| Abstract: |
The work of Horace Beck and, to a lesser extent, that of Ernest Mackay, nearly seventy years ago is basic to the study of line-decorated - commonly reffered to as 'etched' carnelian and agate beads. Since their respective publications in 1933, the dating and archaeological contexts of these beads has become better understood and their geographical range has been greatly expanded. The paper describes relatively recent finds of etched beads in eastern Asia, ranging from Myanmar to China and from the Philippines to Indonesia. Because they are better dated and have been more exhaustively studied, particular attention is given to the beads from the Iron Age cemetery at Ban Don Ta Phet in western Thailand where over forty etched carnelian and agate beads were excavated between 1976 and 1985.
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