A Decorated 13th-century Sword Cross from Broad Street,Ely

Abstract

During excavations undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit at the Jewson’s site on Broad Street in Ely in 2000 a heavily corroded iron sword cross (the part of the hilt that guards the hand holding the grip) was recovered. Subsequently, the sword cross has been conserved by the Collections Care Team of Lincolnshire Archives and further details have been revealed. The conservation uncovered a compact grey/black corrosion layer indicative of the approximate position of the original surface of the iron, along with evidence of decorative copper alloy inlay.