Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo, () near Woodbridge, Suffolk, is an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and the site of an early 7th century ship burial. The ship-burial was discovered in 1939 and contained a wealth of artifacts. Sutton Hoo is of primary importance to early medieval historians because it sheds light on a period in English history that otherwise has little documented evidence remaining. It is one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in England because of its age, size, far reaching connections, completeness, beauty, rarity and historical importance.

Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo is located on a high bluff on the eastern bank of the River Deben, about 7 miles (15km) from the sea. The word "hoo" means "spur of a hill". Burial mounds have been discovered here, and often robbed, since 1601. A rudimentary investigation was carried out in 1860, and referred to in the Ipswich Journal of the same year:

ROMAN MOUNDS or BARROWS. - It is not known by many that not less than five Roman Barrows, lying close to each other, may be seen on a farm occupied by Mr. Barritt, at Sutton, about 500 yards from the banks of the Deben, immediately opposite Woodbridge. One of these mounds was recently opened, when a considerable number (nearly two bushels) of iron screw bolts were found, all of which were sent to the blacksmith to be converted into horseshoes! It is hoped, when leave is granted to open the others, some more important antiquities may be discovered. These barrows were laid down in the Admirality surveys by Captain Stanley during the stay of the Blazer, when taking the soundings of the above-named river some years since.
— Ipswich Journal 24 November 1860

Modern archaeological investigation of the site began in 1938, when the new landowner Mrs. Edith May Pretty assisted by Suffolk excavator Basil Brown, opened three mounds. These excavations showed that the cemetery was Anglo-Saxon and that it had been previously disturbed. Two of the mounds (Mound 3 and 4) contained cremations and one (Mound 2) included iron rivets of a type used in early clinker-built ships. Excavations continued in 1939 when the ship-burial was discovered in Mound 1. Further excavations were undertaken in the late 1960s and also between 1986 and 1992.

There are many barrows, or burial mounds, at the site and Sutton Hoo commonly refers specifically to the ship burial at Mound 1. The site is made up of twenty barrows, most of which are still unexplored by modern methods. In addition, twenty-seven entirely different burials have been found outside the mounds. The circular layout of twelve of these around mound 1 strengthens the theory that they were perhaps sacrificial burials made at the same time as the ship-burial. Other mounds at the site include Mound 2 where a cremated man and horse were found; and Mound 3 where another ship burial was found, although not nearly as large as Mound 1 and had been robbed, probably in the 1860s.

Sutton Hoo is dated to circa 625, based on a single dated gold coin found with the treasure to Frankish king Theodebert II (595-612). The ship was about 27 meters (89 feet) long and 4.2 meters (14 feet) wide amidships. It was placed in the mound with the bow facing away from the river. A burial chamber was constructed mid-deck, and the ship would have been powered by 40 oarsmen. It did not contain a functional keel, and there is debate if it held a real sail, but was overall of excellent craftsmanship, leading to the theory it was built specifically for the burial. Only the ship's rivets survived because of soil acidity but impressions left in the ground allowed a detailed reconstruction. There was no body found at the time of the initial excavation but more recent analysis has found traces that a body had been present.

Treasure

The Sutton Hoo treasure is extensive. The artifacts have been removed from the site and are on display in the British Museum. Items include:

