...from intact old canes or copied designs from an earlier period? This is very interesting. I guess confusion is unavoidable when so many were found in later digs. It would be great if the info on these beads was consistent, but I suppose that "ain't gonna happen." Is there any "hard" archaelogical evidence of beadmaking sites to support any of this? I find these complex little beads incredibly beautiful and endlessly fascinating. So are you comfortable in describing the rather large, biconal mosaics(see pic) as "Alexandrian" and thus pre-Dark Ages? Thank you Jamey! sm