IIa "Very Small"
6.2.7 Beads
Michael Barnes
The tradition of bead making and trading among Native Peoples has been practised for thousands of years. Early European explorers took quick note to this and traded their own version of beads made from molten glass which they presented as gifts, but more often for trade. To some extent, these glass beads are of archaeological significance for dating historic sites. When considering the bead assemblages of the sites in question, ASI states that "the glass bead assemblage is perhaps the most important dating tool for establishing the presence of the LaRonde Post". The validity of this statement will be considered in the following discussion.
In previous excavations, recoveries of glass beads have not been significant in numbers. ASI, during the 1995 field season, recovered a total of 61 glass beads from 54 test pits and 15 units at the LaVase Island site.
The 1997 excavations unearthed 125 glass beads and 4 non-glass beads from the Bothwell/LaVase Island site. 1992 test excavations revealed 3 beads from the Island and 2 glass beads from the North Bank. The total bead assemblage, glass and non-glass beads from 1992 and 1997 excavations totalled 134.
Bead Classification Methodology
The most common classification system used when reporting on beads is that of Kidd and Kidd (1970). This method was also followed by ASI (1996), and Laurentian University ( Pat Julig: Personal Communication, 1998).
After cataloguing the specific bead proveniences, beads were grouped by the following sub-categories using modifications from both Karklins (1985), and the author.
Type: The method of identifying beads is derived from the commonly used system in the literature based on Kidd and Kidd's classification system (1970). Typing beads has centered around the method of manufacture (i.e. drawn and wound).
Shape: Describes the overall morphology of the beads. The following abbreviations represent the shape categories adapted with Kidd and Kidd (1970).
N.B.: Other categories exist, but are not needed for this discussion.
Size: Although these categories are rather broad, the following is used for the sake of consistency with previous reports from this site, and is also derived from Kidd and Kidd (1970):
Diaphaneity: This describes the ability of light to pass through the bead. An opaque bead is impenetrable to light. Translucent beads will transmit light, however objects will appear indistinct through the bead. Objects can be seen distinctly through transparent beads. (Karklins 1985:112).
Colour and Lustre: Typically, authors will use one of two colouring systems: Color Harmony Manual (Container Corporation of America, 1958), or, Munsell Book of Color, Glossy Finish Collection (1976). A thorough search of library resources failed to obtain either of these resources. Therefore, a simple Graphic Design Colour system was used; this matter will be addressed in the discussion. The method for lustre also was modified to give a wider spectrum of analysis than broad terms such as "shiny" or "dull". A simple classification has been formulated to identify the degree of reflectivity of each bead. The following categories have been created by the author:
VG - Very Glossy: Bead reflects a high amount of light due to significant polishing (see discussion).
Diameter and Length: Each subcategory of bead will vary in size and thus, the minimum and maximum range for both diameter and length are given in millimetres. Karklins (1982), recommends measurements taken to the nearest tenth of a millimetre. Here, measurements have been taken to the nearest hundredth of a millimetre.
Number of Specimens: The number of beads found in this category from the 1992, and 1997 excavations.
Discussion
DRAWN BEADS
Of 130 glass beads, 97% were produced from "Drawn" manufacture. The term "Drawn" refers to the process wherein a globe of molten glass was stretched or drawn from its centre and cut into smaller pieces. Drawn beads could be monochrome, or polychrome, and have stripes applied (Karklins 1985:88). Typically, drawn beads were cut from a longer tube-like form. Many of the drawn beads in this sample that have been rounded, still show evidence of a previous tubular form.
Rounding of the edges to give drawn beads a spherical or barrel-shape was accomplished by placing beads in a large pan with sand and wood ash, or plaster and graphite. The pan was then heated and stirred to the desired roundness of the beads. This method apparently only took place before 1817, when a method known as "tumbling" took preference. This method was similar, except beads were placed in an iron drum (Karklins 1985:88).
One must note the date (1817), which is significant to the dating of the LaRonde post. Identifying morphological differences between spinning beads and tumbled beads in a pan is not known.
Categorizing beads based on the Kidd and Kidd (1970) method resulted in 47 different types of drawn beads. Of those categories, nineteen have been placed in previously recorded bead categories as listed by Kidd and Kidd (1970). This left 28 categories that have not been listed and are indicated (*). This is not to say that these beads are "new finds", but are simply not represented in Kidd and Kidd's classification system.
Twelve categories consisted of beads that were termed "colourless". Quite simply, these beads have been manufactured from clear glass. Although these are "new" finds to these particular sites, similar clear or "colourless" beads have been recovered at the Fort Michlimackinac site (Stone, 1974:111).
IIa "Very Small" |
The most common type of bead was the circular and round barrel-shaped, opaque white beads from the size category small (n=33). This was also the case with the ASI excavations where they recovered 25 similar beads out of a 61 total, however one must keep in mind that white beads are the easiest to spot in dark soils, and that totals may favour white beads.
