Stone Beads

Author: Neil Peterson
This article is hosted at:http://www.treheima.ca/viking/bead_summary.htm

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Information is taken from Callmer's Trade Beads book:

TRADE BEADS AND BEAD TRADE IN SCANDINAVIA ca. 800-1000 A.D.,  JOHAN CALLMER,  ACTA ARCHAEOLOGICA LUNDENSIA SERIES IN 4o. Nr 11, © 1977, ISBN 91-40-04466-1



Number of Finds: 299
Number of Beads: 14945

Largest Find: 1216 Beads
Finds smaller than 10 beads were excluded
Amber beads were ignored

He attempted to classify the beads according to a number of criteria.  Many beads were not classifiable or did not have enough beads to warrant a class.

Amethyst

    Type: U001. 3 beads from 2 finds.

Jade

    Type: V001. 1 bead from 1 find.

Carnelian & Agate

Type	# Finds	# Beads	Shape	Prop.	Size	Shape	Prop.	Size
T001	33	169	121	152-3	162-5	spheric	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	3-5 mm -> 12-14 mm
T002	2	3	132	151	164	truncated bicone, the bases of the cones are identical with the equator	short length/diametre =< 1/2	9-11 mm
T003	2	3	124	154	162-3	rounded with plane parallel ends	long - length / diametre > 1.5	3-5 mm, 6-8 mm
T004	2	2	141	154	162-3	hexagonal oval	long - length / diametre > 1.5	3-5 mm, 6-8 mm
T005	16	33	148	152-3	164-6	planum parallel rounded discoid with facetted edges.	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	9-11 mm -> 15-17 mm
T006	2	4	145	153	166-7	planum parallel rhomboid discoid with facetted edges	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	15-17 mm, 18-20 mm
T007	52	256	135	153	163-4	rectangular prismatic with cut corners	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	6-8 mm, 9-11 mm
T008	0	0	123	152	166-8	rounded and ribbed without plane parallel ends	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2	15-17 mm -> 21-23 mm
T009	48	190	137,139	153-4	163-5	hexagonal rectangular prismatic, octagonal rectangular prismatic	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm -> 12-14 mm
T010	37	70	147	151-2	163-4	globular, hexagonal-octagonal with quadrangular to hexagonal facets	short length/diametre =< 1/2, medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2	6-8 mm, 9-11 mm
T011	1	1	140	153-4	163-4	asymmetrical octagonal bipyramidal	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm, 9-11 mm
T012	0	0	146	153-4	163	octagonal truncated cone	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm
T013	0	0	144	154	164	symmetrical octagonal bipyramidal	long - length / diametre > 1.5	9-11 mm
T014	7	100	127	153-4	162-4	cylindrical	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	3-5 mm -> 9-11 mm

     Classified beads of type T: 831 beads in 104 finds.
     Unclassified beads of type T: 48 beads in 6 finds.
     Total beads of type T: 879 beads in 107 finds.
     Average # type T per find: 8.215
     Number of finds with only Type T: 0
     Average # glass beads with a T bead: 27.43

Rock Crystal

Type	# Finds	# Beads	Shape	Prop.	Size	Shape	Prop.	Size
S001	57	214	121	152-3	163-5	spheric	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	6-8 mm -> 12-14 mm
S002	5	5	121	152-3	168-9	spheric	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	21-23 mm, 24-26 mm
S003	7	8	124	153	163	rounded with plane parallel ends	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	6-8 mm
S004	4	9	124	153	165-6	rounded with plane parallel ends	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	12-14 mm, 15-17 mm
S005	2	8	124	154	162-3	rounded with plane parallel ends	long - length / diametre > 1.5	3-5 mm, 6-8 mm
S006	9	28	141	154	162-3	hexagonal oval	long - length / diametre > 1.5	3-5 mm, 6-8 mm
S007	1	1	132	153-4	163	truncated bicone, the bases of the cones are identical with the equator	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm
S008	2	11	148	152-3	164-5	planum parallel rounded discoid with facetted edges.	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	9-11 mm, 12-14 mm
S009	34	186	135	152-3	162-4	rectangular prismatic with cut corners	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2, medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5	3-5 mm -> 9-11 mm
S010	5	6	123	152	166-7	rounded and ribbed without plane parallel ends	medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2	15-17 mm, 18-20 mm
S011	35	84	137,139	153-4	163-5	hexagonal rectangular prismatic, octagonal rectangular prismatic	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm -> 12-14 mm
S012	30	61	147	151-2	164	globular, hexagonal-octagonal with quadrangular to hexagonal facets	short length/diametre =< 1/2, medium short -length/diameter =<1/1 but > 1/2	9-11 mm
S013	4	5	140	153-4	163-4	asymmetrical octagonal bipyramidal	medium long length/diameter =>1/1 but < 1.5, long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm, 9-11 mm
S014	2	2	144	154	164	symmetrical octagonal bipyramidal	long - length / diametre > 1.5	9-11 mm
S015	3	16	142	154	165	octagonal rectangular prismatic with facetted sloping ends	long - length / diametre > 1.5	12-14 mm
S016	0	0	134	151	162-3	rectangular prismatic	short length/diametre =< 1/2	3-5 mm, 6-8 mm
S017	0	0	130	154	163	cylindroid with oval section	long - length / diametre > 1.5	6-8 mm

     Classified beads of type S: 644 beads in 110 finds.
     Unclassified beads of type S: 45 beads in 11 finds.
     Total beads of type S: 689 beads in 114 finds.
     Average # type S per find: 6.044
     Number of finds with only Type S: 0
     Average # glass beads with a S bead: 37.105



Number of Finds with only Types S,T,U,V Combined: 5
Number of Finds with both S&T: 85
Number of Finds with S&T&U: 1
Number of Finds with S&T&U&V: 0