By Saihaj Madan
A team of archaeologists has discovered what is being called the world鈥檚 largest collection of ancient beads inside a 5,000-year-old tomb in Seville, Spain. The find was made in the Montelirio Tholos, which is a large underground burial site in Valencina de la Concepci贸n, according to Science Journal. More than 270,000 beads were recovered from the site. These were dating back to the Chalcolithic period (3200-2500 BCE). The beads were made from materials such as shell, amber, calcite, and greenstone, and ranged in size from 1 to 10 millimeters. Some of the beads were already strung together, suggesting that they may have been once used in clothing or as decorations, as per HT. The tomb, which is about 39 meters wide, was excavated between 2007 and 2010 by researchers led by Leonardo Garc铆a Sanju谩n from the University of Seville. It is part of the larger Valencina-Castilleja necropolis and held the remains of at least 25 people, who were believed to be high-status individuals from the Copper Age. 鈥淎 small group of 90 beads was found in the upper level of the second chamber (Structure 10.049), in connection with a rock crystal blade dagger, of whose ivory handle the beads are believed to have been a decoration,鈥 Science Journal reported. Also Read: Who Leaked Iran Strikes Assessment? Trump Has The Answer Radiocarbon dating placed the tomb鈥檚 construction between 2875 and 2700 BCE. Among the 20 individuals identified, 15 were women. The five-year study used various scientific methods to analyze the beads. Researchers found that the beads were likely part of the ceremonial attire which was used by elite women. The study said that the items served as 鈥渟umptuary attributes heavily loaded of symbolism, used by a selected group of women of high social significance.鈥