And so Sutton Hoo also acts as a reminder of how much we do not know about Anglo-Saxon history, about how we must think before we make even the shallowest assumptive leap. In contrast to many theorists, this unconventional retelling of key parts of the Epic explores the idea that Gilgamesh was not searching for life eternal on Earth, as has been suggested as the theme of the Epic, but was instead searching for the means of transport to return to his goddess mother Ninsun’s home planet in the heavens. The Sutton Hoo burial ground, on an escarpment overlooking the River Deben in Suffolk, dates to the late sixth/early seventh century. Trailing the Mayflower - The Iconic Ship of a Pilgrim Voyage to the New World, Stonehenge Druids Pledge Sacrifice To Try To Stop Tunnel. Progressing with painstaking care, Brown realized that he had found the imprint of a ship, more than 80 feet in length. Scholars believe Rædwald of East Angliato be the most likely the person buried in the ship. AD 700 – Sutton Hoo. Luck, as it turns out. King Lycaon of Arcadia – The First Werewolf? This site is best known for the Anglo-Saxon burial mounds that were discovered during the first half of the 20th century, including a magnificent ship burial, which is popularly believed to have belonged to an Anglo-Saxon king. He dug Mound 2 in his first season, uncovering a robbed-out Anglo-Saxon ship burial. Some say that after her husband’s death, her interest in spiritualism grew and even expanded to include the barrows on her property. This symbol has been used for centuries in both religious and secular contexts, and therefore its representation can be found in many places. The burial at Sutton Hoo, like those of confirmed Viking burials, shows a well-developed notion of the afterlife. Visiting Sutton Hoo. The Sutton Hoo helmet. British Museum London, United Kingdom. The origins of human beings according to ancient Sumerian texts. Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, c. 700 (British Museum, London). Personal items of adornment include: 1.1. shoulder-clasps in cloisonne, gold and garnet. Naupa Iglesia: An Egyptian Portal in the Andes? The film will focus on the partnership between Edith Pretty, who owned the land at Sutton Hoo, and archaeologist Mr Brown, who was born in Bucklesham, as they … In the decades since, Sutton Hoo has been studied in depth. Rædwald was one of the first Angle kings to convert to Christianity, and although the ship contains pagan elements, academics do not see this as a reason to rule him out. How had it stayed undisturbed for so long? digging trenches along the sides or through the middle of the mound, would destroy the ‘ship’, he decided to excavate from within the burial structure. The significance of Sutton Hoo was instantly recognized. History of Sutton Hoo. Archaeologists have been excavating the area since 1939. By Anthony Puleo 7 days ago. Sutton Hoo is an archaeological site located near the town of Woodbridge, in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. During the 16th century, would-be lootersdug through the ‘center’ of a burial mound, hoping to find treasure. The burial ship that Brown discovered was 27 meters  (88.58 ft.) in length, and it was probably hauled up to the burial site from the river. As Brown realized that traditional excavation methods, i.e. Discovered in 1939, it is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological finds of the Saxon period in Europe . And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there exists countless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts that have yet to be discovered and explained. View and buy royalty free and rights managed stock photos at The British Museum Images. Mound 1: posts mark the ends of the ship. Sutton Hoo: a brief guide to the Anglo-Saxon burial site and its discovery Save over 50% on a BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed gift subscription The two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, from the 6th and 7th centuries, were an extraordinary find, with … 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. In early medieval history – especially English history – landed gentry and aristocracy played a significant role in the political and social development. Items that were found included weapons and armor, including the famous Sutton Hoo helmet, objects made of precious metals, as well as equipment used during