Rights Holder: Oxfordshire County Council
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PENDANT
Unique ID: BERK-0425A8
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A silver charm pendant of medieval date. The pendant is in the form of an equal armed cross with expanded round terminals at the end of each arm. In the centre of the cross is a square decorated with a saltire with a pellet in each quarter. In each terminal roundel is a letter, forming AGLA. This inscription is an acronym for the Hebrew phrase "Atha Gebri Leilan Adonai" which translates as "Thou art mighty forever, O Lord" and was seen as having amuletic significance and is often associated with a charm to ward off fever or illness. Above the upper cross arm, where the letter G resides, is a suspension loop set perpendicular to the cross. This upper portion of the pendant is bent slightly backwards. The reverse of the pendant is plain and undecorated. This object dates from the 13th or 14th century AD.
Similar objects have been recorded with the PAS and recorded on this database, several examples being in silver and having been reported through the Treasure process. For comparison see: 2009 T627 (NARC-F3FA72), 2009 T470 (YORYM-FF8193), and 2013 T623 (YORYM-662485). Other types of objects inscribed with AGLA from the medieval period include rings and other styles of pendant, see for example two pendants within the British Museum's collection (2009,0802.1 and 2002,0305.1) and a ring also at the British Museum (AF.1000).
Notes:
Due to the precious metal content of this object being over 10% and its age being over 300 years, it qualifies as Treasure under the stipulations of the Act.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Oxfordshire Museum Service
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2014T964
Chronology
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1200
Date to: Circa AD 1399
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 22.26 mm
Width: 16.15 mm
Thickness: 1.07 mm
Weight: 1.2 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Tuesday 1st July 2014 - Thursday 31st July 2014
Personal details
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Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2014.550
Treasure case number: 2014T964
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: South Oxfordshire (District)
To be known as: Stadhampton CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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