The term "Russian" relates only to the drawn, tubular, cornerless
varieties, not the facetted wound ones. There are several articles in BEADS
about African beads. The one I wrote concerned identifying beads mentioned
in the narratives of 19th-C explorers in East Africa. Karlis
On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 2:48 PM, Linda Stine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hey Karlis,
>
> I will have to go to your wall chart and book and check again- I am sure
> you are probably right since you are the expert. I know most of the one's
> I recall were wound although there was a mixture present at slave quarters
> and Native American sites. That was a long time ago. Were the drawn style
> beads found in West African sites as well? Was it you that visited Africa
> and had an article about the beads found there in *Beads*?
>
> LFS
>
> On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM, Karlis Karklins <[log in to unmask]
> >wrote:
>
> > Linda, I wonder if you are not confusing the so-called Russians which are
> > polyhedral drawn tubes with the corners ground off with the large,
> > blue, pentagonal-sectioned ridged tubes with pressed facets which are of
> > wound contruction? The latter are the ones so commonly associated with
> > Statia and much sought after by both locals and visitors. While the
> > cornerless forms have been found on Statia, they are far less common.
> > Karlis
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 5:18 PM, Linda Stine <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > Great discussion. I think we had these beads at Curriboo Plantation
> and
> > > Yaughan in SC (last quarter 18thc. ~ early 19th if I recall). Ask Pat
> > > Garrow or Tom Wheaton (or check DAACS?). Also saw may of this type
> > around
> > > the necks of collectors on St. Eustatius with Norman Barka.
> > >
> > > In *Mercantilism and Piedmont Peltry* I discuss ethno-historical
> > accounts
> > > of SE Native American preferences for trade goods such as beads (Stan
> > > South's monograph series) and Melanie Cabak, Mark Groover and I did so
> in
> > > an old HA article asking why we find these beads at lowcountry sites.
> I
> > > know Norman Barka used to tell me I would never know if these items
> > > symbolized anything in particular and to concentrate on seeking
> > information
> > > on production and dating, but why not ponder, especially if there is
> > > evidence for cultural and/or individual preferences?
> > >
> > > Linda
> > >
> > > On Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 1:46 PM, Burgess, Laurie <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Bill Billeck asked me to pass along the following about these beads:
> > "The
> > > > earliest dated site I know of is Fort Atkinson in Nebraska,
> 1820-1826."
> > > >
> > > > Bill worked up the fort's bead collection and says that the overall
> > > report
> > > > on Fort Atkinson is currently in production.
> > > >
> > > > Laurie
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> > > > Karlis Karklins
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 12:22 PM
> > > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > > Subject: Re: "Russian" faceted beads in the southeastern U.S.
> > > >
> > > > The so-called "Russian" beads (aka tubular, cornerless
> > > > hexagonal/heptagonal/octagonal) are very distinctive and widely
> > > distributed
> > > > being widely found in North America with concentrations in the
> > Northwest,
> > > > Great Lakes, and Florida. They were also popular in Central America
> > > > (Guatemala) and Africa. I cannot recall their presence in the Middle
> > East
> > > > or Asia. Would like to hear about their presence there if anyone has
> > any
> > > > information. There are thick-walled and thin-walled examples.
> > > >
> > > > The beads were manufactured in Bohemia but when exactly they began to
> > be
> > > > made is still uncertain. I believe the earliest date postulated for
> > them
> > > > was ca. 1775 in the Great Lakes region by George Quimby though he
> later
> > > > admitted that was probably too early. When analyzing the beads
> > recovered
> > > > from St. Eustatius by Norm Barka, I performed a survey of the
> > literature
> > > > and found relevant data for this type from 36 sites. This revealed
> the
> > > > following. The site date range was 1680-1910 with a core date of
> > > 1805-1860
> > > > (the optimal period of bead utilization based on the relative
> frequency
> > > of
> > > > sites producing this type over time) and a mode of 1830. This was
> > > published
> > > > in BEADS 1 back in 1989. There certainly has to be more evidence now
> to
> > > > refine the core dates and it would be great if someone would
> undertake
> > a
> > > > study of them like the one Bill Billeck did for the distinctive
> > > > red-on-white or cornaline d'Aleppo beads published in BEADS 20.
> > > >
> > > > Bob Hoover's comment that native peoples had bead preferences is very
> > > true.
> > > > While the indigenous peoples may have initially been wowed by all the
> > new
> > > > and exciting items presented to them by early explorers and traders,
> > > beads
> > > > included, and took whatever they were offered, they quickly became
> > adept
> > > at
> > > > specifying exactly what they wanted and negotiating better
> deals.There
> > > > are a number of recorded instances where eager traders who had
> brought
> > > > sacks of beads popular last season hoping to make a killing were
> > > > chagrined to find that the same people were no longer interested in
> > them
> > > > and wanted new styles, sizes and colors.
> > > >
> > > > Karlis
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Dr. Linda France Stine, RPA
> > > 336-693-1717
> > > 436 Graham Building
> > > Department of Anthropology
> > > University of North Carolina Greensboro
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Karlis
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Dr. Linda France Stine, RPA
> 336-693-1717
> 436 Graham Building
> Department of Anthropology
> University of North Carolina Greensboro
>
--
Karlis
|
