Viking glass beads, Ribe, 3 pieces

Product description

These glass beads are replicas of a bead found during excavations in Ribe, Denmark. In the early 8th century (700–710 AD), a marketplace was established at the Ribe River. This marketplace marked the beginning of Ribe – the first city in Denmark and Scandinavia, and soon the largest trading centre of the Nordic countries. Ribe was a bridge between worlds and an international metropolis. Recent studies of Viking findings from Ribe have shown that Viking ships brought reindeer antlers from Norway to Ribe for the comb maker's workshop. These commercial trips between Norway and Denmark permitted the Vikings to develop the maritime skills and geographical knowledge they required for their future raids. Three archaeologists have now stated that the Viking Age began in the early 8th century in Ribe and not in 793, when Vikings attacked the Lindisfarne monastery in northern England, as seafaring and long sea voyages are central to determining when the Viking Age began (approximately 800–1100 AD).

These glass beads are handmade employing the same technique the Vikings used: melting glass on a metal rod to form beads. They are particularly well-suited to reenactment, living history, and Viking archaeology enthusiasts. With these beads, you can create your own Viking necklace. Mix & match them with other beads and pendants from our collection to create a distinctive piece of jewellery.

Viking necklaces were crafted from various materials and served not only as decoration but also as a status symbol and spiritual object. They could contain unique elements and were closely linked to magic, rituals, and identity, as seen in stories about the Brísing necklace and saints such as Genevieve and Bathild. Archaeological findings show that necklaces could carry both pagan and Christian symbolism and were often associated with ritual specialists, such as the v?lur, who may have employed them in seiðr magic. Research into necklace assemblages and graves with magical objects suggests that necklaces played an important role in spiritual and ritual practices within Viking culture.