Brazilian twin duo HOO are set to make their debut in the United States this May 2025 with two shows in the city of Los Angeles Vitor and Otávio Muller will perform at Members Club on May 9th  and at Puzzle on May 17th a Mediterranean-style venue known for intimate gatherings and lineups featuring artists such as David Hohme who is also scheduled to go b2b with the duo that night they return to LA for Puzzle—a music-forward venue focused on curated experiences HOO’s growing reputation includes past performances at leading Brazilian clubs like Warung as well as appearances at global events such as All Day I Dream Follow HOO on Instagram for updates Indieheads is one of many Contracted Independent Organizations at the University dedicated to music though it stands out to students for many reasons Indieheads President Brian Tafazoli describes his experience and involvement in Indieheads over the years as well as the impact that the organization has had on his personal and musical development Compelling new research from the University of Oxford argues that early medieval soldiers were recruited from Britain into the Byzantine army in 575AD and fought against the Sasanians in modern-day Armenia and Syria This offers a viewpoint with significant implications for our understanding of the early medieval period in England Remarkable metalwork and other rare goods found across England, including within graves at the world-renowned Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk, have typically been seen as a result of trade or gifting - however Dr Helen Gittos has now offered a fresh narrative connecting soldiers of early medieval England with the Byzantine Empire People in the early Middle Ages were so much more connected than we tend to think and these objects must have been prized not only for being exotic but also for the stories they evoked.  Associate Professor of Early Medieval History Her paper, published in the English Historical Review argues soldiers were enlisted to fight against the Sasanians in what is now Armenia and Syria as part of a major recruiting campaign in western Europe in 575AD Dr Gittos suggests that these troops included men from Britain who may have been attracted by the allure of adventure and reward Dr Gittos proposes that rare objects from the Eastern Mediterranean including items found at Sutton Hoo were likely acquired by recruited Anglo-Saxon soldiers Those who returned brought back with them goods which were current and unlike the type of objects typically found in normal trading networks a man was buried in a wood-panelled chamber with a copper flagon from the shrine of St Sergius in Sergiopolis (Syria); the man buried in a ship at Sutton Hoo (Suffolk) had not only silver and copper dishes from the east Mediterranean but also lumps of bitumen and textiles from Syria; and at Taplow (Berkshire) a man was buried with a pedestal bowl so rare only three comparable examples are known - all from Egypt This research underscores the complex web of cultural and military connections that linked early medieval England with regions such as Byzantium and the Middle East challenging preconceptions about the extent of Anglo-Saxon interactions with the wider world and suggesting a more cosmopolitan and interconnected early medieval society than often thought Dr Helen Gittos's paper, ‘Sutton Hoo and Syria: The Anglo-Saxons Who Served in the Byzantine Army?’, has been published in the English Historical Review You can view all news or browse by category Soon-to-be graduate Sam Crowe looks forward to continuing his research at Oxford University in the fall When Samuel Crowe looks back on his undergraduate career at the University of Virginia he can proudly point to making history as the first undergraduate granted access to NASA’s $10 billion James Webb Telescope for his research publishing major research findings in world-renowned journals and leading the astronomy and forestry clubs the astronomy-physics and history major is focused on what’s next: a 2-year master’s degree in the history of science medicine and technology at Oxford University starting in the fall he’s embracing a hobby he picked up at UVA: travel He spent two of his undergraduate summers abroad Crowe and the UVA Astronomy Club gather at the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia Crowe’s journey through the Eastern Hemisphere will punctuate a busy undergraduate career Crowe became the world’s first undergraduate student to lead a James Webb Space Telescope General Observer project From the data gathered using the telescope he published two papers in The Astrophysical Journal One of the papers examines star formation in Sagittarius C, a region in the heart of the Milky Way where many stars are actively being born. The paper confirmed at least two massive stars – each more than 20 times the Sun’s mass – forming in this region. “We also discovered a new star-forming region, previously unknown in the literature, adjacent to the one we’d already known about,” he said. Most of Crowe’s work so far has involved observational astronomy research, using telescopes and analyzing their data, but for his senior thesis project, he’s shifted to more theoretical work, running astrophysical simulations. “We model the sort of environments we observe with telescopes,” he said, “so we can better understand the physical processes at play. In this case, it’s a young star producing ionizing radiation, the same light rays that can cause skin cancer, in an environment similar to Sagittarius C.” Crowe has been an undergraduate researcher since his first spring semester, when astronomy professor Jonathan Tan gave a research talk in one