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Artifact JI1736, tray 27: Description.

beads

Artifact JI1736, Glass and stone beads, and game counters.

beads

These artifacts are beads, pieces of jewelry, etc. They are stored in a small metal tin in the Institute’s Vault.

They were found on a site in Carthage, an ancient deserted settlement, in North Africa. Carthage was known for its trading and for being the most powerful city because of its resources. It’s possible that these artifacts could have been from trading, jewelry, or games. 

 

The Carthaginians were Phoenicians who lived from 814-146 BCE before being concurred by Rome. So these artifacts are from around that time (814-146 BCE).

There are 34 glass beads, stone beads, and game counters. They all vary in shape, size, and color. That’s what made them stand out from the other artifacts. What catches the most attention is the blue stone. It’s by far the most unique in the tin. 

There are pieces that resemble sea glass–pieces of glass weathered over time and usually found near a moving body of water, like rivers and oceans. Carthage was a settlement near the ocean, so they would have access to a beach where it’s common to find sea glass. Possible uses for the sea glass could have been jewelry and art or even as game counters. 

The artifacts could have been used for anything; the possibilities are endless! It’s interesting to think about what the Carthaginians could have done with these small pieces. Maybe they were used for jewelry or art. They could have just been a good luck charm. As previously mentioned, the possibilities are endless. That’s the most interesting thing about them: wondering what they once were.

-ˋˏ ༻Haylee Guellar, Joukowsky Institute PrepareRI Intern, Summer 2024༺ ˎˊ-