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Home , Angela Care Evans, Bromeswell, Horse burial, Sutton Hoo, The Dig (novel), Tranmer House

The Society Newsletter Saxon No. 52 January 2011

The from 8 which contained the remains of a probable adult female as well as animal offerings. © Trustees of the New dates for early Sutton Hoo

From April to July 2000, excavation of the footprint of the visitor centre, near , at Sutton Hoo revealed an Anglo-Saxon with thirty-one . A Age cremation under a barrow and a network of Age ditches were also recorded. Ten years on, analysis of the finds is nearing completion. It is planned to publish them in the near future in the East Anglian series. CHRIS FERN of Fern Archaeology has managed the archive and project since 2007, on behalf of County Council who excavated the site. Chris will lecture to the Society’s AGM in February, but here he gives us a preview of some of the key findings.

With a programme of radiocarbon dating into our understanding of the rites and funded by the Sutton Hoo Society, most of the chronology of the Anglo-Saxon in work has been funded by the National Trust; Suffolk almost 1,500 years ago. with extensive conservation and analysis Moreover, it is important ultimately undertaken by the British Museum, where the for our interpretation of the origins and archive will ultimately reside. pedigree of Sutton Hoo barrow cemetery, The combined work of conservators and located just 500m to its south. In contrast, experts, it offers new and significant insights the 2000 cemetery was one not of princes but of the folk. Nevertheless, some of the burials stand out for their level of investment, presenting a significant prelude to the élite mound cemetery. One means of understanding them may be as a mechanism for the creation of ancestral memory, a story begun at Tranmer House but ended at Sutton Hoo.

Landscape

Evidence for the environment of the time suggests the cemetery was established in an area of cleared ground, in the midst of a landscape of thinly wooded heathland. Meadow grasses and weeds, as well as sporadic heather and gorse, grew amongst the graves. Traces of the enclosure-system that had dominated the promontory ground on the east side of the in the Iron Age remained visible, though seemingly abandoned in the Roman period, and probably veiled in heathland growth by the early medieval era. A radiocarbon date from a fire set in the main ditch earthwork is calibrated to AD240–540. It is very probable that the early Anglo-Saxon cemetery was Fig. 1 Plan of the Tranmer House early Anglo-Saxon cemetery. © Fern Archaeology. consciously founded within the remnants of the ancient field-system. But an even older monument, a small by chronological modelling, the latter statistically likely, at 68% probability, barrow, also served as a focus for one undertaken by Dr Peter Marshall. Besides that they took place over a very short group of burials (Fig. 1). The cremation the Bronze Age , ten dates have been period of time, perhaps as little as a at the centre of its ring-ditch returned a obtained on eight burials. The results have single generation (1–35 years). The end radiocarbon date of 1490–1320 cal BC. proved important. of the rite in AD 580 is calculated as Analysis now establishes thirty-one 83% probability and by AD 590 at 91% graves for the Anglo-Saxon mixed-rite Cremation rite probability. This is late for the cremation cemetery: twelve definite and rite in Anglo-Saxon East Anglia, viewed nineteen inhumations (present as sand The model estimates, at 95% probability, generally, though provides a significant bodies), though a number of further a chronological bracket for the cremation prelude to the cremations at the élite cremated individuals are indicated graves of cal AD520–85. However, it is Sutton Hoo cemetery. This date, moreover, by displaced remains (Fig. 1). As one magazine put it colourfully at the time of the find, they might represent the ‘parents and grandparents of the East Anglian kings’ (Brit. Arch. 2000). They do not, however, comprise the whole population of the original cemetery, but perhaps only 10-20%. It is very likely that the burial- ground extends to the north-west, where finds have been made, including the well- known ‘ bucket’. Examination of these, and new finds recovered by metal-detector survey in 2000, suggests that the earliest focus of the cemetery might lie in this area, datable perhaps from the late 5th century. From the outset, the question of the dating of the excavated burials was identified as crucial, both for the understanding of the cemetery per se, as well as its bearing on the Sutton Hoo élite burial-ground, in use c. AD580/90- 630/40. As part of the analysis of the new finds, therefore, the Sutton Hoo Society funded a programme of dating Fig. 2 Plan of cremation 8: the remains of an adult female and animals in a bronze bowl and pot. for the cremation burials, to be followed © Fern Archaeology.

