Blue Beads as African-American Cultural Symbols

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Linda F. Stine, Assistant Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Blue beads are consistent finds at African-American sites. Archaeologists acknowledge these artifacts were used for adornment, yet some researchers also propose beads pos sessed additional cultural meaning among African Ameri cans. For this study bead data from African-American sites in the South are analyzed. The results indicate blue is the predominant bead color. The prevalence of these items sug gests they may indeed have been an important yet unrecog nized aspect of African-American culture. The multiple un derlying meanings assigned to blue beads are considered through reference to ethnographic information, folklore, and oral history

Additional Information

Publication
Language: English
Date: 1996
Keywords
Archaeology, African-American, Cultural Artifacts

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