Bird pendant

This small gold bird pendant is inlaid with red and blue glass. It was long believed to have originated from the sumptuous grave of a Merovingian woman. That would have been highly remarkable, since nothing of the kind had ever been found from that period. But recent research reveals that the little bird must be an Islamic gem dating from around 1000. We know of similar objects from the 10th and 11th centuries, originating from Andalusia, Syria and Israel. But this only increases the mystery. For how did the little bird get here? And did it actually come from Maastricht? Furthermore, objects dating from the 10th and 11th centuries are extremely rare in the Netherlands.