2 Saxon 52 accords well with the inhumations as Snape and Boss Hall () have from Tranmer House. The , demonstrated 20-30% weapon-burials, the especially the weaponry, have been studied Tranmer House figure of 68% is more akin with the support of Prof. John Hines to the proportion at St Mary’s Stadium, (using the results of the forthcoming Southampton (Anglo-Saxon Hamwic), and English Heritage project: Anglo-Saxon the cemetery surrounding the grave of the c.570-720: the chronological Prittlewell ‘Prince’, in . It may be that basis). They too suggest a short time at these sites we are witnessing in burial span from the second-quarter of the 6th a manifestation of the Realpolitik of the century to the opening years of the 7th age. That, at this critical era of kingdom century. The cemetery it seems, or at least creation and the emergence of kings, it was interment in the Tranmer House part of in real terms the number of warriors that a the burial-ground, had ceased prior to the ruler could attract to his banner and retain great ship-burials under Mounds 1 and 2, that in large part dictated his political and even perhaps before the -burial fortunes. The historical context to Sutton under Mound 17. Why should this be the Hoo goes some way to corroborating this Fig. 3 Inhumation 21 with decorative shield- case: that the cemetery of the ‘folk’ was mounts. Drawing © Fern Archaeology. picture, by the fact of King Rædwald’s th closed to burial, at the same time as the Photos © Trustees of the British Museum. recorded supremacy in the 7 century, ‘… mound cemetery was reaching its apogee over all the southern kingdoms…’ south of of funerary, political theatre? Might it the River Humber ( HE II.5. Trans. be, that, having established a new élite their number: thirteen in all. Most had a McClure and Collins 1994, 77-8). Mound cemetery within site of the local ancestral shield and spear combination, though two 1 abounds with the symbolism of such an burial-ground, Sutton Hoo’s princes then had , indicating their elevated social individual, with drinking and feasting gear appropriated the ritual landscape for their standing. It is not the case, however, that suited to entertaining a great warband, own exclusive ends? If so, where was the Tranmer House was a ‘warrior’ cemetery, together with a panopoly of weaponry. community burial-ground moved; to a for women, children and infants seem also Such influence may well have been based new Christian cemetery perhaps? to figure amongst the dead. In addition, on political structures established in the Some of the Tranmer House no weaponry was associated with any of previous century. cremations would certainly have presented the cremations. The chronology of the a very eye-catching display, whilst jointly burials too seems to count against them Animal sacrifice the burials suggest an undercurrent of representing an ‘imperial guard’ to élite social competition, expressed through masters buried at the mound cemetery. Animal sacrifice too figured prominently dead ancestors and the medium of However, one individual stands out at the later élite cemetery, together with the funeral. Chief amongst them is further, a probable adult male in grave bronze bowl cremation. These, and the cremation 8 (Fig. 2). This comprised a 21, interred with a shield decorated with famous ship-burials, have been of course hanging bowl and pot which, Jacqueline the gilt-bronze motifs (Fig. 3) of an eagle linked with the mortuary imagery of McKinley (Wessex Archaeology) has and ‘dragon’ (or predatory sea-monster, , especially -period found, contained the remains of an adult, depending on your interpretation). Though (c.AD550-750) . It may be to the probably a female. To this, Julie Bond’s much smaller, they may be likened in their Mälaren region of Sweden also that the (Bradford University) analysis has added basic form and combination to the famous Tranmer House animal cremations look; animal offerings of a cow (or steer), a mounts from the Mound 1 shield. though the range of animal offerings is to horse, sheep, pig and possibly a dog. It is possible that the high percentage an extent paralleled at , Norfolk. Another three cremations also yielded the of weapon-graves at Tranmer House is a But it is what the combination of combination of cattle and horse, together result of bias in what is a small cemetery human and animal on the might with other animals. sample. But it is also the case that it mean that is most intriguing. In the art Surrounding cremation 8 were four bears interesting comparison with the and mythology of the pre-Christian small pits. These may have been the post- findings from other central sites with élite we are presented with holes of a pyre structure, some 2m x 3m in or ‘royal’, associations (Fig. 4). Whilst a range of animal-human personas and plan. Comparison of its size with examples other ‘folk’ of the region, such bestial familiars; not least the shape- from the Saxon Continent, and Anglo- changing /Woden with his steed and Saxon England, indicates that it was large raven spirit helpers, and the Anglo-Saxon by contemporary standards, as might heroes and kingdom-founders, Hengist be expected given the animal contingent and Horsa, whose names translate as cremated. Nine ring-ditches were also ‘stallion’ and ‘horse’. Hence, at the funeral, found associated with cremations, some possibly the creatures’ participation with central graves, although a number beyond the grave was envisaged or perhaps showed only traces of a burial. The earth their sacrifice was believed to transfer excavated from them would have enabled key animal attributes to the ancestor. a small mound to be constructed over the Certainly it was a powerful spectacle central grave, which in some or all cases by which to remember the deceased might also have marked the site of the and hence enrich the standing of living actual pyre, as with cremation 8. relations. Ultimately, by conflagration of the combined remains on the pyre – a Weapon graves dense smoke carrying the enmeshed spirits up to a pagan ‘heaven’ – a new and potent The inhumations too stand out for the Fig. 4 Percentages of weapon-burials at select superhuman ancestral identity might have high number of weapon-burials amongst Anglo-Saxon cemeteries. been envisaged. www.suttonhoo.org 3 Autumn Conference takes a Swedish perspective

