THE TREASURES FROM PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Gareth Williams | 48 pages | 31 Dec 2011 | PRESS | 9780714128252 | English | London, United Kingdom The Sutton Hoo ship burial (article) | Khan Academy

In the decades since, Sutton Hoo has been studied in depth. For many scholars, one of the most exciting aspects of the Sutton Hoo burial is its similarity to that depicted in the Old English epic poem, Beowulf. The eponymous hero of this work is a Geat from modern-day Sweden, who comes to the aid of the Danish king. In the poem, composed in the eighth century, there is a description of the burial of one Scyld Scefing, an ancestor of the Danish royal family. According to the poem, Scyld is laid to rest in a boat, surrounded by treasures. Although there is almost certainly no direct link between the events described in Beowulf and the burial, the same world of traditions and ideas inspired them. In both cases there is a notion that death includes a journey to the hereafter and that the deceased must be interred with objects from the world of the living, such as weapons, money, drinking horns, and musical instruments. The burial at Sutton Hoo, like those of confirmed Viking burials, shows a well-developed notion of the afterlife. Who then was buried in the boat at Sutton Hoo? No body has yet been found—perhaps because the acidic soil long ago dissolved it, although scholars point out that human remains have been found elsewhere at the site. History Magazine. In a series of mounds at Sutton Hoo in England revealed their astounding contents: the remains of an Anglo-Saxon funerary ship and a huge cache of seventh-century royal treasure. Read Caption. Silver bowl from Sutton Hoo. Seventh century, British Museum, London. The ghostly treasure ship of Sutton Hoo In a series of mounds at Sutton Hoo in England revealed their astounding contents: the remains of an Anglo- Saxon funerary ship and a huge cache of seventh-century royal treasure. Growing up, she vacationed in Egypt and India. Having initiated the dig on her land in , she took a close interest in the discoveries, and is shown here, seated between two friends, observing the uncovering of the ship burial. Voyage into the afterlife Fully equipped for the hereafter, the foot-long boat, whose imprint was uncovered in the summer of , is the richest ship burial ever found in northern Europe. Mindful of the grave robbers who had plundered the mounds over the centuries, the archaeologists worked around the clock, under police guard. Since then, several of the other 18 tumuli at Sutton Hoo have yielded further discoveries. In the s, a warrior noble in full armor was found buried alongside his horse. Since one-third of the Sutton Hoo site has still not been investigated, historians hope its tumuli will shed yet more light on the twilight years of pagan England. The Sutton Hoo . Current Archaeology, AD — Sutton Hoo. Grout, J. Sutton Hoo. National Trust, The BBC, Anglo-Saxon 'palace' found at Rendlesham near Sutton Hoo site. The British Museum, Sutton Hoo and Europe, AD — World Archaeology, I am a university student doing a BA degree in Archaeology. I believe that intellectual engagement by advocates from both ends of the spectrum would serve to Read More. Ancient Origins has been quoted by:. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Skip to main content. National Trust Once complete, the ship sculpture will include a slab in the middle, representing the burial chamber, and etchings on the slab showing where the Sutton Hoo treasures were found. References Current Archaeology, Login or Register in order to comment. Related Articles on Ancient-Origins. A large calfskin canvas was secreted away beneath the floor of an English cathedral, featuring what, at first glance, appeared to be a map of the world. Once recovered and repaired, the map which is In Britain, a mysterious monument has become the subject of controversy. Our world has numerous examples of kings who have left a significant impact upon the lives of their people. The uninhabited mudbank island, measuring by meters by feet , is home to Ten carved stones discovered in England a few years ago have been dated back to the last ice age. Researchers discovered the ten ice age artworks between and at an ancient hearth at Les Top New Stories. In Britain, a mysterious discovery has been made in the ruins of a church in an abandoned medieval village. On some stones, archaeologists have found graffiti and some enigmatic marking. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. Human Origins. Over the past two centuries, Europe has become increasingly secular. One Hundred Thousand Adams and Eves? Ancient Technology. Dating back 11, years - with a coded message left by ancient man from the Mesolithic Age - the Shigir Idol is almost three times as old as the Egyptian pyramids. New scientific findings suggest that images and hieroglyphics on the wooden statue were carved with the jaw of a beaver, its teeth intact. Ten amazing inventions from ancient times. The revolutionary invention of the wheel. Ancient Places. Loulan was discovered in , but it was years ago that she died on the trade route known as the Silk Road. Royal Burial Ground | National Trust

