Viking Age Silver-Gilt Pendant with Face

Comprising: two examples of a long and narrow tongue-shaped type (Paulsen's Gruppe V 2A, Untergruppe C) with scooped upper edge and palmette motif to the centre, a vertical band of reserved stylised ring-chain decoration on a pounced field, long lateral straps and a knop finial (one with an upper arm absent); a subtriangular type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 2, Untergruppe C) with central openwork panel displaying a bird in flight with the fan-shaped tail marked with radiating lines, trilinear bands to the outer sides, upper edges angled and with a lozengiform 'knot' at the apex; a long and rounded tongue-shaped type (Paulsen's Gruppe I 1) with an openwork centre and Ringerike Style bird formed with looped bands, pellets to the pinions, a triangular in plan head joined to the inner faces of the ropework border forming the upper edge of the chape, with a wolf's head at the apex and stepped knop finial (one face damaged); a single plate from a chape of the same type (Gruppe I 1) with a rounded lower edge and the apex absent. 158 grams total, 59-75 mm



From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

The slender, tongue-shaped elongated form (Gruppe V2A, Untergruppe C) is regarded by Paulsen (p.118) as Latvian in origin ("Lettland") and 11th century in date. The broader openwork form (Gruppe I 2, Untergruppe C) is associated with the Baltic island of Gotland, which was a major entrepot in the trade network connecting Sweden with the eastern Baltic and the riverine passage south to the Mediterranean; a 10th century date is preferred for this type. The long openwork form (Gruppe I 1) is Scandinavian in origin and appears first in the 10th century; Paulsen's figure 6 from Oland, Sweden, is a close match to the complete example included here.

A slightly bent irregular bar of hacked gold with rectangular cross-section, showing evidence of compression and fracture to each end, some subtle transverse lines on both of the main surfaces. 14.43 grams, 51 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector on 1st May 2022 on a Romano-British site in Cambridgeshire, UK, by Trevor Singleton. Accompanied by a handwritten letter from the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.CAM-D819F0 and workflow review page where it states: 'There is evidence that the bar fragment has been cut from both ends, suggesting Early Medieval (Viking Period) parallels.'

This ingot was declared under the Treasure Act and subsequently determined by the British Museum to be of 'undiagnostic' date and therefore returned to the finder. Trevor Singleton maintains that it was recovered from a known Romano-British site, while in neighbouring fields Early Medieval (Late Saxon & Viking) items have been recovered and logged with the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Ingots of gold and silver were regularly produced in the Early Medieval period when trade took place between monetised economies (Anglo-Saxon England, Francia, Frisia) and their non-monetised neighbours in southern Scandinavia (West, 1998; Blackburn, 2011). Ingots were a convenient means of storing wealth which could be converted into display items (weapon fittings, clothing fasteners, tableware) or used to gild silver and bronze items (Hårdh, 1996).

The bird in profile with equal-arm cross on its back, linear detail to the wing and tail, lentoid eye, loop below the chest; loop to the reverse. 10.06 grams, 31 mm



Found near Winteringham, Humberside, UK.