Red Beads in Southern California

Abstract

Red argillite beads and pendants are rare occurrences in the archaeological record in southern California. They appear to be restricted to southern Orange and northern San Diego Counties. A manufacturing center for these items is hypothesized to have been located in the Trabuco Canyon and Cota de Caza areas of inland Orange County from which they were traded to the coastal areas. Red beads and ornaments may be diagnostic of the Millingstone Horizon (Encinitas Tradition) in this region.