The centuries AD — witnessed great change in Europe. The Roman Empire broke down in the west, but continued as the Byzantine Empire in the east. People, objects and ideas travelled across the continent, while Christianity and Islam emerged as major religions. By , the precursors of several modern states had developed. Europe as we know it today was taking shape. Room 41 gives an overview of the period and its peoples. By AD , invasions, religious infighting and political strife had disrupted life in the Roman Empire and it eventually broke down, only enduring in the east as the Byzantine Empire. A few miles from the Suffolk coast, the Sutton Hoo ship burial was one of the most exciting discoveries in British archaeology, and one that profoundly exploded the myth of the 'Dark Ages'. The original helmet is extremely rare, only one of four known complete from Anglo-Saxon England. At the heart of the Sutton Hoo ship burial was a chamber surrounded by riches from Byzantium and beyond, pointing to the existence of international connections. A double-edged sword, such as that on display, were the most prestigious weapon used by Vikings, only available to high status warriors. In , Edith Pretty, a landowner at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, asked archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate the largest of several Anglo-Saxon burial mounds on her property. Inside, he made one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of all time. Beneath the mound was the imprint of a 27m-long 86ft 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 AD s, this outstanding burial clearly commemorated a leading figure of East Anglia, the local Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It may even have belonged to a king. It reveals a place of exquisite craftsmanship and extensive 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. Edith Pretty donated the finds to the British Museum in , and they now form a stunning centrepiece to this gallery. The site at Sutton Hoo is managed by the National Trust. Skip to main content Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience. Mike Hopwood, visitor experience project manager, hopes the sculpture will help people get a better perspective on just how large and important Sutton Hoo is. The new sculpture at Sutton Hoo. National Trust. Once complete, the ship sculpture will include a slab in the middle, representing the burial chamber, and etchings on the slab showing where the Sutton Hoo treasures were found. Sutton Hoo is located on an escarpment overlooking the River Deben. This archaeological site is believed to have been used during the 6th and early 7th centuries AD. Mound 1: posts mark the ends of the ship. Public Domain. It was only in that this burial mound, with its treasure intact, was discovered by archaeologists. A year before this discovery, Basil Brown, a British archaeologist, was invited by Edith Pretty, the owner of the Sutton Hoo estate, to investigate and excavate several mounds that were on her property. During this first season, Brown excavated the mound known today as Mound 2. This turned out to be an Anglo-Saxon ship burial , though it had already been looted in the past. Based on the position of the burial chamber to the ship, it has been established that the former was built first and the latter placed above it. Photo of the Mound 2. In the following year, Brown returned to Sutton Hoo, and commenced his excavation of Mound 1. As he discovered lumps of rusty iron, it was evident that this was another ship burial. As Brown realized that traditional excavation methods, i. When Brown was excavating Mound 1, the original wood of the ship had already completely decomposed. Its form, however, was perfectly preserved, as may be seen by the riveted outline of the ship that was impressed in the sand. Model of the ship's structure as it might have appeared, with chamber area outlined. Unlike the ship burial in Mound 2, the burial chamber of this grave was found to be within the ship itself. It has been assumed that at the center of the chamber was the body of the deceased. As the soil was extremely acidic, however, nothing has survived. Alternatively, it has been suggested that this burial served as a cenotaph, a monument commemorating someone whose body is buried elsewhere. The recreated burial-ship at Sutton Hoo. It was the grave goods within the burial chamber that drew the most attention. Items that were found included weapons and armor, including the famous , objects made of precious metals, as well as equipment used during feasts, such as drinking horns and cauldrons. Some scholars say this burial is the richest ever found in northern Europe. Much of these artifacts can today be found in the British Museum in London. Finds from Mound These grave goods have also allowed archaeologists to gain a better understanding of the Anglo-Saxon elite who lived during the 6th and early 7th centuries AD. For example, the set of silver bowls, which are of Byzantine origin , shows that the Anglo-Saxons were in contact with that part of the world. The helmet, one of the most important finds from Sutton Hoo. While the ship burial of Mound 1 is undoubtedly the main attraction of Sutton Hoo, several other interesting discoveries have also been made there. For instance, there is a burial of a horse and its rider, and also burials that seem to indicate human sacrifice. It has been speculated that Sutton Hoo and Rendlesham are intimately linked, the former being the burial place of the king who ruled in the latter. The Sutton Hoo helmet. Current Archaeology, AD — Sutton Hoo. Grout, J. Sutton Hoo. National Trust, The BBC, Anglo-Saxon 'palace' found at Rendlesham near Sutton Hoo site. Sutton Hoo and Europe | British Museum

