Shell beads were important to Mississippians, and thousands of beads were found mostly associated with burials. Here I synthesize data on shell bead workshops from Greater Cahokia, along with crafting techniques. Different bead types required different tools, which, in conjunction with shell remains, allow the differentiation of columella versus disk bead workshops. Perishable drill tips were probably used. Bead size standardization is distinguished from craft specialization, and time spent on crafting indicates full-time specialists. Expeditions to get lightning whelk shells from the Gulf of Mexico were a part of the operational chain. The resources spent traveling to obtain shells, large workshop areas, time spent crafting beads, ethnohistoric accounts of shell barter, and the roles lightning whelk artifacts had/have in helping souls travel during liminal situations such as transitioning to death, all underscore the importance of Mississippian shell beads.

贝壳珠对密西西比人来说很重要，并且发现了数千颗珠子，其中大部分与墓葬有关。在这里，我综合了大卡霍基亚贝壳珠车间的数据以及制作技术。不同的珠子类型需要不同的工具，结合贝壳残骸，可以区分小柱和圆盘珠车间。可能使用了易腐烂的钻头。珠子尺寸标准化与工艺专业化不同，制作时间表示专职专家。从墨西哥湾获取闪电海螺贝壳的探险活动是运营链的一部分。为获取贝壳而花费的资源、大型车间区域、制作珠子所花费的时间、贝壳易货的民族历史记录、