Editing Sutton Hoo (section)

=== The lower body and 'heaps' areas ===

In the area corresponding to the lower legs of the body were laid out various drinking vessels, including a pair of drinking horns made from the horns of an [[aurochs]], extinct since early medieval times.{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|1pp=316–346|Evans|1986|2pp=64–68}} These have matching die-stamped gilt rim mounts and vandykes, of similar workmanship and design to the shield mounts, and exactly similar to the surviving horn vandykes from Mound 2.{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1975|pp=117–118}} In the same area stood a set of maplewood cups with similar rim-mounts and vandykes,{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|1pp=347–360|Evans|1986|2pp=64–68}} and a heap of folded textiles lay on the left side.

A large quantity of material including metal objects and textiles was formed into two folded or packed heaps on the east end of the central wooden structure. This included the extremely rare survival of a long [[Hauberk|coat of ring-mail]], made of alternate rows of welded and riveted iron links,{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1978|1pp=232–240|Evans|1986|2p=41}} two hanging bowls,{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|pp=244–262, 282–295}} leather shoes,<ref>See K. East in Bruce-Mitford 1983 (II), 788–812.</ref> a cushion stuffed with feathers, folded objects of leather and a wooden platter. At one side of the heaps lay an iron hammer-axe with a long iron handle, possibly a weapon.{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1983b|pp=833–843}}

On top of the folded heaps was set a fluted silver dish with drop handles, probably made in Italy, with the [[relief]] image of a female head in late Roman style worked into the bowl.{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|pp=45–61}} This contained a series of small [[Burl|burr-wood]] cups with rim-mounts, combs of [[antler]], small metal knives, a small silver bowl, and various other small effects (possibly toilet equipment), and including a bone gaming-piece, thought to be the '[[Tafl games|king piece]]' from a set.{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|1pp=151–153|Bruce-Mitford|1983b|2pp=813–832, 853–874|Evans|1986|3pp=57–59, 68–70}} (Traces of bone above the head position have suggested that a gaming-board was possibly set out, as at [[Taplow burial|Taplow]].) Above these was a silver [[Ladle (spoon)|ladle]] with gilt chevron ornament, also of Mediterranean origin.{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|pp=146–151}}

Over the whole of this, perched on top of the heaps, or their container, if there was one, lay a very large round silver platter with chased ornament, made in the Eastern Empire circa 500 and bearing the control stamps of [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Emperor Anastasius I]] (491–518).{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1983a|1pp=4–44|Evans|1986|2pp=57–58}} On this plate was deposited a piece of unburnt bone of uncertain derivation.{{sfnm|Phillips|1940|1p=175|Bruce-Mitford|1975|2p=547}} The assemblage of Mediterranean silverware in the Sutton Hoo grave is unique for this period in Britain and Europe.{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1974|1pp=3–4|Evans|1986|2p=57}}