Ancient (2200-1700 BC) Bactrian Bronze Age Carnelian beads on 21-inch strand
3mm spacer beads with graduated sizes of a fascinating 4 sided bead, largest 8mm, smallest 4mm.
I spent way too much time looking for a name of this geometric shape, but couldn't find one. It has 4 triangular sides, but rather than all the pointy ends being up (a pyramid) imagine the triangles alternating pointy end up and pointy end down... I know. I had to make it paper to figure it out!
The bronze age Bactrian civilization occupied a mountainous region in norther Afghanistan where these beads were collected.
I bought these beads from a retired mining engineer who had worked there in the 1950s.
He bought the loose beads and had them strung by local villagers. Returning to Colorado he had the the beads dated and authenticated at the Denver Museum of Natural History. I am posting several strands, each one unique.
I am enchanted with these beads and have kept quite a few. I can't wait to string them with some of my Indian high karat gold!
I'm grouping them with the Ancient Glass to make them easier for collectors to find. They are also posted in the Gemstones Collection.
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