Archaeologists crack iconic site enigma with discovery of Byzantine bucket

At Sutton Hoo—one of England’s most iconic archaeological sites—experts have uncovered a stunning breakthrough: a sixth-century Byzantine bucket, once thought to be a stray luxury import, has now been revealed as part of a rare cremation burial.

The find not only deepens the enigma of Sutton Hoo’s multicultural past, but also rewrites what we know about elite Anglo-Saxon funerary rites, Caliber.Az reports per CNN.

The bucket, which features intricate scenes of North African hunting with warriors and animals, was originally unearthed in fragments in 1986. But it wasn’t until excavations in the summer of 2024 that archaeologists uncovered the missing base, still intact and elaborately decorated.

CT scans and meticulous analysis revealed that the vessel contained cremated human and animal remains, likely belonging to a high-status individual. Among the remains was an unusually well-preserved antler comb, which may hold viable DNA.

“We knew that this bucket would have been a rare and prized possession back in Anglo-Saxon times, but it’s always been a mystery why it was buried,” said National Trust archaeologist Angus Wainwright. “Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community.”

The vessel’s preservation and repurposing hint at a complex life before burial. “We think that the bucket had a life prior to burial,” said Laura Howarth of the National Trust. Its origin in the Byzantine Empire and final resting place in Suffolk suggest strong cultural and political connections across Europe.

“This remarkable mixture epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo,” added Time Team’s Helen Geake. “It has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials—and now bath-bucket burials.”

Ongoing excavations continue nearby at Garden Field, as archaeologists search for more clues buried beneath this iconic site.

By Naila Huseynova