Glass and Lapidary Beads at Jamestown, Virginia: An Updated Assessment After 25 Years of Excavation

Summary

This is a poster submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

An updated assessment of the trade beads in the Jamestown collection was long overdue since Heather Lapham’s 1998 study. The size and variation of the collection has expanded to include nearly 4000 glass beads representing over 100 Kidd types, 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 16th century Spanish colonial sites, due to the presence of navy blue Nueva Cadiz manufactured in Venice and faceted quartz crystal beads likely produced in Spain. However, other beads in the collection 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.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• 2020 SHA Poster Submissions

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 529