Email a Friend
Printer Friendly
Slashdot It!
Submit to Reddit
Add to Facebook

Digging up evidence of 400-year-old global trade and wealth

April 10, 2009

French and Chinese blue glass, Dutch layered glass, Baltic amber: roughly 70,000 beads manufactured all over the world have been excavated at one of the Spanish empire's remotest outposts, the Santa Catalina de Guale Mission. The beads were found as part of an extensive, ongoing research project led by a team of scientists from the American Museum of Natural History on St. Catherines Island off the coast of Georgia. Comprising the largest repository ever from Spanish Florida, the beads enlighten archaeologists about past trade routes and provide clues to the social structure and wealth of the people.

"This is the northernmost outpost of the Spanish empire, but we see evidence of ancient trade routes from China via Manila's galleons to Mexico and Spain," says Lorann Pendleton, Director of the Archaeology Laboratory at the Museum. "We also have found perhaps the first evidence of Spanish beadmaking, along with beads from the main centers of Italy, France, and the Netherlands."

The mission of Santa Catalina de Guale was inhabited by Franciscan missionaries and local people for most of the 17th century. The mission was a major source of grain for Spanish Florida and a provincial capital until1680, when the mission was abandoned after a British attack. Since 1974, David Hurst Thomas, Curator of Anthropology at the Museum, and colleagues have been carefully unearthing this part of the island's history. The current research is based on the complete excavation of the church's cemetery and extensive survey and excavation in other parts of the mission. Years of analysis reveal roughly 130 different types of beads on the island, and numbers of specimens per type range from one to 20,000. Most of the more common beads are of Venetian and potentially French origin, with new research suggesting that one of the most common beads of the 17th century, the Ichtucknee blue, was manufactured in France. Some of the unique beads, though, may be Spanish, Chinese, Bohemian, Indian, or Baltic in origin.

While roughly 2,000 beads were found elsewhere at the mission (such as in the convent), most were found in the cemetery under the church. These were items intentionally deposited with individuals as grave goods, and the analysis of these items shows that there were subtle temporal and spatial changes in how the cemetery was used. Most burials found with large numbers of beads appear to date to the earlier part of the mission's history (the first half of the 17th century); items found with burials that date to the latter half of the 17th century are more likely to be religious medallions and rosaries. But because almost half the beads in the cemetery were buried with a few individuals who tended to be near the altar, it is often assumed that they were of high status in the community.

"A higher number of beads were found toward the altar, and some of the highest-status individuals (by number of beads) were children," says Pendleton. "This gives us lots of information about Guale society and means that status was ascribed with birth."

Elliot Blair, graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley, agrees but points out that "the picture that is emerging is turning out to be much more complicated than people had thought. It's hard to say whether the presence of the beads reflects native or church hierarchies, the presence of wealthy individuals, or something else entirely. Still, this is the largest assemblage of beads ever found in a Spanish mission in La Florida, and the study of these materials has yielded considerable information about how Guale society, burial practices, and Spanish missionization changed during the 17th century."

The number of beads found on St. Catherines Island suggests that Santa Catalina de Guale was a relatively wealthy outpost. The island is fertile and was the capital of a mission province, both potential explanations for the high number of beads found when compared to other missions.

"St. Catherines was a frontier mission, but it also was a bread basket for the east-coast Spanish empire," explains Pendleton. "The missionaries at St. Augustine were always starving-you can read this in the letters written at the time-because that area was too humid and hot for corn to grow easily. St. Catherines was able to trade corn for beads."

The new research, authored by Blair, Pendleton, and bead expert Peter Francis, Jr., is published in the Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History. Francis, who did much of the detailed analysis of where beads were manufactured, died while on a research trip to Ghana, Africa, in 2002. The research was funded in part by the Edward John Noble Foundation.

American Museum of Natural History

Related Beads Current Events and Beads News Articles

Beads Current Events and Beads News RSS

UT MD Anderson study ties abnormal cells in blood to lung cancer
A novel approach detects genetically abnormal cells in the blood of non-small cell lung cancer patients that match abnormalities found in tumor cells and increase in number with the severity of the disease, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

By 'putting a ring on it,' microparticles can be captured
To trap and hold tiny microparticles, engineers at Harvard have "put a ring on it," using a silicon-based circular resonator to confine particles stably for up to several minutes.

Researchers cut years from drug development with nanoscopic bead technology
New research accepted by the Journal of Molecular Recognition confirms that a revolutionary technology developed at Wake Forest University will slash years off the time it takes to develop drugs - bringing vital new treatments to patients much more quickly.

Rice program takes on protein puzzle
All proteins self-assemble in a fraction of the blink of an eye, but it can take a long time to mimic the process. And there has been no guarantee of success, even with the most powerful computers - until now.

Histone H1 regulates gene activity throughout the cell cycle
A protein that helps pack DNA into the cell nucleus has an important role in regulating gene activity, scientists report. The researchers found that the protein, histone H1, also takes part in the formation of ribosomes, the cellular workbenches on which all proteins are made.

