1,100-Year-Old Crucifix Can Re-Write History Of Christianity In Denmark

MessageToEagle.com – An amateur archaeologist in Denmark has made the discovery of his life.

While searching for ancient artifacts with his metal detector he came across a beautiful, small 1,100-year-old golden crucifix. The artifact is older than the Jelling Stones and can therefore help to re-write the history of when the Danes really became Christians.

The inscription on the Jelling Stones states King Harald Bluetooth  made the Danes Christian. Bluetooth became known for casting off the Norse pagan traditions and, becoming a devout Christian who strove to peacefully convert the people of Denmark during his rule.

The discovery made by Dennis Fabricius Holm near the small town Aunslev on Østfyn of  a unique  pendant depicting Jesus on the cross is of vital importance and may lead force scholars to change Christian history books in Denmark. The golden crucifix has been dated to dated to the first half of the 10th century, the early 900s which means it is older than the country’s Jelling Stones.

The Jelling stones are massive carved runestones from the 10th century, found at the town of Jelling in Denmark. The older of the two Jelling stones was raised by King Gorm the Old in memory of his wife Thyra. The larger of the two stones was raised by King Gorm’s son, Harald Bluetooth in memory of his parents, celebrating his conquest of Denmark and Norway, and his conversion of the Danes to Christianity. The runic inscriptions on these stones are considered the best known in Denmark.

The curator and archaeologist at Østfyns Museums Malene Refshauge Beck said that the discovery is very special. An almost identical figure has been found in a grave of a woman at Birka, Sweden and it has also been dated to this period, she says.

“The person who wore the small crucifix must have embraced the Christian faith. The figure can therefore help us to determine when exactly Danes became Christians,” Malene Refshauge Beck said. She also point out that there have been prior evidence of Christianity I Denmark. Archaeologists have found jewelry with crosses. Still, the other crosses that have been found in Denmark have only been fragments and were dated to the late 10th century. This pendant is the oldest and most preserved one discovered so far.

Amateur archaeologists Dennis Fabricius Holm is still in a state of shock.

“It is strange that my name will now be associated with something that apparently is so important. I do not quite understand it happened to me.”

The figure will now be examined by Østfyns Museum and will be exhibited at Ladby Museum this summer.

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