Name/TitleThree lead Christian amulets and mould, Southwest Jutland Museums, SJM 3

About this objectThese three small lead amulets with a X-cross design and a mould to make them were found at the site of a smithy during excavations at Ribe, the oldest town in today's Denmark, dating to the early 9th century. The X-cross was seen in contemporary Christian communities in France and Germany.
The town was established in the early 8th century for trade and it became an important centre. Ansgar, missionary to Scandinavia [EXH7], requested that a church be built here in 860 but the discovery of these amulets from earlier suggest that some of the population were already converted by then.

Date Madec. 810 – c. 830

PeriodViking

Place MadeRibe

Subject and Association KeywordsArrivals

Subject and Association KeywordsCrosses

Subject and Association DescriptionLearn More: Brink 2012; Eisenschmidt 2013.

Medium and MaterialsLead

TechniqueMolded

Measurements<2 cm diameter

Credit LineNorthern Emporium Project/Southwest Jutland Museums

Object numberEXH6: Southwest Jutland Museums, SJM 3