Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – A rare bronze wheel cross dating back to the 10th or 11th century was recently discovered by Juliane Rangnow, a volunteer archaeological monument conservator, during authorized metal-detecting surveys in western Havelland near Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany.
Credit: Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, Germany
According to Dr. Manja Schüle, Minister of Culture, this small bronze cross is a particularly significant find. What makes it exceptional is that it fits perfectly into a casting mold that was unearthed over 40 years ago—a unique match for an artifact from this era.
This discovery not only provides insight into early Christianization in Brandenburg but also underscores Christianity’s influence in what was then a predominantly Slavic region. Alongside the cross, archaeologists found additional artifacts from the 10th and 11th centuries, such as coins, fragments of partially gilded jewelry, and iron weapons.
The bronze cross’s historical connection is further underscored by its association with the “Spandau Cross” mold, discovered at the Slavic hillfort in Berlin-Spandau in 1983. This mold is among the oldest evidence of early Christian presence between the Elbe and Oder rivers and was discovered near an early wooden church site.
Credit: Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, Germany
After restoration and precise measurement at the Brandenburg State Archaeological Museum (BLDAM), experts confirmed that the newly found cross matches exactly with the Spandau casting mold on display at Berlin’s Museum of Prehistory and Early History. Until now, no cast made from this specific mold had been identified anywhere else, making this matching discovery truly unique within archaeological research on early Christianity in northern Germany.
The casting mold and cross serve as important evidence of the region’s early Christianization, marking a significant chapter in its history. In the early 10th century, what is now Berlin and Brandenburg was inhabited by non-Christian Slavic tribes. During this period, the area came under the influence of the East Frankish Kingdom—the forerunner to the Holy Roman Empire—through military campaigns. The arrival of new ruling elites brought both political changes and efforts to introduce Christianity.
Credit: Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, Germany
Despite these efforts, most Slavic tribes strongly resisted adopting the new faith. As a result, tangible evidence of this initial phase of Christianization is primarily found in historical written records rather than physical artifacts. In 983, resistance culminated in the Lutician Revolt, during which local tribes successfully overthrew East Frankish control and maintained their political and religious autonomy for approximately 150 years.
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It was not until the 12th and 13th centuries—after incorporation into the Holy Roman Empire as part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg—that sustained Christianization took place throughout the region.
The mold and the cross will be on display at the Brandenburg State Archaeological Museum in Brandenburg an der Havel from January 24 to March 11, 2026.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer