Sutton Hoo: Expert discusses 'extraordinary' discovery in 2009

Netflix will release its new film ‘The Dig’ in January, depicting the events that unfolded after the excavation of Sutton Hoo. The site, near Woodbridge, Suffolk, was at the centre of an extraordinary find when an ancient burial was uncovered on the property of Edith Pretty. Archaeologists discovered two early medieval cemeteries that dated from the sixth to seventh centuries and have been excavating the area ever since.

The incredible treasures were revealed during the BBC’s ‘Masterpieces of the British Museum’ documentary. 

The narrator said: “Bloomsbury in central London is home to one of the country’s most famous national institutions.  

“Established in 1753, the British Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world. 

“Inside these walls, there are more than seven million objects spanning over two million years of global history and culture.

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“At the top of these stairs is some of the greatest treasure ever found on English soil. 

“More than 1,000 years old, some call it ‘page one of British history’.”

One of the cemeteries had an undisturbed ship burial with a wealth of Anglo-Saxon artefacts.

Items found in the burial chamber included a ceremonial helmet, a shield and sword, a lyre, and a silver plate from the Byzantine Empire.

The series explained how Mrs Pretty played a key role in the discovery.

It added: “That the helmet was ever discovered at all was down to the efforts of Mrs Edith Pretty – the daughter of a wealthy industrialist.

“She had lived in Sutton Hoo in Suffolk with her husband, a retired colonel, since 1926. 

“12 years later she was widowed with a young son and had withdrawn from society.”

Archaeologist and author Angela Care Evans explained how Mrs Pretty became convinced that her property could be hiding ancient treasures.

She said in 2009: “I think Mrs Pretty was just curious about what was in the mounds.

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“She had been to Egypt and also there were rumours of gold in the mounds.

“She knew a bit about archaeology and I think really her curiosity was tickled.

“She was wealthy enough to open them and have a look – so she did.”

The site has become central to understanding the Anglo-Saxon history of the region and scholars now believe King Raedwald of East Anglia is buried in the ship.

It is considered one of the best British treasures ever discovered and at the time was worth around £50,000, or £3.3million today.

The new Netflix release is directed by Simon Stone and based on the 2007 novel of the same name by John Preston.

Set just before World War 2, it stars Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James. 

It is scheduled for limited release on January 15, 2021, followed by streaming on Netflix on January 29, 2021.

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