feasts, such as drinking horns and cauldrons. This spectacular gold buckle from the Sutton Hoo ship burial shows that the person commemorated there was of great importance. [Online]Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-37412519, The British Museum, 2016. Today, the United Kingdom is crisscrossed with many fascinating monuments from ancient times. ( Public Domain ). It was only in 1939 that this burial mound, with its treasure intact, was discovered by archaeologists. Take part in drama activities exploring the Anglo-Saxon find at Sutton Hoo. [Online]Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo, The BBC, 2016. For example, the set of silver bowls, which are of Byzantine origin , shows that the Anglo-Saxons were in contact with that part of the world. For instance, there is a burial of a horse and its rider, and also burials that seem to indicate human sacrifice . Etruscans Transported Bees by Boat to Reach the Best Flowers! Sutton Hoo is the site of the grave of an Anglo-Saxon king in Suffolk, England . ( CC BY-SA 2.5 ). It is thought to have been a memorial to an Anglo-Saxon king. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2017/01-02/sutton-hoo-england-anglo-saxon-treasure-ship.html. (CC BY-SA 2.5 ). In 1939 a series of mounds at Sutton Hoo in England revealed their astounding contents: the remains of an Anglo-Saxon funerary ship and a huge cache of seventh-century royal treasure. The Sutton Hoo treasure is held at the British Museum following Edith Pretty's decision to gift it to the United Kingdom. Items include: 1. In the poem, composed in the eighth century, there is a description of the burial of one Scyld Scefing, an ancestor of the Danish royal family. That is, the almost legendary battle fought between Greeks and Trojans. Sutton Hoo. In the 1990s, a warrior noble in full armor was found buried alongside his horse. There’s no need to book ahead to visit Sutton Hoo for a walk during the week, except between Christmas and New Year (28 Dec -1 Jan). The site of Sutton Hoo is run by the National Trust. During this first season, Brown excavated the mound known today as Mound 2. Some jobs are a dream and others literally stink! The East Anglian Daily Times broke the world exclusive about the discovery of the treasures at Sutton Hoo in July 1939, and our newspapers have been faithfully recreated for the film. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Though Sutton Hoo is near Woodbridge, East If the grave’s precise status is in doubt, its uniqueness is not, and the treasure is a much needed feast for the eyes in a period starved of visual aids. The burial mound at Sutton Hoo is believed to be that of King Raedwald, who was a member of the Wuffinga family, descended from Wuffa the first king of the East Angles. The Groom of the... One of the most famous voyages from England to Virginia was on the Mayflower. In 1938 a local widow by the name of Edith Pretty asked Ipswich Museum to excavate some 18 mounds on her land. The Legendary Emerald Tablet and its Secrets of the Universe, The Real Story of Medusa: Protective Powers from a Snake-Haired Gorgon. Together with Charles Phillips from the University of Cambridge, who had also joined the dig, they found evidence that grave robbers had indeed probed the site in the past. In most cases these treasures were hidden by their owners during times of social and political upheaval – although in the case of the Sutton Hoo burial and the From … Photograph by Ullstein Bild, Cordon Press. What Treasures Were Lost in the Destruction of the Great Musaeum of Alexandria? Alternatively, it has been suggested that this burial served as a cenotaph, a monument commemorating someone whose body is buried elsewhere. Take part in drama activities exploring the Anglo-Saxon find at Sutton Hoo. ( CC BY-SA 3.0 ) Brown was something of … The Ill-fated Elling Woman: An Iron Age Sacrifice to Appease the Gods? [Online]Available at: http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/galleries/europe/room_41_europe_ad_300-1100.aspx, World Archaeology, 2009. Self-taught archaeologist Basil Brown worked as an excavation assistant at the museum and took on Edith’s project. Its form, however, was perfectly preserved, as may be seen by the riveted outline of the ship that was impressed in the sand. The Grianan of Aileach: An Irish Fort Featured on Ptolemy’s Map of the World, The Secret Tomb of the First Chinese Emperor Remains an Unopened Treasure, Maya Animation? Model of the ship's structure as it might have appeared, with chamber area outlined. