Between Egypt, Mesopotamia and Scandinavia: Late Bronze Age glass beads found in Denmark

Abstract

New research results from glass beads found in Denmark reveal surprising evidence for contact in the 14th-12th centuries BC between Egypt, Mesopotamia and Denmark, indicating a complex and far-reaching trade network. 290 annular glass beads ranging from dark blue to green, white and yellow, along with four polychrome beads, have been found in 14th-12th century burials from Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein in North Germany. Coming from well dated contexts, twenty-three well-preserved Danish glass beads were chosen for analysis.