Carnelian beads
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Necklace with gold beads and carnelian beads, Cypriot artwork with Mycenaean inspiration, ca. 1400–1200 BC. From Enkomi. British Museum

Carnelian beads (other variants of the name include Cornelian beads, sadoine, Mecca stone, and pigeon’s blood agate) are a gemstone jewelry made of carnelian quartz. The mineral is found worldwide, but India is reputed for developing the best gemstones.

The beads are made by heating and shaping agate several times, resulting in a change of color. The resultant beads are drilled with a stone drill. Some beads are over 12 centimeters in length.

History

The beads have been collected for centuries. Collections of beads have been found stored in pots dating to circa 1800 B.C.^{citation needed}