Amateur archaeologists dig with coal shovels: 12 incredible facts about the Sutton Hoo boat treasure

Sutton Hoo Boat Treasure

One of the richest buried artifacts ever found the Sutton Hoo boat burial was discovered in Suffolk, England, at the outbreak of World War II. Over the next few years, an incredible array of Anglo-Saxon treasures was discovered, unearthed dozens of gold and jewelry objects w, and changed our understanding of early medieval England. The 2021 Netflix film The Dig tells the story of its discovery. Here are some interesting facts about the Sutton Hoo treasure. wereere

In 1926, during the First World War, nurse Edith Pritt and her new husband Frank moved to Sutton Hoo, Suffolk. Coming from a wealthy family, she traveled the world at a young age with a lifelong interest in history and archaeology. When Frank died in 1934, she began spending more time around the estate, often drawing her attention to an unusual set of 18 low mounds just 500 yards from her home. She decided to conduct a full investigation of them. She sought advice from a local museum, and s suggested Basil Brown for the job. he he he taff

This modern recreation shows what a Sutton Hoo helmet might have looked like in the 5th century AD.

Basil Brown left school at 12 and worked many jobs, from gardener to insurance agent. A self-taught archaeologist, he didn't have specialized tools, so he started digging using items common in the home, including coal shovels and pastry brushes. The first mounds he excavated in 1938 were somewhat disappointing: they had been looted and only small objects had been found. However, when he started building his largest cart in 1939, he soon realized he had come across a once-in-a-lifetime find: the remains of an 88-foot (27-meter) ship, now rotting and crumbling. The tomb is full of precious treasures.

Around 410 AD, with the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Roman army left England. Then, Germanic tribes like the Angles and Saxons invaded and settled in eastern England. Historians once believed that without the civilized influence of the Romans, British society would have gone from orderly and culturally rich to lawless and ignorant. This false theory led to the period between the end of the 5th century and the 10th century, known as the Dark Ages. The discovery of boat burials at Sutton Hoo, as well as the exquisitely crafted Anglo-Saxon-style funerary objects, helped to overturn this idea and shed light on the rich culture of England's early Middle Ages.

During excavations in 1939, no traces of human bones were found. Some archaeologists have suggested that the tomb must have been a monument—a monument without a body. However, when the site was re-excavated between 1963 and 1971, analysis of the soil beneath the burial chamber revealed that a body had once l there, but had disintegrated in the acidic environment. ain

With no flesh found in the boat burial, historians debate who might have been buried in such a rich and impressive manner. The main theory based on the writings of Venerable Bader in the 8th century is that it was King Radwald of East Anglia. He ruled for a period of a dynasty in East Anglia. Redwald was a great ruler and is thought to have died around 624 AD, making him the most likely candidate for such a grand funeral. Coins found as part of the burial provide a possible burial date of 625 AD, further supporting this theory.

Historians have noted that large boat burials like Sutton Hoo's were labor-intensive. Many will help drag the boat up the mountain from the nearby Deben River. Then, they would dig a huge trench, put the boat in it, and cut down trees to build the burial chamber. Finally, the ship and the burial chamber will be covered with mounds. The result, still visible in the 20th century, is a tall monument on the flat terrain of Suffolk. Boat burials are extremely rare in England, so it was clear that this one must have represented a very important person.

The tomb houses an amazing collection of priceless gold and bronze artifacts, including cloak shoulder buckles, belts, buckles, purse lids, spoons, bowls, plates, shield ornaments, and extremely rare helmets. Each item showcases the skills of goldsmiths and j and incorporates Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Mediterranean features. jewelers

Garnets adorning helmets are thought to have originated in Sri Lanka. A silver platter bears a seal indicating that it was made in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The plate was over 100 years old when it was buried. A large wooden shield was considered a Scandinavian diplomatic gift, with shoulder buckles in the style worn by Roman emperors. Each item showcases the region's long-standing international relationships.

The Sutton Hoo full helmet is the most spectacular of these finds. When it was found, after the tomb collapsed, it had been broken into hundreds of pieces. It took years of skilled conservationists at the British Museum to restore it to its former glory. Iron helmets display remarkable artistry and are adorned with intricate dance and battle warriors. A dragon forms the bridge of its nose; its outstretched wings form its eyebrows, and its tail doubles as a mustache.

When the Sutton Hoo boat burial was discovered, scholars recognized the site, which bears a striking resemblance to the burial depicted in the 8th-century epic Beowulf. In the poem, Scyld Scefing is buried in a boat surrounded by items such as wine horns, textiles, musical instruments, and money. The text mentions that the purpose of grave objects is to ensure safe passage through the afterlife.

The site has not yet been fully excavated, and archaeologists hope to unearth more discoveries. In the 1990s, a team uncovered the grave of a young warrior nicknamed "Prince Sutton Hoo." A cauldron, sword, shield, and harness lay next to the body of the youth in his twenties, and the grave next to him was buried with the body of his horse, perhaps to reunite them in the afterlife.

Sutton Hoo's burial was immediately recognized as one of the most important finds in British history. An English court ruled that all treasures belonged to Edith Prett. She refused to sell the items, instead donating the entire collection to the British Museum for all to enjoy. This extraordinary generosity was recognized by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who wished to award her the OBE, but Elis politely declined. She donated the treasure during World War II, so the objects were not displayed directly, but were packed and hidden in unused parts of the London underground to protect them from bombing raids.

Sutton Hoo's most important artifacts, including the famous helmet, can be seen in Room 41 of the British Museum in London. The Suffolk estate is also open to the public and is owned by the National Trust. Visitors can wander around the tombs within the expansive estate and visit the visitor center, which has a recreation of a burial chamber with replicas of the treasures showing exactly where they were found.