Viking glass beads, Gotland, 5 pieces

Product description

These glass beads are replicas of small yellow glass beads found during excavations in Hellvi on Gotland, Sweden. This bead was discovered alongside other glass and carnelian (stone) beads. The original dates back to the Viking Age. During the Viking era, this was a highly important trade center due to its strategic location in the Baltic Sea. Gotland is one of the richest archaeological sites in the world. These glass beads are handmade using the same technique the Vikings used: melting glass onto a metal rod to form beads. They are perfect for 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 craft a unique piece of jewelry.

Viking necklaces were made 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 connected to magic, rituals, and identity, as seen in stories about the Brísing necklace and saints like Genevieve and Bathild. Archaeological finds show that necklaces could carry both pagan and Christian symbolism and were often associated with ritual specialists, such as the vǫlur, who may have used them in seiðr magic. Research on necklace assemblages and graves with magical items suggests that necklaces played an important role in spiritual and ritual practices within Viking culture.

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