Activity 5

Investigating the ‘glittering grave goods’ of Sutton Hoo

Sutton Hoo is one of the most famous sites of early medieval Britain.

During the excavations of 1938 and 1939, the archaeological team found 263 objects buried in the central chamber of an enormous Anglo-Saxon ship.

They are too many to list here and indeed only a small number can be viewed at Room 41 in the British Museum. However the following few, described as ‘glittering grave goods’, might help you solve our mystery – who was buried in the Sutton Hoo ship?

Your Task

It is said that every object tells a story. Look carefully at the following objects and photographs and decide what you think they tell you about Anglo-Saxon society. Answer the questions below on screen or in this Word Doc version to save your answers.

Sword

Helmet

Whetstone sceptre

Bitumen - a rare, tar-like material from the Middel East

Copper hanging bowl

Spoons

Drinking horns

Shield

Ivory gaming piece

Belt buckle

Purse

Remnants of the lyre

Shoulder clasps

Here are some other images from the museum and surrounds at Sutton Hoo. Examine them carefully and answer the following questions.

The first ship rivet found

Length of the ship in the burial mound

Master carpenter

Horseman of Sutton Hoo

Slave girl

Wise woman

1 What was the significance of finding the rivet?

2 How long was the burial ship?
22 metres 27 metres 35 metres

3 From where and how do you think the Anglo-Saxons obtained slaves?

4 Describe the horseman of Sutton Hoo? Does he appear rich or poor?

5 What was the role of a ‘wise woman’ in Anglo-Saxon society? Think back to the video.

6 How skilful were master carpenters? How do we know?

Look at the photos and read the text on the sign beside the ship sculpture at Sutton Hoo.

Signage at
Sutton Hoo

Sculpture at
Sutton Hoo

Excavation of the ship burial
at Sutton Hoo 1939

Image Transcript:
To the Anglo-Saxons, the rivers and seas were not barriers. They were highways that connected Sutton Hoo to the wider world. Along these water routes flowed goods, people, skills and ideas. It was a world where ships were essential.
Sutton Hoo's Great Ship Burial contained an impressive 27m long ship with space for 40 oarsmen. Signs of repair revealed a lifetime of voyages before it was hauled to its final resting place in the King's grave. During the 1,400 years it remained hidden in the soil, the wood gradually rotted, leaving only a shadowy trace peppered with iron rivets - the ghost of a former ship.
This sculpture is a full-scale representation of Sutton Hoo's Great Ship Burial.

7 How significant were rivers and seas in Anglo-Saxon society?

8 How many oarsmen would be needed to man the ship?

9 Was it an old or new ship when buried?

10 Why did it become known as a ghost ship?

Global History Mysteries presents

What are the mysteries of Sutton Hoo?

Activity 5

Investigating the ‘glittering grave goods’ of Sutton Hoo

Your Task