His first dig, in the summer of , confirmed his initial skepticism: tumuli two, three, and four contained only a few objects and evidence of human remains. In Brown resumed the dig and turned his attention to the largest barrow, known as tumulus one. During the excavation, he came across a section of hard earth stained with rust and containing nails at regular intervals. Progressing with painstaking care, Brown realized that he had found the imprint of a ship, more than 80 feet in length. Although the wood had long since decayed, its ghostly outline and rich cargo of grave goods remained intact. How had it stayed undisturbed for so long? Luck, as it turns out. Together with Charles Phillips from the University of Cambridge, who had also joined the dig, they found evidence that grave robbers had indeed probed the site in the past. Fortunately, the thieves dug in the wrong place, narrowly missing the treasure. The collection of objects included weapons, silver cutlery, gold buckles, coins, and a distinctive full-face helmet, of a kind never before recovered in Britain. Examining the artifacts, they concluded that the settlement was not Viking, as first assumed, but Anglo-Saxon. The significance of Sutton Hoo was instantly recognized. In keeping with the patriotic, wartime spirit, Edith Pretty donated the find to the British Museum in London. In the decades since, Sutton Hoo has been studied in depth. For many scholars, one of the most exciting aspects of the Sutton Hoo burial is its similarity to that depicted in the Old English epic poem, Beowulf. Twenty-six wooden frames strengthened the form. Repairs were visible: this had been a seagoing vessel of excellent craftsmanship, but there was no descending keel. The decking, benches and mast were removed. In the fore and aft sections along the gunwales , there were oar-rests shaped like the Anglo-Saxon letter "thorn" , indicating that there may have been positions for forty oarsmen. The central chamber had timber walls at either end and a roof, which was probably pitched. The heavy oak vessel had been hauled from the river up the hill and lowered into a prepared trench, so only the tops of the stem and stern posts rose above the land surface. This appears to have been the final occasion upon which the Sutton Hoo cemetery was used for its original purpose. Long afterwards, the roof collapsed violently under the weight of the mound, compressing the ship's contents into a seam of earth. As a body was not found, there was early speculation that the ship-burial was a cenotaph , but soil analyses conducted in found phosphate traces, supporting the view that a body had disappeared in the acidic soil. The objects around the body indicate that it lay with the head at the west end of the wooden structure. Artefacts near the body have been identified as regalia , pointing to its being that of a king. Most of the suggestions for the occupant are East Anglian kings because of the proximity of the royal vill of Rendlesham. Since , when H. But from time to time, other identifications are suggested, including his son Eorpwald of East Anglia , who succeeded his father in about This makes Sigeberht, who died in , less likely. David M. Wilson has remarked that the metal artworks found in the Sutton Hoo graves were "work of the highest quality, not only in English but in European terms". Sutton Hoo is a cornerstone of the study of art in Britain in the 6th—9th centuries. George Henderson has described the ship treasures as "the first proven hothouse for the incubation of the Insular style ". On the head's left side was placed a "crested" and masked helmet wrapped in cloths. These features have been used to suggest an English origin for the helmet's basic structure; the deep cheekpieces have parallels in the Coppergate helmet , found in . Helmets are extremely rare finds. No other such figural plaques were known in England, apart from a fragment from a burial at Caenby , Lincolnshire , [58] until the discovery of the Staffordshire hoard , which contained many. Restoration of the helmet thus involved the meticulous identification, grouping and orientation of the surviving fragments before it could be reconstructed. To the head's right was placed inverted a nested set of ten silver bowls, probably made in the Eastern Empire during the sixth century. Beneath them were two silver spoons, possibly from Byzantium , of a type bearing names of the Apostles. One theory suggests that the spoons and possibly also the bowls were a baptismal gift for the buried person. On the right of the "body" lay a set of spears , tips uppermost, including three barbed angons , with their heads thrust through a handle of the bronze bowl. Together with the sword harness and scabbard mounts, the gold and garnet objects found in the upper body space, which form a co-ordinated ensemble, are among the true wonders of Sutton Hoo. Their artistic and technical quality is quite exceptional. The "great" gold buckle is made in three parts. The gold surfaces are punched to receive niello detail. The plate is hollow and has a hinged back, forming a secret chamber, possibly for a relic. Both the tongue-plate and hoop are solid, ornamented, and expertly engineered. Each shoulder-clasp consists of two matching curved halves, hinged upon a long removable chained pin. The half-round clasp ends contain garnet- work of interlocking wild boars with filigree surrounds. On the underside of the mounts are lugs for attachment to a stiff leather cuirass. The function of the clasps is to hold together the two halves of such armour so that it can fit the torso closely in the Roman manner. No other Anglo- Saxon cuirass clasps are known. The ornamental purse-lid , covering a lost leather pouch, hung from the waist-belt. The maker derived these images from the ornament of the Swedish-style helmets and