We've found a chrysoprase bead in a tumulus grave in Kuwait. The burial is multiple and multi-phase but most of the equipment suggest dating for Neolithic. This bead (biconical, with chamfered perforation) does not look like typical Neolithic ornament from the Gulf region. I have not found any analogy until now, neither from Neolithic nor from the later periods.
Hi Zuzanna,
I studied some biconical, long and short, PPNB beads from Syria made from agate and carnelian, both are varieties of chalcedony . The chrysoprase as far as I know is a bleu-green variety of chalcedony too. I studied also the same type made from Amazonite and Turquoise.
I’m not familiarized with the Neolithic stone beads from the Gulf region but I think that finding such kind of artefacts in Neolithic levels is not surprising.
The publication of Blanche Barthelemy de Saizieu could be interesting for you.
Barthélémy de Saizieu, B., 2003. Les parures de Mehrghar. Perles et pendentifs du Néolithique précéramique à la période pré-Indus - Fouilles 1975-1985. Editions Recherche sur les Civilisations, Paris.
Good luck!
Hala
Thank you for sharing information about material and techniques from PPNA Syria - this is a useful trail. I'm familiar with Saieziu's publication but still nothing looks like this bead. It must have been something precious since they deposited only half of the bead in this grave.
You might consider googling the Society of Bead Researchers. The have both an annual journal and quarterly newsletter where one can pose research questions. About half of the Society are archaeologists.
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