This paper presents the characterization of 1088 beads from museum collections and field collections from the eastern valleys of northern Salta, Argentina. Beads made of tuff, slate, glass, malacological material, and minerals were identified. 27 beads were analyzed through SEM-EDX and XRD revealing turquoise, sodalite and opal, and their previous classifications were modified from geochemical data and macroscopic observation. Finally, potential lithic, malacological, and foreign supply sources were assessed.