AN ANCIENT PRECOLUMBIAN TIWANAKU CULTURE SODALITE TUBE BEAD THAT I HAVE HAD IN STORAGE FOR MANY YEARS. THIS BEAD WAS PART OF A NECKLACE WORN BY THE ORIGINAL FINDER AND OWNER WHICH HAS NOW FALLEN APART. HE HAD CHOSEN SOME OF THE MOST COLORFUL WELL FORMED BEADS FOR HIS OWN NECKLACE. THESE ARE TREASURED HEIRLOOM BEADS BUT MANY COLLECTORS STILL CONSIDER THEM TO BE SCULPTED FROM SOUTH AMERICAN LAPIS. [ THEY ARE NOT ] EBAY HAS BEEN PROLIFERATED WITH COUNTERFEIT AND PHONEY BEADS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. WITH OUT A DOUBT THIS ARTIFACT BEAD IS AUTHENTIC [ LOOK AT THE SURFACE PATINA AND END WEAR SHOWING EDGE ANGLES ]. THE PUMTEKMAN OFFERS ONLY AUTHENTIC BEADS ON HIS EBAY SITE. BEADS SUCH AS THESE ARE RARE AND WHEN YOU STUDY THE PHOTOS YOU WILL RECOGNIZE WHAT QUALITIES CONSTITUTE AN AUTHENTIC BEAD, SO STUDY AWAY !!! SCHOLARSHIP IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE HOBBY OF ANCIENT BEAD COLLECTING. DOMESTIC [ USA ] BUYERS WITH A COMBINED SALES TOTALS OF OVER 100 $ [ PER MAILING ] DO NOT PAY FOR ANY POST FEES AND TRACKING FEES. THIS BEAD MAY BE CLOSE TO 1300 YEARS OLD.