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. 495 – 498. In southern England near the Suffolk coast lies a stretch of sandy heathland dotted by mysterious mounds of earth. Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, c. 700 (British Museum, London). It is situated off the B10832 road, two miles east of Woodbridge [TM288487]. It has been speculated that Sutton Hoo and Rendlesham are intimately linked, the former being the burial place of the king who ruled in the latter. about Groom of the Stool: Was The King’s Toilet Guy The Worst Job Ever? Floki and the Viking Discovery of Iceland, 3 Problems to Remember When Trying to Find Atlantis. This ship became the symbol of the search for a new life and pilgrimage to the New World in the 17th century. Anglo-Saxon 'palace' found at Rendlesham near Sutton Hoo site. ( National Trust ). While the ship burial of Mound 1 is undoubtedly the main attraction of Sutton Hoo, several other interesting discoveries have also been made there. Pagans Non-Christians who incorporate beliefs or practices from outside the main world religions, and especially nature worship. Sutton Hoo revealed In 1938, Mrs Edith Pretty, owner of the Sutton Hoo estate, invited local archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate a group of low grassy mounds on the edge of a 30m-high bluff above the Deben estuary in Suffolk, England. Sutton Hoo - Anglo-Saxon England's greatest treasure. about Trailing the Mayflower - The Iconic Ship of a Pilgrim Voyage to the New World, about Stonehenge Druids Pledge Sacrifice To Try To Stop Tunnel, Rare Greek-Illyrian Helmet Found in Croatia, Ball of the Burning Men: Temperatures Rose at Hot Royal Party, The Epic of Gilgamesh Unveiled: Searching For a Way to the Home Planet, Boxer at Rest: The Most Iconic Ancient Bronze Statue in the World, Planets Align To Form ‘Star of Bethlehem’ This Winter Solstice. My interests range from ‘conventional’ to ‘radical’ interpretations of the archaeological/textual/pictorial data set. Who was asked by the landowner, Mrs. Edith Pretty to dig up the mound. Please check with the British Museum to find out when they're open for a … But the most stinky job of all, believe it or not, was actually a very powerful position because it put you right next to the king! From the ages when these islands were inhabited by different peoples and cultures of tribes from ancient Europe. Information Beowulf Project The artifacts are located in a British Museum. When Brown was excavating Mound 1, the original wood of the ship had already completely decomposed. His decision to take the job not only would change his life but also radically alter, and deepen, the understanding scholars had of the early Anglo-Saxon period in England following the collapse of Roman rule. Mound 1: posts mark the ends of the ship. Sutton Hoo. He lived at a time in which ancient customs coexisted with new religious ideas, a fascinating period in which northern Europe’s pagan tradition was beginning to give way to the new world of Christianity. As he discovered lumps of rusty iron, it was evident that this was another ship burial . This is due to the exquisite grave goods that were discovered in the ship’s burial chamber. The Eye of Providence (known also as the all-seeing eye of God) is a well-known and popular symbol. The discovery of the Sutton Hoo ship was made by local archaeologist Basil Brown, who had been hired by landowner Mrs Edith Pretty. The helmet is covered in complicated imagery, including fighting and … Anglo-Saxon Royal Palace Unearthed Near Famous Burial Site, Archaeologists to use dog DNA to investigate the mysterious Cattewater Wreck, Radar Reveals a Rare Viking Ship Burial in a Field of Archaeological Dreams, Not a Great Place to Pass at Night: Haunted Mounds from Prehistoric Times, The Wooing of Etain: An Irish Tale of Love, Loss, and Jealousy, The Great Heathen Army: Viking Coalition Becomes an Anglo-Saxon Nightmare, a lost Anglo-Saxon ‘palace’ has been discovered, How A Roman Sacred Site Became A 300-AD Tile And Brick Factory, Strongbow’s Gamble: Richard de Clare and the Norman Invasion of Ireland. It’s always surprising when you read that a sacred site was “abandoned” for commercial opportunity. 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