Suffolk

Sutton Hoo, 70 years ago The Sutton Hoo ship burial was uncovered.  This is one of Britains and Europes greatest historic treasures.

In 1939 when war was on the horizon an age old secret appeared.  An Anglo-Saxon burial ship complete with all its treasures was discovered , shock waves reverberated around the archaeological world.  When the scale of the finds became apparent there were comparisons drawn with the discovery of Tutankhamen.  Sadly war added to the archaeological  pressure, this site needed to be fully and safely excavated as soon as possible .. who was buried beneath those mounds?

A local landowner Mrs Edith Pretty who lived in Tranmer House which overlooked the burial site had spiritualist leanings and she became convinced there was treasure in the mound.  After a vivid dream which included a funeral procession, then seeing a figure of an armed warrior standing on the mound, and on the advice of Guy Maynard from Ipswich Museum she employed Basil Brown from Rickinghall and local archaeologist of no formal education. They began to dig with the help of her Gardener, John Jacobs and gamekeeper, William Spooner.

One of the mounds contained the remains of a ship but sadly grave robbers had destroyed much of the boat in antiquity and looted all.

It was suggested that these had been the graves of important pagan Anglo-Saxons . Eventually, the remains of a 27 metre long ship and the undisturbed remains of a burial chamber which is now thought to be Raedwald the Anglo-Saxon king of East Anglia lay beneath the exact spot where Mrs Pretty had suggested all to start digging the previous year.  It was a perfectly preserved Anglo-Saxon longship.  A breathtaking array of treasures were uncovered including numerous large gold ornaments of the finest workmanship.  It was to become one of the richest finds excavated in Europe.  The most famous find is the Sutton Hoo helmet and is one of the iconic images of British history. There, amongst many other objects was a sensational gold and garnet belt, gold buckles, sword handles and golden shields.  Many of these priceless items now reside in the British Museum in London with all the protection required.  Mrs Pretty donated the whole of the Sutton Hoo treasure to the nation.

There are several ongoing digs and the most recent has uncovered another Saxon warrior buried with his horse including its golden bridle.   In the 1980's a dig uncovered the remains of Saxon execution victims called the Sand Men preserved in the acidic soil.

Sutton Hoo is a must.