Green stone beads from Neolithic Shkarat Msaied (Photo: M.B. Thuesen)

Bead production at Shkarat Msaied

Most of the beads (excluding marine shells) were found in the northern area of the site, where two production areas have been identified. These areas have been interpreted as workshops specifically related to greenstone bead manufacturing.  More insights were published recently by M.B. Thuesen and M. Kinzel in Neo-Lithics.

References:

Jensen, C.H. 2008. Workshops and activity areas in the PPNB period: The excavations at Shkarat Msaied. In: Kühne, H. et al. (eds.) Proceedings of the Fourth International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (2004). Vol. 2. 2008 Berlin: Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 331-344.

Jensen, C.H. 2004. Productions areas at MPPNB Shkarat Msaied, Southern Jordan. Neo-Lithics 2/04: 22-26

Thuesen, M.B. 2018. Stone Bead Production at Shubayqa 6 and the Meaning of Personal Ornamentation in Early Neolithic Societies. MA thesis ToRS/University of Copenhagen.

Thuesen, M.B. -  Kinzel, M. 2018. Stone Beads from Shkarat Msaied. In: Neo-Lithics 1/18-3-7.