The significant findings in the 1997 excavations were from the "very small" category, or beads with a diameter of under 2mm. These beads are generally referred to as "seed" beads, which served the purpose of being interwoven into clothing, more than for necklaces and other forms of jewellery.
 IIa "Very Small" |
Totals of 41 "very small" beads were recovered from the Island site. These beads represented 15 different colour categories, ranging from colourless, reds, blues, greens, yellows, white and black.
This category could be extended into three main size groups within the "under 2mm" range. Many of the beads fell into specific diameter ranges that are represented in the following table:
| Size Range (mm) | # of Beads |
| 1.38-1.41 | 6 |
| 1.54-1.61 | 14 |
| 1.72-1.85 | 11 |
The higher ratio of "very small" beads unearthed during the 1997 excavations is somewhat significant compared to previous excavations at the Island site. This is most likely due to the method of excavations. Because of the small nature of these beads, it is only possible to detect them upon a wet screening technique. The sieve mesh must be less than or equal to 1mm squared. It is apparent that previous excavators have not taken proper precautions to recover these beads. Although ASI does report beads being recovered from the wet-screen technique, they do not indicate any beads recovered from the "very small" size category.
It should be noted here, however, that precautionary measures for early detection of these beads were practised at the Island site. Samples of micro-materials recovered from wet-screening were brought back to the lab to be analyzed through magnification. A total of 51 beads was discovered from this method.
| A total of 58 beads was recovered from the "small" size category. Small beads are those with a diameter between 2-4mm. These beads would also be considered as "seed" or "embroidery" beads for the purpose of being interwoven into clothing. A larger proportion of "colourless" beads were discovered in this category (n=17), as well as plain opaque white (n=35), and two "redwood" coloured beads which did not appear in any other size group. "Colourless" beads are not listed in the Kidd and Kidd typing system, and therefore have been included in the inventory with (*). These beads are not uncommon among seed bead assemblages appearing at Fort Michilimackinac (Stone 1974), and Fort Lennox (Karklins, 1978). The colourless beads however, are a new find at the LaVase Island site (ASI 1995), (Julig, Personal Communication, 1998). Two "large" beads were found but from the Island site, but were rather undiagnostic. Tubular beads (those having a length greater than the diameter) were recovered at the Island site (n=22), of which 20 are of drawn manufacture. Most tubular beads (n=16) were opaque, white or black. There are two significant matters to discuss about these beads. The black beads vary in degrees of rounding on the ends. Some had ends with significant rounding, while others had ends that had been cut without rounding, and left with irregular ends. These beads with irregular shaped ends are often referred to as "Bugle" beads (Karklins 1985:89). Other tubular beads have been cut without rounding, but have had clean trimmed marks, unlike the small, opaque, black tube beads. The other significant feature falls on the white, opaque, tube beads. These beads (n=6) tend to show one of the highest grades of gloss, and have been classified as VG ("very glossy"). It is interesting to note that ASI makes two curious statements about these beads. In their inventory chart (1996: 140-141), they classify these beads under the following description: "Tubular, opaque, white with clear glass coating, 4mm long, small diameter, hot tumbled finish". |
The first part of the description indicates that these "drawn" beads have had an extra application of "clear" [sic] glass applied to them. This description is similarly used with an additional 33 other bead descriptions. Through simple deductive reasoning, however, one must consider the following:
This matter has been discussed in detail because "colourless" have not been typed using the Kidd and Kidd (1970) system. Also it would appear that if ASI have come across beads with an extra layer of clear glass and are in fact not due to a high grade of polish then they should be classified in class III instead of class I.
Finally to close this issue, it is the analytical opinion of the author that the beads in question (white opaque, tubular beads with a small diameter typed as Ia5) which are included in the 1997 assemblage, do not in fact have an extra coating of clear glass, but represent a high degree of polish that have been applied after or during rounding of the ends.
It also seems quite apparent that there is a general correlation to amount of polish and the rounding of ends of both round barrel-shaped and tubular beads. Karklins (1985:89) states that polishing of beads occurred after rounding by passing them through a series of graduated sieves. This correlation therefore may be coincidental.
 IVa* | There was only one Drawn made multicoloured bead. This bead was round, very small, and had a red transparent outer coating with a white opaque core. This bead was Typed IV a*. |
Probably the most significant bead for discussion purposes is type Ib10, and IIa15. Type Ib10 is a tubular bead which measures 3.17 in diameter and 13.73 in length. It is opaque white with three redwood stripes parallel to the perforation on the exterior. The white is a dull lustre with striations parallel to the perforation. The redwood stripes have a very glossy lustre. The ends have not been rounded and one is straight cut while the other is irregular or "bugle". |
 Ib10 CbGu-5 |
One drawn bead from the Island with an oval shape was discovered during 1992 excavations. This bead is white, opaque and classified as type IIa15. The diameter is 6.79 with a length of 12.63. Both of these beads have been found at other sites and are discussed in the "Dating and Cross Comparative Analysis" section below.
