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 center of the Nordic countries. Ribe served as a bridge between worlds and an international metropolis. Recent studies of Viking finds from Ribe show that Viking ships carried reindeer antlers from Norway to Ribe for the comb maker's workshop. These commercial trips between Norway and Denmark gave the Vikings a chance to develop the maritime skills and geographical knowledge they needed for their future raids. Three archaeologists now argue that the Viking Age began in the early 8th century in Ribe — not in 793, when Vikings attacked the Lindisfarne monastery in northern England — since seafaring and long sea voyages are central to defining when the Viking Age began (roughly 800–1100 AD).

Each bead is handmade using the same technique the Vikings used: melting glass on a metal rod to form beads. They're 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 build a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry.

Viking necklaces were made from a variety of materials and served not only as decoration but also as status symbols and spiritual objects. They could contain unique elements and were closely tied to magic, rituals, and identity, as seen in stories about the Brísing necklace and saints such as Genevieve and Bathild. Archaeological finds show that necklaces could carry both pagan and Christian symbolism and were often linked to ritual specialists, such as the v?lur, who may have used 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.