Ancient Carnelian beads, assorted shapes and sizes on 19-inch strand. Unusual shapes include cones and some 4-sided triangles - 81 beads total
At least some of these beads were etched, prior to being coated with white, as the soil they were buried in for centuries reacted with the stone
These beads were produced, and widely traded throughout Afghanistan, the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia and even as far as Ancient Egypt between 2500-1600 BCE
Carnelian beads were laboriously shaped, drilled, and polished with Bronze age tools.
The delicate etching process involved making a paste of sodium carbonate with the juice of a plant, painting it onto the bead, and firing at precise temperatures.
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