Beads

Item number Sf718 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

An assortment of 630 unstrung beads in a container. Most appear to be made of shell. There are a few cylindrical beads and the rest are disc-shaped. Colours range from white through grey, orange, purple and light red.

History Of Use

Beads of this type were frequently used in necklaces and collar-like ornaments, found in graves. The red and orange beads are probably made from spondylus, a bivalve from Ecuadorian waters. Spondylus was traded to Peru over several millennia and was of considerable importance. It was frequently depicted in art. Offerings of whole shells as well as beads and inlay are common in many periods.