The royal burial mounds at © Pauline Moore

The Society has announced the programme for its next conference, which This will be our seventh conference in will be held on Sunday 11 September this year at the Waterfront Building in thirteen years and the first to look firmly Ipswich, part of University Campus Suffolk (UCS). Billed as an international abroad. Hitherto, we have chosen aspects day conference, it is entitled Sutton Hoo: a Swedish perspective. of Saxon life in England, beginning in The chairman will be Neil Price, Professor svensk folkkultur. 1998 with the fashionable question of of Archaeology in the University of Neil will open the conference at 10am cultural identity and the creation of East Aberdeen, who fascinated our last with a paper called An eye for Odin? The Anglia. That topic was extended in 2004 conference with his account of the ritual shared world-views of and by looking at real as well as imaginary and political significance of the Saxon Sutton Hoo. After coffee, attention will turn and symbolic Anglo-Saxon landscapes. meadhall. For this conference, Neil to Valsgärde, which the society visited in Two conferences have looked at aspects of has successfully approached the Royal September 2009. First, Dr John Ljungkvist belief: the conversion period in 2002 and Gustavus Adolphus Academy in Uppsala of the University of Uppsala will discuss pagan burial in 2006. Dark age trade was for sponsorship to allow four Swedish- new research on the élite burial sites of examined by the Communities based academics to be our main speakers. both Gamla Uppsala and Valsgärde. As conference in 2000, and arts and crafts, The Academy is dedicated to the study of reported in our last issue (Saxon 51), John as represented in the Saxon meadhall, Nordic folk culture and is one of eighteen spoke to the Medieval Seminar (British was the subject three years ago. The royal academies in Sweden. Founded in Museum / Institute of Archaeology) on a conferences have run biennially until last 1932, three hundred years after the similar topic last January. He will be year, when it was decided to take an extra in battle of King Gustavus Adolphus followed by Professor Anne-Sofie Gräslund, year to assemble an international line up. (Gustav II Adolf), its full name in Swedish also of the University of Uppsala, who is As the archaeology of Sutton Hoo is Kungliga Gustav Adolfs Akademien för celebrated for her typology of late Viking develops, its wider context becomes styles, but on this occasion she increasingly important. This autumn’s will be talking about the cremation graves conference will give us a chance to hear of Valsgärde. the latest research on the high-status After lunch we will hear from cemeteries of Uppland in Sweden, and two Iron Age specialists, though Dr to begin to understand the ideological Torun Zachrisson, of the University of landscape in which they were set. Stockholm, will be talking about the influence of Byzantium seen in exotic Further details, back page. objects in eastern Sweden and beyond, from about 550-700. Sutton Hoo, of course, shows that influence in the great silver dish of Anastasius as well as other items in the . The afternoon’s second speaker will be Professor Frands Herschend, again from the University of Uppsala (where Neil Price was once Reader in Archaeology) who will talk about the boat graves in Central Sweden, being those that most closely parallel the Sutton Hoo ship burials. Our Research Director, Professor , will close the conference One of the helmets at Gamla Uppsala before 4 pm by asking ‘where next?’ for A pendant disc from Gamla Uppsala © Jonathan Abson the Sutton Hoo / Scandinavia axis. © Pauline Moore

4 Saxon 52 A trip to Northumberland

The Sutton Hoo Society’s autumn trip to Northumberland, from Monday were taken to Durham Cathedral 13 to Friday 17 September, visited Jarrow, Durham, Lindisfarne and Hadrian’s in 1022, where they still lie. He was Wall, and left PAULINE MOORE longing to spend more time there. sanctified in 1899. With time pressing, we could not stay after a delicious buffet lunch to see the Anglo-Saxon farm at Bede’s World, but moved on to Durham. Because of roadworks, we made our way from river level to the cathedral on its height. We assembled to the sound of the organ and a bugle playing the Last Post and Reveille at a memorial service for a member of the British Legion. Then we split into three groups: our guides battled valiantly against the noise of chairs being stacked, scaffolding removed from a new window, and an organist practising. Durham Cathedral was initially built to enshrine the remains of Saint Cuthbert, and we learnt much about the architecture and history of this glorious building. It lost its monastery at the Reformation, and it was closed by the Commonwealth to Bede’s old world meets our new one. All photos © Pauline Moore / Mike Argent become a prison for 3000 Scots, before On our way north from Sutton Hoo, at St. Peter’s in Rome, to teach the monks being reconsecrated at the Restoration of we picked up our last four passengers Roman chant. The king gave him forty the monarchy in 1660. in Sherwood Forest, not far from more hides on which he founded St. Paul’s After the Synod of Whitby, Cuthbert Edmonstowe, ‘the holy place of Edwin’, at Jarrow. (635-687) was sent to the Priory at one of the spots where the body of the great Without Benedict Biscop, there might Lindisfarne to help make the transition Northumbrian king rested on its final never have been the Venerable Bede. Bede there to the Roman tradition. Desiring a journey. Edwin, you will recall, had won was given to the monastery at the age of life of contemplation, he