Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

In the early 5th century, Britain was invaded and settled by the Anglo Saxon’s. One of the areas that was invaded and settled was East Anglia. The Anglo Saxon’s is a Germanic tribe that got their name from the people known as the Angles. Out of all the tribes, the East Angles were the biggest and most powerful. Sutton Hoo is an estate that was in East Anglia, but it is know known as Woodbridge.  This looks over the Deben River and is two miles southwest of Rendlesham. This used to be the seat of the Anglo Saxon kings of East Anglia. The ship was buried about 800 yards inland and 100 feet above water level from the Deben River. The ship was originally an 86 foot long rowing boat and was used as a cenotaph. It served for the East Anglian king Anna and a slim chance for his bother Ethelhere. The 86 foot ship did not survive due to moisture in the soil. The wood rotted away. The rotted timber left a perfect impression of the ship in the soil. This was found 1,300 years after the burial. Picture evidence shows the impression that was left by the vessel. The timber left the impression of horizontal lines all they way through where the ship was sitting. As well as smaller vertical lines starting at the front of the ship and ending in the back. The ship seems to have looked rounded of at the back end. Then coming towards the front of the ship it forms a narrow peak. The lines where the timber lied across are very distinct. Due to the impression left in the soil archaeologist were able to determine the exact design of the ship.

 At the time of the ship being buried it was filled with weapons, armor, jewelry, and musical instruments. Weapons that were found in the burial chamber consisted of iron swords and spears. Armor that was found inside the burial chamber was a warrior helmet and face mask. The helmet and face mask was tinned bronze and gilt decoration. This became an iconic symbol of Anglo Saxon archaeology. The jewelry gathered from the ship was gold and garnet. There were other miscellaneous items found, these included silver bowls, coins and drinking horns. All of these items found were very valuable. Two items stood out more than others did. One item that will catch everyone’s eye is a gold, enamel, and glass purse. The glass purse is outlined in blue, black, and red with unique designs in the center. The top part, which held the purse closed, is all gold. The other item found is a decorated gold niello belt buckle. It also was a very unique design. Based off of the size of the ship and the value of the items found in the burial chamber, experts believe that the tomb is of Raedwald, who was the most powerful king of East Anglia. Raedwald died around A.D. 625.

Sources 

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/early-medieval/a/the-sutton-hoo-ship-burial

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2853871?seq=3#metadata_info_tab_contents

https://www.academia.edu/24661910/The_Ongoing_Tale_of_Sutton_Hoo

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249007300_From_the_cradle_to_the_grave_Age_organization_and_the_early_Anglo-Saxon_burial_rite