Anglo-Saxon Cross Necklaces

[Atral]

Anglo-Saxon Jewellery

The majority of high profile Anglo-Saxon jewellery found is associated with women, though Anglo-Saxon artefacts are quite rare in general. Men would often have jewelled and decorated sword hilts and belt buckles, but there is at least one example of a male burial with an elaborate cross necklace.

The Cross of St Cuthbert (687-698 A.D.)

This is the only Anglo-Saxon cross known to be associated with a man, though other crosses were not found with a body so we can't know for sure if they were worn by a man or woman. The original was found in Durham Cathedral, and a replica exists in the British Museum.

The Wilton Cross (610-641 A.D.)

This one is thought to have been found in Hockwold-cum-Wilton, Norfolk. Little is known about its discovery, but it contains a Byzantine coin depicting Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine which can be used to date the pendant. It is currently held at the British Museum.

The Holderness Cross (600-700 A.D.)

This is an accidental find not associated with a body, so it can only be dated vaguely to the 7th century, matching other examples from that period. It measures roughly 5cm x 5cm. Detailed information can be found in the PAS database, which is a great source for medieval artefacts in general.

The Trumpington Cross (600 -700 A.D.)

The Trumpington Cross was found in the bed burial of a teenage girl in Trumpington, Cambridge and has a 34mm diameter. Noticeably it has 4 loops at the back, rather than a single loop at the top, meaning that it was sewed directly onto the clothing, rather than hanging from the neck.

The Ixworth Cross (Mid 600s A.D.)

Similar in style is the Ixworth cross, though this one hung from the neck. It was found in another bed burial along with other artefacts, but no indication of a body was found, so it's unclear if it was worn by a man or a woman. It was found in Suffolk and measures 4.55 cm long by 3.88 cm wide. It's currently on display at the Ashmolean Museum and pictures from multiple angles can be found on their website.

Desborough Necklace (Late 600s A.D.)

The final item is the Desborough Necklace, which is distinct in style from the others in this list. However, similar pendants and beads occur in a wide range of high-status graves spread across the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. This particular necklace was found in Northamptonshire.

Chains / Suspension Cords

It seems that none of the examples were found with any kind of chain or strap, which leads me to believe that they were either suspended from thin gold wire or a degradable material like leather. Considering their ornateness, I think the first option is most likely. The Newball Cross was found with something like this and might be appropriate for the others.

I'm not suggesting that you add all of these, or even any of them to the game, but they might serve as inspiration if you plan to add anglo-saxon or Christian necklaces.