Sutton Hoo, St. Sergius and the Sasanians: Anglo-Saxon finds re-interpreted from an eastern perspective

Simpson, St John

Sutton Hoo, St. Sergius and the Sasanians: Anglo-Saxon finds re-interpreted from an eastern perspective

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Simpson, St John

Date published

2024

Abstract

In 1939, excavations at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk revealed the spectacular remains of a rich Anglo-Saxon burial placed in a cabin in the centre of a 27 metre-long ship and sealed by a tumulus (Bruce-Mitford et al. 1975; 1978; Evans (ed.) 1983). The identity of the chieftain buried here has attracted different views, although most favour Raedwald, a king of East Anglia ruling from a major settlement at Rendlesham between c. 599–624/25. His is the richest of a growing number of Anglo-Saxon princely burials (Blackmore, Blair, Hirst and Scull (eds) 2019: 298–303, 313–14; Gittos in press), although Sutton Hoo mound 1 is unique in being the only intact ship-burial.