5 Most Mysterious Ancient Tombs 

In the shadows of World War II, on the verdant fields owned by Edith Pretty, lay a pair of unassuming mounds. Pretty, intrigued by local folklore and ancient legends, permitted Basil Brown, a local self-taught archaeologist, to excavate. What he unearthed in 1938 would astound the world.
Brown's spade first struck the remnants of a great ship, its timbers long decayed but leaving a ghostly imprint in the sand. This was no ordinary vessel. It was a royal tomb measuring nearly 90 feet long, the final resting place of an Anglo-Saxon king.
Within its embrace lay a trove of artifacts of such craftsmanship and diversity that they challenged our understanding of the era. There was a lyre, its delicate form hinting at the music that once filled the mead halls; a sword and shield, symbols of power and protection; and a Byzantine silver plate, suggesting a world connected by trade and diplomacy far beyond the shores of England.
Among these treasures, the Sutton Hoo purse lid stood out. Modern historians have hailed it as "one of the most remarkable creations of the early medieval period." Its intricate gold decorations and finely detailed ornamental features speak of a society rich in artistry and sophistication.
This purse lid, along with the iconic Sutton Hoo Helmet, a decorated headpiece believed to have adorned Anglo-Saxon royalty, now reside in the British Museum.
The ship's discovery, alongside two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries dating back to the 6th or 7th century, opened a window into a period previously thought to be a 'dark age' lacking historical context.
Scholars now believe that the individual buried in the ship was immensely important. Redwald, King of the East Angles, is a likely candidate, suggesting that Sutton Hoo was the resting place of a powerful and influential ruler.
The wider implications of the Sutton Hoo ship burial find are profound. They confirm that there was significant Anglo-Saxon activity in Britain during this period. Basil Brown's discovery has completely changed how historians view Europe in the early Middle Ages...