Researching the World’s Beads: An Annotated Bibliography
Researching the World’s Beads: An Annotated Bibliography
compiled by Karlis Karklins
Revised and Updated 1 July 2024
INTRODUCTION
To better understand, classify, date, and interpret the beads they are researching, archaeologists, ethnologists, museologists, collectors, and others need to have a good grasp of the relevant literature. Unfortunately, while several bibliographies have been prepared in the past that relate to North America (Karklins and Sprague 1980, 1987), nothing has been prepared to supplement them and nothing comprehensive has been prepared for the rest of the world. This bibliography, the first version of which was uploaded on 25 August 2013, is a step toward that end.
Publications that deal with North America and appear in A Bibliography of Glass Trade Beads in North America and The First Supplement to the Bibliography are not duplicated here, and the inclusions in general are restricted to items published after 1985. Annotations accompany most of the references, though in some cases the title says it all.
This bibliography stresses archaeological material but reports on modern beadmaking technology and the use of ancient heirloom beads by indigenous peoples have also been included. Beadwork references have generally been excluded as this subject deserves its own bibliography. The exception is where beadwork has been found in an archaeological context.
Due to its size, the bibliography has been divided into nine major political-geographical groups, two specialized theme groups, and a general and miscellaneous group:
- Europe
- Africa
- Middle East
- Central and South Asia
- Southeast Asia
- East Asia
- Australia and Pacific
- North America
- South and Central America, Mexico, Caribbean
- Beadmaking: Technical Aspects
- Archaeometric Analysis
- General and Miscellaneous
A bibliography such as this can never be complete and the compiler would appreciate receiving references to publications that do not appear herein. It is inevitable that errors have crept in during the input process and he requests that you bring these to his attention at [email protected]. The bibliography will be updated periodically.
This bibliography is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Roderick Sprague (1933-2012), archaeologist, educator, bead researcher, friend, and fellow bibliographer. I wish we could have undertaken this project together.