Nada além de contas

A striking contrast emerges between the glass beads found with African captives buried at Rio de Janeiro’s Pretos Novos cemetery and those recovered from the Valongo Wharf. The analysis of 223 beads revealed an overwhelming prevalence of low-value, small, simple, and white beads—likely reflecting the extreme deprivation endured by newly arrived captives. This finding challenges earlier typologies associated with established enslaved communities in Rio de Janeiro. The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods to establish a standard for these artifacts, offering new insights into the material culture of African captives during the transatlantic slave trade.

Alves Chá Chá, J. G., & Lessa, A. (2025). Nada más que cuentas. Vestígios - Revista Latino-Americana de Arqueologia Histórica, 18(1), 29–56. https://doi.org/10.31239/vtg.v18i1.46455