Celtic Bead No. B16 / Hole 3.5 mm

Celtic bead modelled on the gold bead from Bettelbühl.

Here you can purchase a Celtic bead modelled on the gold bead found in the chamber tomb at Bettelbühl / Heuneburg.

The early Celtic bead found in the vicinity of Heuneburg was made of gold with filigree decoration and granules and dates from the 6th century BC, thus dating back to the Hallstatt period. 

Link to the original bead from Bettelbühl...

Pearls played a central role in Celtic culture. They were made of gold, bronze, glass or amber and are often found in elite graves from the Hallstatt period. Such jewellery was not only decorative, but also an expression of power, identity and far-reaching trade relations that extended as far as the Mediterranean region.

This Celtic bead echoes the shape and significance of the original find, making a piece of early Celtic history wearable. An ideal piece of jewellery for lovers of archaeological replicas, for re-enactment or as a special gift with an authentic historical background.

The bead is also ideal as the centrepiece of a necklace, as its size and decorative filigree design make it a real eye-catcher.

The granulated gold beads of the Celts were made by soldering small balls and fine wires onto the bead in a painstaking filigree process.
Our replica, on the other hand, is cast in one piece, beautifully showcasing the filigree design.

You can purchase the bead in high-quality bronze or in genuine silver-plated bronze.
Alternatively, you can also order it in 925 sterling silver (please note delivery time).
Alloy...

Dimensions: 2.3 cm. Hole diameter 4 mm.

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The Celtic gold bead from Bettelbühl was discovered in an exceptionally richly furnished princess's grave, which was excavated in 2010 under a burial mound near the Celtic hilltop settlement of Heuneburg on the upper Danube.  It is one of the oldest Celtic settlements north of the Alps and was inhabited from around 620 to 450 BC.

The find is one of the most significant jewellery finds in Celtic archaeology in Central Europe. The wooden burial chamber was almost airtight due to damp soil conditions and the finds were exceptionally well preserved. 

The high-ranking woman of the Celtic elite, now known as the "Princess of Bettelbühl", was buried with gold beads, amber jewellery, brooches and other bronze grave goods. The beads probably belonged to a necklace or an elaborately designed jewellery set and underlined the rank, wealth and social status of the deceased.