DOI: 10.33547/terra.fertilis16
Interactions and exchange in the Barbaricum based on the study of amber and the example of Basonia beads
by Karl Johann Offermann 
in Terra fertilis, terra deserta. Exploitation of marginal zones, edited by M. J. Przybyła, J. Rodzińska-Nowak and M. Wojenka, Neue Studien zur Sachsenforschung 15, Braunschweig – Kraków: Braunschweigische Landesmuseum, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Profil-Archeo, pp. 265-280.
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Abstract: This paper examines patterns of interaction and exchange in the Barbaricum during the Roman Iron Age and the Migration Period through a comprehensive study of amber artefacts, with particular emphasis on the so-called Basonia bead types (TM 435–440). Amber, a highly valued material widely distributed across Europe despite its limited natural occurrence, serves as an important indicator of long-distance contacts and socio-economic relationships.
The study is based on an extensive dataset comprising over 22,700 amber artefacts from 691 sites across Northern Europe, including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and northern Germany. By applying and modifying existing typological frameworks, the research identifies regional patterns in the distribution and use of amber beads. Special attention is given to large, lathe-turned Basonia beads, whose origin is traced to the western Baltic cultural zone and dated primarily to the Late Roman Iron Age and Early Germanic Iron Age.
The presence of these beads in Scandinavian contexts—particularly in hoards and richly furnished graves—demonstrates their status as imported, high-value objects. Their limited wear, distinctive forms, and specific depositional contexts suggest that they fulfilled not only decorative but also symbolic and possibly ritual functions, including roles as status markers or amulets.
The distribution of Basonia beads highlights the existence of trans-Baltic exchange networks linking Central and Northern Europe. These networks likely involved both trade and elite gift exchange, reflecting complex social interactions and mobility across the region. At the same time, the study emphasizes the coexistence of imported and locally produced amber objects, pointing to regional centres of production and innovation, particularly in Jutland.
Overall, the analysis contributes to a better understanding of the economic, social, and symbolic dimensions of amber use in prehistoric Europe and underscores the importance of long-distance exchange in shaping cultural connections within the Barbaricum.