ANCIENT MEDITERRANEAN BEADS ANTIQUE CRUSADES

Up for sale are four green glass beads dating to the early Byzantine Empire which followed the Roman Empire after its fall.  They date to about 800 AD and were found along the Danube where forts were built to repel Turkish attacks before and during the crusades.  That is also the period of the Vikings in whose culture beads were very important.  Much of the Vikings beads were pillaged or taken as tribute and these can be considered Viking as well.  Glass technology in general declined in the dark ages and bead production remained quite unchanged.  These beads show rudimentary rural craftsmanship diminished form the Roman standard and a gray/blue color which lacks the strength of Roman coloration.  They are 8.4-9.2 mm  (about 1/3 inch).  These are fine artifacts of the Byzantine Empire and The Crusades with a Viking association.  They are fine additions to any collection or to a modern jewelry creation.  31B4