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Abstract:
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The hilltop archaeological site , Bosutswe in Botswana had a nearly a thousand years of continuous occupation . Nearly every single strata in both precincts produced shell beads of various materials and origin . By using travelogue sources as well as more recent enthnographical sources , I focus on the possible uses and importance of beads to the people of Bosutswe and the wider southern African region . Using the excavated beads as evidence , I show how certain varieties of beads made their way to the site by way of trade routes with distant riverine areas . Also , I compare my findings with arguments claiming that different groups preferred different sizes beads ; therefore , one can determine a site’s ethnic makeup by this measurement alone . |