~1 1/8" long, ~7/8" wide, >1/2" thick, ~3/16" string holes; it's effectively hollow, an' weighs ~9 grams. I doubt it has much age to it, but the work put into the carving tells me it's not western in origin. That summarizes my knowledge about this bead. Do any of you read hieroglyphics? Or, are they just fantasy scratchings in a lump of fired clay? Beats me all hollow...but thanks for lookin '!
I have one somewhere about the same size made of clay that I have been looking for. From Wikipedia Though primarily worn as amulets and sometimes rings, scarabs were also inscribed for use as personal or administrative seals or were incorporated into other kinds of jewelry. Some scarabs were created for political or diplomatic purposes to commemorate or advertise royal achievements.
