Ancient Saxon Pendant Unearthed in Northern England Unlocks Secrets of Medieval Elite Life
Leeds City CouncilThis cross pendant dates back to the eighth century C.E., an important era in Leeds’ history.
“[The pendant] was made at a time when Leeds was part of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria and, along with a number of other discoveries in the area, really helps us build a picture of the types of people who would have lived here during this time,” Baxter remarked.
And while this cross pendant is an exciting discovery, it’s just the latest historic artifact found in Leeds in recent years.
The Wealth Of Saxon And Roman Relics Unearthed In Leeds
As the Leeds City Council notes, the cross pendant is one of many Saxon and Roman objects that have been unearthed here in recent years, both by metal detectorists and professional archaeologists.
In 2012, the Leeds Museums and Galleries acquired the “West Yorkshire Hoard,” seven objects from between the seventh and 11th centuries that were found by a metal detectorist. Five of the seven objects are high-quality gold jewelry which, according to the Leeds City Council, “would only have been worn by people of exceptional wealth in Saxon society.”
Leeds City CouncilThe West Yorkshire Hoard, which was found in 2012 and includes opulent gold jewelry once worn by elites centuries ago.
In 2023, a 1,600-year-old lead coffin was found at a previously unknown cemetery, alongside the remains of 60 individuals from late Roman to early Saxon periods. Inside the coffin, archaeologists found a woman who had died between the ages of 25 and 35 and was buried wearing a bracelet, a glass bead necklace, and what appeared to be a finger ring or earring.
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