WOUND BEADS
 Wound Bead |
Wire or Mandrel wound beads were processed by applying viscous glass around a rotating metal mandrel. Wound beads tend to be more complex than drawn with multi-colours, and a large variety of shapes. Wound beads sometimes exhibit "swirl" marks encircling the axis
Only three beads were typed as wound beads and were all located from the Island site. One navy blue, small, transparent bead was inventoried as type WIIf* under "ridged" and has a hexagonal perimeter. One complete bead was found as well as a fragment of another. The ends are "bugle" or irregular cut.
The other is more typical of wound beads. This oval, opaque bead with dark metallic colours and lustre, shows signs of swirl indentations circling the axis. The multi-coloured surface does not seem to represent a specific decoration, but is some form of applique nonetheless. The colouring of this "applique" is a black, with gold, and bronze.
NON-GLASS BEADS
 IIa15 CbGu-5 |
There was a total of 4 non-glass beads from the Island and North Bank sites.Upon preliminary examination, there was only one bead that clearly demonstrated the characteristics of glass beads but was not made of glass (cat. No. 97-38, see section 4.2.7).
Two other kaolin pipe fragments may have been fashioned as beads, but are not as substantial. One pipe stem fragment is irregular shaped. The bore is slightly offset and for terminology's sake, the superior surface will represent the point at which the bore is closest to the outside perimeter. At the superior surface the length is 2.11mm. The ends flare out in cross section to create a wider inferior length at 4.65mm. This would give the impression of a shape in the form of a pendent.
Finally, specimen 97-368 is a tubular bead measuring 31.21mm in length, and a diameter of 8.33mm, with a bore diameter of 5/64", the ends are both rounded and the surface has a smooth glossy texture. This specimen bears the closest resemblance to a water worn pipe stem fragment and was originally left to be identified as such. However upon further examination of Karklins (1985) sample of kaolin beads (figure 48, page 90), it became apparent that kaolin pipe stem fragments were often used as beads with little or no reworking. This posed as a problem in general with the assemblage of pipe stem fragments, which could have placed many in the category of pipe-stems fashioned as beads based on Karklin's sample figure. It was decided by the author to include this one example that resembled the most possibility of being fashioned as a bead only. The probability however, that many of the pipe stem fragments from this assemblage were waterworn and not used as beads is probably more plausible.
Finally, one avian long bone also resembled likenesses of a bead. It measures 2.76mm in diameter and 6.42mm in length. The ends have undergone slight reworking. As with the pipe stems, the assumption that this avian long bone was fashioned into a bead is open to further interpretation..
Attributing the size of beads to relative purpose, or function is difficult. Karklins (1982) states:
Little beads (those under about 6mm in diameter) were commonly used in embroidery, they were frequently also employed in the formation of necklaces, earrings, nose and hair ornaments, mats, and as decorative inlays in aboriginal pottery...beads over 6mm in diameter are commonly thought of as necklace components but also served to adorn fringes, baskets, mats, vases and other items (Karklins 1982:111).
The 1992 and 1997 assemblage contain mostly embroidery beads, typical of the late historical period.
DATING AND CROSS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
In analyzing the1996 glass bead assemblage excavated by ASI , Ian Kenyon concluded that "although a small assemblage compared to other contact period sites, it is consistent with 19th century trade bead assemblages that could be associated with the La Ronde occupation" (ASI 1995:141). While the author is in general agreement with these conclusions, as the 1997 bead assemblage is somewhat similar, there is additional information to be updated.
It has become apparent that beads (while in very low numbers) are being discovered from the early and middle historic era (c. 1610-1760). One early historic bead discovered by Laurentian University of type IIbb2 c. 1640-1650 (Julig, personal communication, 1998), and one bead from Settlement Surveys 1997 excavation of type Ib10 (c. 1700-1750), are examples of these. It can be stated, with little skepticism, that these beads can be attributed to the early travels of Champlain and company:
"More generally, Period II (c. 1630-1650) seem to be fairly plentiful on sites located in areas where Champlain and his associates were active: Huron, Neutral and Petun sites; and Algonquian sites (e.g. Frank Bay), along the Ottawa River - Lake Nipissing route to the Huron country" (Kenyon and Kenyon 1974).
. Kenyon and Kenyon also state that 4 types of beads make up 50% of Period II collections. Two of these types are found at the LaVase Island site, they are types Ia5 (n=6), and IIa15 (n=1).
Perhaps the most distinctly datable bead from the 1997 excavations is that of type Ib10. This white, opaque, tubular, white bead with 3 redwood stripes was also found on the Michilimakinac site. Stone (1974), interprets this bead as being of French origin dating to c.1700-1750.
