SCANDINAVIA, CIRCA 10TH CENTURY A.D.

Pendants nearly identical to the current example were found in the Vårby hoard in Sweden, a striking collection of gold and silver objects, hidden in a wood near the sailing route to Birka. The hoard contained objects from countries as far away as Central Asia, indicating that the original owners must have had an extensive network. See no. 304 (example to the right) and no. 27, p. 78, fig. 6 in E. Roesdahl and D.M. Wilson, From Viking to Crusader: The Scandinavians and Europe 800-1200.