Laboratory anlaysis of a bishop's grave at Sigtuna, Sweden and its silver thread appliqué

Abstract

In the summer of 1993, a bishop's grave dating to c. AD 1100 was discovered in the central area of Sigtuna's early medieval town. The burial was frozen in situ and transported to the Archaeological Research Laboratory at Stockholm University. Investigations there uncovered a fragment of a pewter ampulla and an appliqué cross of silver thread (Sw. posamentarbete) belonging to an item of dress.
Examination by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed this thread to be formed of flat silver lamellae spun around a silk core.