The bling
Southend's Sutton Hoo?
An archaeological excavation at Priory Crescent, Prittlewell, Essex in autumn 2003 unearthed a 7th century grave that is perhaps the most spectacular discovery of its kind made during the past 50 years - the grave is probably that of Anglo-Saxon King Saebert.
Excavation demonstrated the tomb to be a deep, formerly walled room full of objects of copper, gold, silver and iron. These finds included an Anglo-Saxon hanging bowl decorated with inlaid escutcheons and a cruciform arrangement of applied strips, a folding stool, three stave-built tubs or buckets with iron bands, a sword and a lyre, the last being one of the most complete found in Britain
The burial has been marked by a yellow ribbon on site and special care has been taken to uphold the sanctity of the area.
Saebert's burial
'Finds'
The objects found at the excavation are currently held at the Museum of London, although many local people are keen for them to be returned to the town, and possibly to the site itself or the nearby Cluniac Priory in the Park.
More information can be found at the Museum of London or click on this link for an article by local historian Marion Pearce.