was allowed to his throne with the aid of Raedwald of seven, and spent the whole of his life in the live a hermit’s existence on one or two Sutton Hoo at the Battle of the River Idle. twin monastery of Jarrow/Wearmouth, rocky islets nearby, before being persuaded After staying overnight at Hexham learning, teaching and writing, immersed to become Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685. we went on to Bede’s World near Jarrow, in the Benedictine practices laid down by He returned to Farne Island to die and was the interpretation centre next to St Benedict Biscop. He made translations buried in Lindisfarne Priory. Miracles were Paul’s Church. Here we were met by our from into so people reported at his grave, but his bones did friend, Kate Sussams, who used to be living in remote places might understand not rest peacefully. Threatened by Viking Property Manager of Sutton Hoo. Kate the Christian message, and his most invasion, they were hidden in Chester le told us how Bede’s World works with famous work, the Ecclesiastical History Street, Ripon, Durham and Lindisfarne the council, schools and the church to of the English People was completed in again, before finally in 1104 the remains offer opportunities to people with social 731. Bede’s much-visited tomb at Jarrow (said to be uncorrupted) were entombed problems to experience a different way developed into a local cult, until his in the new cathedral, with the head of St. of life. Hers is a demanding job, and Oswald put with them for safety. His tomb obviously rewarding. is on an elevated ‘feretory’ (a travelling She also explained why you walk ) behind the sanctuary, a place of unexpectedly into a Roman atrium, quiet pilgrimage. complete with pool, and then through Bede lies at the opposite end of the equally Roman colonnades. According to cathedral in an equally significant tomb, the guide book, Benedict Biscop (c.628- perhaps more crowded by visitors. Maybe 689) had visited Rome and was inspired this would trouble Bede less than it would by its ‘church architecture, music, liturgy, Cuthbert. Bede liked to meet people and books, reliquaries and vestments’. He and talk to them. Because of Bede we know his companion were among those who more about King Raedwald and King endorsed the Roman church practices Edwin than we otherwise might. at the Synod of Whitby in 664 and he When our coach died on a steep hill later became a caretaker abbot at St. – the only route out of Durham – our Peter and St. Paul, Canterbury. On his skilful driver backed it round to the nearby return to Northumbria, King Ecgfrith coach-park and sent for a local, gave him seventy hides of land, and coach and an engineer. Our dinner was Benedict founded St. Peter’s monastery at delayed by an hour. We were glad to hear Wearmouth. He brought John, arch cantor Kate Sussams at Bede’s World the trouble had been fixed. www.suttonhoo.org 5 Lindisfarne Castle and Holy Island Next day we set off for Alnwick, led us to the castle. This famous silhouette and here he was buried before being rainbows glowing all along the route. can be seen as you reach the coast and moved to Durham. The history of the site We visited the impressive castle, home to cross the equally famous causeway at low and a chance to learn about St Aidan, St the mighty Percy family for 700 years. tide. It was originally an Elizabethan fort, Oswald and St Cuthbert - and about the It is as richly provided with collections but was eventually acquired by Edward Viking raids - is graphically presented at of paintings, porcelain and furniture as Hudson (founder of Country Life) who the Priory and at the Lindisfarne Centre, any aristocratic house in the country, a got Sir Edwin Lutyens to convert it into a together with a replica of the exquisite, reminder of how nearly this became our holiday retreat. It is now National Trust illuminated, Lindisfarne Gospels and a royal family. The Duke and Duchess of property, open to the public to climb spiral clever piece of virtual technology which Northumberland still live there between staircases and be greeted by a sort of allows you to turn the pages on screen. October and March each year. Harry ‘medieval meets Arts and Crafts’ medley. We returned to the coach. It had fuel Hotspur meets Harry Potter here – the Outside is a Gertrude Jekyll walled problems again. Les, our driver, ran to the great courtyard was the basic setting for garden, currently being restored. back to prime a pump, rushed forward to the quidditch games in the films. We also A walk back, skirting the harbour, drive for about 150 yards, then ran back visited the lovely gardens with a classical allows you to photograph the overturned again… and again. With several stops cascade and an area of trees and fountains, ‘cobles’ or fishing boats, cut in half and we made it over the causeway, heaved a where water is used like in used, now, for storage – but think of Mr. sigh of relief and then saw the mainline beautiful and surprising forms. Espalier Peggotty in David Copperfield, who lived railway. We crossed that, too. crab-apple trees brought colour and in just such an upside-down boat. The same rescue coach came and got autumnal tints flamed in the borders. In the ruins of Lindisfarne Priory you us back to the hotel, to a dinner an hour After lunch we moved along the coast can find a peaceful sanctuary, even with and a half late. A new fuel pump was to Lindisfarne - Holy Island - to be met by wind-tossed seagulls and sheep bleating fitted, but the driver limped in, late, and Harry Beamish of the National Trust who nearby. Here St Cuthbert lived and worked ordered a replacement coach to be brought

