PugJesusOrnate bead, Byzantine Empire, ~5th century AD?
orlyowlShould I be surprised that it looks like they directly wrote information on it? (E1100P?)
I’m just a little surprised the museum would do that. Special ink maybe?
BarneyPiccoloUltimately, it adds to the provenance, so it’s easier to track and verify many years from now. It’s different than some kid finding it on the playground, and etching his initials in it with a protractor.