1 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Time Team Cracks Sutton Hoo Mystery: ‘Master Count’ Bucket Was a Burial Urn

In a remarkable breakthrough at the historic Sutton Hoo site in Suffolk, England, archaeologists have revealed that a 6th-century Byzantine bucket, long shrouded in mystery and once thought to be merely ornamental—was in fact used as a cremation vessel for a high-ranking individual.

Pieced together from fragments unearthed in 1986, 2012, and most recently in 2023, the Bromeswell bucket is now considered a rare example of a cross-cultural burial artifact—an Eastern Mediterranean luxury item repurposed in a Northern European cremation ritual.

Decorated with an intricate hunting scene of nude warriors and lions, the copper-alloy bucket is believed to have originated from the Byzantine Empire and bears a Greek inscription: “Use this in good health, Master Count, for many happy years.” This sophisticated craftsmanship contrasts sharply with the Anglo-Saxon cremation practices of the time, making the find both culturally and historically significant.

Human and Animal Remains Discovered

Recent excavations conducted by Time Team, in collaboration with FAS Heritage and the National Trust, uncovered the bucket’s intact base containing cremated human remains, bone fragments from a large animal—likely a horse—and an unburnt antler comb.

Experts believe the inclusion of horse bones signifies high status, as equines were commonly placed on cremation pyres of elite Anglo-Saxons. DNA analysis of the comb may soon offer insights into the individual’s age, sex, and possibly even genetic lineage.

The copper-alloy bucket, adorned with a detailed hunting scene, is believed to predate the iconic Sutton Hoo ship burial and its treasures by several decades. Credit: David Brunetti/National Trust
The copper-alloy bucket, adorned with a detailed hunting scene, is believed to predate the iconic Sutton Hoo ship burial and its treasures by several decades. Credit: David Brunetti/National Trust

“This bucket would have been a rare and prized possession in Anglo-Saxon times,” said Angus Wainwright, National Trust archaeologist. “Now, we know it was used to contain the remains of an important person within the Sutton Hoo community.”

Solving a Long-Standing Mystery

The discovery concludes a decades-long archaeological puzzle surrounding the bucket’s purpose. According to Dr. Helen Geake, Anglo-Saxon specialist for Time Team, the find is unprecedented: “This is the first known example of such a vessel being used in a cremation burial.”

“It’s a remarkable fusion—a classical, Byzantine artifact used in a Germanic-style cremation. Sutton Hoo continues to defy expectations with its ship burials, horse burials, and now bath-bucket burials,” Geake added.

Cultural Collision in Burial Practice

The Bromeswell bucket exemplifies the rich cultural interplay at Sutton Hoo, a site dating to the early 7th century, associated with the Kingdom of East Anglia. The bucket itself likely predates the famous ship burial by several decades, suggesting a complex and long-standing network of trade and cultural exchange.

The comb was found unburnt, likely due to it being made from antler  Credit: David Brunetti/National Trust
The comb was found unburnt, likely due to it being made from antler Credit: David Brunetti/National Trust

CT scans of the artifact reveal concentric rings indicative of a cold-hammering technique—a method typical of Byzantine metalwork, emphasizing the advanced technology behind the object’s creation.

Ongoing Research and Public Display

The National Trust has placed the main fragment of the Bromeswell bucket on display at Sutton Hoo, on long-term loan from the Annie Tranmer Charitable Trust. Time Team has documented the discovery in a special four-part YouTube series, culminating in a “fly on the wall” special airing May 20 at 7 PM.

Further excavations and studies are expected to continue until June, as researchers hope to extract ancient DNA and unlock more secrets from this extraordinary burial.

National Trust

Time Team YouTube

Cover Image Credit: David Brunetti/National Trust

Related Articles

Thousand-Year-Old Christian Viking-era Graves Found in Sweden

28 June 2021

28 June 2021

Seven Christian tombs dating to the Viking Age have been found at Sigtuna. According to archaeologists, the tombs date to...

Kashmir’s Forgotten Temple? Shivlings and Ancient Idols Found Beneath Sacred Spring

4 August 2025

4 August 2025

A routine restoration of the Karkoot Nag spring in the Salia area of Aishmuqam, Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, has...

A ‘very rare’ clay figurine of god Mercury and a previously unknown Roman settlement were discovered at the excavation site in Kent

23 February 2024

23 February 2024

At a previously unknown Roman settlement that was formerly next to a busy port but is now 10 miles from...

Viking Tomb Discovery in Denmark May Reveal Elite Family Linked to King Harald Bluetooth

20 June 2025

20 June 2025

A stunning archaeological discovery near Aarhus, Denmark, has revealed 30 Viking Age graves that may belong to a powerful aristocratic...

Ancient Curse Tablets Reveal Dark Spiritual Practices in the Roman Empire – and Their Echo in the Bible

17 June 2025

17 June 2025

New Research Connects Ritual Cursing to the Book of Revelation From jealous lovers to petty thieves, people in the ancient...

Remains of the summer palace of Genghis Khan’s grandson, Hulagu Khan, found in eastern Turkey

7 July 2022

7 July 2022

The archeology study team, consisting of Turkish and Mongolian scientists, found important findings in the study carried out to find...

The researchers may have cracked the mystery of da Vinci’s DNA

7 July 2021

7 July 2021

A recent study of Leonardo da Vinci’s family tree indicates that the renowned Renaissance artist, inventor, and anatomist had 14...

A new study attributes Japanese, Korean and Turkish languages all to a common ancestor in northeastern China

11 November 2021

11 November 2021

According to a new study, modern languages ranging from Japanese and Korean to Turkish and Mongolian may have had a...

“Operation Heritage” uncovers an artifact smuggling ring in Turkey

1 June 2022

1 June 2022

Turkish security forces searched locations in 38 regions on Tuesday in one of the largest operations against artifact smugglers, with...

Rare Roman Marble Sarcophagus Depicting Dionysus and Hercules Discovered in Caesarea, Israel — A First of Its Kind

9 June 2025

9 June 2025

A rare Roman-era marble sarcophagus featuring a vivid scene of a mythological drinking contest between Dionysus, the god of wine,...

Archaeologists uncover intact 16th-century quayside in the Belgium town of Leper

24 March 2022

24 March 2022

Excavations at Leper (Ypres), located in the West Flanders province of Belgium, have uncovered a 16th-century quayside. The find was...

New Research Links Climate Crisis to the Fall of the Roman Empire

11 April 2025

11 April 2025

A study led by scientists at the University of Southampton, in collaboration with Queen’s University Canada and the Chinese Academy...

A Batavian Cavalry Mask was found on the Battlefield of Roman Comrades

22 July 2022

22 July 2022

Archaeologists have discovered that a rusty corroded plate they found 4 years ago at an old battlefield in the city...

Mosaics found in Türkiye’s Sinop belong to dining room of a wealthy family

24 June 2023

24 June 2023

The pebble mosaics unearthed during the excavation of a building complex in the province of Sinop on Turkey’s Black Sea...

Earliest glass workshop north of the Alps unearthed in Němčice

25 July 2023

25 July 2023

Archaeologists excavated the famous Iron Age site Němčice and uncovered the earliest glass workshop north of the Alps. Numerous beautiful...