Ruins of Lindisfarne Priory The group visiting Chesters Fort

6 Saxon 52 overnight to serve us for the last two days. We were very grateful to him for saving our trip. Thursday was crowded. We were given a guided tour of the beautiful site of Chesters Fort, by Georgina Plowright, English Heritage’s Curator of their Hadrian’s Wall collection. She gave us a very helpful interpretation of a typical Roman Fort and its layout: formal buildings, parade ground, secret strongroom, commandant’s house, bath- house, sleeping quarters etc, all beside the attractive River Tyne. Then we found her again at the large Corbridge military supply depot not far away. Here is a small but very informative museum with some remarkable pieces, and a large excavated area, again helpfully explained. There are the remains of vast grain stores, on raised floors so that air might circulate. Hard-pressed for time, we headed for our next appointment Housesteads on top of the Wall at Housesteads. Here, faced with a very steep climb to days before our visit they had found the you to Robert Allen, our valiant leader. the fort on the wall, some of our group body of a girl, apparently murdered in We said farewell next morning to our stayed at the kiosk and sat in the centre Roman times: we wait for further news. member from Cornwall, and set off for where information and photographs were We watched them wrapping up for home. The sun shone on Sherwood Forest, available. Luckily, this area came free, the end of the season, and then took the so after lunch and saying goodbye to our so one anxious voice was stilled. (‘I don’t steep path to the fine museum, café, shop four friends, there was a chance to visit want to pay £3.50 to see more old stones’!) and garden, all in the little river valley the Major , an ancient specimen It did help on many of our visits to be a below the excavation. which has seen so much of the history member of the National Trust or English These Hadrian’s Wall sites are worth we had been traversing. Three people got Heritage. Quite a few of us did make the another, longer visit. So is Corbridge. So lost in the forest (or taken by outlaws) climb, accompanied by the knowledgeable is Hexham. We were, however, aware of but managed to reach the coach ahead of and humorous Mike Edbrooke of the how extending this trip would have added a search party. We actually got back to National Trust. to the cost. Many of us plan to return to Sutton Hoo early. The north wall of the fort was made the area. of Hadrian’s Wall itself, and it snakes That evening we met for a final drink See back page for details of next June’s away in each direction. The gate in this before dinner, with a chance to say thank trip to Ireland. wall leads to ‘Barbaricum’. Within the square fort we found the remains of a commandant’s grand house, the usual strongroom, which had to be guarded at a narrow entrance as it could not be dug down into the rock. The most famous construction is the latrine building with a complex system of water supply and draining channels, and a place for cleaning your sponge on a stick (don’t get hold of the wrong end) and a hand basin. The final drain leads past a small watchtower which needed water for cooking on its oven. Dear me! Our last visit was made to nearby , with archaeologist Justin Blake. We could have spent hours listening to him describing his work and sharing his excitement at the finds made over the years. Of course, among the best-known are the Vindolanda ‘tablets’. Some were made of wax on a bed of pine, scratched with a stylus. Others are made from birch or alder, often less than 1.5mm thick and written on in ink. They offer the fascinating human stories of those living on the Wall in Roman times. Only two Vindolanda: still digging after all these years www.suttonhoo.org 7 Working in the ship trench (In the event, hardly anything was found). There was also the matter of the mound itself and ’s spoil heaps. The first excavation trench soon became a square, protected from rain by a polythene-covered wooden ‘greenhouse’ (nicknamed ‘the timber chapel’) built by Geoffrey Ingram Smith, who was then running the eponymous Woodbridge builders. He kept a 14-ton trawler on the Deben and took us all for a trip down the river – all in the interests of research, of course. His ‘greenhouse’ was built horizontally across the stern, inside the mound. That was fine until heavy rain simply poured off the roof and down The ‘timber chapel’ over the stern, showing the bus and the first hut in August 1965. All photos through the sides of the trench. For the © Nigel Maslin following season the only solution was a As the Society begins a project to record personal memories of Sutton Hoo and vast scaffolding with a ridge roof running its excavations, NIGEL MASLIN recalls (in two parts) his own three summers down the length of the ship, channelling in the ship trench as a volunteer in 1965, -6 and -7. the run-off down the outside of the mound. Sandbags were still needed to You would think it would be easy to find the last three ribs (24, 25 and 26) as well control leaks and the sides of the mounds a ship under a mound, especially as in as the steering platform. were shored up to clear the barrow-runs. August 1965 Mound 1 was like the top The British Museum had guardianship These went along the sides of the ship trench, of a trilby hat, cleaved by a deep karate of the finds which had given out to the spoil tips beyond the bow. chop, leaving the top of the ship trench all to the nation, so the tasks of conserving Working conditions were not always but visible under the bracken and rabbit and publishing them fell to the museum’s comfortable, but then you do not go on holes. But in the panicky months of 1942, Department of Medieval and Later an archaeological dig for comfort. The tracked vehicles had been run in and out Antiquities and its Keeper, Rupert Bruce- heavy reinforced polythene sheeting of the trench for army training. Although Mitford. So unexpected was the original shifted noisily in the wind and the drying it was soon stopped, the damage was discovery, and so hasty its conclusion in the sand blew about. Damp when cut, a neat done. When finally revealed, the starboard shadow of war, that although the treasures section soon became an hour glass of (southern) side of the stern was crushed had been carefully lifted from the burial trickling sand, measuring the time to its inwards. So when a first exploratory chamber and the outlines of the ship fully own . Although the sheeting trench was cut across where the stern exposed, the excavation of Mound 1 and could be rolled up, you were either should have been, it did not appear at the recording of the ship had never been working in a wind tunnel or a greenhouse. quite the expected place or depth. One of completed in detail. Dr Bruce-Mitford Recommended dress, we used to say, was the first finds, I seem to remember, was the particularly wanted to recover technical swimming things and an anorak. Despite cartridge case for a .303 bullet, which was details about the building of the ship, to the usual mix of British summer weather, duly logged and numbered. It came from look for any sign of a tiller, or mast or I do not think we ever missed having a an army slit trench which had been cut oars, as well as looking beneath the ship, picnic lunch, sitting in tilted wheelbarrows across the stern, destroying the traces of where there was a chance of other burials. or on the grass by the finds hut.

Yvonne Crossman and Mr Hipkin working on Gay Keiller with Rupert Bruce-Mitford Keeping an eye on the channel: Geoffrey the survey Ingram Smith aboard his trawler

