| Original Message: Burial Beads at Fort Ross, California |
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https://scahome.org/publications/proceedings/Proceedings.26Goldstein.pdf Group 5 – those individuals with beads – is one of the most interesting groups in the cemetery, because we had hoped that the beads might allow us to distinguish between Alaska natives and California natives, since we know that different groups favored different kinds and colors of beads. We had hoped that these differences would assist in assigning ethnicity to the graves. Instead of the limited set of patterns anticipated, we found a large variety of colors and styles of beads. (Figure 4 shows a few examples.) According to Lester Ross (personal communications 1990, 1992), although a few styles of beads may have been made locally, the vast majority of beads found were imported from Europe and are within the range of those used by Alaskan natives. None are specifically California native in style, color choice, or pattern. We found two pairs of earrings laid out in a distinct pattern, as well as evidence of several other beaded garments or items in place. Twelve of the 15 burials with beads also had religious pendants, and we interpret these individuals to be Alaska natives. Note, however, that beads alone do not define a grave as Alaska native, and it is also certain that a number of other graves in the cemetery without beads are also those of Alaska natives. All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users |
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