Late medieval bone bead production: socio-economic aspects based on material from Constance, Germany

This paper presents the preliminary results of a study of a massive find of bone bead production refuse from three different production phases dated between the late 13^th and the early 16^th centuries. Differences in the choice of skeletal elements, in the efficiency of use of these raw-materials, and in the form of the products, indicate a growing degree of rationalization. Though at first accompanied by a growing pressure on supply of raw material, this development continued into the 15^th century independent of the changing relationship between the availability of raw material and demand for it, showing early signs of mass production.