8 Saxon 52 Picnic lunch: Myrtle Bruce-Mitford (right) with Valerie Fenwick Mike Bruce-Mitford takes over The route to the site was the sandy a hardly less perilous scaffolding tower to move in front of the static camera, but track from the Sutton road, the one we dominating the middle of the site. when they moved away, the signal would all used before the National Trust took The first season of this ‘continued’ try to follow and create a blur (and he over. The British Museum had the right excavation of Sutton Hoo lasted only for waggled his long bony fingers) so a disc to excavate, but no actual right of access the exploratory month of August, and had had to be placed in front of the lens to to the site, a tricky legal stand-off that family support. Rupert’s eldest daughter refocus the signal. made for difficult relations with the then Myrtle, a professional cellist, with others And here we were, thirty-five years owner of the Sutton Hoo Estate, Mrs reconstructed the lyre and his son Michael later, with another visitor to the dig, David Barton. She kept the Sutton Hoo Herd was usually on his father’s digs too. Mike Attenborough, chatting about how he of prize Friesians and was paranoid was a school friend of mine, and as I had was planning to spend a couple of million about disease or disruption. We were already worked as a volunteer on some pounds on the new channel of which he only allowed to park cars along the track rescue digs in (Roman) London, I was was controller, and which would shortly where the viewing platform now stands, asked too. Other volunteers were recruited go on air as BBC2. More than that, he had as well as a small tool shed and an ancient locally and as we got to know them in invited producer Paul Johnstone back into single-decker bus to sit in. Zombie, the subsequent years they provided the evening the fold, after the latter had fallen out with Bruce-Mitfords’ Afghan hound, was and weekend invitations that were the the formidable Grace Wyndham Goldie, strictly confined to their Ford Consul, social highlights of the dig. head of BBC Television talks and later of and spent the days looking wistfully out Paul Sieveking, founding editor of the News & Current Affairs directorate. of the windows. After the first year, a Fortean Times, introduced us to his father, Working for the specialist archaeology more substantial finds hut and general dig Lance, a tall, elderly Yeatsian figure with programme Chronicle, Johnstone was hut were sited beyond the bow. Al fresco white hair and a beaming face, who had determined to impress with The Million lunch continued. Dr Bruce-Mitford always flown in the First World War, written Pound Grave, a half-hour programme dreaded his annual diplomatic mission to radio plays, and worked with E.M. Forster telling the story of the original 1939 charm Mrs Barton, because he was never adapting his novels for the West End discovery. He worked in 16mm. black-and- confident of coping with the gin and tonic, stage. He invited us round to his house white film, with cameraman and sound and there were always sins to be atoned for one day and took us into his study. “I’ve recordist, and had the help of Valerie and favours to ask. been sitting in this room writing for forty Fenwick to provide him with specialist His excavation team comprised his years,” he said. Behind the sofa was a research material. Johnstone interviewed departmental staff, including Yvonne trunk brought back by a close relative many of the new generation of excavators Crossman and his chief assistant Valerie from (was it Afghanistan?) in the 1880s, and made a classic documentary that was Fenwick. The mounds were shaved of since when it had not been touched. revised in colour twenty years later. vegetation and a 6” contour survey carried I was fascinated listening to him out by Yvonne with the ’s describing the first television play ever TO BE CONTINUED: visits from Mr Hipkin, who had installed a bench broadcast, which he produced in 1930. Charles Phillips, Basil Brown and mark under a fir tree on the edge of the In order to be ‘televised’, the actors had Benjamin Britten track. The bronze age barrow expert, the late Dr of the University of East Anglia excavated the remains of the mound itself (see Saxon 50, 12) and later Dr Ian Longworth analysed the prehistoric evidence and excavated areas next to the mounds. The department’s conservators under Peter Van Geersdaele were charged with making a plaster of Paris mould of the ship outlines, in sections that weighed four tons. Apart from the museum’s programme of technical photography by Cary Miller, Mrs Gay Keiller volunteered to add general photographs of the excavation. A tripod of a tall ladder and two scaffolding poles overlooking the Paul Johnstone (wearing cap, next to camera) interviews Paul Ashbee (in pork pie hat) for The stern was replaced in the second year by Million Pound Grave www.suttonhoo.org 9 The Archaeology of SUTTON HOO SOCIETY NOTIFICATION Æthelred the Unready OF ANNUAL ‘A seriously unpleasant period in which to Carisbrooke Castle, whose outer enclosure GENERAL MEETING live – for the English’. That was Professor may date to around 1000, might prove Simon Keynes’s judgment on the reign fruitful, and anywhere along the island’s The Annual General Meeting of the of Æthelred the Unready, in the third Sir north coast. Sutton Hoo Society will be held on th David Wilson Lecture on 20 October. Recalling the vividness of the accounts Friday 25 February 2011 at 7.30pm in With Sir David in the audience, it was the of the Battle of Maldon of 991 - whose the Kings River Café at Sutton Hoo. opening of the new season of the Medieval site is a favourite day trip for this society Seminar, run jointly by the British - Professor Keynes described how he AGENDA Museum and the Institute of Archaeology, recently struggled through undergrowth 1. Apologies at the IoA in Gordon Square in London. on a Norfolk nature reserve to identify the 2. Minutes of last AGM A generous handout gave us a series site of the Battle of Ringmere of 1010 – not 3. Reports and Accounts of maps showing the raids, invasions and too difficult, because it is a circular mere 4. Election of Auditors occupations of the Viking armies that and ‘the most magical place I’ve been to 5. Election of Committee Æthelred had to contend with throughout for some time’. Again, there is no known 6. Report on minor changes his reign (978-1016). Raids by ship ravaged archaeology, but the lake needs digging if to Society Constitution Thanet and the south-west coasts in the it ever dries out. early eighties; by the early nineties, there Mass burials begin to yield After the completion of the business were invasion forces of more than ninety important information. Bran Ditch in meeting, there will be a presentation ships and Viking armies wintering in Cambridgeshire, ravaged by Thorkell in by Chris Fern of Fern Archaeology, England. Thorkell’s army was in England 1010, might be an execution cemetery. including the reporting of results from 1009-1012, then came Swein Another example was excavated two years from the dating of finds from the Forkbeards’s invasion in 1013-14 and after ago in the grounds of St John’s College, Northern Cemetery at Sutton Hoo. only a brief intermission, Cnut. Oxford. Those thirty males in their prime, Admitting that his sole contribution ‘seriously hacked about’, dismembered, Michael Argent to archaeology was the uncovering of a decapitated or burnt, made Professor Chairman fossilised Viking dog turd in North Uist, Keynes think of a recorded massacre of Prof. Keynes’s serious purpose was to relate Vikings locked into a church that was then the two forms of evidence, archaeological burned down. and historical. Charters can be helpful, Having looked in turn at defences, Donation to recording the military obligation of ‘Danish camps’, boundaries, battle sites landholders and the repair of bridges and and the mass graves, Professor Keynes our archives town walls, but they need amplifying. concluded that such sites ‘are opening our There was a developed system eyes to the grim reality of life in the reign Last June a generous gift was presented to of beacons, but they have provided of Æthelred the Unready, and to which the Sutton Hoo Society by Mr John Piper no archaeology. Cadbury Castle in archaeology can contribute’. of Hampshire. In the course of clearing Somerset, an Iron Age hill fort, shows out the effects of his late father David, he late 10th century and early 11th century came across a complete boxed set of The developments, and Æthelred struck coins Sutton Hoo Ship Burial by Rupert Bruce there. To quote David Wilson, ‘with the Mitford, Keeper of Medieval and Later

