The early medieval remains of amber- and jet-working represent what has been described as a ‘producer, consumer and producer-product interface’ (Jones 1993 cited in Caple 2006, 16). This relationship between the archaeological record and the actors involved in the production and use of an artefact is illustrated in Figure 7.2. Within this object biography, amber and jet were gathered and transported before being worked into a finished product for use. In order to extract information about the consumers and artisans in this process, a simple model has been devised for this paper (Figure 7.3). I begin with the sources for jet and amber, and chronologically review the use of these two gemstones in the early medieval British Isles. The production waste and finds from York and Dublin are then detailed in a case study analysis. These two sites have been extensively excavated since the 1960s and have produced prime datasets for the investigation of amber and jet craft-workers and their consumers. Figure 7.3 outlines the method of analysis employed to this end, standardization of products is assessed initially to determine the degree of craft specialization and whether artisans were professionals. The use of spatial distribution assists further in determining whether artisans worked independently or in nucleated workshops (Costin 1991, 10, 18, 32), while comparison with other finds permits an examination of manufacturing technique and cultural affiliations, to ascertain if craft-workers of amber and jet also worked in bone, for instance, or if they imitated high-status products. Finally, this paper will evaluate the written sources and historical context to explain the demand for, and changing use of amber and jet in the early medieval British Isles.