Gallery

A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Ancient Gneiss Stone Beads

Posted by Anna Garner on October 4, 2011 at 11:53pm

Made in Greater Iran from 3000 B. C. to 600 B. C., this type of bead is difficult to date once it is removed from its archeological stratum. So it is only safe to say that I collected it from an Iranian merchant of such goods and that the beads are at least 2600 years old.One is tabular, one is a rondelle and one is end-pierced. Gneiss is hardened volcanic ash and other small debris from an eruption and from the sediment in which they settled. It is something like granite.

Comments

Eva Baby October 5, 2011 at 8:29am

impressive, to think about its age!
Anna Garner October 5, 2011 at 2:04pm

I have many artifacts from that culture in my collection. I really appreciate their endurance in such good condition that they can be enjoyed thousands of years after they were created. Thank you for your comment.

Anna
Suzan Kaplan October 5, 2011 at 3:45pm

How interesting, thanks for the excellent information.
Anna Garner October 5, 2011 at 5:45pm

I was pleased to see that they were part of a small collection that my husband had brought home from an Iranian collector and antiquities merchant in New York several years ago. Since the merchant did not know from what ancient site they had been gathered, they cannot be dated except to name the time frame in which the stones worked in the more primitive manner persisted from 3000 BC to 600 BC.

anna