mint went the administration’, though Wikimedia commons Antiquities at the British Museum. frustratingly many coins come from The set of books was published by The unknown mints. Professor Keynes’s British Museum between 1975 and 1983 in handouts even illustrated the main coin three volumes, the third of which is divided types of the reign. Examples of Agnus into two parts. The editing of the third Dei pennies of about 1009, with the volume is attributed to . lamb of God on the obverse and the dove Apparently Mr Piper senior had had a representing the holy spirit on the reverse, keen interest in archaeology and his son ‘bring a sense of the impact of the raids’, describes him as a regular reader of these said Professor Keynes, and of how they volumes. That prompted him to contact provoked this response which suggests a the Society for advice about a new home longing for peace. for his father’s books. As Chairman I 19th century maps were notoriously suggested that the Society would be happy scattered with the phrase ‘Danish camp’ to accept them for its archive, so they are on little or no evidence: they were as likely now in our possession and accessible to to be Iron Age as Viking. On the other researchers and students. hand, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle gives On behalf of the Sutton Hoo Society I the impression that the Isle of was would like to thank Mr Piper very warmly used regularly by mercenaries throughout for his generous gift. the 990s, yet there is little or no archaeological evidence so far. Professor Michael Argent Keynes suggested that sites such as Chairman

10 Saxon 52 A white knuckle ride Dear Editor A downland manor Would it be possible to publish my The CBA has just published the results of Seminar on 30 November, he described the ‘thank-yous’ in Saxon, to members of the 2002-5 excavations at Bishopstone in preliminary results of his latest project at the Sutton Hoo Society who went on last the Sussex downs, which uncovered the 8th Lyminge, overlooking Romney Marsh in September’s Northumbria journey? At to early 11th century settlement next to St Kent. Lyminge is revealing the landscape 84, and after a first-class fall with a week Andrew’s church, with its complex of a monastic settlement, and in hospital earlier this year, I no doubt of ‘timber halls’, unique cellared tower and another ‘Middle Saxon shift’: he promises foolhardily decided not to cancel my forty-three burials. An early Anglo-Saxon to describe it for us in our next issue. reservation for the trip. I would simply settlement has already been excavated on Thomas, Gabor (2010) The later wait in the coach if I felt unable to keep up nearby Rookery Hill, so it is known as a Anglo-Saxon settlement at Bishopstone: a on any occasion. classic example of ‘Middle Saxon shift’ downland manor in the making (Council However, thanks are due firstly to the (in the nature and pattern of settlement). for British Archaeology) 280pp., £40. noble efforts of Neil Montgomery and Bishopstone was the first large-scale ISBN 978-1-902771-83-0 Mike Argent in pushing my 110 pounds - excavation of Dr Gabor Thomas of the not huge, but not an insignificant weight - University of Reading. At the Medieval www.britarch.ac.uk/books/Thomas2010 in Robert Allen’s spare wheelchair, UP the steep hill to Durham Cathedral (our coach was unable to drive up because the road was torn up) and DOWN again in a white- knuckle ride. Secondly, apparently with more behind-the-scenes dealings, thanks to Ray Larsen for pushing me to the splendid Roman fort ruins on Hadrian’s Wall. Thirdly, especially at Vindolanda - where even the local guide advised against wheelchairs, but where the walkway was luckily walkable on its curving smooth surface down, down, down (plus back up, up, up) to see the incredible finds of the digs - particular thanks to Janet Singleton, who as room-sharer and friend was irreplaceable thoughout the memorable journey. Fourthly, but not least, thanks to the many who everywhere proffered an arm to lean on. Never have so few (namely one) owed so much to so many. Thank you all! Bishopstone © Gabor Thomas Rae Wright (also a volunteer at Sutton Hoo Booksale shop) A nobleman’s ransom The Million Pound In the latest issue of The Antiquaries Grave and the BFI Journal, Professor John Hines of Cardiff University suggests that at least some of Dear Editor the men around the owner of the great I was interested to see the item in gold Sutton Hoo buckle (Rædwald?) could the last issue of Saxon about ‘Tapping have estimated by eye the amount of gold the Archive’ - the BBC archive with old it contained, and would have known that episodes of Chronicle. You mentioned the king was wearing the life price of any disappointment that the programme about noble in the hall. But was the buckle ever Sutton Hoo - The Million Pound Grave - worn? It opens, but has no effective means was not available. I too am disappointed Paul Mortimer shows the difficulty of wearing the of being fastened to a belt. The pattern of that it is not more easily available, it’s not (replica) Sutton Hoo buckle. Photo © Nigel Maslin wear on its corners is consistent with its being on-line, but you may not be aware that held repeatedly face-down in the palm of and 1.3 kilos of silver in the Staffordshire it is available to view at the British Film the hand, so that the lid could be opened: hoard, which equate to the wergild of Institute’s media centres. I just went and its weight in the hand is very impressive. thirteen noblemen. watched it at the centre in Cambridge. That buckle is unique. Its original Follow the arguments for a recognised These centres are a thin on the ground, weight is close to the calculated 390g value system in gold and silver in 7th century but if anyone is desperate to watch it then weight of the 300 scillingas of a Kentish England in: the Cambridge centre is probably the nobleman’s ransom. A Kentish freeman Hines, J. (2010) ‘Units of Account easiest to get to from Suffolk, as there is a was valued at 100 scillingas, equivalent in Gold and Silver in Seventh-Century direct train service from Ipswich. If anyone to the Crondall hoard of 101 tremisses England: Scillingas, Sceattas and needs more information or directions they (the only continental gold coin familiar Pæningas’, Antiquaries Journal, 90, can contact me at my email address below. in 7th century Britain). The solid gold 153-73, where you will also find Stephen Jon Skinner from Prittlewell weighs only Dean et al., ‘The : the [email protected] 47.5g, compared with the 5 kilos of gold Fieldwork’, pp.139-152. www.suttonhoo.org 11 The Events Diary Sutton

