A man in Denmark using a metal detector uncovered a rare Viking crucifix pendant.

In Denmark, a metal detector enthusiast recently stumbled upon a remarkable find: a rare Viking crucifix pendant from the 10th century. As reported by Discovery News, this small gold cross is believed to be the oldest crucifix discovered in the country. This extraordinary find implies that the Danes may have embraced Christianity earlier than previously thought.

The well-preserved cross stands 1.6 inches tall and is crafted in the shape of Jesus Christ, arms outstretched on the cross. It was discovered in the town of Aunslev, Østfyn, by hobbyist metal detectorist Dennis Fabricius Holm. Holm had taken the afternoon off from work and decided to try out his detector. While walking near a church, he suddenly found something. 'I cleared the mud and saw the jewelry; I couldn’t stop thinking about it,' Holm told Danish news outlet DK (translated via Google Translate).

Holm shared news of his find on social media, as reported by The Independent. Viewers advised him to take the artifact to a museum, and the crucifix is now being examined by specialists at the Viking Museum Ladby.

According to the Ladby Museum, the pendant holds significant historical value. It predates the famous runestone from Jelling, Denmark, which features a figure on a cross and commemorates the Danes’ conversion to Christianity by the Scandinavian king Harald Bluetooth. Dating to approximately 965 CE, it was considered the earliest depiction of Jesus on a cross in Denmark. However, the newly discovered crucifix pendant, likely crafted between 900–950 CE, challenges this idea.

'The figure can … help to push forward the timeline when one considers that the Danes truly embraced Christianity,' said Malene Refshauge Beck, a curator and archaeologist at the Østfyns Museum in Kerteminde, Denmark, in an interview with The Independent. 'Simply because it is clear that the person who wore it undoubtedly accepted the Christian faith.'

The crucifix was probably worn by a Viking woman, although the Ladby Museum stated in a press release that their experts have not yet determined 'whether the cross was meant to indicate she was a Christian Viking or if it was simply a part of a pagan Viking’s accessories.'

The pendant will be displayed at the Ladby Museum until Easter, after which it will be sent to a conservation lab. This summer, it will be featured in an exhibition showcasing other Viking artifacts discovered in Denmark using metal detectors.