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Advance preview of upcoming announcement...
🕑 Added 2024-10-22 13:51:22 +0000 UTCAs Time Team's biggest supporters, we're thrilled to share early and confidential news of an upcoming announcement, embargoed to the wider media until 23rd October...
National Trust Sutton Hoo confirms Time Team dig dates for 2025
Dates for the second phase of Time Team’s dig at Sutton Hoo have been announced (19 May until 13 June 2025).
Further excavations of Garden Field are due to take place, where Time Team uncovered the missing fragments of a 6th century Byzantine bucket and several newly discovered Anglo-Saxon graves earlier this year.
The findings from this latest dig are set to be revealed in a Time Team documentary special in 2025, presented by Sir Tony Robinson.
The National Trust has announced that Time Team will return to Sutton Hoo in 2025, after a four-week excavation carried out earlier this year uncovered the missing fragments of a 6th century Byzantine bucket, as well as several newly discovered Anglo-Saxon graves.
From 19 May until 13 June 2025, archaeologists, film crews and volunteers will return to Garden Field, where Time Team will continue phase two of their research project to find out more about the archaeology of the Suffolk site, which is famous for the Anglo-Saxon ship burial discovered there in 1939.
Regional Archaeologist for the National Trust, Angus Wainwright, said: “The first phase of the project, which took place in June, was the most intensive period of excavation Sutton Hoo has seen since the early 2000s.
“It was a really exciting moment for us and ended on a high, with the discovery of missing fragments of the Bromeswell Bucket, which originated from the Byzantine empire in the 6th century.
“The majority of these pieces were lifted out in one block and removed to an undisclosed location in York, where they are currently being x-rayed and excavated, along with some other interesting finds that were discovered in the process.”
A number of human cremations were also discovered during this latest excavation, indicating that a burial ground, discovered in Garden Field in 2000, stretches further than previously thought.
The burial ground discovered in 2000, revealed 13 cremations and nine burials, and is believed to predate the Royal Burial Ground. It’s likely to be the final resting place of residents of low to relatively high-status families – maybe even the grandparents and great-grandparents of those laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground many years later.
These newly discovered cremations are also being processed at the specialist facility in York, where the cremated bones will be analysed to try and age and sex the person, as well as carbon date the burial.
The story has been documented by Time Team and will feature in their documentary special with Sir Tony Robinson, which is due to be released next year.
Sutton Hoo welcomed over 17,500 visitors to see the dig take place in June, as well as over 80 volunteers and staff, who took part in the excavations at Garden Field and at the test pits in River View Field, close to the shores of the River Deben.
These included volunteers from the Restoration Trust, which offers culture therapy to people who live with mental health challenges, as well as members of the same archaeological team who carried out a dig on the Royal Burial Ground in the 1980s, led by Professor Martin Carver.
Some of Time Team’s Patreon supporters also travelled from as far afield as the USA and Australia to take part.
As part of the project, the entirety of Garden Field was metal detected and surveyed and phase two, which will begin on Monday 19 May 2025, will build on this work, including the excavation of a second trench. It’s hoped that the team will find out even more about the prehistory of Sutton Hoo, and gain a better understanding of the second cemetery in Garden Field.
The National Trust will be working with archaeology volunteers to help support this project, with more information to be announced in the coming months. There will also be plenty of opportunities for visitors to see the archaeology in action when the dig takes place.
Tim Taylor, Time Team Creator and Producer, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to one of the most iconic archaeological sites in Britain with the National Trust. This next phase of the dig offers an incredible opportunity to continue uncovering the secrets of Sutton Hoo and we can’t wait to see what new discoveries await us in 2025.”
Keep an eye on Time Team's Patreon / other platforms, as well as the National Trust’s website and social media for more updates leading up to the excavation.
Comments
Lou Charlton
Exciting news 😃 Love Sutton Hoo
Mikael Larsson
Will the second trench be John's boat shaped geophys discovery?
Doyle
Same here, I’m a disabled veteran and would need time to make adjustments if chosen.
Ann
Very exciting news! Hope to be able to join as a volunteer. Coming from USA just for this! Amazing opportunity!
Ann
I'll be watching as well, need some notice to allow for travel plans from the US.
Under The Bodie
This time I'm getting a chat with Toni, then I'll have a full house
Carol Lewellen
Awesome news.
Orla Levy
Hi Martin. I did it this year too and will also put me name down despite not expecting to be included. One can but hope. It was such an amazing experience. Good luck everyone. I hope you all get a chance. 🤞🏻
Time Team
Hi, details for 2025 are still being finalised, but we'll update Patreon members if and when any volunteering opportunities become available. For this year's dig, we introduced an online registration form for all active members (Digger tier and above), then randomly selected volunteers from the applicants. Please keep a look out for further info for 2025. Thanks
Mark Vent
Monday 19th will be my 51st birthday - what a birthday treat to be able to be involved!
Doyle
What’s the process for becoming a volunteer?
Joie Grandbois
That is very exciting news!!!!
Johnny Lees
Very exciting
doobat
That's super exciting for everyone! Can't wait to hear about the team's experiences!
Nick Butt
And I'm sure TT will be at Sutton Hoo for quite a few years after 2025!
Loz
Hoo-ge news!
Cheryl Kurucz
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Eve
WOOHOO for Sutton Hoo, can't wait!
wayne melberg
Very exciting!!
Patricia Amero
Wow! Lots of exciting news and site info! Thank you for always keeping us in the loop. I 💖 Time Team. Bring. it. ON. 🙌
Patricia Amero
Great comment 😁
Bron Lloyd
Brilliant! And as I’m earning again after a period of unemployment just upping my Patreon tier :)
Sharyle Doherty
Hurrah!
Anthony Prince
Great news
Martin Packer
Excellent news. As a successful volunteer this year it would be great for a new batch of Patreons to experience it. (Yes, of course I'd put my name in the hat - but wouldn't expect to win again, statistically speaking. And should probably be excluded.)
Heather Torrey
Excellent news!! Very exciting :)
Jamie Goodman
Great news! Look forward to stopping by again next year to see some more TT action. Hopefully some upcoming volunteer opportunities too 🤞🏻😊
Theresa Cashin
A real opportunity to sort out "Who's Hoo"?
Marianne Richards MSc.
Great. Might come along myself!
Neil Graham
Such great news.
wibble
Exciting news. :)
Justin Freeman
Fantastic news, eyes 👀 peeled for volunteering opportunities!
Leslie
Yay!
Keith Gregory
Hoo loves ya, baby…💕
Todd Gillespie
Can’t wait!
Stephanie Hogan
Fantastic news! Looking forward to more discoveries, more mysteries to solve, and of course the special!
Steve Mikre
Absolutely brilliant news!
Christopher Samuel
I guess the cast list would be “Halt, Hoo goes there?”
Christopher Samuel
“Hoo’s Better? Hoo’s Best?” - with apologies to The Hoo, er, The Who.
Martin Young
Superb news, roll on May 2025! And as a resident of York it’s thrilling to hear that research is being carried out in this ancient city on the finds from June ‘24. Tim Taylor: you and your team are bringing so much joy and knowledge, thank you. Surely a Time Team Sutton Hoo t-shirt will be available soon…?!!
Mark & Jill Jefson
Oh, it Suttonly came to me.
Mark & Jill Jefson
Hoo's there?
Kerry Hennigan
Fantastic. I'm still very keen to find out more about that object that looked boat shaped in John's geophys results.
Zoe Propper
Very exciting 🥳
Bob Pockney
Woo Hoo !
Chris DeAngelo
That’s great news I can not wait for the special.
Time Team
Guess Hoo?
