A world of beads from the Island of Mozambique (16th–20th centuries)

Hundreds of beads are collected every year on the shores of the island of Mozambique, dating between the 16th and the 20th-century. They are recovered in the sand and strung into neckless to sell for the best offer. More than archaeological artefacts and important historical, social, economic, and cultural items, they have a dominant role in the island’s local economy today. These archaeological materials are dispersed in time but also in space since they originate from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The privileged geographical position turned this African island into a logistical support platform for transoceanic routes, a mandatory crossing point for ships of the Portuguese crown, and for the other European monarchies that traded in the Indian Ocean. The beads are a palimpsest of cultures and trades, not only in the past but also in the present, and they still play an important role in their relationship with local communities.