About 1400 years ago, a giant shipment was channeled from the east coast of England to Sutton Hoo, the site of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, where the shipment has become the last resting position of a wonderful king or warrior. buried with his vast treasure, intact until the site was excavated, first through the owner, Edith Pretty, in 1939. Pretty hired the facilities of a self-taught archaeologist, Basil Brown, who made the discovery. What has temporarily become obvious was that it was not an ancient cemetery. In the 1960s and 1990s more excavations were carried out that revealed the richest cemetery ever discovered in northern Europe.
But who buried here and why? Well, those questions have led archaeologists and historians to guess since the site was discovered. The ultimate theory probably appears to be King Raedwald, an Anglo-Saxon ruler who triumphed over Northumberland but sparked controversy when he erected an altar for Jesus Christ throughout that location. of the “old gods”. Indeed, this fusion of devout Christian and classical elements gives a desirable glimpse of Britain at a time when Christianity is building a veritable fortress.
Although the ultimate outstanding discovery is a complex ceremonial hull, there are also gold coins and precious stones, many of which are of the highest productive quality discovered in Europe at the time. There is an ornate gold belt buckle, a decorated sword and sheath, buckles and clothing brooches and a bag containing gold coins. It is said that many of the pieces have been produced by master craftsmen. Comparisons have been made between Sutton Hoo and the sites in Sweden, while many point to links between the place and the epic poem Beowulf, which begins with the burial of a king on the ship.
The undeniable answer is: we don’t know. Unfortunately, due to the acidic nature of Sutton Hoo’s soils, no indication of the frame in the center of the tomb survived and, in the absence of inscription or any other ancient reference, the identity of the buried user will never be known. Of course.
However, the nature of the discoveries, which basically date back to the early 7th century, led some archaeologists and historians to recommend that this would have been possibly the last resting position of a king, the highest probably Raedwald, ruler of the eastern angles, who died around 624 AD.
Although in fact the most dramatic discovery, the burial of the shipment in the so-called Mound One is just one of the 18 burial mounds of the site. Most have long been looted by grave robbers, however, the tomb discovered in Mound Seventeen was another incredibly vital discovery, revealing a young warrior and his horse, buried not only with his weapons, but also with items such as kitchen utensils and a comb. The articles discovered on these mounds and on the nearest mounds proved essential in our understanding of the Anglo-Saxon population of East Anglia in the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Button Hoo can claim to be the Valley of the Kings of Great Britain.
Although most of Sutton Hoo’s treasures are kept in the British Museum, the site itself is truly valuable. You can take the opportunity to walk and explore the burial mounds, as well as the giant or center, which offers permanent and transient exhibitions. .
The center houses exquisite replicas of many of the greatest vital discoveries, made with classic methods, as well as a series of original pieces. There is also a life-size reconstruction of the burial chamber, which returns the scale of the discovery. Everything is located on a beautiful 255-acre estate, offering walks with views and even an Edwardian space to explore in case of bad weather.
Away from Suffolk, the British Museum of London houses many treasures in a committed gallery. Edith Pretty generously donated the discoveries to the museum in 1939, and those shown in the demonstration come with the iconic helmet, a giant copy of which beautifies the front of the museum. Sutton Hoo Visitor Center.
Learn more about Sutton Hoo’s visit through the National Trust.
This data gave the first impression in BBC History Revealed magazine.