Sutton Hoo Bucket Reveals Secrets of Ancient Anglo-Saxon Burial
Archaeologists have finally pieced together the puzzle of one of Sutton Hoo’s most intriguing treasures, the Bromeswell bucket, according to a report by the Daily Mail. The stunning copper alloy vessel, which broke into pieces after being buried at the historic site in Suffolk in the sixth century, has been reconstructed, revealing a fascinating inscription and a mysterious burial.
The Daily Mail reports that the bucket is decorated with a hunting scene featuring naked warriors in combat with leaping lions. An intriguing inscription on the relic in Greek translates as "Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years". Following a fresh dig at Sutton Hoo, experts have located the bucket’s intact base, showing it contained the cremated remains of an "important person".
According to Daily Mail archaeologist, Angus Wainwright, "We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it’s always been a mystery why it was buried. Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community".
The Daily Mail states that fragments of the 1,400-year-old Greek inscribed bucket were first uncovered at Sutton Hoo in 1986, but more were located in 2012. Working with FAS Heritage at the National Trust site, Time Team experts found further pieces at the Suffolk site last year, including the bucket’s intact base.
Held in the base was a burnt comb, likely made from antler, probably from a deer, and cremated human and animal bones. The animal bones are said to be from a creature "larger than a pig" – possibly a horse, which were often included on early Anglo-Saxon cremation pyres as a sign of status.
The Daily Mail reports that the human bones include part of an ankle bone and fragments of skull, which are undergoing further analysis. It is hoped that ancient DNA from the owner might survive on the comb, which may allow the researchers to learn the sex and age of the cremated individual.
Results from the analysis could also shed light on the cremation process used and what was on the funeral pyre. "I’m hopeful that further analysis will uncover more information about this very special burial," said Mr Wainwright.
The Daily Mail states that the Bromeswell bucket is a remarkable example of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship. Concentric rings visible in CT scans indicate the bucket was made by "cold hammering" – where the metal is shaped by force without heating.
According to the Daily Mail, the Bromeswell bucket was probably made in the eastern Mediterranean region in the 6th century before being imported to England. It’s an example of Byzantine craft – referring to the Byzantine Empire, the powerful civilization based at Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul).
The Sutton Hoo ship burial dates to between around AD 610 and AD 635, when the site belonged to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia. Helen Geake, Time Team’s Anglo-Saxon expert, said the team had "finally solved the puzzle of the Bromeswell bucket".
The Daily Mail reports that Sutton Hoo is a rich archaeological site in Suffolk, England, estimated to be around 1,400 years old. It was back in 1939 that amateur archaeologist Basil Brown discovered the site, when he brushed away the Suffolk soil on request of local woman Edith Pretty.
The site has been the subject of multiple burials, as evidenced by the numerous mounds which visitors can see today. The people buried there left no written records, so we don’t know exactly who they were, but historians have long claimed Sutton Hoo was the cemetery for the royal dynasty of East Anglia, the Wuffingas.
The Mysterious History of Sutton Hoo
- Sutton Hoo is a rich archaeological site in Suffolk, England, estimated to be around 1,400 years old.
- The site was discovered in 1939 by amateur archaeologist Basil Brown.
- The site features multiple burials, including the famous ship burial.
- The ship burial dates to between around AD 610 and AD 635, when the site belonged to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia.
What is the Bromeswell Bucket?
- The Bromeswell bucket is a sixth-century Byzantine vessel unearthed as fragments at the Sutton Hoo archaeological site in Suffolk, England.
- The bucket depicts naked warriors in combat with leaping lions, and had an inscription in Greek that translates as "Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years".
- The bucket was probably made in the eastern Mediterranean region in the 6th century before being imported to England.
