Kivihooned

Kivihooned is a term used in Estonian-language archaeological literature to describe small stone objects that are shaped or carved for use as ornaments, most often interpreted as beads or pendants. The term appears in catalogs and reports to designate items that are compact in size, regularly shaped, and perforated or drilled to allow stringing. Because usage varies among authors, kivihooned can sometimes be described more generally as small, drilled stone beads or stone ornaments.

Materials and manufacture commonly associated with kivihooned include quartz, flint, chalcedony, jasper, and other translucent or mottled stones, though a range of lithologies has been documented. Production typically involved initial shaping by percussion or grinding, followed by shaping and smoothing, polishing, and the drilling of holes for stringing. Some examples show evidence of wear from use or from stringing, indicating they were carried or worn as personal adornment.

Dating and distribution place these objects in prehistoric Baltic contexts, with finds reported from Estonia and neighboring regions. They are often recovered from burial sites, settlements, and hoards, and their presence in multiple sites suggests a role in exchange networks or broader social practice during late Neolithic to Bronze Age periods.

Function and significance are generally understood to relate to adornment, status, and social identity, as well as potential ritual or symbolic roles. The exact meanings of kivihooned likely varied between communities and over time, reflecting broader patterns of material culture in the Baltic region.

See also: bead, prehistoric jewelry, Baltic archaeology, stone ornament.