Stone bead ornamentation has been used for thousands of years; at least as far back in time as the Paleo-Hunter Phase in America. A variety of green-hued stones were admired and utilized by pre-Columbian lithic artisans of the New World. Today, pre-historic green stones other than scarce nephrite or jadeite, such as steatite, diorite, serpentine, chrysoprase and turquoise, are collectively characterized as “cultural jade.”
