The stunning Sutton Hoo ship burial was unearthed #onthisday in 1939, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries ever made in the UK. Discovered in the east of England, the site was probably the burial of an Anglo-Saxon king and contained fantastically crafted metalwork and jewellery. The iconic helmet is particularly intriguing. Aside from being elaborately decorated, there are hidden motifs that might not be obvious at first. A bird or dragon is created, flying upwards, by the cent

The Sutton Hoo helmet was discovered in an Anglo-Saxon ship burial in 1939. It’s one of only four complete helmets from this time found in England, and may have been worn by a king. The helmet was restored in the 1940s, but it wasn’t until 1968, nearly 30 years after the initial discovery, that research showed the restoration had been inaccurate. The 500 fragments had to be disassembled and put back into their correct positions, like an intricate and very fragile Anglo-Saxon jigsaw puzzle. The w

5.6K views · 326 reactions | Check out this beautiful reconstruction...