Table of contents : Illustrations 4 Preface 5 Abbreviations 6 I. Introduction and problems 7 II. Choice of primary material 10 III. Primary systematization and definitions of beads 33 IV. Basic chronological analysis of the bead finds 56 V. Bead groups and their chronological position 78 VI. The provenance of the bead groups 94 VII. A survey of the chronological, chorological and social position of bead finds in Scandinavia ca 800-1000 A.D. 105 VIII. The chronology revised 167 IX. Beads and trade 174 X. Final remarks 180 References 182 Bibliography 208 Table I 218 Appendix I 226