Ancient etched carnelian beads from Afghanistan, largest pendant bead 18mm
43 beads in very good condition considering their age - about 5000 years!
19-inch strand including "pendant" beads
Strands are assembled from beads found in Northern Afghanistan and related to the Central Asian Bactria-Margiana Archeological Complex (2400-1700 BCE)
These beads were widely traded throughout the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia and even as far as Ancient Egypt.
After the hard carnelian beads were laboriously carved, shaped and polished, 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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