The Sutton Hoo Hoard
How Britain's greatest treasure was found in an English country garden on the eve of WWII, shining a light into the Dark Ages and unlocking the mysterious story of how Anglo-Saxon culture was born.
Janina Ramirez explores the surprise discovery in a Suffolk garden of the Sutton Hoo Hoard – an incredible Anglo-Saxon ship-burial dating from the early 7th century AD and the final resting place of a supremely wealthy warrior-king.
The ship’s ruined burial chamber was packed with treasures: Byzantine silverware, sumptuous gold jewellery, a lavish feasting set and, most famously, an ornate iron helmet.
Now known as Britain’s Tutankhamun, the hoard transformed our understanding of the Dark Ages, revealing that 7th-century Britain was not the primitive place we had imagined, but a world of exquisite craftsmanship, extensive international connections, great halls, glittering treasures and formidable warriors.
The find captured the imagination of a nation on the brink of war, not just as incredible treasure, but as a symbol of pride and identity, and a representation of the Anglo-Saxon culture Britain was about to fight for.
Yet, as Janina discovers, the story of the hoard's survival and discovery is something of a miracle.
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Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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00:31Jack Jackson
What A Little Moonlight Can Do
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00:34Jack Jackson
You Turned Your Head
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Janina Ramirez |
| Producer | Luke McMahon |
| Director | Luke McMahon |
| Executive Producer | Emma Parkins |
| Executive Producer | Ed Stobart |