shield-mounts. In his work they are transferred into the cellwork medium with dazzling technical and artistic virtuosity. These are the work of a master-goldsmith who had access to an East Anglian armoury containing the objects used as pattern sources. As an ensemble they enabled the patron to appear imperial. They were deliberately collected. There were also three blank coins and two small ingots. In the area corresponding to the lower legs of the body were laid out various drinking vessels, including a pair of drinking horns made from the horns of an aurochs , extinct since early mediaeval times. A large quantity of material including metal objects and textiles was formed into two folded or packed heaps on the east end of the central wooden structure. This included the extremely rare survival of a long coat of ring-mail , made of alternate rows of welded and riveted iron links, [84] two hanging bowls, [85] leather shoes, [86] a cushion stuffed with feathers, folded objects of leather and a wooden platter. At one side of the heaps lay an iron hammer-axe with a long iron handle, possibly a weapon. On top of the folded heaps was set a fluted silver dish with drop handles, probably made in Italy, with the relief image of a female head in late Roman style worked into the bowl. Above these was a silver ladle with gilt chevron ornament, also of Mediterranean origin. Over the whole of this, perched on top of the heaps, or their container, if there was one, lay a very large round silver platter with chased ornament, made in the Eastern Empire circa and bearing the control stamps of Emperor Anastasius I — Along the inner west wall i. It also bore animal-ornamented sheet strips directly die-linked to examples from the early cemetery at Vendel [97] near Old Uppsala in Sweden. Along the wall was a long square-sectioned whetstone , tapered at either end and carved with human faces on each side. A ring mount, topped by a bronze antlered stag figurine, was fixed to the upper end, possibly made to resemble a late Roman consular sceptre. In the south-west corner was a group of objects which may have been hung up, but when discovered, were compressed together. They included a Coptic or eastern Mediterranean bronze bowl with drop handles and figures of animals, [] found below a badly deformed six-stringed Anglo-Saxon lyre in a beaver- skin bag, of a Germanic type found in wealthy Anglo-Saxon and north European graves of this date. At the east end of the chamber, near the north corner, stood an iron-bound tub of yew containing a smaller bucket. To the south were two small bronze cauldrons , which were probably hung against the wall. A large carinated bronze cauldron, similar to the example from a chamber-grave at Taplow , with iron mounts and two ring-handles was hung by one handle. The chain was the product of a British tradition dating back to pre-Roman times. The burial chamber was evidently rich in textiles, represented by many fragments preserved, or by chemicals formed by corrosion. There appear to have been more exotic coloured hangings or spreads, including some possibly imported woven in stepped lozenge patterns using a Syrian technique in which the weft is looped around the warp to create a textured surface. Two other colour-patterned textiles, near the head and foot of the body area, resemble Scandinavian work of the same period. A series of excavations in —83 by Hjalmar Stolpe revealed 14 graves in the village of Vendel in eastern Sweden. The earlier mound-burials at Old Uppsala, in the same region, have a more direct bearing on the Beowulf story, but do not contain ship-burials. The famous Gokstad and Oseberg ship-burials of Norway are of a later date. The inclusion of drinking-horns, lyre, sword and shield, bronze and glass vessels is typical of high-status chamber-graves in England. Unusually, Sutton Hoo included regalia and instruments of power and had direct Scandinavian connections. A possible explanation for such connections lies in the well-attested northern custom by which the children of leading men were often raised away from home by a distinguished friend or relative. Carver argues that pagan East Anglian rulers would have responded to the growing encroachment of Roman Christendom by employing ever more elaborate cremation rituals, so expressing defiance and independence. The execution victims, if not sacrificed for the ship-burial, perhaps suffered for their dissent from the cult of Christian royalty: [] their executions may coincide in date with the period of Mercian hegemony over East Anglia in about — Scyld Scefing or Shield Sheafson , in a ship laden with treasure and has other descriptions of hoards, including Beowulf's own mound- burial. Its picture of warrior life in the hall of the Danish Scylding clan , with formal mead-drinking, minstrel recitation to the lyre and the rewarding of valour with gifts, and the description of a helmet, could all be illustrated from the Sutton Hoo finds. The interpretation of each has a bearing on the other, [] and the east Sweden connections with the Sutton Hoo material reinforce this link. Using genealogical data, he argues that the Wuffing dynasty derived from the Geatish house of Wulfing , mentioned in both Beowulf and the poem Widsith. Possibly the oral materials from which Beowulf was assembled belonged to East Anglian royal tradition, and they and the ship-burial took shape together as heroic restatements of migration-age origins. In medieval times the westerly end of the mound was dug away and a boundary ditch was laid out. Therefore, when looters dug into the apparent centre during the sixteenth