Work

Compositional Analysis of Transatlantic‐Era Glass Beads From Peki, Ghana: Provenance, Chronology, and Local Transformation of European Imports in the Gold Coast

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This paper reports elemental analysis results of 51 glass beads from Peki, an inland transatlantic trade node in southeastern Ghana. Using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS), 91 compositional measurements were obtained, identifying three principal glass types: high‐soda, high‐lead, and potash‐lime glasses. Most beads likely originated in European centers such as Venice and Bohemia and were imported to the Gold Coast between the 17th and 19th centuries. Variations in opacifiers—tin, antimony, and arsenic—help refine chronological dating of the site context. Comparison with data from Elmina and Old Buipe reveals shared traditions and regional differences, linking Peki to broader trade networks that connect the Gold Coast to its interior.

Source: Archaeometry

DOI: 10.1111/arcm.70247

Authors: Benjamin Kofi Nutor, Laure Dussubieux

Institutions: Texas A&M University, Field Museum of Natural History

Language: English

Topic: Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis

Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,350

Funder: American Council of Learned Societies