A Saxon pendant, discovered in a field near Leeds in 2024, is set to be displayed at the Leeds City Museum later in 2025. The ornate pendant, unearthed by a metal detectorist, offers archaeologists a deeper understanding of early medieval Yorkshire.
The pendant, shaped like a cross, is crafted from solid silver covered with gold leaf. Experts believe it dates back to the 8th century A.D., a time when Leeds was part of the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. It is thought to have been worn by a high-ranking church leader or official as a badge of office. The cross is intricately decorated on both sides with interlacing Saxon patterns.
Kat Baxter, Leeds Museums and Galleries' curator of archaeology, notes that the discovery, along with others in the area, helps to paint a clearer picture of the people who lived in Leeds during that period. The earliest written reference to Leeds, or Loidis, dates back to the 8th Century by the historian and monk, the Venerable Bede. The artifact was secured by Leeds Museums and Galleries under the Treasure Act 1996.