Were trade beads ever......

[naturegirl]

made of metal? looks to be brass, or copper?

 

[flintdigger]

I don't find any metal trade beads around here just a crude made bone bead every once in a while but not very often, in my years of looking and digging I have only found a half dozen bone tube type beads made from either bird or animal bones, but there were a good many tribes in the northern and eastern U.S. that had trade beads that they got from white traders in the 1700-1800's.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Does that hole go all the way through? It doesn't look like it does from the picture. The Indians made Copper and Brass beads and Trinkets, but they usually rolled Tube Beads not Disc Beads. I'm not real sure that is a Bead.

 

[SOHIO]

Hey girl, how did you come to find it? surface hunting or detecting or?

 

[naturegirl]

I found it surface hunting an area that has produced artifacts, as well as vintage junk. SVR, I think it's sand that fills it up, it comes out with a toothpick, but i"m going to soak it in water to loosen it. Pretty sure it's metal, it clinks against my tooth. Things I'm finding just seem to be getting smaller