Personal items of adornment include:
- shoulder-clasps in cloisonne, gold and garnet.
- a great golden buckle, 13.2 cm (5.2 inches) long, weighing 414.62 grams (14.6 ounces).
- a purse lid framed in gold with plaques executed in garnet and millefiori.
  - the purse of leather has disappeared, it contained 37 Merovingian gold coins weighing between 1.06 and 1.38 grams, three unstruck blank coins, and two small gold bars. Combined, these forty pieces may be symbolic payment to the forty oarsmen. The two gold bars, about four times in weight to a gold coin, would have been payment to the helmsman.
- a carved whetstone decoratively mounted with iron rings and a bronze stag, believed to have been a royal scepter.
The weaponry includes:
- a helmet, a rare find in Germanic graves, is of a spangenhelm style and decorated with designs seen elsewhere in Sweden in the 6th century.
- The wooden shield has almost entirely decayed but was round with an iron central hand-hold and a decorative central bronze plaque.
- A rusted iron sword, the remains of which are 85 cm (34 inches) long, had a gold guard plate.
- chain mail.
- six spears of different types.
- an axe-hammer with an iron handle.
Other items
- a set of ten silver bowls that fit into one another, eight bowls are well preserved.
- a pair of nielloed silver baptismal spoons inscribed with the names of Saulos and Paulos in Greek.
- a large bronze hanging bowl decorated in enamel and millefiori.
- a silver dish has a stamp dating it to the reign of Byzantine emperor Anastasius (r. 491-518). Other silver and bronze items came from the Mediterranean in more contemporary times.
- a bard's lyre of maplewood contained in a beaverskin bag (traces of which remain).
- a pair of drinking horns of aurochs decorated with silvergilt foil.
- domestic items such as a cauldron with a suspension chain over 11 feet long;
- the remains of textiles of many kinds;

Analysis

Although only trace human remains have been found, King Raedwald of East Anglia, the fourth bretwalda of England, who died at about the time of the burial, is the favourite candidate. The proximity of Sutton Hoo to a royal centre of authority at Rendlesham (4 miles north-east) indicates a connection between Sutton Hoo and the East Anglia royal house. The amount and value of the treasures found is indicative of the owner's "widespread connections" and appropriate for a king's burial.

Sutton Hoo is one of few comparable ship-burial sites found outside of Scandinavia. The burial, helmet and shield are virtually identical to those found at the Vendel Age burial sites of Vendel and Valsgärde in Sweden suggesting very close ties to the royal dynasty of Sweden, the Scylfings of Beowulf. Another theory (Newton 1993) suggests that the Wuffinga dynasty was descended from the Wulfinga dynasty of Beowulf and Widsith, which also suggests Swedish, or rather Geatish, origins for the East Anglian dynasty (Newton 1993, see also Farrell 1972:272).

Archaeologists connected with the site theorize that Christianity was beginning to make itself felt and high caste pagans responded with ever more elaborate pagan rituals. Cremation was now adopted, in defiance of Christian practice, leading up to the royal ship burial. Although he was accompanied by objects of Christian significance, his burial may have been attended by human sacrifice.

Legacy

The Sutton Hoo treasure is considered a gift to the people of England by Edith May Pretty, the original owner of the land where it was discovered. Under English law she was found to be the rightful owner of the treasure hoard, but within days of the ruling she turned it over to the British Museum.

The National Trust was preparing a visitor centre in the late 1980s and uncovered a new cemetery.

The discovery of Sutton Hoo provides a glimpse into England's past and further clarification of its national identity. The discovery in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War, when England as a nation was under threat, brought increased attention and interest to the site in the years that followed. Other Anglo-Saxon finds are made on an almost yearly basis throughout the country, such as caches of coins or brooches, but Sutton Hoo is still considered the greatest find.

One of the interesting aspects of the burial is that it countered pre- excavation scepticism on the part of many historians as to the veracity of the size of treasure hordes described in works such as Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

Bibliography

Bede, Bertram Colgrave and R.A.B. Mynors trans., 1969. Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Oxford.
Carver, M.O.H., 1992. The Age of Sutton Hoo. The Seventh Century in North-Western Europe, Woodbridge
Carver, M.O.H., 1998. Sutton Hoo: Burial Ground of Kings?
Farrell, R.T., 1972. Beowulf, Swedes and Geats. Part 3. London.
Mayr-Harting, Henry, 1972. The Coming of Christianity to England. New York.
Newton, S., 1993. The Origins of Beowulf and the Pre-Viking Kingdom of East Anglia. Cambridge.

External links

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Sutton Hoo

Treasure

Analysis

Legacy

See also

Bibliography

External links