Abstract

Glass trade beads occur in almost all protohistoric and historic archaeological sites. These materials that should be helpful in dating seldom are since almost nothing is known of bead chronology or typology. The dozen-or-so workers in this area have focused on specific problems such as the location of various European manufacturers, processes of manufacture, exact chronologies derived from European sources, relative chronologies derived from North American sites, and the correlation of archaeological materials with dated ethnographical specimens. From this research, two significant publications have come within the last two years. However, those engaged in trade bead studies reckon more unsolved problems than accomplished results. The writer suggests that most of these could be attacked more effectively with increased intercommunication among those concerned. Contact should also be established with those in other disciplines (e.g. historians and chemists) whose interests are complementary. Finally there is a considerable need to locate and study all collections of properly-excavated materials.