I was playing with my beads and thought it might be fun to put together some beadscapes in order, from oldest to the most recent. I can't be certain I am right in each case, and there is one bead in two pics since I am not at all sure when it was made. The first pic features a few of the oldest beads made by man--the stone beads. Two of the beads/pendants are Sumerian(?)--a tiny soapstone frog and a human effigy pendant in marble. The plainer stone beads could be neolithic but therein lies the challenge with stone beads--how can you tell?? The second tableau features some very early frit beads, called Marlik after the area in which they were either made or found, or both. Around 1000BC...??? Jamey and you other experts feel free to step in at any time. Steve