Here is a very interesting mixed string of beads from the Spanish Colonial period in Peru. Although parts of it could be pre-contact. The sizes range from seed beads to a 30 mm sized shell, but the average glass trade bead is about 10 mm in diameter.

You can see typical three-layer Nueva Cadiz and a few other possible mid 1500's to early 1600's glass beads along with plain & decorated glass beads dating throughout the colonial period into the early 20th century. The centerpiece cross appears to be made of hand tooled iron. There is an ornate tweezer-like piece to the right of the cross that is made of brass, and several little bits & pieces of gold, probably broken jewelry parts. The large shell may be carved or inscribed, while on the other side is a pottery circle-disc shape piece that is curiously grooved around part of the circumference.

This looks like a group of beads that could tell some stories if they could talk.

Jan Skipper,
Mosquitobay