1400 years ago, when an Anglo-Saxon warrior died, in East Anglia, United Kingdom, he was placed in a ship surrounded by treasure, says CNN.
- Anglo-Saxon burial ship being recreated.
- A full-scale replica recreation has been on the lines for a long time.
- The ship is to complete its reconstruction by 2024 and be put on display post its voyage.
Excavation
Archaeologists, when excavated the mound in 1939 recovered certain weapons, a warrior helmet and complexly designed treasures made up of precious mete]als and jewels.Edith Pretty, the owner of the Suffolk property including the mounds, donated the treasure to The British Museum in London. The burial was likely that of Raedwald of East Anglia, who died in 624 AD.
Available online
“The Dig” on Netflix, is an excellent watch to burry deeper into the site at Sutton Hoo and its seventh-century royal burial ground. It is one of the only three known Anglo-Saxon ship burials.
History
“It kind of revolutionized our understanding of who the Anglo-Saxons were. This discovery illuminated the so-called Dark Ages and showed that these people were culturally sophisticated with amazing levels of craftsmanship and far-reaching trading connections,” said LauraHowarth, the archaeology and engagement manager for the National Trust and Sutton Hoo site.
Working Team
The ship itself, which has captivated so many, no longer exists. The wood rotted away in the acidic soil, but left impressions in the sand, resembling the ghostly outline of the ship. Martin Carver, professor emeritus of archaeology at the University of York, and The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company charity are undertaking the monumental task of bringing the ship back to life. In the town of Woodbridge, near Sutton Hoo, there has always been a dream to build a full-scale replica of this ship. Of the hundreds of finds from the burial, the ship is the only item whose replica has not yet been reconstructed.
Reconstruction
After the ship’s company charity was formed in 2016, the team began designing the plans. The team hopes to raise 1.5 million pounds to build the ship, row it across rivers and estuaries, and provide the ship with a permanent home. The reconstruction project consists of 70 volunteers. Their task is to reconstruct the ship as accurately as possible with techniques from the Anglo-Saxons themselves, like the usage of axes to shape the timbers. Oak trees are the main component being used for reconstruction.
Launch
The company plans on launching the ship on the water and beginning rowing trials in the spring of 2024. The original ship served a ceremonial purpose for the king’s burial, but there is evidence that the ship was mended and had a life on the water before the burial for different purposes. “We want to put the rivers in the limelight, the motorways of the day,” Carver said. “The voyages will take us past many of the great early settlements discovered by archaeologists in the last few decades. I’m hoping that when the ship makes its trips, it will excite people in many different ways, but particularly in giving them a feeling of what a brilliant period this was in seventh-century Britain” The ship will end its voyage by 2030 and be put for display–probably across the river from Woodbridge at the Sutton Hoo.
A visitor’s site
When visitors arrive at Sutton Hoo, they are often greeted by a sculpture that shows the scale of the ship. The fascination of the ghost ship continues to draw people’s attention, which is why Howarth believes that a palpable re-creation will allow them to connect with the adventurous spirit of their ancestors.
How could they possibly come up with such a complex structure in those days is one the Howarth claims he would like to “go back and watch” if only he could jump into a time machine
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Source: CNN
