gems, garnet, Cambodia, Vietnam, Prohear, glass, agate, carnelian, ancient technology, drilling techniques, garnet, double diamond-tipped drilling

Beads found at Iron Age sites in Southeast Asia have been the center of several studies in recent years examining their importance as prestige objects as well as their role in trade and socio-political development (for example Theunissen 2003; Theunissenet al. 2000; Bellina 2003, 2007; Lankton and Dussubieux 2006). These studies have primarily focused on glass, agate and carnelian beads, however, beads made of other materials have also been found in lesser quantities. This paper will focus on two sets of garnet beads found at sites in Cambodia. One type of garnet bead was found at sites in southeastern...