Blue glass beads from Venice discovered in Alaska date to the mid-15th century 

Tiny glass beads from Venice made their way to Alaska decades before Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the New World. The beads, the color and size of blueberries, were uncovered in a house pit in Punyik Point, a seasonal Inuit camp near the Continental Divide in Alaska’s Brooks Range. Archaeologists determined the objects were created between … Read more

Archaeology: Thousands of beads and brooches unearthed from Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Northamptonshire

Thousands of beads and brooches are unearthed at site of massive Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Northamptonshire along with weapons, textiles and other precious grave goods Archaeologists excavated the 15 hectare construction site at Overstone Gate The team found 154 Anglo-Saxon graves containing some 3,000 grave goods Alongside the cemetery, the dig also revealed a settlement from … Read more

JFK’s rosary beads and Jackie O’s fabrics up for auction

An American flag believed to have been flying over the right front bumper of the presidential limo where John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the president’s personally owned rosary beads are among over 100 items of Kennedy memorabilia that will be auctioned off. The final round of live online bidding by University Archives in Westport, … Read more

JFK’s rosary beads and Jackie O’s fabrics up for auction

An American flag believed to have been flying over the right front bumper of the presidential limo where John F. Kennedy was assassinated and the president’s personally owned rosary beads are among over 100 items of Kennedy memorabilia that will be auctioned off. The final round of live online bidding by University Archives in Westport, … Read more

Our ancestors swapped eggshell beads 30,000 years ago in the same way that we trade Facebook likes

Our ancestors swapped pieces of ostrich eggshell jewellery 30,000 years ago in the same way we trade social media likes, or friendship bracelets, archaeologists claim. The items — shell fragments with holes bored in — would have acted as signs of the interpersonal connections that made up ancient social networks.  Experts studying beads found in … Read more