Women from different corners of our planet love beads. And, according to archaeological finds and historical documents, people have been wearing beaded jewelry for ages. We’ve made a short sweep through several Ukrainian archaeological museums to gather for you the photos of beaded necklaces from the oldest historical periods – Scythian, Sarmatian, Age of Antiquity, Medieval, etc. It’s funny but you can barely distinguish the necklaces from eras that are thousands of years apart. Amazing how people could produce such cute handmade glass, stone, clay beads around 3,000 years ago!
We apologize for the quality of some photos – all the exhibits are behind the glass, as they’re rare and valuable pieces of history.
Gorgeous necklaces and a single large bead made in bizarre shape, Scythia, the territory of modern Southern and Central Ukraine, the 11th century B.C. – 2nd century A.D.
Necklaces from the Scythian-Sarmatian Age, the late 6th – early 4th century B.C. They are made from stone and glass beads and gold elements
Glass beads from Central Ukraine, the 5th-3rd century B.C. Note that they already have pretty patterns on them
Many different necklaces made from glass beads, paste, amber, and carnelian beads. Olbia, the territory of modern Southern Ukraine, the 7th century B.C. – 3rd century A.D.
Stone and glass beaded necklaces from the Age of Antiquity, the 4th century B.C. – 4th century A.D.
Charming beads from the Age of Antiquity, the territory of modern Southern Ukraine, the 4th century B.C. – 4th century A.D.
Cute necklace made from glass beads, paste beads, and amber beads. Crimea, the 4th century B.C. – 4th century A.D.
Five various necklaces, Crimea, the 4th century B.C. – 4th century A.D. They consist of carnelian beads, lignite beads, crystal beads, amber beads, and glass beads
A few different Sarmatian necklaces, the territory of modern Southern Ukraine, the 3rd century B.C. – 3rd century A.D. They’re made from stone beads, glass beads, paste beads, and bone beads
Several different necklaces from the territory of modern Southern Ukraine, the 3rd century B.C. – 3rd century A.D. These are glass beads, paste beads, amber, crystal, and bone beads
Vintage necklace, Crimea, the 4th-8th century. It consists of glass beads, rock crystal, amber, and carnelian beads
Old necklaces, Crimea, the 4th-8th century. They include seed beads, glass beads, clay beads, amber, carnelian, and coral beads. On the right, there are several single beads (agate, clay, and amber). Also, you can see a bracelet made from beads
Pretty and colorful necklaces consisting of glass beads and carnelian beads. Eastern Europe, the 8th-10th century
Two sets (beaded necklace and bracelet) made from stone and glass beads. Kyivan Rus’ period (9th – early 13th century)
