2.2 Stone Beads

The Jamestown collection yielded 14 stone beads of various materials, including quartz crystal, carnelian, agate, and jet. The faceted quartz crystal beads are strikingly similar to the variety identified by Fairbanks (1968) as a "Florida cut crystal" (see also Smith 1983: Figure 1, Row 2). Faceted quartz crystal beads typically date to the last half of the 16^th century and have rarely been found north of Spanish territory (Brain 1975; Deagan 1987; Fairbanks 1968; Smith 1983). Carnelian and agate beads are also traditionally associated with Spanish colonial sites (Deagan 1987). Jet beads nearly identical to those in the Jamestown assemblage appear to have been used elsewhere on rosary strands (Deagan 1987; Miller at al. 1983).