Back to the Anglo-Saxons calendar
No one is actually sure of the exact date
but around this time a Saxon warrior was buried at a place called Sutton Hoo in Suffolk. We know this because in 1939 archaeologists began to excavate several
large burial mounds that had been found there. The excavations went on for many years.
In the first excavation they found an imprint of a 27-metre-long
ship. At its centre was a ruined burial chamber packed with treasures: Byzantine silverware, sumptuous gold jewellery, a lavish feasting set, and most
famously, an ornate iron helmet. Dating to the early 600s, this outstanding burial clearly commemorated a leading figure of East Anglia, the local Anglo-Saxon
kingdom. It may even have belonged to a king.
The Sutton Hoo ship burial provides remarkable insights into early Anglo-Saxon England. It reveals a place of beautiful craftsmanship and many
international connections, spanning Europe and beyond. It also shows that the world of great halls, glittering treasures and formidable warriors described in
Anglo-Saxon poetry was not a myth. You can find out more about it here or even go and
visit the Museum near Woodbridge.
Forward to 664AD
