Secrets of 6th-century society revealed by Sutton Hoo bucket

20 May 2025 • 7:45 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Archaeologists have discovered that a 1,400-year-old Byzantine bucket found at the Sutton Hoo site held cremated human remains.
  • The bucket, known as the Bromeswell Bucket, is decorated with a hunting scene and predates the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial.
  • A comb, possibly made of antler, was also found within the bucket. Analysis of the human and animal bones inside aims to reveal more about the deceased and the cremation process.
  • The bucket was found in fragments, including the feet, paws, base and parts of the hunting scene decoration, and later pieced together.
  • It marks the first known instance of such a bucket being used in a cremation burial, highlighting the unique nature of the Sutton Hoo site.

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