Wednesday 12 January, 10.00-13.00 Sunday 27 March Hoo Sutton Hoo Studies Volunteers’ introduction to Society First of twelve Wednesday morning seminars Summer Exhibition by Dr Sam Newton exploring the contents and Guides’ Annual Briefing and lunch contexts of the Sutton Hoo barrows National Trust Sutton Hoo (NTSH) £15 + £1.50 coffee and biscuits www.suttonhoo.org Further seminars on Jan 19, 26; Feb 2, 9, 16; Saturday 7 May, 11.00 Mar 2, 16, 23, 30; Apr 6, 13. Basil Brown Lecture President For details and bookings, Recent Anglo-Saxon Finds and what they mean The Earl of Cranbrook contact Sam on 01728 688749 to Sutton Hoo Research Director or email: [email protected] Lecture by Professor Martin Carver Professor Martin Carver www.wuffings.co.uk Tickets £6.50 (non-members £7.50) Chairman National Trust Sutton Hoo (NTSH) Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge Mike Argent

Treasurer Tuesday 18 January, 17.30 Saturday 18 – Saturday 25 June Jonathan Abson Medieval Seminar SHS Irish Journey Membership Secretary Southumbrian book culture and the implications By coach from Sutton Hoo, staying in Jane Wright of recent archaeological discoveries Caernarfon on the first and last nights, and 32 Mariners Way Lecture by Professor Michelle Brown near Dublin during the week, where there IP15 5QH Room 612, Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 will be one free day as well as visits to Trinity Guiding Co-ordinator Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY College for the Book of Kells and St Patrick’s Robert Allen White Gables, Thornley Drive Cathedral; Glendalough; Russborough House; Tuesday 8 February, 17.30 Newgrange and Bru Na Boinne megalithic site; Ipswich IP4 3LR Medieval Seminar and the Rock of Cashel. 01473 728018 The formation of a folk district in the kingdom Provisional price: £750 per person (£950 for Minutes Secretary of Kent: reinterpreting early Anglo-Saxon single room) Brenda Brown Eastry and its burials Publications Lecture by Dr Tania Dickinson Pauline Moore 69 Barton Road, Woodbridge Room 612, Institute of Archaeology, 31-34 Sunday 11 September, 10.00-16.00 Suffolk IP12 1JH Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY SHS INTERNATIONAL DAY 01394 382617 CONFERENCE Website & Publicity Friday 25 February, 19.30 Sutton Hoo: a Swedish Perspective Robert Anderson SHS AGM and lecture A one-day conference sponsored by the Royal [email protected] Before Sutton Hoo: the prehistoric landscape and Carl Gustav Adolf Academy of Sweden and by Guides’ Training early Anglo-Saxon cemetery at Tranmer House History at the University Campus Suffolk and Lindsay Lee Lecture by Chris Fern of Fern Archaeology chaired by Professor Neil Price of the University Committee Members Preceded by the half-hour SHS AGM of Aberdeen. Sue Banyard Admission free to members Tickets £30 (non-members £32.50, Veronica Bennett NTSH, Restaurant full-time students £27.50) National Trust Waterfront Building, University Campus Regional Archaeologist Angus Wainwright Saturday 12 March 14.30 Suffolk, Ipswich  Suffolk Institute of Archaeology Saxon Editor Nigel Maslin & History Saturday 1 October [email protected] Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at Boss Hall and the In the steps of St Augustine: an SHS Design & Layout Buttermarket, Ipswich Day Excursion to Kent Elsey Adcock Associates Lecture by Chris Scull, Research Director, Augustine’s Abbey, Bertha’s Church and Telephone 01473 893966 Conservation & Protection Group, Canterbury Cathedral www.elseyadcock.co.uk English Heritage Details to be announced Printing Blackbourne Hall, Elmswell, Henry Ling Ltd, The Dorset Press 23 High East Street, Dorchester near Woolpit, Suffolk Dorset DT1 1HB Sutton Hoo Opening Times & Events Saturday 26 March Go to our website, www.suttonhoo.org and click NTSH Summer Exhibition opens on ‘Online Resources’ for links to the NTSH site Registered Charity No 293097

12 Saxon 52