Ostrich eggshell and gastropod shell beads provide important evidence for understanding how past peoples decorated and cultured their bodies and may also be used as proxy evidence for interpreting the nature and extent of past social networks. This study focuses on the ostrich eggshell and gastropod shell bead assemblages from the terminal Pleistocene (~ 13.5 to 11.6 ka) and mid-Holocene (~ 7.3 to 6.7 ka) occupations from Grassridge Rockshelter, South Africa. We present results from a multi-method approach to understanding bead manufacture and use that combines a technological analysis of the bead assemblages with Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy analyses were conducted on surface residues identified on the beads, ochre pieces, a grooved stone, and sediment samples, and provide further insight into past behaviours and taphonomy, as well as modern contaminants. Results indicate that ostrich eggshell beads were manufactured at Grassridge during both occupations, and that bead size changed through time. Use-wear and residue analyses demonstrate the complex taphonomy associated with bead studies from archaeological contexts, and the need for further taphonomic research. These analyses also suggest that some ostrich eggshell and Nassarius beads were potentially worn against ochred surfaces, such as skin or hide, as evidenced by the amount and location of the ochreous residues identified on the beads.

中文翻译：

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珠子和珠子残留物作为过去行为和通识的窗口：以南非东开普的Grassridge Rockshelter为例

鸵鸟蛋壳和腹足纲壳珠为理解过去的人们如何装饰和培养自己的身体提供了重要的证据，也可以用作解释过去的社交网络的性质和程度的代理证据。这项研究的重点是来自南非Grassridge Rockshelter的晚更新世（〜13.5至11.6 ka）和全新世中期（〜7.3至6.7 ka）的鸵鸟蛋壳和腹足纲壳珠组合。我们提出了一种通过多种方法来理解珠子制造和使用的结果，该方法结合了珠子装配体的技术分析和拉曼光谱技术。拉曼光谱分析是对在珠子，o石，开槽的石头和沉积物样品上识别出的表面残留物进行的分析，可进一步了解过去的行为和宏观分类，以及现代污染物。结果表明，在两次占领期间，Grassridge都生产了鸵鸟蛋壳珠，并且珠的大小随时间变化。使用磨损和残留物分析证明了与考古学背景下的珠子研究相关的复杂的分类学，以及对进一步的分类学研究的需求。这些分析还表明，一些鸵鸟蛋壳和Nassarius珠子可能会磨损在诸如皮肤或皮革之类的有卵圆形表面上，这可通过在珠子上鉴定出的含铬残留物的数量和位置来证明。