Toys for you!

The history of beads dates back to 40,000 years ago and every culture and county has produced them since then. The Egyptians were making glass beads by 1365 BC. In Lebanon glass factories that are are several thousand years old are still working. Archaeology sites have produced evidence that China has been making and exporting glass beads for centuries. Ans glass and brass beads have been found in the burial sites of many cultures such as Egyptian tombs, Roman catacombs, Saxon, African, and American Indian.

Before Europeans reached North America beads there were made from gold, jade, bone, the blue-green stone turquoise and hand-polished shells.

A major source of glass beads was Venice. Venetians has almost a monopoly on bead for nearly 600 years.

Apart from the fact that they were often made from precious metals, carved from rare stones and seeds or woven from leather and fabric, beads were a common form of currency with all trading done with beads instead of notes, coins or plastic!

And here's the link!

We have this colourful circular weaving loom kit for you to win, courtesy of the Model Shop. It is full of everything you need to make beautiful bead jewellery.

Just tell us the name of the beads that are found in shells.

Send your answer, together with your name, age and address, to Junior News by April 13.