Scientific analysis of some gemstone beads unearthed from Han tombs collected in the Museum of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Most of samples are minerals from the beryl group, while others are garnet and several quartz beads with special shapes. By using a handheld microscope to observe and analyze the surface micro marks and perforation characteristics of gemstone beads employed, combined with other related research, it is considered that these gemstone beads adopts the diamond drill double-sided drilling process, the lion-shaped agate bead was crafted using a rotary wheel tool (Tuo), and the football-shaped bead adopts the etching process.

Combining the gemstone resources in South Asia, it is considered that beryl and garnet beads were mainly imported from South Asia to the Lingnan region via the Maritime Silk Road. The quartz beads with special shapes are not only closely related to South Asia and Southeast Asia in terms of production technology, but also in terms of cultural symbolism, and those beads are also imported goods introduced via the Maritime Silk Road.