Studying Cells in 3-D Could Reveal New Cancer Targets
Showing movies in 3-D has produced a box-office bonanza in recent months. Could viewing cell behavior in three dimensions lead to important advances in cancer research? A

Solution to beading-saliva mystery has practical purposes
Researchers have discovered precisely why strands of some fluids containing long molecules called polymers form beads when stretched, findings that could be used to improve industrial processes and for administering drugs in "personalized medicine."

Intracellular express -- why transport protein molecules have brakes
Every single one of our cells contains so-called motor proteins that transport important substances from one location to another.

UBC researchers design new biomaterial that mimics muscle elasticity
University of British Columbia researchers have cast artificial proteins into a new solid biomaterial that very closely mimics the elasticity of muscle.

A century-old puzzle comes together: Scientists ID potential protein trigger in lung disease sarcoidosis
Lung researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a possible protein trigger responsible for sarcoidosis, a potentially fatal inflammatory disease marked by tiny clumps of inflammatory cells that each year leave deep, grainy scars on the lungs, lymph nodes, skin and almost all major organs in hundreds of thousands of Americans.

More Beads Current Events and Beads News Articles

	Mr. Kitty''S Big Bead Bonanza - Beads Mix - 1/2 Pound by FindingKing I've Been Collecting Some Good Ones, Just So I Can Get Rid Of 'Em! Shhh, Don't Tell My Human! A cat's gotta stick up for himself sometimes. Now, i don't deny that after fourteen years of high living, the last few spent on the street (through no fault of my own), I was ready for regular meals and a little peace and quiet. So when this human picked me up in the alley after a most unfortunate meeting with a large canine, I let her patch me up and, well, the food was good, so... let's just say I never got around to leaving. Now the human thinks she's the boss. But let me tell you, I got this situation wired. I make with the goo goo eyes, and she can't get those pounce treats out fast enough. I sleep against her legs, (just for back support, mind you) and she's combing me and scratching those...
	Bundle Monster 100pc Lot Silver Lampwork Murano Glass European Mix Beads - Compatible with Pandora, Chamilia, Troll, Biagi by Style Beads This monster offer includes 100 unique pieces (as picture no doubles) of murano glass beads that can be easily slide on to your bracelets or necklaces.
	Bundle Monster 50pc Lot Silver Lampwork Murano Glass European Mix Beads - Compatible with Pandora, Chamilia, Biagi, Troll by Style Beads This offer includes 50 pieces of murano glass beads that can be easily slid on to your bracelet or necklace.This is a great way to mix and match your beads to your outfits or mood. These beads make great gifts, too!
	Czech Seed Beads Mix 11/0 "Wheatberry" Mix Brown Topaz One Half Hank by Jablonex Czech 11/0 Seed Beads Fabulous Czech Glass Seed Bead Mix Elegant Shades Of Brown and Tan In A Variety Of Finishes One Half Hank Of Delicate Seed Beads Size 11/0 Recommended English beading needle sizes 11 and smaller.
	Bead Design Beading Board Gray Flock With Lid 9 X 12 Inches by UnCommon Artistry Bead Design Board Great for Bead Stringing, Sorting, Organizing, Aligning Beads, Craft Projects & Craft Enthusiasts. This is a new grey flocked bead design board. Great for craft projects, craft enthusiasts, bead stringing, aligning beads prior to stringing, sorting and organizing. Features 6 compartments and 3 grooves to organize beads. Can string up to 3 strands at once from 8 1/4" to 35" (20.95 to 88.9 cm). It measures approximately 13 1/4" x 9 3/4" (33.65 x 24.76 cm).
	Wholesale lot 500 Bicone 4mm Swarovski 5301/ 5328 Crystal Beads 25colors by Swarovski . -What you will receive: + Quantity: 500 beads total. 25 colors (20 beads of each color). + Size: 4mm. + Colors: Amethyst, Lt Amethyst, Crystal, Burgundy, Blue Zircon, Lt Sapphire, Sapphire, Violet, Indicolite, Fire Opal, Lt Rose, Rose, Lt Smoke Topaz, Black Diamond, Purple Velvet, Silk, Lt Peach, Lt Siam, Siam, Emerald, Peridot, Chrysolite, Indicolite, Hyacinth, Tanzanite. ++ We have carefully hand selected the best beads from our collection for your precious projects. All our beads are genuine Swarovski beads of the highest quality. Each style type is sorted, labeled and individually packaged with care.
	Bundle Monster 50pc Lot Silver Lampwork Murano Glass European Mix Beads - Compatible with Pandora, Biagi, Troll, Chamilia by BundleMonster This monster offer includes 50 unique pieces (as picture no doubles) of murano glass beads that can be easily slide on to your bracelets or necklaces. Each piece is authentically handmade by Bundle Monster.
	Czech Glass Oval Beads in Assorted Colors & Sizes
	Perler Fuse Beads by BEADALON A large mix of multi colored beads used for fuse beading projects. Jar contains 11000 activity beads. Warning: Choking hazard-small parts. Not for children under 3 years of age. For ages 5 and up.
	Seed Beads 11/0 Colorful Glass Seed Bead Mix by R.O.C. Dozens of beautiful colors in a variety of finishes: opaque, translucent, luster and rainbow.