The Leedstown Bead Cache: An Archaeological Mystery

Dr. Julia King

At CCASM's November 11 meeting Julie King talked about a bead cache in the Rappahannock River Valley of Virginia that was first reported in 1937.  Hundreds of quartz and glass beads were being plowed out of the ground in a highly localized area near Leedstown.  These European-made beads date to the seventeenth and early eighteenth century.  Julie presented a number of interesting hypotheses related to the beads.  She even followed the trail of beads to Georgia down two different Native American trails. 

Introductory Slide of
Leedstown and Some of the Beads

  

Red, Blue, White,
and Striped Beads

Dr. Julia King is an Anthropology Professor at St. Mary's College of Southern Maryland.

Socially distancing (but still interacting)

We would like to thank the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco for allowing us to use the Port Tobacco Courthouse for the meeting.

Attendance: 15 members