including major, minor and trace elements reveal that the glass at both sites was manufactured according to similar recipes involving soda plant ash purified to different degrees. This recipe was quite likely imported from Venice. Trace elements reveal that sand from different origins was selected. Four different sub-groups were identified in the London samples and three in the Amsterdam samples. This indicates that the glass was not manufactured on site but instead obtained from different primary glass workshops. Although it is possible to distinguish most of the beads from the Hammersmith Embankment from the beads from Kg10, a slight compositional overlap between the sites makes provenance attribution for some types of glass beads difficult.

Parks Canada, Studies in Archaeology, Architecture, and History,, 1992

From the time of first contact, Canada’s Native people saw ornamental potential in a wide range o... more From the time of first contact, Canada’s Native people saw ornamental potential in a wide range of European goods. In addition to beads, buttons, and hairpipes, they took mundane objects such as keys, spoon bowls, shoe buckles, coins, cartridge cases, and even ceramic plates and sauce pan handles to create intricate fashion statements. This book describes these adornments in chronological sequence for each of the seven major Indigenous groups of Canada and the northern United States from the 16th century to the early 20th century. The color plates are appended.

The Jones-Avent bead collection at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta (formerly the Cottonlandia... more The Jones-Avent bead collection at the Museum of the Mississippi Delta (formerly the Cottonlandia Museum) in Greenwood, Mississippi, contains what is probably the most extensive collection of 16th-century glass beads from Peru in the United States. The collection is large, both in terms of quantity and variety. Many of the bead types have not been reported by archaeologists, although a few have been seen in private collections and professionally excavated samples of beads in the southeastern United States. The text presents a thorough analysis of 133 glass bead varieties obtained from a number of sites in Peru. Included are drawn (plain round-sectioned; Nueva Cadiz Plain and Twisted; and chevron), wound (plain and ribbed), blown, and crumb beads. Accompanying material discusses the temporal placement of the specimens, relevant bead manufacturing techniques, possible European sources for the beads, the use of trade beads by the Spanish in the Circum-Caribbean area, and North American occurrences of Spanish-type beads.

Studies in Archaeology, Architecture and History, Parks Canada, 1985

This volume contains three studies: The Levin Catalogue of Mid-19th Century Beads; A Sample Book ... more This volume contains three studies: The Levin Catalogue of Mid-19th Century Beads; A Sample Book of 19th Century Venetian Beads; and Guide to the Description and Classification of Glass Beads. A greatly expanded version of the Guide was published in Beads: Journal of the Society of Bead Researchers Vol. 24, pp. 62-90, 2012. The individual Levin catalogue report with color images is available at https://www.academia.edu/27507749/.