Heishe facts for kids
Heishe (pronounced "hee shee") are special small beads. They are shaped like tiny discs or tubes. These beads are made from natural materials like shells or polished stones.
Heishe beads come from the Kewa Pueblo people in New Mexico. This group was once known as the Santo Domingo Pueblo. They made these beads long before they started using metals in their jewelry. The word "heishe" means "shell bead" in the Eastern Keresan language, which is spoken by the Santo Domingo Indians.
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What are Heishe Beads?
Heishe beads are tiny, smooth beads. They are often shaped like flat discs or small tubes. These beads are very popular in Native American jewelry. They are known for their simple beauty and natural look.
Materials Used
Heishe beads are made from different natural materials.
- Shells: Many beads are crafted from various types of shells. These can be colorful and have unique patterns.
- Stones: Other beads are made from different kinds of stones. These stones are ground down and polished until they are smooth.
A Look Back in Time: History of Heishe
Heishe beads have a very long history. Some of the oldest heishe beads found are about 8,000 years old! They date back to around 6000 BCE. This shows that people have been making and wearing these beads for a very long time.
Ancient Bead-Making
The idea of making beads from natural materials is even older. A similar way of making beads was used in northern Africa about 30,000 years ago. Back then, people used ostrich eggshells to create beads. This shows how ancient the art of bead-making truly is.
How Heishe Beads are Made
Today, some heishe beads are made by machines. But many artists still make them by hand, using traditional methods.
Traditional Hand-Making
Making heishe beads by hand is a careful process.
- Chipping: First, the shell or stone is carefully chipped into small pieces.
- Drilling: Next, a hole is drilled through the center of each tiny piece. This was traditionally done using pointed stones.
- Shaping and Polishing: Finally, the beads are strung together and then ground and polished. This makes them smooth and gives them their disc or tube shape.
Modern Production
Today, many heishe beads are made using machines. This allows for a lot of beads to be made quickly. However, handmade heishe beads are still highly valued. They are appreciated for the skill and tradition involved in their creation.
