Ornament is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf
By Emma Frederickson, Popular Mechanics
(POPULAR MECHANICS) – In recent years, researchers have made a string of discoveries shedding light on the history of medieval Leeds, England. According to a press release from the Leeds City Council, in 2012, a metal detectorist found seven important objects, including high-quality gold jewelry that would’ve been worn by wealthy Saxons. In 2023, a 1,600-year-old lead coffin was discovered in a cemetery along with the remains of 60 people from the late Roman to Early Saxon period. The most recent discovery added to the list of finds is an intricate Saxon cross pendant.
Though one of the four arms is broken off and the center jewel is missing, the pendant is still an incredible relic. The cross is made of silver and covered in a thin layer of gold leaf and bears a complex interlacing pattern that is typical of traditional Saxon styles.
Crosses have historically been worn by various groups for various reasons, even before the rise of Christianity. For Egyptians, the ankh (often referred to as the “first” or the “original” cross) is a symbol of eternal life. Pagans used the (Celtic) cross in rituals worshipping the sun. The cross found in Leeds may have been a “badge of office” for an important member of society. Kat Baxter—Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of archaeology—explains that the design of the pendant is indicative of who would’ve worn it.