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How volunteers are rebuilding Suffolk's Anglo-Saxon treasure using 7th century techniques

A team of 160 volunteers in Woodbridge are painstakingly reconstructing the Sutton Hoo burial ship using authentic Anglo-Saxon methods, aiming to launch the 88-foot vessel by 2026.

Oliver Rouane-Williams

Oliver Rouane-Williams

— 2 min read
A volunteer building a Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo
The Longshed in Woodbridge are building a Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo

The big picture: The project represents one of Britain's most ambitious experimental archaeology ventures, recreating what the British Museum calls "the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe."

A Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo
A Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo (Sizewell C)

Why it matters: The reconstruction will help archaeologists and historians better understand:

  • How Anglo-Saxon shipbuilders constructed their vessels
  • The materials and techniques used in 7th-century shipbuilding
  • How these ships would have performed at sea

The details:

  • The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company is using period-appropriate materials and construction methods
  • Work is taking place at The Longshed in Woodbridge, where visitors can watch the build-in-progress
  • The project needs £1.5 million to complete the reconstruction
  • The team plans to launch the vessel on the River Deben in 2026
A volunteer building a Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo
The Longshed in Woodbridge are building a Viking long boat similar to the ship discovered across the River Deben at Sutton Hoo (Sizewell C)

What they're saying: "The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company survives and thrives thanks to its amazing community of more than 160 volunteers and its family of supporters from across Woodbridge, Suffolk, Britain, and the world," says Jacq Barnard, Project Manager at The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company.

How to visit: The ship build can be viewed at The Longshed on Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge:

  • Weekdays: 10am-4pm
  • Weekends: 11am-3pm

The bottom line: This community-led project offers unprecedented insights into Anglo-Saxon shipbuilding while creating a unique educational resource for future generations to understand this crucial period of British history.

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