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""Chapter I: Discovery"" Page 9
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THE SUTTON-HOO SHIP BURIAL CHAPTER I DISCOVERY 1 ON the sandy heath, covered with turf and bracken, that lies between the estuary of the River Deben, Suffolk, and the sea six miles to the east, is a group of eleven barrows 2 (Fig. 2). They are situated on the east bank of the river, opposite the town of Woodbridge, on the crest of a 100-ft. escarpment. They overlook the tidal waters of the estuary, and at high are half a mile inland. In 1938 the late Mrs. E.M. Pretty, J.P., on whose estate the barrows were situated, decided to investigate their contents. In that year three barrows were accordingly opened. One, which showed signs of having been robbed, contained nothing. In a second, which also showed signs of having been robbed, traces of a boat 18 ft. long were found. The stern of this boat did not come to a point, but was squared off, and had been bound with an iron band or bands. There were traces of a burial by cremation. The third contained two cremations that appeared to have been deposited on a large wooden tray, about 6 ft. long, lying on the old ground surface. With these were the remains of a fused blue glass bowl, a gilt-bronze disc and button, and part of a burnt stone plaque with a winged figure of late Roman type in low relief. These objects were given by Mrs. Pretty to the Ipswich Museum. In 1939 Mrs. Pretty decided to open a large barrow, rather taller than the others and standing to a height of 9 ft. Excavation was begun by Mr. Basil Brown. under the direction of Mr. Guy Maynard of the Ipswich Museum, these gentlemen having also been in charge of the 1938 excavations. The excavators came upon a system of iron nails in position,. which they recognized as belonging to a large ship. Mr. Brown freed the whole of the forward part of the ship of its overburden of barrow material down to ground. 1. Throughout this guide reference is made to objects on exhibition in the Museum that visitors may compare with objects found at Sutton Hoo. These references apply to the exhibition in the King Edward VII Galaries with which the Museum re-opened to the public in April 1946. This exhibition is liable to rearrangement, so that the objects referred to may not always be in places indicated in this guide. The following account of the discovery of the ship-burial and of its excavation is based upon the excavation report of Mr. C.W. Phillips, F.S.A., which was published in Antiquaries Journal, vol. xx, no. 2, 1940 2. Artificial mounds erected over ancient burials. B , 9
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THE SUTTON-HOO SHIP BURIAL CHAPTER I DISCOVERY 1 ON the sandy heath, covered with turf and bracken, that lies between the estuary of the River Deben, Suffolk, and the sea six miles to the east, is a group of eleven barrows 2 (Fig. 2). They are situated on the east bank of the river, opposite the town of Woodbridge, on the crest of a 100-ft. escarpment. They overlook the tidal waters of the estuary, and at high are half a mile inland. In 1938 the late Mrs. E.M. Pretty, J.P., on whose estate the barrows were situated, decided to investigate their contents. In that year three barrows were accordingly opened. One, which showed signs of having been robbed, contained nothing. In a second, which also showed signs of having been robbed, traces of a boat 18 ft. long were found. The stern of this boat did not come to a point, but was squared off, and had been bound with an iron band or bands. There were traces of a burial by cremation. The third contained two cremations that appeared to have been deposited on a large wooden tray, about 6 ft. long, lying on the old ground surface. With these were the remains of a fused blue glass bowl, a gilt-bronze disc and button, and part of a burnt stone plaque with a winged figure of late Roman type in low relief. These objects were given by Mrs. Pretty to the Ipswich Museum. In 1939 Mrs. Pretty decided to open a large barrow, rather taller than the others and standing to a height of 9 ft. Excavation was begun by Mr. Basil Brown. under the direction of Mr. Guy Maynard of the Ipswich Museum, these gentlemen having also been in charge of the 1938 excavations. The excavators came upon a system of iron nails in position,. which they recognized as belonging to a large ship. Mr. Brown freed the whole of the forward part of the ship of its overburden of barrow material down to ground. 1. Throughout this guide reference is made to objects on exhibition in the Museum that visitors may compare with objects found at Sutton Hoo. These references apply to the exhibition in the King Edward VII Galaries with which the Museum re-opened to the public in April 1946. This exhibition is liable to rearrangement, so that the objects referred to may not always be in places indicated in this guide. The following account of the discovery of the ship-burial and of its excavation is based upon the excavation report of Mr. C.W. Phillips, F.S.A., which was published in Antiquaries Journal, vol. xx, no. 2, 1940 2. Artificial mounds erected over ancient burials. B , 9
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