Most beads in the collection are round or
oval, a few are cylindrical having been cut from colored glass rods. All
beads excavated are of one or more colors, with the exception of 2 or 3
that are colorless. After three centuries the attractive colors still
persist; and looking at the colorful beads today you can understand the
charm they held for the Indians.
Knives.--Small, inexpensive knives called penny knives, were often used
for trading purposes during the years at Jamestown. A few folding knives
and blade fragments (which may also have been penny knives) have been
recovered.
Shears.--Several shears and scissors, highly prized by the Indians, were
found on the island. A few are almost complete.
Bells.--Brass and iron bells of types which were used for bartering with
the Indians have been excavated. A few days after the colonists reached
Jamestown one of them recorded that "our captaine ... presented [to an
Indian chief] gyftes of dyvers sortes, as penny knyves, sheeres, belles,
beades, glass toyes &c. more amply then before."
[Illustration: BRASS CASTING COUNTERS EXCAVATED ON JAMESTOWN ISLAND.
MANY WERE MADE IN GERMANY BEFORE 1575 FOR USE BY MERCHANTS ON COUNTING
BOARDS. IN THE NEW WORLD THEY WERE USED FOR THE INDIAN TRADE.
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