century, they missed the real centre: nor could they have foreseen that the deposit lay very deep in the belly of a buried ship, well below the level of the land surface. In the 16th century, a pit, dated by bottle shards left at the bottom, was dug into Mound 1, narrowly missing the burial. In it was reported that nearly two bushels of iron screw bolts, presumably ship rivets, had been found at the recent opening of a mound and that it was hoped to open others. In , a mansion with fifteen bedrooms was built a short distance from the mounds and in the mansion and its arable land was purchased by Colonel Frank Pretty, a retired military officer who had recently married. Mrs Pretty in decided to organise an excavation of the mounds. These only revealed fragmented artefacts, as the mounds had been robbed of valuable items. At first it was undecided as to whether they were Early Anglo- Saxon or Viking objects. They drove a trench from the east end and on the third day discovered an iron rivet which Brown identified as a ship's rivet. The colossal size of the find became apparent. After several weeks of patiently removing earth from the ship's hull, they reached the burial chamber. The following month, Charles Phillips of Cambridge University heard rumours of a ship discovery. Within a short time, following discussions with the Ipswich Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum , and Office of Works, Phillips had taken over responsibility for the excavation of the burial chamber. Initially, Phillips and the British Museum instructed Brown to cease excavating until they could get their team assembled, but he continued working, something which may have saved the site from being looted by treasure hunters. Grimes and O. The need for secrecy and various vested interests led to confrontation between Phillips and the Ipswich Museum. In — Phillips and his friend Grahame Clark had taken control of the society. The curator, Mr Maynard then turned his attention to developing Brown's work for the museum. Phillips, who was hostile toward the museum's honorary president, Reid Moir, F. The finds, having been packed and removed to London, were brought back for a treasure trove inquest held that autumn at Sutton village hall, where it was decided that since the treasure was buried without the intention to recover it, it was the property of Mrs Pretty as landowner. Sutton Hoo was used as a training ground for military vehicles. Following Britain's victory in , the Sutton Hoo artefacts were removed from storage. A team, led by Rupert Bruce-Mitford, from the British Museum's Department of British and Medieval Antiquities, determined their nature and helped to reconstruct and replicate the sceptre and helmet. From analysing the data collected in —39, Bruce-Mitford concluded that there were still unanswered questions. As a result of his interest in excavating previously unexplored areas of the Sutton Hoo site, a second archaeological investigation was organised. In , a British Museum team began work, continuing until The ship impression was re-exposed and found to have suffered some damage, not having been back-filled after excavation in Nevertheless, it remained sufficiently intact for a plaster cast to be taken and a fiberglass shape produced. The decision was then made to destroy the impression in order to excavate underneath. The mound was later restored to its pre appearance. The team also determined the limits of Mound 5 and investigated evidence of prehistoric activity on the original land-surface. In a committee was formed in order to mount a third, and even larger excavation at Sutton Hoo. Backed by the Society of Antiquaries of London , the committee proposed an investigation to be led by Philip Rahtz from the and Rupert Bruce-Mitford, [] but the British Museum's reservations led to the committee deciding to collaborate with the Ashmolean Museum. The committee recognised that much had changed in archaeology since the early s. The Conservatives' privatisation policies signalled a decrease in state support for such projects, whilst the emergence of post-processualism in archaeological theory moved many archaeologists toward focussing on concepts such as social change. The Ashmolean's involvement convinced the British Museum and the Society of Antiquaries to help fund the project. Related Topics. History Woodbridge Archaeology. More on this story. Published 19 April Published 29 May Published 6 April Published 3 October Published 19 November

The Treasure Ship of Sutton Hoo

In an area near to a former rose garden, a group of moderate-sized burial mounds was identified. They had long since been levelled, but their position was shown by circular ditches that each enclosed a small deposit indicating the presence of a single burial, probably of unurned human ashes. One burial lay in an irregular oval pit that contained two vessels, a stamped black earthenware urn of late 6th-century type, and a well- preserved large bronze hanging bowl , with openwork hook escutcheons and a related circular mount at the centre. The shield bore an ornamented boss-stud and two fine metal mounts, ornamented with a predatory bird and a dragon-like creature. The ship-burial discovered under Mound 1 in contained one of the most magnificent archaeological finds in England for its size and completeness, far-reaching connections, the quality and beauty of its contents, and for the profound interest it generated. Although practically none of the original timber survived, the form of the ship was perfectly preserved. Nearly all of the iron planking rivets were in their original places. From