If you would like to search across all publications select from the drop down lists below. One theory is that early people indicated hunting ability by the wearing of beads, demonstrating control over the spirit of an animal by wearing its bone, ivory, teeth and other parts. Beads made of found materials such as stone, seeds, berries, coal, shells, fossils and minerals were also common. From early times beads have also been carved and made from clay.
Beads come in a great variety of shapes and styles and are now mostly worn for aesthetic reasons.
Materials used to make beads vary from traditional glass, clay and wood to modern substances like aluminium and plastic. Before your visit Examine beads of different colours, shapes and materials glass, wood, ceramic and plastic. Pupils should discuss what constitutes a bead. Use commercially available beads, counters or blocks of different colours to explore pattern possibilities. Pupils could form simple repeating patterns, make more complex symmetrical patterns, or use colours and shapes in a random fashion.