“Anglo-Saxon Life: The Warm Hall, the Cold World”

Sutton Hoo:
In 1939, in Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England, archaeologists discovered a treasure that had been under the earth for thirteen hundred years. This enormous ship-grave contained the imprint of a huge wooden ship and a cast treasure trove—all of which had been buried with a great king or noble warrior. There was no trace left of the king or warrior himself, but his sword lay there, along with other meticulously decorated treasures of gold, silver, and bronze—his purse full of coins, helmet, buckle, serving vessels, and harp. This grave can’t help but remind us of the huge burial mound erected in memory of the king Beowulf.

Compare to Beowulf:
This was a 'heroic' age: the surviving stories and poems make this clear. The greatest virtue was loyalty to one's lord: the warrior shared the spoils of battle, but he was also willing to die for his lord - indeed it was considered a disgrace to ...