Editing Sutton Hoo (section)

=== The cremations and inhumations, Mounds 17 and 14 ===
[[File:Sutton Hoo map 2.svg|thumb|Mound 17 (orange), Mound 14 (purple), inhumations (green), and cremation graves (blue) at Sutton Hoo]]

[[Martin Carver]] believes that the [[cremation]] burials at Sutton Hoo were "among the earliest" in the cemetery.{{sfn|Carver|1998|p=107}} Two were excavated in 1938. Under Mound 3 were the ashes of a man and a [[Horses in Germanic paganism|horse]] placed on a wooden trough or dugout [[bier]], a [[Franks|Frankish]] iron-headed [[francisca|throwing-axe]], and imported objects from the eastern [[Mediterranean]], including the lid of a bronze [[ewer]], part of a miniature carved [[Commemorative plaque|plaque]] depicting a [[Victoria (mythology)|winged Victory]], and fragments of decorated bone from a [[Coffin|casket]].{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1975|pp=108–110, 112–115, 125–126}} Under Mound 4 was the cremated remains of a man and a woman, with a horse and perhaps also a dog, as well as fragments of bone gaming-pieces.{{sfn|Bruce-Mitford|1975|pp=124–125, 131}}

In Mounds 5, 6, and 7, Carver found cremations deposited in bronze bowls. In Mound 5 <!-- The man buried in had died from head wounds. --> were found gaming-pieces, small iron shears, a cup, and an [[ivory]] box. Mound 7 also contained gaming-pieces, as well as an iron-bound bucket, a sword-belt fitting and a drinking vessel, together with the remains of horse, cattle, [[red deer]], sheep, and pig that had been burnt with the deceased on a [[pyre]]. Mound 6 contained cremated animals, gaming-pieces, a sword-belt fitting, and a comb. The Mound 18 grave was very damaged, but of similar kind.{{sfn|Carver|1998|pp=107–110}}

Two cremations were found during the 1960s exploration to define the extent of Mound 5, together with two inhumations and a pit with a skull and fragments of decorative [[Foil (metal)|foil]].{{sfnm|Bruce-Mitford|1975|1pp=230–344|Evans|2001|2p=54}} In level areas between the mounds, Carver found three furnished inhumations. One small mound held a child's remains, along with his buckle and miniature spear. A man's grave included two belt buckles and a knife, and that of a woman contained a leather bag, a pin and a [[Chatelaine (chain)|chatelaine]].{{sfn|Carver|1998|pp=113–116}}

The most impressive of the burials without a chamber is that of a young man who was [[Horse burial|buried with his horse]],<ref>Carver, ''Sutton Hoo'', pp. 92, 133, 167.</ref> in Mound 17.<ref>Carver, ''Sutton Hoo'', 81–90, 110–116, plates III–V.</ref> The horse would have been sacrificed for the funeral, in a ritual sufficiently standardised to indicate a lack of sentimental attachment to it. Two undisturbed grave-hollows existed side by side under the mound. The man's oak [[coffin]] contained his [[Pattern welding|pattern welded]] sword on his right and his sword-belt, wrapped around the blade, which had a bronze buckle with [[garnet]] [[cloisonné]] cellwork, two pyramidal strapmounts and a [[scabbard]]-buckle.<ref name="ReferenceA">The analysis of the bridle and mounts is presented by Angela Evans in Carver 2005, 201–281.</ref>

By the man's head were a [[firesteel]] and a leather pouch, containing rough garnets and a piece of [[millefiori]] glass. Around the coffin were two spears, a shield, a small [[cauldron]] and a bronze bowl, a pot, an iron-bound bucket and some animal ribs. In the north-west corner of his grave was a [[bridle]], mounted with circular gilt bronze plaques with [[interlace (visual arts)|interlace]] ornamentation.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> These items are on display at Sutton Hoo.

[[File:Sutton.Hoo.Mound17.JorViking.jpg|thumb|Finds from Mound 17]]

Inhumation graves of this kind are known from both England and Germanic continental Europe,{{efn|The example from Eschwege, Niederhonen in the Lower Werra valley, a tributary of the River Weser, is displayed at [[Kassel]] Museum, Germany.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} }} with most dating from the 6th or early 7th century. In about 1820, an example was excavated at [[Witnesham]].{{sfn|Plunkett|2005|pp=51–53}} There are other examples at [[Lakenheath]] in western Suffolk and in the Snape cemetery:{{sfn|Caruth|Anderson|1999}} Other examples have been inferred from records of the discovery of horse furniture at [[Eye, Suffolk|Eye]] and [[Mildenhall, Suffolk|Mildenhall]].{{sfn|West|1998|pp=31–32, 83–86}}

Although the grave under Mound 14 had been destroyed almost completely by robbing, apparently during a heavy rainstorm, it had contained exceptionally high-quality goods belonging to a woman. These included a chatelaine, a kidney-shaped purse-lid, a bowl, several buckles, a dress-fastener, and the hinges of a casket, all made of silver, and also a fragment of embroidered cloth.<ref>Carver, ''Sutton Hoo'', pp. 81–82, 116.</ref>