A warrior-prince's elaborate tomb found near London could be the British equivalent to King Tut, one expert says. Here's what was inside.
The researchers think the prince may have been buried with a gold coin in each hand, with one hand on his chest and the other lying by his side.
The tomb also held a 1400-year-old painted wooden box — the only surviving example of early Anglo-Saxon painted woodwork.
Findings like this copper-alloy flagon perhaps suggest that the prince may have enjoyed the occasional drink.
Vessels like this were often acquired by Christian pilgrims and shows that the flagon's owner was well-traveled, or had far reaching connections.
Analysis of objects like this one "has revealed where they were made and this in turn has helped us to learn more about the gift giving and trading between different elite families and kingdoms in the south of England," Jackson told Business Insider.
The flagon was likely made in Syria.
Archaeologists also dug up plenty of drinking cups.
This wooden drinking cup provided the archaeologists with crucial material they could use to carbon-date the burial chamber.
Archaeologists also discovered the remains of two matching drinking horns. Drinking horns were luxury items — a sign of the man's royal status.
By analyzing the organic material from the drinking horns, scientists were able to determine around when the animal whose horns were used had died.
The decorative gold rims on another set of drinking vessels also were a sign of the prince's wealth.
The researchers even found part of a wooden drinking bottle that was ringed with gold.
This copper bowl was yet another luxury item uncovered in the tomb.
The bowl was found hanging in what was likely its original position on the tomb wall.
The chamber also yielded two rare blue glass beakers.
The matching pair was discovered intact within the burial chamber.
A decorated green glass beaker was excavated as well.
Finally, archaeologists discovered iron hooks hammered into the chamber walls.
Some of these artifacts will be put on permanent display in the Southend Central Museum, near Prittlewell.
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement