Viking glass beads, Gotland, 5 pieces

Product description

These glass beads replicate small yellow glass beads found during excavations in Hellvi on Gotland, Sweden. Archaeologists discovered this bead alongside other glass and carnelian (stone) beads. The original dates back to the Viking Age. During the Viking era, Gotland served as a major trade center thanks to its strategic location in the Baltic Sea. It ranks among the richest archaeological sites in the world. Craftspeople make these glass beads by hand 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. Use these beads to 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. They served not only as decoration but also as status symbols and spiritual objects. Necklaces 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. They were often associated with ritual specialists, such as the v?lur, who may have used them in seiðr magic. Research on necklace assemblages and graves with magical items confirms that necklaces played an important role in spiritual and ritual practices within Viking culture.