Abstract
Although shell bead research within California has focused on a number of themes, the question of what social and cultural processes moved shell beads across the landscape remains unanswered. This study provides a refined assessment of these processes through a regional study of shell bead roles, distribution, and context within the Pomo, Wintu, and Maidu regions of northern California. Changes in shell bead types and styles were shown to be a reflection of the various social systems, as well as changes in the roles beads held within these social systems. These divergent roles were shown to have different implications for how shell beads were moved across the landscape.