A new exhibition showing off the treasures of the Dark Ages of Anglo-Saxon Suffolk opens at Sutton Hoo this week.

The exhibition takes visitors on a 400-year journey to reveal how the Anglo-Saxon royal settlement at Rendlesham grew and developed.

It also celebrates the many volunteers from the local community who uncovered the long-lost archaeological remains.

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This story is brought to life with more than 150 archaeological finds from the settlement, ranging from food remains to gold jewellery, many of which have never been on public display before.

Suffolk County Council’s Archaeological Service is curating the exhibition to celebrate “Rendlesham Revealed”, a community archaeology project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

East Anglian Daily Times: A rare silver brooch depicting a horse and rider, on loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museums, ready for installation into the exhibition cases, with Philip Wise (Heritage Manager, Colchester and Ipswich Museums) and the exhibition curator Faye Minter (Archaeology Archives and Project Manager, Suffolk County Council)A rare silver brooch depicting a horse and rider, on loan from Colchester and Ipswich Museums, ready for installation into the exhibition cases, with Philip Wise (Heritage Manager, Colchester and Ipswich Museums) and the exhibition curator Faye Minter (Archaeology Archives and Project Manager, Suffolk County Council) (Image: Robin Pattinson/Suffolk County Council/National Trust)

Faye Minter, Suffolk County Council’s archaeological archives and projects manager, said: “South-east Suffolk was the power centre of the early East Anglian kingdom, and Rendlesham was the place from which it was ruled.

"Rendlesham’s archaeology gives a unique insight into what a royal centre of international importance was like at that time."

Some of the items on display include:

Gold and garnet dress accessories and weaponry fittings, used by the highest levels of society, such as warriors and royalty.

A copper-alloy gilt horse-harness fitting, with garnet and shell centre inlay, has a zoomorphic interlace design and is similar to examples found in Mound 17 at Sutton Hoo.

Gold, silver and copper-alloy coinage. 

Imported objects from across Europe suggests long-distance contacts, gift giving and trade.

More than 400 volunteers from the local community have been involved in uncovering Rendlesham’s past.

They include young adults from the Suffolk Family Carers and Suffolk Mind, and local school children from Rendlesham, Eyke and Wickham Market primary schools. Volunteering has had a positive impact on many of those who took part.

The exhibition will run until 29 October 2023.

Entry to the temporary exhibition will be included in the normal admission charge to Sutton Hoo, which is free for National Trust members.