Who was buried in the grave?

The flagon on-site. [Enlarge photograph]

Many months of careful work are still required to provide clues to the possible identity of the grave's occupant. Although the richly furnished burial appears to be pagan, there are several objects with Christian connections.

It is possible that the flagon and the bowl were associated with a religious ritual such as the washing of hands or feet. However, the clearest indication that the deceased had converted to Christianity is the two gold foil crosses that had been laid on the body.

The first of the East Saxon Kings to be converted to Christianity was Saebert in AD 604 but, following his death in AD 616, his sons expelled the Christian missionaries and returned to paganism. It was not until AD 653 that Sigeberht II was persuaded to adopt Christianity by Northumbrian missionaries under St Cedd, who was sent to convert the people of Essex.

Special resources summary

On-site video: Finds including copper vessels and the north and east faces of the chamber.
[Open video in same window]. [.mov format, 3 mins 47 secs, 6.1mb]

On-site video: Finds including the folding stool in the west face of the chamber.
[Open video in same window]. [.mov format, 3 mins 6 secs, 3.6mb]

On-site video: Gold buckle.
[Open video in same window]. [.mov format, 35 secs, 1.1mb]

On-site video: Flagon.
[Open video in same window]. [.mov format, 47 secs, 1.4mb]

On-site video: 'Coptic' Bowl.
[Open video in same window]. [.mov format, 17 secs, 640kb]

Video format and requirements: If you do not have the plug-in please visit http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ to download the plug-in for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OS X or Mac OS 8.6/9.)

3D reconstruction of the gold buckle.
[Open reconstruction in same window]. [embedded java, 475kb]

3D reconstruction of one of the blue glass vessels.
[Open reconstruction in same window]. [embedded java, 481kb]

3D reconstruction format and requirements: this reconstruction requires a java-enabled browser.

Panoramic view of the site.
[Open panorama in same window]. [QTVR .mov format, 500kb]

Panorama format and requirements: If you do not have the plug-in please visit http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ to download the plug-in for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OS X or Mac OS 8.6/9.)