Prized ‘Bucket of Death' was stuffed with remains of ‘dead VIP' in bombshell Anglo Saxon Sutton Hoo discovery

The Sun

21-05-2025

A MYSTERIOUS bucket found at Sutton Hoo in 1986 was stuffed with the remains of a dead VIP, archaeologists believe.
This "bucket of death" contains the cremated remnants of both human and animal bones – solving a decades-old mystery.
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Archaeologists say that the human remains found inside the posh Byzantine bucket belonged to an "important person".
The so-called Bromeswell Bucket was discovered at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, an archaeological treasure trove with two major Anglo-Saxon burial sites dating back around 1,500 years.
The site is famous for its undisturbed ship burial, which was found back in 1938.
Pieces of the copper-alloy bucket have been unearthed over the decades, with a fresh discovery last year.
The latest find was made by TV show Time Team working with the National Trust and FA Heritage.
"Because of its proximity to fragments discovered much earlier, we had hoped this year's dig would yield more of the Bromeswell Bucket," said Angus Wainwright, of the National Trust.
"Which originated from the Byzantine empire in the 6th century – around a hundred years before the ship and its extraordinary treasure was put to rest."
Wainwright continued: "Thanks to closer inspection, we now believe that the bucket had been previously damaged and then repaired.
"In-depth analysis of the metals suggest it might even have been soldered back together."
The bucket contains a "very norther, very Germanic cremation", according to Time Team archaeologist Helen Geake.
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"It epitomises the strangeness of Sutton Hoo - it has ship burials, horse burials, mound burials and now bath-bucket burials," she told the BBC.
DIG IN!
The discovery was made at Garden Field, which has now been fully metal detected.
All of the items found at the site have been recorded in 3D and will be processed – so more discoveries might be on the horizon.
The bucket itself has been a longstanding mystery for scientists.
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It's decorated with a mysterious hunting scene that depicts naked warriors fighting with lions.
And it has an inscription in Greek that says: "Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years".
The latest dig unearthed the base of the bucket, which was packed with cremated remains.
"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," Wainwright said.
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"Now we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person in the Sutton Hoo community.
"I'm hopeful that further analysis will uncover more information about this very special burial."
DECADES-LONG MYSTERY
The bucket has been found in several parts, with the first discovery made in 1986.
More parts were unearthed in 2012, with a fresh lot discovered in the latest Time Team digs.
SUTTON HOO EXPLAINED
Here's what you need to know...
Sutton Hoo is an important archaeological site.
It's the location of Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries.
The site is located near Woodbridge in Suffolk, UK.
Excavations began in 1938 with the discovery of a ship burial packed with Anglo-Saxon treasures.
Countless artefacts have been found at the site since then – with treasures still turning up today.
The name Sutton Hoo comes from Old English with Sutton meaning "southern farmstead" and Hoo referring to "shaped like a heel spur".
Picture Credit: Getty Images
The bucket's base contained a burned comb with remarkably well-preserved teeth.
Archaeologists believe it was likely made from an antler belonging to a deer.
The human remains are believed to belong to a high-status individual, while the cremated animal bones have been linked to an animal that's "larger than a pig", like a horse.
This may have been a way of showcasing the elite status of the person whose remains were stored in the bucket.
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Human remains include parts of a skull and ankle bone.
Details on the age and sex of the individual haven't been revealed, by archaeologists hope to probe the comb for long-lost DNA that may shed light on the person inside the bucket.
"This year's dig has been fantastic, and we've really been able to piece together part of a 40-year mystery and unearth a new chapter in the Sutton Hoo story," said Time Team creator Tim Taylor.