[Products imported to Scandinavia during the Viking age
The people in Scandinavia traded with people from all over Europe. The merchants either sailed north to one of the Scandinavian trading towns, or they sailed south to visit one of theirs.
The nordic people were interested in foreign products such as grain, herbs, ceramic, lignite (Also called: brown coal), slaves, fruit, nuts, glass, and glass beads.]
I'm inclined to wonder if the o.p.'s recovered bead is related to a trade site near the recovery site as a discard. Or if it traveled first / was worn /used from a site elsewhere.
Africa and Murano were sources for trade beads. I don't know what network the Vikings had. Russia , Germany , other sources existed for beads too.
Only some African do I have trouble telling apart from Venetian beads at a glance. And I have not looked into how long trade beads have been coming out of Africa/ Viking era or not.
Do you know which trade towns that were the most important ones to the Vikings and why? This list has all of them, including import/export.
skjalden.com
