Late Roman Bead Necklaces and Bracelets

Based on a close study of a substantial number of grave contexts, this article makes a significant contribution to the study of Roman jewellery. It highlights the importance of testing assumptions drawn from literary evidence through the examination of archaeological material. It provides significant evidence for the accurate reconstruction of Roman necklaces, and the spread and customisation of Roman cultural trends in the Western Empire. Finally, it puts forward evidence for a significant correlation between some types of beads and the graves of children, and discusses how this can be interpreted. It moves beyond the usual analysis of Roman jewellery as a high-status signifier to examine in a more nuanced way than hitherto the social functions of Roman jewellery.