I have some questions regarding these conclusions. How was the age of the shell 'beads' determined? thermoluminescence would have blown up the shells. Usually the age is determined by other tested artifacts found at the same site. But no mention was made of other artifacts. The shells could be the stated age but if they are pendants or beads they would not necessarily be that age. The string sounds like romantic speculation not fact. For example the shells could have been threaded on a stick. I don't see where the statement was proved. No string was found, the only evidence, which is weak, was that there was striation in the hole. I would like to hear other people's take on this.