Matter of Fact: Sutton Hoo - The Forgotten Treasure
Thursday 14 March 2002, 7.30-8.00pm, BBC TWO (East)
Just
days before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, one of
the greatest archaeological discoveries of Britain was made at Sutton
Hoo in Suffolk. Magnificent royal Saxon treasure, found buried in
a ship, was painstakingly unearthed by archaeologists. The astonishing
hoard was to completely alter our understanding of Dark Age Britain.
Since
the discovery, the British Museum has restored and looked after
the relics, and yet for over half a century the public have been
largely unaware of the treasure’s significance. Now efforts
to raise the profile of Suffolk’s wonder have been stepped
up. The National Trust, the new owner of Sutton Hoo, is opening
a visitor centre at the site on 14 March 2002.
Matter
of Fact goes behind the scenes to bring the full story of the Sutton
Hoo treasure to light. It’s a tale of archaeological rivalry,
intrigue and supernatural mystery. The programme features eyewitness
accounts of the excavation, from women like Molly Bevan who recalls:
"All this fabulous jewellery just kept on being brought out
of the earth before my eyes, it was unbelievable."
The
programme also tells for the first time the story of the hero of
the dig - a self-taught archaeologist named Basil Brown.
"If
it wasn’t for his brilliant skill and intuition, I don’t
think the ship would ever have been found," says Stanley West,
former Head of Archaeology for Suffolk County Council. "He
was pushed into the background when the official archaeologist took
over, and Basil has never had the recognition he deserves."
The
National Trust acquired Sutton Hoo in 1998 and set to work turning
the site into a visitor attraction. In a purpose-built exhibition
hall, the history associated with the treasure will be explained
and displayed.
In
what could be described as becoming the final chapter of Sutton
Hoo’s momentous story, some of the original artefacts are brought
back from the British Museum for the first time - Suffolk’s
forgotten treasure has finally come home.
Find
out more about this and other Matter of Fact documentaries by visiting
the website: www.bbc.co.uk/matteroffact.
Notes
to Editors
The
programme presenter is George Webley. The producer is Clive Dunn.
Photographs
are available, for press use only, from the BBC Press Office.
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