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1000 YEAR OLD VIKING BEAD ANCIENT ANTIQUE-1
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Item Number: 161-d
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Historically, beads were always very valuable and desirable because of the amount of labor needed to make one and the fact that they were easy to transport. At many points in history, they were more valuable than gold. In that light it is easier to understand how they were used as money and often, tribute after a successful invasion, was demanded in beads. The Vikings were the masters of raiding for goods, ransom and tribute and no one loved beads more than Vikings. In 866, they invaded England, ultimately capturing about half the island and occupied it for over 200 years. Beads were an important part of their culture and they both manufactured and imported them. In the 1980’s, several groups of Viking beads which were found along with other artifacts, turned up at the London auctions. Offered here is one of those Viking beads. It is a major hard stone bead, made of agate, 29.3 mm long-just under 1.15". One of the best and most up to date references for these is the DVD study of Viking beads by Dan Carlsson available on the internet and this bead accords with his example F22641 shown under carnelian and amethyst.161-d
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Historically, beads were always very valuable and desirable because of the amount of labor needed to make one and the fact that they were easy to transport. At many points in history, they were more valuable than gold.
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