Sutton Hoo

We went to Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, Suffolk. Sutton Hoo is an archaearium of Anglo-Saxson which is operated by the National Trust. It was the first destination after we became members of the National Trust. The Hoo at Sutton is the haugh of Old English meaning a high place, the bluff of a hill. The sutton Hoo estate belonged to Mrs Edith May Pretty. She developed a feeling of curiosity about the mounds in her estate, and sponsored the excavation. If she was not interested in the mounds, perhaps this great discovery would not have happened. 

The most famous excavation in Sutton Hoo is the helmet, which is currently at the British Museum. Only four Anglo-Saxon helmets like this have been found so far from the land of  England. I'm interested in this helmet, because I saw this in books and on TV programmes before. Also the textbook of 'The Life in the UK' showed a picture of Sutton Hoo helmet... but wait! I realised... that the helmet I saw at Sutton Hoo is different from the picture of helmet in the textbook of "Life in the UK"! The text said "An Anglo-Saxon helmet found at Sutton Hoo - currently at the British Museum". I searched within the website of the British Museum, I could only find the helmet I saw at Sutton Hoo! So what is this helmet in the textbook? I googled it and found that it is the Vendel helmet at the same era that has been found in Vendel, Sweden, and on display at a museum in Stockholm! I was excited as if I am an archaeologist who excavated the error from the bitter enemy UKBA.

Reproduction- Sutton Hoo Helmet

Anyway, the unearthed articles were really great. I learnt that Anglo-Saxon's craft works at that time were amazing!

We walked around the burial ground. The burial ground was gently undulating mounds except one mound. When we passed there, it felt like the temperature was really low, because it was unobstructed around there.

We also walked the path named Valley Walk, which enclose the site. It was nice walk enfolded in natural surroundings. We found snowdrops, which is a messenger announcing the arrival of spring in England.

We walked back along the road to the nearest station, Melton. It took only about 30 minutes. Interestingly, there is a butcher shop in the station building. It looked like a popular shop and busy, cars came in and went out for all the time. Sutton Hoo, it was a nice destination to visit.