Bead Production in the Late Neolithic Communities of Coastal Oman

This paper presents a preliminary study testing whether beads can be effectively used as marker of cultural variability among the late Neolithic coastal communities of the Oman Peninsula. Stylistic, morphometric, and technological analysis identified intra- and inter-site variability in terms of shape, raw material, and size of the beads. The study of beads and bead making in the Neolithic coastal communities of Oman therefore testifies to the presence of rich patterns that can be used to infer diversity in productive and stylistic choices through time and space, as well as the complex dynamics of human interaction, knowledge exchange, and trade of goods.