the keel board, the hull was constructed clinker-fashion with nine planks on either side, fastened with rivets. Twenty-six wooden frames strengthened the form. Repairs were visible: this had been a seagoing vessel of excellent craftsmanship, but there was no descending keel. The decking, benches and mast were removed. In the fore and aft sections along the gunwales , there were oar-rests shaped like the Anglo-Saxon letter "thorn" , indicating that there may have been positions for forty oarsmen. The central chamber had timber walls at either end and a roof, which was probably pitched. The heavy oak vessel had been hauled from the river up the hill and lowered into a prepared trench, so only the tops of the stem and stern posts rose above the land surface. This appears to have been the final occasion upon which the Sutton Hoo cemetery was used for its original purpose. Long afterwards, the roof collapsed violently under the weight of the mound, compressing the ship's contents into a seam of earth. As a body was not found, there was early speculation that the ship-burial was a cenotaph , but soil analyses conducted in found phosphate traces, supporting the view that a body had disappeared in the acidic soil. The objects around the body indicate that it lay with the head at the west end of the wooden structure. Artefacts near the body have been identified as regalia , pointing to its being that of a king. Most of the suggestions for the occupant are East Anglian kings because of the proximity of the royal vill of Rendlesham. Since , when H. But from time to time, other identifications are suggested, including his son Eorpwald of East Anglia , who succeeded his father in about This makes Sigeberht, who died in , less likely. David M. Wilson has remarked that the metal artworks found in the Sutton Hoo graves were "work of the highest quality, not only in English but in European terms". Sutton Hoo is a cornerstone of the study of art in Britain in the 6th—9th centuries. George Henderson has described the ship treasures as "the first proven hothouse for the incubation of the Insular style ". On the head's left side was placed a "crested" and masked helmet wrapped in cloths. These features have been used to suggest an English origin for the helmet's basic structure; the deep cheekpieces have parallels in the Coppergate helmet , found in York. Helmets are extremely rare finds. No other such figural plaques were known in England, apart from a fragment from a burial at Caenby , Lincolnshire , [58] until the discovery of the Staffordshire hoard , which contained many. Restoration of the helmet thus involved the meticulous identification, grouping and orientation of the surviving fragments before it could be reconstructed. To the head's right was placed inverted a nested set of ten silver bowls, probably made in the Eastern Empire during the sixth century. Beneath them were two silver spoons, possibly from Byzantium , of a type bearing names of the Apostles. One theory suggests that the spoons and possibly also the bowls were a baptismal gift for the buried person. On the right of the "body" lay a set of spears , tips uppermost, including three barbed angons , with their heads thrust through a handle of the bronze bowl. Together with the sword harness and scabbard mounts, the gold and garnet objects found in the upper body space, which form a co-ordinated ensemble, are among the true wonders of Sutton Hoo. Their artistic and technical quality is quite exceptional. The "great" gold buckle is made in three parts. The gold surfaces are punched to receive niello detail. The plate is hollow and has a hinged back, forming a secret chamber, possibly for a relic. Both the tongue-plate and hoop are solid, ornamented, and expertly engineered. Each shoulder- clasp consists of two matching curved halves, hinged upon a long removable chained pin. The half-round clasp ends contain garnet-work of interlocking wild boars with filigree surrounds. On the underside of the mounts are lugs for attachment to a stiff leather cuirass. The function of the clasps is to hold together the two halves of such armour so that it can fit the torso closely in the Roman manner. No other Anglo-Saxon cuirass clasps are known. The ornamental purse-lid , covering a lost leather pouch, hung from the waist-belt. The maker derived these images from the ornament of the Swedish-style helmets and shield-mounts. In his work they are transferred into the cellwork medium with dazzling technical and artistic virtuosity. These are the work of a master-goldsmith who had access to an East Anglian armoury containing the objects used as pattern sources. As an ensemble they enabled the patron to appear imperial. They were deliberately collected. There were also three blank coins and two small ingots. In the area corresponding to the lower legs of the body were laid out various drinking vessels, including a pair of drinking horns made from the horns of an aurochs , extinct since early mediaeval times. A large quantity of material including metal objects and textiles was formed into two folded or packed heaps on the east end of the central wooden structure. This included the extremely rare survival of a long coat of ring-mail , made of alternate rows of welded and riveted iron links, [84] two hanging bowls, [85] leather shoes, [86] a cushion stuffed with feathers, folded objects of leather and a wooden platter. At one side of the heaps lay an iron hammer-axe with a long iron handle, possibly a weapon. On top of the folded heaps was set a fluted silver dish with drop handles, probably made in Italy, with the relief