A slave ship carried the equivalent today of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of trade goods. Indian cotton cloth was the most important part of the cargo, but guns, brassware, glassware, beads, alcohol, tools and trinkets were also traded in exchange for enslaved Africans and the food to feed them on the Transatlantic crossing.

Beads from Venice and Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) were traded to Africa and used to make jewellery and decorate clothing and insignia.

The big 'chevron' bead is Venetian, from the 1700s, and was found in the mud of the Floating Harbour. Chevron beads were made with layers of coloured glass, and the beads with seven layers were the most valued.

The bracelets were made with trade beads exported to Ghana.

Modern versions of old trade beads, including red white-eye and tartan types, are still sold in Ghana today.