Archaeologist finds Denmark’s oldest crucifix

A Danish amateur archaeologist left work early one Friday in March, and discovered a solid gold crucifix from 1,100 years ago. It’s a rare find– potentially the oldest depiction of Jesus ever found in the country.

According to LiveScience and Danish newspaper DR Nyheder, the crucifix was discovered by hobbyist Dennis Fabricius Holm while he was searching a field on the island of Funen with his metal detector, near the small town of Aunslev. Upon locating the artifact, Holm called Malene Beck, an archaeologist at Østfyns Museums in Nyborg and Kerteminde Municipalities.

Beck analyzed the crucifix and determined that it dated back to the first half of the 900s, telling DR Nyheder that it was nearly identical to an artifact previously discovered in Sweden. The cross has since been named the “Christ from Aunslev,” and it was on display at the Viking Museum at Ladby through Easter 2016. More importantly, the museum curator noted that the pendant could rewrite the history books.

“This object will definitely need to figure in future history books as it could alter the period when it is believed that Danes became Christian,” Beck said. “Over the last few years there have been more and more signs that Christianity was spread earlier than previously thought – and up until now, this find is the clearest proof of that.”

Discovery indicates Christianity reached the country earlier than thought

The crucifix itself is just 4.1 centimeters (1.6 inches) big, solid gold, and in the shape of a man with his arms outstretched (presumed to be Jesus), the museum said in a press release. It weighs 13.2 grams (0.47 ounces) and has a smooth back side and a small eye for a chain at the top.

While fragments of crosses like this have been previously found in Denmark, this is the first to be discovered intact. The owner was believed to have been a wealthy female, LiveScience said, though the museum noted that it is not certain whether or not she was a Christian. She may have been a pagan Viking who was wearing the necklace to show off an acquired trophy.

The crucifix’s discovery pushes back the date that the religion originally entered Denmark, said Beck. The pendant was dated to the first half of the 10th century, which makes it is older than the Jelling Stones, which were dated to AD 965. Those stones include Harald Bluetooth’s runestone, which tells the story of King Harald’s conversion of the Danes to Christianity and was previously thought to have been the oldest depiction of Christ on a cross ever found in Denmark.

A medieval church, located near the field where the pendant was found, has been dated to the 1200s, and the museum explained that several other artifacts – including a runestone – has been found there. The crucifix, combined with the other discoveries, indicates that the church might have originally be founded near an ancient Viking settlement.

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Image credit: Viking Museum at Lady

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