Mosaic glass bead

Burial from Veien - inhumation grave from the transition between the Late Roman Iron Age and the Migration Period c.400CE

The glass bead was found in the richest burial mound at Veien, "Kongshaugen," or the Kings mound, and is the only one of its kind found at the site. Glass beads, such as this marbled one featuring hues of red, white, yellow, green, and blue, can exhibit either a single color or multiple colors. These mosaic beads are crafted from glass masses of diverse colors, capable of creating intricate patterns on the bead's surface. Examples of such patterns may encompass floral motifs, checkerboards, and squares.     

Glass beads were imported to Norway in a finished state, and therefore, they have likely been valuable objects and symbols of power. The bead might have been crafted in a workshop within one of the provinces of the Roman Empire and reached Veien through trade, gift-giving, or as spoils of war. Grave goods of foreign origin like glass beads, provide insight into how people in ancient times forged alliances and established networks across vast territories.  

The exact purpose and usage of the bead remain uncertain, but beads of this nature might have served an amuletic function, offering protection against malevolent forces. It could have been suspended as a pendant on a sword or integrated into an attire, functioning as decorative jewellery.