Sitting 11 kilometres west of the North Sea is a small town called Sutton, Suffolk. A great archaeological excavation in the late 1930s put a small estate called Sutton Hoo in Sutton on the map. In 1939, Sutton Hoo became known for excavation of the richest intact ship burial from early medieval Europe. The burial gave archaeologists and historians a look into the Anglo-Saxons of 600 AD. It uncovered a treasure trove of rare items, however, it came with a mystery: the identity of the deceased who was buried in the ship’s wooden chamber.
Around 1926, a magistrate, or judge, Mrs. Edith Pretty, moved to the Sutton Hoo estate in Suffolk. She bought 526 acres of land after her marriage to Frank Pretty. Only 500 yards away from her house sat 19 large, hill-like mounds. After her husband’s passing in 1934 and her newfound interest in Spiritualism, Pretty decided she wanted the mounds to be investigated. In 1938, Mrs. Pretty sought out the help of local historians to help her to excavate these mounds on her property (New World Encyclopedia). Mrs. Pretty contacted the Ipswich Museum for a recommendation on an archaeologist to excavate the mounds, and they suggested a man named Basil Brown.
Brown was known as a self-taught …show more content…
Pretty decided to donate the items found in the excavation to the British Museum in London. The ship burial at Sutton Hoo proved to be the richest excavation in England and helped reveal more information about the Anglo-Saxon people in the 600 AD era. It will be interesting to see what will come of the information and artifacts, as the original excavation was less than 100 years ago. It will also be interesting to discover whether or not there are more Anglo-Saxon burial spots to be revealed and if they will be as rich as Mound 1. Finally, one can hope that one day the mystery behind the identity of the deceased person is discovered. But only time and research will
Around 1926, a magistrate, or judge, Mrs. Edith Pretty, moved to the Sutton Hoo estate in Suffolk. She bought 526 acres of land after her marriage to Frank Pretty. Only 500 yards away from her house sat 19 large, hill-like mounds. After her husband’s passing in 1934 and her newfound interest in Spiritualism, Pretty decided she wanted the mounds to be investigated. In 1938, Mrs. Pretty sought out the help of local historians to help her to excavate these mounds on her property (New World Encyclopedia). Mrs. Pretty contacted the Ipswich Museum for a recommendation on an archaeologist to excavate the mounds, and they suggested a man named Basil Brown.
Brown was known as a self-taught …show more content…
Pretty decided to donate the items found in the excavation to the British Museum in London. The ship burial at Sutton Hoo proved to be the richest excavation in England and helped reveal more information about the Anglo-Saxon people in the 600 AD era. It will be interesting to see what will come of the information and artifacts, as the original excavation was less than 100 years ago. It will also be interesting to discover whether or not there are more Anglo-Saxon burial spots to be revealed and if they will be as rich as Mound 1. Finally, one can hope that one day the mystery behind the identity of the deceased person is discovered. But only time and research will