Time Team at Sutton Hoo

Tony Robinson and Helen Geake stood outside the gate to Garden Field at Sutton Hoo — The National Trust has joined forces with Time Team on a new two-year research project | © Time Team

The National Trust has joined forces with Time Team on a new two-year research project at Sutton Hoo, and this June you’ll be able to see them in action as part of a new archaeological dig.

Sutton Hoo has a rich archaeological history, including the 1939 discovery which changed our understanding of Anglo-Saxon life, and the 1980s dig, when Professor Martin Carver led a subsequent excavation at the Royal Burial Ground.

This year’s dig, managed by FAS Heritage (Field Archaeology Specialists) will be the most intensive period of excavation since the 2000s, when remains of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery were discovered during the construction of what is now the High Hall exhibition space.

What will we discover in 2024?

See the dig take place

Dates for your diary

Activity will be taking place throughout the entirety of June, with live digging happening on the following dates:
4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27
and 28 June.

Visit Garden Field on these dates and you’ll be able to see into the trench as it is excavated, as well as some of the finds that need to be processed.

Time Team’s acting HQ will be open for visitors and our visitor engagement team will be available to answer any questions and talk you through exactly what’s happening as the dig is carried out.

We’ll also be sharing regular updates and behind-the-scenes footage on our social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and X.

Fragments of the Bromeswell Bucket, featuring intricate engravings — The Bromeswell Bucket, which is thought to date back to the 6th century, was discovered near Sutton Hoo | © ©National Trust Images/David Brunetti

Why Garden Field?

Following on from earlier research, Time Team conducted magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar surveys of Garden Field in 2021 and 2022, which revealed some ‘mysterious’ anomalies in the landscape.

This year’s dig will explore these further, excavating around an existing water pipe trench which was dug in the early 20th century.

This will be the most intensive excavation at Sutton Hoo since the 2000s and much of the work will be exploratory, sampling what remains of the existing archaeology.

While nobody knows exactly what we’ll find in 2024, Garden Field has previously given up some unique finds.

Fragments of the Bromeswell Bucket, which dates back to the 6th century, were found nearby, as well as prehistoric flint tools, possible burial mounds and evidence of Roman activity. While the High Hall exhibition space was being constructed in 2000, remains of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery were also discovered close by.

Other archaeology taking place

As well as the excavations at Garden Field, Time Team will also be digging test pits with local school children, carrying out further geophysical surveys and undertaking metal detecting.

All of this is part of our two-year research project and will help to grow our understanding of Sutton Hoo and inform our plans for next year.

Time Team filming

Time Team will be documenting this unique investigation as it unfolds, culminating in a documentary special which will be presented by Sir Tony Robinson and a series of exclusive updates for fans on the membership platform Patreon.

Full details of the coverage and documentary release dates will be confirmed in a future announcement, but please note that filming may be taking place when you visit.

The research project complements a separate, ongoing Time Team documentary, already in development, filming the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company’s reconstruction of the ship at the centre of the site’s story.