Sutton Hoo, one of England’s most iconic archaeological sites, has once again captured the attention of historians and archaeologists following the publication of a recent study in which Helen Gittos, a researcher at the University of Oxford, reveals possible connections between the Anglo-Saxons and the Byzantine world. This discovery, which could rewrite the history of cultural and political relationships in the Early Middle Ages, highlights that the objects found in the ship burial are not just funerary relics but also testimonies of a cosmopolitan world.
The Sutton Hoo ship burial, located in Suffolk, dates to approximately 625 AD and is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. This site stands out for containing a funerary ship accompanied by a vast collection of precious objects, including jewelry, weapons, and gold and silver vessels. The site is widely recognized as the final resting place of an Anglo-Saxon leader, possibly King Rædwald of East Anglia.
Among the most notable objects are silver spoons with Greek inscriptions, a Byzantine-era silver platter, and a helmet adorned with images of warriors. These findings have led researchers to ponder an intriguing question: how did these goods, manufactured in the Eastern Mediterranean, arrive in England?

The most recent study, published in the English Historical Review, proposes a groundbreaking hypothesis: some Anglo-Saxons may have served as elite soldiers in the Byzantine army. This theory is based on historical links between Byzantium and northwestern Europe, documented in ancient texts and evidenced by objects found at Sutton Hoo.
During the 6th century, the Byzantine Empire, under threat from the Sassanid Empire, conducted extensive recruitment campaigns for troops in Western Europe. These forces, known as Foederati, included Germanic warriors and possibly Anglo-Saxons. According to historical records, these soldiers played a crucial role in military campaigns on the empire’s eastern frontier, particularly in regions like Armenia and Syria.
The objects found at Sutton Hoo reinforce this connection. For example, the silver spoons, typical of the Byzantine era, bear Greek inscriptions that could be linked to Christian rituals. A silver platter, known as the “Anastasius Dish”, bears the monogram of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I (491–518), indicating its origin in Constantinople.

Another notable object is a decorated bronze bowl, identified as originating from the Eastern Mediterranean, possibly Egypt or Syria. These items, far from being mere trade trophies, would have been acquired by Anglo-Saxon warriors during their military service in distant lands, according to the study.
The theory of Anglo-Saxon participation in the Byzantine army raises fascinating questions about the nature of international relations in the Early Middle Ages. Archaeologists suggest that these Anglo-Saxon leaders were not only aware of the geopolitical complexities of the Mediterranean but also actively engaged in them.
Despite its discovery nearly a century ago, Sutton Hoo continues to be the subject of new analyses and reinterpretations. This site, which bridges archaeology and history, reminds us that the Anglo-Saxons did not live in insular isolation but were part of an interconnected world, rich with complexity and movement.
SOURCES
Helen Gittos, Sutton Hoo and Syria: The Anglo-Saxons Who Served in the Byzantine Army?, The English Historical Review, 2025;, ceae213, doi.org/10.1093/ehr/ceae213
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