British archaeologists discover 1400-year-old 'temple' near Sutton Hoo
Sutton Hoo.
Suffolk County Council has reported a significant archaeological find at Rendlesham in Suffolk as part of an ongoing project.
The discovered temple is believed to have been overseen by King Raedwald, who passed away in AD 625 and is thought to have been buried at Sutton Hoo. The find is considered remarkable, with Prof Christopher Scull, an advisor to the project, expressing its significance.
This discovery follows last year's unearthing of the remains of a large timber royal hall.
References to the «king's village» at «Rendlaesham» can be found in the 8th Century book «An Ecclesiastical History of the English People» by the Venerable Bede. The scholar noted that King Raedwald had a temple housing altars to pre-Christian deities and one dedicated to Christ, although the location was not explicitly mentioned as Rendlesham.
Recent excavations have revealed that the royal compound at Rendlesham is more extensive than previously estimated, covering an area of 15 hectares, equivalent to about 20 football pitches.
Additionally, evidence of fine metalworking associated with royal occupation, including a mold used for casting decorative horse harnesses similar to those found at nearby Sutton Hoo, has been uncovered during this year's excavations.
The compound further featured a 1.5km-long ditch surrounding its perimeter and is believed to be a component of a more extensive settlement spanning 50 hectares. This scale and complexity render it «unique in the archaeology of 5th to 8th Century England,» as noted by the council.
Prof Scull added: «The results of excavations at Rendlesham speak vividly of the power and wealth of the East Anglian kings, and the sophistication of the society they ruled.
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