Stone beads from ancient Colombia are widespread in museum collections and are commonly found in archeological excavations. Many Indigenous Colombians wear bead necklaces; the Kaggaba people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta additionally use them for divination. 
  
A bead is dropped into a bowl of water, and the bubbles that rise to the surface can be interpreted (see video below). This practice, which may be extremely old, is a reminder that it is crucial to consult Indigenous knowledge when analyzing archeological materials; without such information, these divinatory tools would be reduced to their function as adornments.

 

Video Transcript

The lakes that are found high in the mountains are lakes to the sea.

Bubbles appear in the water, and the bubbles make the connection. 

That is how we communicate with the lakes and the sea and with the Mother.

And the waters speak.