The museum has obtained a small but important Anglo-Saxon chest cavity

The Leeds Museum and Gallery acquired a rare gilded Anglo-Saxon cross that may belong to the church leader. The cross is made of solid silver and is completely covered with a thin layer of gold leaves. Both sides are decorated with Anglo-Saxon features, documenting them until the 8th century.

The cross is 37mm (1.46 inches) wide, 29mm (1.41 inches) wide and 6mm (.24 inches) thick. One arm is lost, as is the gem originally set in the middle of the cross. All that remains is the ring that twists the two metals together, and that’s the setting of the stone. The arms are all decorated individually in different ways. There is no suspension ring on the remaining weapons, but there is no evidence that it is a pin, so archaeologists think it is a pendant, the suspension ring on the missing arm.

“The cross is beautifully decorated on both sides, which shows that it is intended to be hung around the neck, while the suspension ring is on the missing arm. It must have been worn by people of high status and is an external religious identity.

“This was when Leeds was part of the Kingdom of Northumbria Saxon, and many other discoveries in the area, which really helped us build pictures of people who would have lived here during this time.”

In the past few years, many important Roman and early medieval periods have been found in Leeds and the environment. A Roman and Anglo-Saxon Cemetery discovered in 2022 contains a complete lead coffin, a very expensive burial exercise in which the young woman buried wears a bracelet, glass bead necklace and ring. In 2012, the Leeds Museum and Gallery acquired West Yorkshire Hoc, a group of seven items dating from the 7th to the 11th century, five of which were Saxon gold and garnet jewelry.

Kate added: “All of these findings are part of a puzzle, which together suggests that Leeds was at a high position in the Saxon era, important people, and this beautiful cross is the latest glimpse into the past.”

The cross will be on display at the Leeds City Museum later this year.