Study on stone beads from the Rabat cemetery in Uzbekistan

Abstract

This study examines stone beads from the Rabat Cemetery in Uzbekistan in Northern Bactria, dating from the second century BCE to the first century CE. Through detailed analysis of the stylistic and technological features of the selected carnelian and garnet beads, using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), two distinct drilling tools were identified, with diamond drilling as the primary method. A unique perforation process, involving the use of diamond drills of varying diameters on both sides of the same bead, was discovered in Rabat, a tradition that differs from those of known South Asian workshops. This suggests that these beads may have been produced outside of South Asia, with the possibility of local production and processing. However, further archaeological studies of stone bead workshops in Central Asia and detailed analysis of the geochemical characteristics of local carnelian beads will provide more insights.