First I woud like to say I do not own the beads on the first picture, it is just the picture of what was found. I only own 20 beads from that necklace so far, and hoping to get more in the next weeks or months but they are not cheap. When you buy one every 2 or 3 months, it's ok but when you want to buy 20 at a time, it is a whole different story and budget! I only own 70 or 80 morfias but like the tuaregs do not count their cattle, I do not count my beads!

It would take a wealthy collector to buy the whole strand (I will let you do the maths!). I was told a serious collector of islamic beads was first offered the full strand for sale but he thought they were copies as there were so many. (most likely a forum member whom I would like to meet someday, either here in Mali or in Spain? Please contact me if you are reading this).

I was told it was found in the Segou area, but this could mean something as vast as some smaller country! sometimes people say close to the border but this could mean 200 kilometers from there, as you know.
According to the rumors, two sheperds were walking the bush when one tripped on something hard. They saw it was shining like gold. They thought they had found a big nugget and started excavating until they unearthed a statue of a man with arm raised, all in gold (I dont know the dimension) and the beads.
Apparently the place had no significance whatsoever, it was not a tumulus, not even a tomb (but sometimes people will not say it was a tomb because of the issues raised with it).
I will investigate further and let you know.
I have always had this dream of finding a goatskin full of beads in the desert, fallen from a caravan or something similar, with beads pristine from being freshly made! This is the evidence this dream can be fulfilled someday.
Hope this answers your questions. I would love to see your islamics.(I realise I had never said this to anybody before!)