New Sutton Hoo exhibit explores Rendlesham's, near Woodbridge, rich Anglo-Saxon history
The rich history of a Suffolk village that was once the heart of an Anglo-Saxon kingdom will be explored in a new exhibition.
Sutton Hoo will take visitors on a trip back over 1,400 years to explore how Rendlesham, near Woodbridge, developed into a royal centre over four centuries.
About 150 artefacts have been collected, ranging from food remains to jewellery – some of which have never been on display before – to help bring the story to life.
The exhibition, known as Rendlesham Revealed: The Heart of a Kingdom, will run from March 23 to October 29 and covers 400 to 800 CE.
It will display finds from Rendlesham Revealed, a community archaeology project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which conducted two years of excavations in the Deben Valley.
The project aimed to connect the findings at Sutton Hoo with the royal settlement in Rendlesham, which was uncovered during a pilot project that ran between 2008 and 2017.
In addition to showing how the settlement developed, it also hoped to celebrate the more than 400 volunteers who aided in the scheme.
A large team helped discover a royal feasting hall of East Anglia's earliest kings last year.
Faye Minter, Suffolk County Council’s archaeological archives and projects manager, said: “South-east Suffolk was the power centre of the early East Anglian kingdom, and Rendlesham was the place from which it was ruled. The village’s archaeology gives a unique insight into what a royal centre of international importance was like at that time.
“The exhibition showcases the results of fieldwork and research partnerships over the past 15 years. Work began in 2008, with the pain-staking survey by four responsible metal detector users that revealed the site, and is still continuing.
"Just six months ago our community archaeology project excavated the foundations of a royal timber hall.
“For me, the highlight of the exhibition is showing how we can build up understanding from the range of archaeological objects and different strands of evidence to tell the story of Rendlesham 1,400 years ago.”
Some of the items on display include gold and garnet dress accessories and weaponry fittings, which would have been worn by society’s high-flyers.
Also featured are gold, silver and copper coins, more of which have been found in the village than anywhere else in the country.
The authority suggested this could hint Rendlesham encouraged trade in some way.
Objects relevant to regular people, such as farmers and craftsmen, including pins, buckles and weaving items will also be displayed, as will animal remains, which could provide insights into farming and feasting.
Entrance into the exhibition is included in the normal admission charge to Sutton Hoo, and is also free to National Trust members.
Smaller displays will be shown at Norwich Castle and West Stow Anglo-Saxon village near Lakenheath.
Items on display have also come from museums outside of Sutton Hoo.
Suffolk County Cllr Melanie Vigo di Gallidoro said: “It is a pleasure to see so many beautiful objects on loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museums while they are closed for redevelopment, and that these are accompanied by material on loan from Suffolk County Council’s archaeological archives.
“I’d like to thank the National Trust and Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History, for supporting this exhibition, as well as the many partners, the local landowners and farmers who have allowed access to their land.”
