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Sutton Hoo: Anglo-Saxon king's ship sculpture created

National Trust Sculpture of Anglo-Saxon boatNational Trust
The rusted-steel sculpture is being seen by the public for the first time

A sculpture of an Anglo-Saxon ship buried in the Suffolk countryside has gone on show for the first time.

The remains of the original ship, thought to be the final resting place of the 7th-Century King Raedwald, were found at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk in 1939.

A full-size 27m (88ft) steel sculpture of it has been created at the Woodbridge site, which is part-way through a £4m regeneration project.

The National Trust said the ghostly representation was the "wow factor".

The specially-commissioned sculpture matches the size of the original ship and is on show in the courtyard of the Anglo-Saxon attraction, which has opened for the new year.

When it is fully complete, the sculpture will have a slab in the centre representing the king's burial chamber, with etchings marking where treasures in the chamber were found.

Getty Images Sutton Hoo warrior's helmetGetty Images
One of the greatest finds at the Sutton Hoo boat burial is this warrior's helmet, which is kept at the British Museum in London

The remains of the royal burial ship were first uncovered during a dig in 1939 when a single rivet was found.

During excavation "the ghostly skeleton of the ship was uncovered", the National Trust, which runs Sutton Hoo, said.

Getty Images Drawing of Sutton Hoo burial shipGetty Images
An artist's impression of the burial ship of the 7th Century King Raedwald of East Anglia
National Trust Steel sculpture of Anglo-Saxon shipNational Trust
The sculpture is the same size as the original ship

The trust's project manager, Mike Hopwood, said the new rusted steel ship sculpture brought the "wow factor" to the site.

"To be met with a full-size ghostly representation of the ship found here will allow our visitors to begin to digest just how remarkable this story is," he added.

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Sutton Hoo's history

Sutton Hoo Ship's Company Sutton Hoo site near the River DebenSutton Hoo Ship's Company
It is thought the original ship was hauled to the Sutton Hoo site from the nearby River Deben
  • The discovery was made in 1939 when landowner Edith Pretty asked archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate the largest of several mounds on her property
  • Among the many finds were the buried boat which contained the remains of a warrior's helmet, which is kept in the British Museum
  • It is thought the ship was hauled to the site from the nearby River Deben
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