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Sutton Hoo Slideshow

  • Shoulder Clasps from Sutton Hoo

    Shoulder clasps from Sutton Hoo, discovered in the burial chamber of the ship. These clasps may have been used to fasten leather armor at the shoulders. The pin slides in to lock both pieces together. The clasps are made from gold and decorated with garnet cloisonne, a method that required great skill and patience due to its fine detail. The image on the ends of the clasps is of boars, an Anglo-Saxon representation of strength.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Sutton Hoo Ship Remains

    The remains of the ship at Sutton Hoo. Sutton Hoo is the site of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries from the early 7th century, one of which contains an undisturbed ship burial. Archaeologists discovered a wealth of artifacts and art objects in the ship remains. A wide variety of objects were found, including weaponry, musical instruments, and household objects. The fine luxurious objects reflect the wealth and status of their owner.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Purse Lid from Sutton Hoo

    Purse lid from Sutton Hoo, discovered in the burial chamber of the ship. The purse lid is decorated with gold and garnet cloisonne. Among the images depicted on the purse lid is the image of a man standing between two wolves and the image of an eagle. Both the wolf and the eagle were Anglo-Saxon representations of strength and courage. Though the leather backing of the purse had already rotted away, the purse lid was found with 37 coins, which were crucial in dating the artifact.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Sword Equipment found at Sutton Hoo

    Sword related equipment found at Sutton Hoo. These few fragments are all that remain of a sword found at Sutton Hoo. A glass encasing has been used to reconstruct the sword hilt with the accessory fragments that remain. A large stone fragment can be seen here as the main portion of the hilt, with gold and garnet embellishments, most notably the pommel that sits at the top of the hilt. The sword was the most important weapon in Anglo-Saxon times, often traditionally passed down from father to son. Warriors who died in battle were even buried with their swords.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Cloisonne Detail of a Shoulder Clasp from Sutton Hoo

    The center panel detail of a shoulder clasp at Sutton Hoo shows the intricate metalwork of Cloisonne. Cloisonne is an ancient metalworking technique that creates very fine, detailed pattern of metal cells and metal inlay. In creating cloisonne, first the artist shapes the metal into a wire pattern. From there, glass crushed into powder is painted into the wire cells in a water-based paste. Firing ovens fuse together the separate parts of the art object.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Sword Equipment from Sutton Hoo

    The items pictured here are sword, scabbard, and baldric mounts. The pieces include the sword pommel, gold from the crossguard, a pair of filigree clips from the grip, and a pair of pyramid mounts, as well as a pair of rounded mounts. The various pieces are made of gold and garnet. The design on the pommel and mounts is an intricate, delicate inlay of garnet, blue glass, and millefiori set in gold. The high quality of the sword pieces indicate that its owner was a man of high ranking and importance.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Scabbard Bosses Found At Sutton Hoo

    A pair of scabbard bosses found in the burial chamber at Sutton Hoo. A scabbard was a sheath for holding a sword, typically worn around the waist - bosses such as these were used to attach the scabbard to the sword belt at the top. The scabbard of a man of wealth would have been adorned with rich decoration. Like many other artifacts found at Sutton Hoo, these scabbard bosses display rich craftsmanship that reflected the high status and wealth of their owner. The bosses exhibit the same intricate inlay of garnet and gold.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Garnet Buckle Found At Sutton Hoo

    A belt buckle from the ship burial at Sutton Hoo. The royal sword belt was secured with this belt buckle, made from gold and garnet. The cloisonne craftsmanship is so fine that no adhesive was used for the garnet inlay. In fact, the garnet pieces were so carefully cut for the gold inlay that no adhesive was required.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Buckle and Strap-End

    Buckle and strap-end from Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: , England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Buckle Mount Found At Sutton Hoo

    This gold cloisonne buckle mount secured the lower part of the scabbard to the sword belt. It is shaped to curve across the front of the scabbard. A closer look reveals a fine grid pattern under the garnet inlay. This subtle effect is produced by light shining through the garnet illuminating a gold foil underlay stamped with this pattern. The buckle is meant to look like a functioning belt buckle, though not intended for this use.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Shield from Sutton Hoo

    A shield reconstruction from Sutton Hoo. Since the wood had long since rotted away, the only part of the shield that was found were the gold accents that hold the shield together and decorate its front. The wood pictured here is a reconstruction, meant to replicate the original shield. The decoration on the front of the shield includes images of a dragon and a bird of prey, Anglo-Saxon representations of strength and power.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Sceptre from Sutton Hoo

    Replica of a Sutton Hoo sceptre with stag ornamentation. A sceptre was typically held by a king or queen to denote his or her royal status. Fittingly, this sceptre is decorated at the top with the figure of a stag, regarded in mythology as the king of the forest. The main part of this sceptre is made of stone - in fact a large whetstone, the sort of stone used to sharpen swords.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Stag Ornament of a Sceptre from Sutton Hoo

    Stag ornament from original Sutton Hoo sceptre. A sceptre was typically held by a king or queen to denote his or her royal status. Fittingly, the sceptre found at Sutton Hoo was decorated at the top with this figure of a stag, regarded in mythology as the king of the forest.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Helmet from Sutton Hoo

