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Abstract
CROSS PENDANTS, decorated with a ring-and-dot motif and made out of Whitby jet, have been found as far away as Norway and Greenland. This paper catalogues this unique group of artefacts and discusses their context. Their distribution is centred in Yorkshire, suggesting that they were made at Whitby Abbey in the late 12th century. Combining the power of the Christian cross with the magical properties of jet, they were likely worn as protective amulets.
I am especially grateful to Alison Kyle (University of Glasgow) for sharing my enthusiasm for this project and for bringing several pieces to my attention, and to Dr Colleen Batey (University of Glasgow) for the supervision of and advice on this project as it began taking on a life of its own during the course of my PhD. I would also like to thank Mark Hall (Perth Museum and Art Gallery), Gitte Hansen (Bergen University Museum), Martin Goldberg (National Museums Scotland), Stuart Campbell (Treasure Trove Scotland), Karen Snowden (Scarborough Museum Trust), Susan Harrison (English Heritage), the staff of the Whitby Lit and Phil Museum and the many other archaeologists and curators who provided me with information, much of it unpublished. Thanks are also due to Stuart Campbell for bringing the Malton ebay cross to my attention, and to Mark Hall and John Cherry for discussion of its authenticity.
Notes
1 Department of Archaeology, University of Glasgow, Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, UK. [email protected]
2 Fitzhugh and Ward 2000, figs 23·20 and 23·21.
3 Immediately after the initial submission of this paper, a 2·5 cm tall jet cross pendant from Malton, North Yorkshire was listed for sale on ebay. The piece was reportedly found in a local garden several decades ago. However, its authenticity is questionable because the form of the cross and the decoration differ from any of the jet cross pendants listed in this article. <www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Medieval-Jet-Cross-ring-and-dot-decoration-Found-garden-North-Yorks-/200719984605?pt=UK_Antiquities&hash=item2ebbd7e7dd> [accessed 29 February 2012].
4 Craw 1928/9, 160–81; Allason-Jones 1996, 8; Sheridan and Davis 1998, 154, tab 12·1.
5 Allason-Jones 1996.
6 Panter 2000, 2470–73; Hunter 2008, 108–11.
7 Hunter 1999, 8.
8 Muller 1987, 2; Allason-Jones 1996, 7.
9 Muller 1980, 5.
10 Allason-Jones 1996, 7.
11 G Hansen pers comm; Nørlund 1924, 192.
12 Jennings 2005, 34; fig 8; Burchill 2006, 142.
13 Muller 1980, 10–13.
14 Standley 2010, 123–4, 137–8.
15 Lincolnshire DENO-61E4C6.
16 See, for example, MacGregor 1985, fig 88.
17 MacGregor 1985, 120, fig 64, no 30.
18 Hall 1978, 67–70; Jennings 2005, fig 8.
19 Mainman and Rogers 2000, 2588–91.
20 Lane and Campbell 2000, 212; Mainman and Rogers 2000, 2590.
21 Hinton 1990, 644–6; Spall 2005; Denison 2002, 4–5. Photographs of Whitby 1–3 can be found in the print version of Denison 2002.
22 Jennings 2005, 34, fig 8.
23 Errors in excavation records have listed the Scarborough pendant alternatively as 1938 1147·6 and 1147·7; Rowntree 1931, 4; Rutter 1956, 22–3; PAS 2005. Wombwell Parish: South Yorkshire SWYOR–3304B6.
24 K Snowden pers comm.
25 The Gisborough Priory cross is sometimes referred to as the Kirkleatham cross: Jackson 1995, 93–5; R Taylor, pers comm.
26 R Taylor pers comm.
27 Hodgson 1902, 115.
28 Webb 1986, 353.
29 D Evans pers comm.
30 Bellamy 1965, 93.
31 M Hall pers comm.
32 Ibid.
33 S Campbell pers comm.
34 NMS X.NO 79.
35 NMS X.HW 11.
36 M Goldberg pers comm.
37 S McCartan pers comm.
38 Resi 2005, 91, 93–4.
39 G Hansen pers comm.
40 Pierce 2011, 96, tab 4·1.
41 Hansen 2005, 99.
42 Komber et al 1994.
43 Dunlop 1998, 61; G Hansen pers comm.
44 Nørlund 1924, 192.
45 Eg Mainman and Rogers 2000, 2590–1.
46 Gilyard-Beer 1955, 1; Mainman and Rogers 2000, 2590–1, 2632; M Hall pers comm.
47 Ottaway and Rogers 2002, 2745.
48 Denison 2002, 4–5; Jennings 2005, 34.
49 Jennings 2005, tab 8, fig 8.
50 Hildburgh 1940, 247.
51 Hildburgh 1906, 461.
52 Hildburgh 1913, 66.
53 Standley 2010, 138–9.
54 Brown nd, 4; Muller 1987, 27; Muller and Muller 2009, 9.
55 Hinton 1990, 644–6.