Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 1

A Classification System for Glass Beads for the Use of Field Archaeologists,

by Kenneth E. and Martha Ann Kidd

How to Use the Classification System to Identify Beads

To identify any bead, it is necessary to consult (a) the Tube Bead chart and the Wire Wound Bead chart; (b) the colour chart of beads already identified (Figs. 5-9); (c) the written description to accompany the bead charts and (d) the table of colours (p. 66). The following steps will be found helpful:

1 Determine whether the bead under examination is a tube or a wire wound bead (see section on Technology of Glass Beads).

2 If the bead is a tube bead type: (i) consult the tube bead chart to determine whether it follows the tube form or the rounded form; (ii) determine whether it is a Simple Bead (Class I or Class II) or a Layered Bead (Class III or Class IV). For example, in examining a group of tube beads, note those which are simple monochromes; those which are layered; and those which have stripes, eyes, etc. The same technique should be applied to round beads derived from tubes.

3 If the bead is wire wound, consult the wire wound bead chart for its proper placement.

4 Consult the colour illustrations of the individual beads for visual identification.

5 Consult the written descriptions which correspond to the colour illustrations (Figs. 5-9) to determine the precise colour, quality, size and shape classification (a full description of the above appears in Tables 1-6).

If no matching is possible, a new type may have been found; in which case it is desirable that it be reported in order that it may be properly incorporated into the system. If this suggestion meets with general favour, periodic supplements to this paper would be a possibility.

Readers who have found beads on sites in their area are invited to indicate the type or types on separate sheets (see sample form) and return them to the authors (Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario). As noted on the sample form, characteristics of size and shape should be added, and new varieties described. By doing so, they will be adding information to what is already known about glass beads in the Northeast, and further afield. When sufficient additional material has been gathered, it will be made available to all interested parties.

Sample List of Hypothetical Collection of Beads