    Helmet from Sutton Hoo, discovered in the burial chamber of the ship. Its placement in the burial chamber near the head of its owner was a gesture of respect, signifying that its owner had been a fierce warrior. When it was found, it had been broken into over 500 pieces, taking conservators almost a year to piece back together. The helmet has many images, though difficult to discern clearly, including fighting men, boars' heads on the eyebrows, a dragon head above the nose, and a large bird. The face mask has been crafted with detail, with a mustache over the mouth and holes under the nose for the wearer to breathe.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Replica of an Iron Stand Found At Sutton Hoo

    The use for this stand, made from iron, is unknown. However, it is speculated that the stand served as a standard for the king. This stand, along with the sceptre, is a symbol of the king's power.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Dragon Ornament from the Shield Front found at Sutton Hoo

    This ornament is a gilt casting of a flying dragon. Made of gold with garnet settings, this ornament along with a gilt ornament in the shape of a predatory bird adorn the front of a large round shield found at Sutton Hoo.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Shield Boss From Sutton Hoo

    This ornament, made with iron and garnet, is the shield boss from the shield found at Sutton Hoo. This large artifact adorns the center of the shield. The swirling pattern around the center piece is ornamented by dragons heads with garnet eyes.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Shield Ring

    Shield "ring" from Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: , England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Silver Bowls from Sutton Hoo

    Two Byzantine silver bowls recovered from the Sutton Hoo burial site. Though most people at the time were pagans, the cross pattern on these bowls reflects a growing movement in Britain away from paganism towards Christianity.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Silver Spoons from Sutton Hoo

    Two inscribed silver spoons recovered from the Sutton Hoo burial site. One of the spoons bears the inscription "Paulos," possibly a reference to Paul, the Christian saint. The other spoon appears to have the inscription "Saulos," possibly also referring to Paul, who in a well-known Bible story took the name Saul after converting to Christianity.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Replica of a Maplewood Bottle from Sutton Hoo

    This maplewood bottle was one of six found in the burial chamber of Sutton Hoo. As with all other wood artifacts from Sutton Hoo, this artifact is a reconstruction. All that remained of the bowls was the metal rim of the bottle - the wood would have long since rotted away. Bottles of this sort were used as drinking vessels.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Maplewood Bottle

    A closer view of the replica of a maplewood bottle from Sutton Hoo better illustrates the intricate Celtic design adorning this metal piece. This metal piece was all that remained of the original bottle, from which the rest was reconstructed.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Celtic Hanging Bowl from Sutton Hoo

    Celtic hanging bowl from Sutton Hoo. Made of bronze, this bowl was one of three that hung from tripods in the owner's Great Hall. It was filled with wine or water, either for drinking or to wash one's fingers after eating. A bronze fish decorates the bottom of the bowl.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Side Escutcheon

    Side escutcheon from Celtic hanging bowl, found at Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: , England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • hanging bowl escutcheon detail

    Hanging bowl escutcheon detail from Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: , England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Coptic Bowl Found at Sutton Hoo

    This large, undecorated bowl, found at Sutton Hoo, is made of bronze and has two opposing handles. The term "Coptic" refers to the fact that this bowl was made in Egypt.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Cauldron (replica)

    Replica of a cauldron from Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: , England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Tripod Lamps from Sutton Hoo

    Tripod lamps from Sutton Hoo

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Lyre Replica from Sutton Hoo

    A replica of the lyre from Sutton Hoo. The clasps seen at the top of the reconstruction are the one extant fragment from the original lyre - the wood and strings would long have rotted away. This lyre is just one example of the expensive household goods found buried with the owner.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Lyre Fragments from Sutton Hoo

    A detailed look at two ornaments from the lyre at Sutton Hoo. These fragments decorating the top of the lyre are all that remained, and from these fragments the lyre was reconstructed. These luxurious fragments are decorated with garnet and a swirling relief pattern.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Sword Harness Mounts Found at Sutton Hoo

    Two pairs of matching sword harness mounts found at the ship burial of Sutton Hoo. Like many other artifacts from Sutton Hoo, these mounts are made with gold and garnet cloisonne. The inner two mounts show a unique development in cloisonne technique because the garnets are set in a running interlace pattern usually reserved for manuscripts and sculpture.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Anastasius Dish from Sutton Hoo

    Silver Anastasius dish from the Sutton Hoo ship burial site. It is a flat dish with an engraved design of concentric rings with a pattern typically Byzantine. The engravings contain the images of both animals and humans. Two stamps on the underside of the foot ring indicate that the dish was made during the reign of Emperor Anastasius, after whom the dish is given its modern name.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

  • Drinking Horns from Sutton Hoo

    Two silver gilt drinking horns from Sutton Hoo. As with many other artifacts found at Sutton Hoo, all that remained from these drinking horns were the metal end pieces - the horn originally used to make these drinking vessels would have already decayed. The horn was originally that of the auroch, an animal now extinct. The metal ends are decorated with an intricate detailed design of a swirling, interlocking pattern. The horns were used at banquets as drinking vessels.

    Provenance: Sutton Hoo, England
    Dates from: VIIin century

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