This study aims to investigate the identity of the individuals, presumed to have been a part of the early eastern trade network who were laid to rest in Birka. The study is a case study over ten graves containing dirhems and aims to answer three research questions: In what grave contexts are early dirhems found, and can they be seen as an indication of the buried status? Have the dirhems and its eastern trade network affected the grave context regarding its layout, type or are there other networks visible in the grave? And investigating the possibility of using dirhems in grave contexts to study identity, religion or knowledge related to the use of dirhems? The main results of the study shows that generally the older dirhems are in the study connected to high status in regard to the burialtype rather than the value or amount of grave goods. The individuals that were buried with the older dirhems (dated before 800) have overall no clear material traces of trade with western trade networks. The study shows that early dirhems could be used to investigate identity by comparing it with other factors such as burial type, grave goods, placement and modification or fragmentation.