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Sutton Hoo is on a high bluff on the left bank of the River Deben about 7 miles from the sea. Burial mounds have been discovered here, and often robbed, since 1601. Modern archaeological investigation began in 1938 and in 1939 the Sutton Hoo ship burial site was discovered. Further excavations were undertaken in the late 1960s and also between 1986 and 1992.
There are many barrows, or burial mounds, at the location and Sutton Hoo refers specifically to the ship burial at mound 1. Mound 1 is made up of twenty barrows, most of which are still unexplored by modern methods. In addition, twenty-seven entirely different burials have been found outside the mounds. The circular layout of twelve of these around mound 1 strengthens the theory that they were perhaps sacrificial burials made at the same time as Sutton Hoo. Other mounds at the site include mound 2 where a cremated man and horse were found; and mound 3 where another ship burial was found, although not nearly as large as mound 1 and had been robbed, probably in the 1860s.
Sutton Hoo is dated to circa 625 CE by gold coins found with the treasure. The ship is 90 feet in length with an open deck and a burial chamber constructed mid-deck, and would have been powered by 40 oarsmen. It did not contain a functional keel, and there is debate if it held a real sail, but was overall of excellent craftsmanship, leading to the theory it was built specifically for the burial. Only the ships rivets survived because of soil acidity but impressions left in the ground allowed a detailed reconstruction.
The Sutton Hoo treasure is extensive. The artifacts have been removed from the site and are on display in the British Museum. Items include: gold and silver personal ornaments including cloisonne gold garnetThe Garnet group of minerals show crystals with a habit of dodecahedrons and trapezohedrons. They are nesosilicates with the same general formula, AB(SiO). Many different chemical elements are included in the several varieties of garnet, including calcium shoulder-clasps, a great golden buckle; weaponry including a highly decorative and world famous parade helmet, chain mail, six spears of different types, a sword, shield and an axe-hammer with an iron handle; silver bowls, a silver dish made in the Byzantine EmpireThe Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire was the eastern section of the Roman Empire, with its capital at Constantinople (modern Istanbul), which remained in existence after the fall of Rome in the 5th century. The Byzantine period is usually consider; a bard's lyreA Lyre is a stringed musical instrument well known for its use in Classical Antiquity. The recitations of the Ancient Greeks were accompanied by it, yet the lyre was not of Greek origin. We have to seek in Asia, the birthplace of the genus, and to infer i; domestic items such as a cauldron with a suspension chain over 11 feet long; the remains of textiles of many kinds; a mysterious carved whetstoneThe term Whetstone can refer to: A London district; see Whetstone, London. A stone used for sharpening knives and other cutting tools; see Whetstone (tool). A benchmark for measuring computing power; see Whetstone (benchmark). A brook running through Craf decoratively mounted in bronze.
A silver dish has a stamp dating it to the reign of Byzantine emperor AnastasiusAnastasius I (c. 430 July 9, 518) was a Byzantine emperor ( 491 518). He was born at Dyrrhachium not later than A. At the time of the death of Zeno ( 491), Anastasius, a palace official ( silentiarius), held a very high character, and was raised to the th (r. 491-518). Other silver and bronze items came from the Mediterranean in more contemporary times. Three "hanging bowls" are of Celtic origin. Some objects have Christian links: two silver spoons are inscribed Saulos and Paulos in Greek lettering.