image of a female head in late Roman style worked into the bowl. Above these was a silver ladle with gilt chevron ornament, also of Mediterranean origin. Over the whole of this, perched on top of the heaps, or their container, if there was one, lay a very large round silver platter with chased ornament, made in the Eastern Empire circa and bearing the control stamps of Emperor Anastasius I — Along the inner west wall i. It also bore animal-ornamented sheet strips directly die-linked to examples from the early cemetery at Vendel [97] near Old Uppsala in Sweden. Along the wall was a long square-sectioned whetstone , tapered at either end and carved with human faces on each side. A ring mount, topped by a bronze antlered stag figurine, was fixed to the upper end, possibly made to resemble a late Roman consular sceptre. In the south-west corner was a group of objects which may have been hung up, but when discovered, were compressed together. They included a Coptic or eastern Mediterranean bronze bowl with drop handles and figures of animals, [] found below a badly deformed six-stringed Anglo- Saxon lyre in a beaver-skin bag, of a Germanic type found in wealthy Anglo-Saxon and north European graves of this date. At the east end of the chamber, near the north corner, stood an iron-bound tub of yew containing a smaller bucket. To the south were two small bronze cauldrons , which were probably hung against the wall. A large carinated bronze cauldron, similar to the example from a chamber-grave at Taplow , with iron mounts and two ring-handles was hung by one handle. The chain was the product of a British tradition dating back to pre-Roman times. The burial chamber was evidently rich in textiles, represented by many fragments preserved, or by chemicals formed by corrosion. There appear to have been more exotic coloured hangings or spreads, including some possibly imported woven in stepped lozenge patterns using a Syrian technique in which the weft is looped around the warp to create a textured surface. Two other colour-patterned textiles, near the head and foot of the body area, resemble Scandinavian work of the same period. A series of excavations in —83 by Hjalmar Stolpe revealed 14 graves in the village of Vendel in eastern Sweden. The earlier mound-burials at Old Uppsala, in the same region, have a more direct bearing on the Beowulf story, but do not contain ship-burials. The famous Gokstad and Oseberg ship- burials of Norway are of a later date. The inclusion of drinking-horns, lyre, sword and shield, bronze and glass vessels is typical of high-status chamber-graves in England. Unusually, Sutton Hoo included regalia and instruments of power and had direct Scandinavian connections. A possible explanation for such connections lies in the well-attested northern custom by which the children of leading men were often raised away from home by a distinguished friend or relative. Carver argues that pagan East Anglian rulers would have responded to the growing encroachment of Roman Christendom by employing ever more elaborate cremation rituals, so expressing defiance and independence. The execution victims, if not sacrificed for the ship-burial, perhaps suffered for their dissent from the cult of Christian royalty: [] their executions may coincide in date with the period of Mercian hegemony over East Anglia in about — Scyld Scefing or Shield Sheafson , in a ship laden with treasure and has other descriptions of hoards, including Beowulf's own mound- burial. Its picture of warrior life in the hall of the Danish Scylding clan , with formal mead-drinking, minstrel recitation to the lyre and the rewarding of valour with gifts, and the description of a helmet, could all be illustrated from the Sutton Hoo finds. The interpretation of each has a bearing on the other, [] and the east Sweden connections with the Sutton Hoo material reinforce this link. Using genealogical data, he argues that the Wuffing dynasty derived from the Geatish house of Wulfing , mentioned in both Beowulf and the poem Widsith. Possibly the oral materials from which Beowulf was assembled belonged to East Anglian royal tradition, and they and the ship-burial took shape together as heroic restatements of migration-age origins. In medieval times the westerly end of the mound was dug away and a boundary ditch was laid out. Therefore, when looters dug into the apparent centre during the sixteenth century, they missed the real centre: nor could they have foreseen that the deposit lay very deep in the belly of a buried ship, well below the level of the land surface. In the 16th century, a pit, dated by bottle shards left at the bottom, was dug into Mound 1, narrowly missing the burial. In it was reported that nearly two bushels of iron screw bolts, presumably ship rivets, had been found at the recent opening of a mound and that it was hoped to open others. In , a mansion with fifteen bedrooms was built a short distance from the mounds and in the mansion and its arable land was purchased by Colonel Frank Pretty, a retired military officer who had recently married. Mrs Pretty in decided to organise an excavation of the mounds. These only revealed fragmented artefacts, as the mounds had been robbed of valuable items. At first it was undecided as to whether they were Early Anglo-Saxon or Viking objects. They drove a trench from the east end and on the third day discovered an iron rivet which Brown identified as a ship's rivet. The colossal size of the find became apparent. After several weeks of patiently removing earth from the ship's hull, they reached the burial chamber. The following month, Charles Phillips