The amber polisher

The gold of the North

The amber smith creates jewellery, amulets, dice and playing pieces for board games. He also trades raw amber for other goods. The "Northern Gold" was undoubtedly in high demand.

On the parts of the Viking market place near Ribe that have so far been excavated archaeologists have recovered several kilos of amber. Most of this is raw, untreated amber or half-finished beads, but the sheer amount suggests that amber has been a major commodity in the trade here. An amount of charred amber also suggests that the material was used as varnish or possibly as incense.