As mentioned previously, there was only one "multi-layered" bead found from the island typed as IVa*. This bead closely resembles an example recovered from the Martin's Falls site (Vyvyan 1978). It is described as a sub-cylindrical seed bead, with an opaque white core, and a transparent red outer covering. This site is dated to 1782 to 1923.
When comparing bead assemblages in general from the Island site, it is difficult to ascertain the chronology of seed beads. It is generally agreed upon however, that embroidery beads have a late historic affiliation (Quimby 1969). Further evidence is displayed from a similar collection recovered from The Nottingham House, a Hudson's Bay Company post dated from 1802-1806 (Karklins, 1983).
The expected occupation of the La Ronde Post ranges from c.1795-1821. It would be impossible to disprove the aforementioned dates with this assemblage, however, it is also impossible to refine it.
Further research is suggested to prove or disprove that rounding of specific beads was accomplished by "tumbling" or "panning". This characteristic seems to have been identified by ASI, and may very well be easily distinguished, while the ability of this author to detect this characteristic may be born of ignorance. The fact remains however, that if the tumbling technique was not established until 1817, and given the amount of time for tumbled beads to be exported to Ontario sites, that a La Ronde occupation must date after 1817 (if in fact these beads have been tumble finished). This is not to imply that an occupation before 1817 is impossible, since ASI inventories include both "tumbled" and "non-tumbled" beads. It would however prove that the occupation must have at least continued after 1817.
As a final note, there is no doubt that the provenience of the bead assemblage found by the 1997 excavators is directly associated with the LaRonde Post as several beads were unearthed surrounding the timber designated as the LaRonde Post foundation.
Some General Comments on Specific Problems
The colour typing system used in the Kidd and Kidd (1970) method (Color Harmony Manual, 1958) was not found by the author, nor the secondary source that has been used by Karklins (1983), and Stone (1974): (Munsell Book of Color Glossy Finish Edition, 1976). Both of these sources were not in print and could not be located via library loan.
The plethora of colour variations used by Kidd and Kidd,(1970), would be impossible to determine without the primary source. Some basic colours (e.g. "Brite [sic] Navy") were more obvious, however the ability to distinguish such differences as "Cerulean Blue", "Shadow blue", and "Brite Copan Blue" were impossible without the primary reference.
The consequence of this problem would be an under representation of certain typologies of the Kidd and Kidd system, most likely among the type IIa beads.
The basic size categories also became somewhat troublesome. The "Very Small" category, which made up 31% of the total beads assemblage should be divided further. For instance, beads with diameter of 1.4mm had distinct characteristics which were absent from those with a diameter of 1.9mm. When reporting beads with such small but distinctive characteristics, the author has separated these types within the inventory chart.
Determining the shape of "seed" beads within the small and very small size categories became a "judgment call". The exact definitions of the shapes "round barrel-shaped" and "circular" are vague. As mentioned previously, in the case of drawn beads, the amount of rounding, and the length at which the bead was cut, can in fact determine these two shapes.
Conclusions
There is no doubt that the glass bead assemblage from 1997 excavations corresponds with ASI's statement of being affiliated with the La Ronde Post occupation. However, refining a date of occupation cannot be achieved solely from seed beads. Further research into "tumble-rounding" as opposed to "pan-rounding" of glass beads may lead to proving a continuation of the post occupation to 1817.
It is important to note the beads that have been found which can be attributed to the early and middle historic periods. Laurentian University's find one bead of type IIb2 (c. 1630-1650), and one bead from Settlement Surveys 1992 underwater test pit recoveries of type Ib10 (c. 1700-1750), and others, show both middle and early historic occupation. These findings only extend suggestions of a continuous occupation from the Middle Woodland period to the present. With such small quantities of early and middle historic beads, and with other artifact assemblages of this time frame, the extent or significance of this occupation is not known.
The excavation methodology is important to note when discussing the recovery of glass beads. The "Very Small" beads tend to be too small to detect through basic screening techniques.
Taking into account the amount of area excavated during the 1997 field season by Settlement Surveys Ltd. (3 one-metre square units) the beads recovered is quite significant when compared to previous excavations from the Island site. If indeed the statement made by ASI that "the glass bead assemblage is perhaps the most important dating tool for establishing the presence of the La Ronde Post", which is generally agreed upon by the author, then future excavations should include the following guidelines:
The method stated above was practised during the 1997 Settlement Surveys 1997 excavations, where after visual inspection took place on the site, materials were brought back to the lab for analysis under magnification, which lead to the recovery of 51 beads.
It is suggested that if the technique detailed above be should be practised, then recoveries of glass beads will be more representative of the La Ronde Post occupation.
Back to the Lavase River/Fort Laronde