ArtFire

These two quartz agates and one dark gray banded agate reveal the aesthetic sensibility of the proto-Iranian people. These were the inhabitants of settlements whose cultural products relate closely to the Bactrian culture in what is now Afghanistan. They once lived in what are now archeological sites with names such as Tepe Hissar.

These particular three beads are quite smoothly worked to produce a rounded facet joining three sides on the gray banded agate bead. The largest of the three is the invention of the Bactrian culture: the rhomboid shape. The smallest of the three beads is tubular in appearance but oval in cross section.

All the bead holes reveal the characteristic wear of ancient beads: somewhat triangular bead hole edges due to the friction of the cord and also the slant of the edge of the bead hole to accommodate the shape of the next bead rubbing against it. They are all shaped by hand and hand drilled with a sharp point dipped in grit -- and a lot of patience. The holes are drilled first from one side and then from the other, so that there is a rough spot in the center of the hole.

Measurements:
Largest = 12 mm x 23 mm; gray banded = 9 mm x 20 mm; smallest = 9 mm x 14 mm


References:

Victor Sarianidi, Necropolis of Gonur, Athens, 2007
Victor Sarianidi, Myths of Ancient Bactria and Margiana on its Seals and Amulets, 1998
Giancarlo Ligabue and Sandro Salvatori, Bactria, Venice, 198-
Lois Sherr Dubin, The History of Beads, New York, 1987
Robert K. Liu, Collectible Beads, Vista, 1995

stone

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