Florida River Beads

Many of the "Custom" jewelry items you will find at our web site make use of clay beads that are found while fossil hunting in Florida.  Ancient Native Americans collected these beads, which had great value to them - having been provided by "Mother Earth".  One of the uses was very probably the manufacture of jewelry (like us).  Because of their relative small size compared to their value, they were also likely used as trading currency.  Some have compared them to "Wampum", which are strands/belts comprised of beads that were made from sea shells and other materials.  The difference is, these don't need to be manufactured.  They are naturally occurring, just as you see them in the photo (right).

Some have suggested that these beads were actually manufactured by ancient Native Americans.  Initially I was persuaded, perhaps wanting it to be true.  After extensive fossil hunting though, I've changed my opinion.  These beads are very rare, but I've found them almost everywhere I've dug in Florida.  It seems to me that the more logical theory to explain their widespread occurrence is that they are made by nature.  Many believe they are created when a worm or other creature bores through clay.  For that reason, they are often called "worm castings".  The worm leaves behind a substance that helps harden the clay.  As the clay later erodes, what is exposed are tubes that appear to have a perfectly drilled hole in the middle.  Being somewhat fragile, the tubes cannot exist at a size much beyond "length = width".  In the photo you see a large bead that has fracture lines, where if broken, would leave two beads that are approximately the size you would expect to find.  Sometimes the beads are found with sharp edges, as if recently broken apart.  Most often though, they are found after having been smoothed/eroded by the shifting ground and the hydraulic action of the rivers.  Most of the beads are a medium gray, but the color varies from near-black to near-white, with shades of brown/tan as well.  Non-gray beads are rare and the price of the jewelry item may reflect that.

Whether you believe they are Native American artifacts or naturally occurring "worm castings", you will like the way they add a rustic appearance to our custom fossil jewelry.