Lyssa, most museums photograph hole on so that the shape of the bead can be seen, and some photos are also side shot to see the pattern, if any. Very few, if any, archaeologists ever make beads-- I've read a hilarious description by the late Margaret Guido on how the Celtic horned beads were made. It's obvious to bead makers she had no clue as to construction, but that's because she never made beads. My take on the bead above is that it was fat twistie wrapped around a mandrel, but it could have also had the gravity bead technique used on it also during construction.
Which SCA group are you with? I'm in the Midrealm, Barony of Rivenstar (Lafayette, IN).
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