One of the first types of Indian commercially produced beads, which were supplied to traders world-wide, from as long as 2,500 years ago.
Originally, naturally occurring agate, impregnated with iron impurities, was found in central India in the river bed of the Narmada River. Hand-shaping and processing by heating at Khambat (Cambay) .. produced beads in a variety of red / brown colours.
The extra long strands on the following pages were found in Mali and Mauritania.