A total of 538 greenstone beads was found in association
with the burials during the 1980s excavations at the Feathered
Serpent Pyramid. They were distributed in Graves 1, 5, 13, 14, and
203. Thirteen beads were found in 1988-89 in the fill of the
post-Teotihuacan layers on the east side of the pyramid. These seem
to have fallen from a burial or caches atop the pyramid. In addition
to them, 400 beads were reportedly discovered in relation to burials
found at the top of the pyramid (Marquina 1922). Seventy nine beads
were uncovered in caches in front of the staircase of the Feathered
Serpent Pyramid (Pérez 1939).The majority of greenstone beads studied were recovered from Graves 14 and 13. The beads are approximately spherical and have single holes in their centers, although their shapes are often irregular. Their sizes also vary significantly. In general, the beads in the central grave show greater variation among themselves than those of Grave 13. Grave 13 contained large beads. The central grave included a larger number of small beads than bigger ones. In addition, the beads from Grave 13 tend to be thicker than those from Grave 14. These data indicate difference between greenstone beads in Grave 13 and those in Grave 14.
In Graves 1, 203, and 13-F, greenstone beads
formed necklaces of personal ornament. The distribution of beads in
disturbed layers of the burials (Graves 12 and 13) did not show clear
patterning because of looting. The majority of beads in Grave 14 were
laid down in clusters as shown in this photo. Apart from those
forming clusters, beads were scattered individually and apparently
irregularly throughout a wide area of the grave. However, several of
them, particularly larger ones, seem to have been associated with the
thorax region of individuals. They seem to have originally been
located on the chests or were possibly put in the mouth of the
dead.
