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faience and glass beads from the late bronze - Department of ...

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1CHAPTER IINTRODUCTIONThe Bead Trade <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Uluburun ShipwreckBeads are considered one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first forms <strong>of</strong> ornamentation created by humans.Due to <strong>the</strong>ir durability, ease <strong>of</strong> transport, <strong>and</strong> widespread use, <strong>beads</strong> were alreadyconsidered a valuable trade commodity in Neolithic societies <strong>and</strong> were composed <strong>of</strong>diverse forms <strong>and</strong> materials. 1The trading <strong>of</strong> <strong>beads</strong> continued throughout millennia;<strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> 16 th to 18 th centuries, European merchants brought millions <strong>of</strong> Venetian <strong>glass</strong><strong>beads</strong> to Africa, where <strong>the</strong> <strong>beads</strong> were traded for gold <strong>and</strong> slaves, consequentlybecoming a vital part <strong>of</strong> African economy <strong>and</strong> society. 2Early European colonists inNorth America also recognized <strong>beads</strong> as both versatile <strong>and</strong> desirable articles <strong>of</strong> trade. 3That <strong>beads</strong> functioned as a trade commodity during <strong>the</strong> Bronze Age is confirmedby <strong>the</strong>ir abundance aboard <strong>the</strong> Uluburun shipwreck. This wreck, discovered <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong>southwest Turkish coast at Uluburun near Ka in 1982 (fig. 1), was excavated over 11consecutive summer seasons, <strong>from</strong> 1984 to 1994, by <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> NauticalArchaeology at Texas A&M University. 4The range <strong>of</strong> artifacts recovered <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong>wreck suggest a date <strong>of</strong> around 1300 B.C. 5 <strong>and</strong> provide an unparalleled view <strong>of</strong> LateBronze Age palatial or elite gift exchange. 6This <strong>the</strong>sis follows <strong>the</strong> style <strong>and</strong> format <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> American Journal <strong>of</strong> Archaeology.1 Dubin 2004, 30.2 Dubin 2004, 132.3 Erikson 1993, 42.4 Pulak 1998, 188.5 Pulak 1998, 213-4.6 Pulak 2001, 48.

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