of Cambridge University heard rumours of a ship discovery. Within a short time, following discussions with the Ipswich Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum , and Office of Works, Phillips had taken over responsibility for the excavation of the burial chamber. Initially, Phillips and the British Museum instructed Brown to cease excavating until they could get their team assembled, but he continued working, something which may have saved the site from being looted by treasure hunters. Grimes and O. The need for secrecy and various vested interests led to confrontation between Phillips and the Ipswich Museum. In — Phillips and his friend Grahame Clark had taken control of the society. The curator, Mr Maynard then turned his attention to developing Brown's work for the museum. Phillips, who was hostile toward the museum's honorary president, Reid Moir, F. The finds, having been packed and removed to London, were brought back for a treasure trove inquest held that autumn at Sutton village hall, where it was decided that since the treasure was buried without the intention to recover it, it was the property of Mrs Pretty as landowner. Sutton Hoo was used as a training ground for military vehicles. Following Britain's victory in , the Sutton Hoo artefacts were removed from storage. A team, led by Rupert Bruce-Mitford, from the British Museum's Department of British and Medieval Antiquities, determined their nature and helped to reconstruct and replicate the sceptre and helmet. From analysing the data collected in —39, Bruce-Mitford concluded that there were still unanswered questions. As a result of his interest in excavating previously unexplored areas of the Sutton Hoo site, a second archaeological investigation was organised. In , a British Museum team began work, continuing until The ship impression was re-exposed and found to have suffered some damage, not having been back-filled after excavation in Nevertheless, it remained sufficiently intact for a plaster cast to be taken and a fiberglass shape produced. The BBC, Anglo-Saxon 'palace' found at Rendlesham near Sutton Hoo site. The British Museum, Sutton Hoo and Europe, AD — World Archaeology, I am a university student doing a BA degree in Archaeology. I believe that intellectual engagement by advocates from both ends of the spectrum would serve to Read More. Ancient Origins has been quoted by:. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Skip to main content. National Trust Once complete, the ship sculpture will include a slab in the middle, representing the burial chamber, and etchings on the slab showing where the Sutton Hoo treasures were found. References Current Archaeology, Login or Register in order to comment. Related Articles on Ancient-Origins. A large calfskin canvas was secreted away beneath the floor of an English cathedral, featuring what, at first glance, appeared to be a map of the world. Once recovered and repaired, the map which is In Britain, a mysterious monument has become the subject of controversy. Our world has numerous examples of kings who have left a significant impact upon the lives of their people. The uninhabited mudbank island, measuring by meters by feet , is home to Ten carved stones discovered in England a few years ago have been dated back to the last ice age. Researchers discovered the ten ice age artworks between and at an ancient hearth at Les Top New Stories. In Britain, a mysterious discovery has been made in the ruins of a church in an abandoned medieval village. On some stones, archaeologists have found graffiti and some enigmatic marking. In ancient Greek mythology, Medusa is the most famous of three monstrous sisters known as the Gorgons. Human Origins. Whether you're planning a visit to Sutton Hoo or exploring from the comfort of your own home, learn about the discovery of this special landscape and the impact it has had on our understanding of our ancestors. There are around eighteen burial mounds within the Royal Burial Ground. Many have been so eroded over the centuries that it is hard to know exactly how many there were. The burials date to the seventh- century AD. The people buried here left no written records, so it is impossible to know exactly who they were, but historians strongly suspect that Sutton Hoo was the cemetery for the royal dynasty of East Anglia, the Wuffingas, who claimed descent from the god Woden. Most of the mounds were robbed, largely in the Tudor period, and much of what was there was lost, but two mounds escaped this fate - the Great Ship Burial or King's Mound One and the Horseman's Mound. The discovery revolutionised our understanding of the Anglo-Saxon period and provided a lens through which to examine this fascinating era of history.

https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/c43f54aa-35fa-439a-b05a-99ffcf298092/ich-bin-7-und-lamatastisch-lama-mit-decke-schreibheft-mit-120- linierten-seiten-notizheft-in-ca-d-638.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/183c1249-11e1-4008-9bad-0c8538187d3e/avanti-dilettanti-lasst-das-cello-ertoenen-for-thy-pleasure- cellospielen-fur-erwachsene-584.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586029/UploadedFiles/D4D36F93-9E3B-5B74-1AE5-6C45F813CC7C.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9593592/UploadedFiles/945B2B00-FC63-4CC2-FF99-D3D276E949E9.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/4ef285d7-b569-4f91-b045-e68fddfa0827/tagebuch-malbuch-notizbuch-claus-ueber-100-seiten- personalaisiertes-dot-grid-notizbuch-im-a4-444.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4640542/normal_6020831099510.pdf