The inscription in this ring is evidence of contact between two widely different ancient cultures
Although this ring is made out of colored glass and does not have any precious stones embedded, it is no less valuable because of it. The key is the Arabic inscription in the glass. You would not expect to find a centuries-old ring bearing an inscription in Arabic all the way over in Scandinavia, but that is exactly what archeologists did.
It was found at a Viking woman’s grave in the town of Birka, in what is now Sweden. The town was an important trading center during the Viking Era, and many foreign traders passed through it. The inscription reads “Allah” and serves as invaluable evidence that there was direct contact between the Islamic world and the Scandinavian Vikings.