of his introductory classes. Crowe approached him afterward to ask about opportunities to work with him. “I asked him a lot of questions during his talk, which I think made a good impression, and introduced myself after. All the rest of my research has sprung from that simple introduction, and putting myself out there,” he said. Crowe is the 57th Rhodes Scholar in the history of UVA, which produces the most Rhodes Scholars of any American public university. After graduating from Oxford, Crowe will pursue a doctorate in astrophysics at the California Institute of Technology. Crowe visits the IRAM 30-meter radio telescope in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain (Photo by Alejandro Romar) As a UVA student, Crowe was an Echols Scholar and recipient of a full-tuition University Achievement Award, which he said gave him “the academic and financial freedom to fully pursue [his] academic interests.” He’s following in the footsteps of two older brothers and his mother, all of whom attended UVA. “I didn’t even visit after being admitted,” he said. “I was that certain it was the place for me.” Originally from Chesapeake, Crowe said he is grateful for two high school teachers who nurtured his interests in history and physics. He knew from his first high school physics class that he wanted to pursue astrophysics, and a class on the Roman republic and empire with history professor Jon Lendon in the spring of his first year at UVA sold him on a second major. “And from there, the rest was history,” he said. Outside of academics, he’s been heavily involved in the leadership of the Astronomy Club, of which he served as treasurer, vice president, and president during his first three years. He’s currently vice president of the Forestry Club, which provides service to local city parks around Albemarle County and Virginia state parks. Crowe also joined the Culture of Respect Educators, a peer education group focusing on sexual assault prevention and education, after attending one of their talks in his dorm during Wahoo Welcome. He is also a member of the Raven Society. Most days before Final Exercises, he can be found in the lab, which, for him, means sitting in the astronomy undergraduate student lounge on his laptop, working with data. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hoo Lee Gans (@sfhooleegans) Inside the birth of Jung Hoo Lee's fan club: The 'Hoo Lee Gans'April 30th SAN FRANCISCO -- The idea came to Kyle Smeallie when he was attending an early season Giants game at Oracle Park last year Sitting among a group of self-described “word nerds” and crossword-puzzle enthusiasts Smeallie and his friends started to throw around baseball-related puns for fun But one of them felt like it had potential hooligans and Jung Hoo Lee,’” Smeallie recalled “We can do the ‘Hoo Lee Gans.’ And I was like a non-profit organization that aims to create permanent affordable housing for low- to moderate-income city residents -- ordered custom “Hoo Lee Gans” T-shirts and fire wigs and invited 50 other people to join him in Section 325 for the Giants’ home game against the Reds on April 7 ‘Let's make this incredible visual,’” Smeallie said “This is something that is a lot more common in places like Korea or Japan Fan groups that have chants and they're all coordinated ‘Let's do something similar to that.’ It seems like such a fun way to celebrate your team and your favorite player.” “Jung Hoo Lee plays exactly how I want to play,” said Smeallie an avid baseball fan who plays center field in his adult recreational league in San Francisco “I think he also brings just a different style of play that is unique and sort of like KBO-influenced It seems like the Giants clubhouse right now has the vibes that are reminiscent of the dynasty era I think it’s why the Giants are playing so well this year.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hoo Lee Gans (@sfhooleegans) “It's such an amazing thing to cultivate,” Smeallie said This was like four boxes of wigs and shirts in the back of my apartment and now it's like a thing that has sparked international joy Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball Smeallie is still working on determining the next steps for the group but he said he’s working with Giants officials to find a way for the two fan sections to co-exist and help keep the love for Lee flowing “I think we've tapped into something really fun and really organic,” Smeallie said We're doing something that's just sort of more from the fans themselves I think it's something that we would love to grow in partnership with the Giants We want to be just like a group of fans that love the team we want to create a space for folks to be happy and joyous in a community together I think there's a desire to have a space where we can just be together for nine innings I think that's partly why it's resonated the way it did.” An investment in Sizewell C is an investment in a Net Zero future for the UK Meet the faces powering Britain's future at Sizewell C Home > Reconstruction of Sutton Hoo burial ship moves closer with Sizewell C support A project to reconstruct the world-famous Sutton Hoo burial ship in Suffolk has received a significant boost after getting support from Sizewell C Sizewell C has donated £20,000 and become the latest organisation to join the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company Corporate Sponsorship Scheme which is helping to raise the £1.5 million needed to complete the reconstruction The community project to build the 88-foot ship in Woodbridge Volunteers are using 7th century materials and techniques for the ship’s construction and are aiming to launch the vessel on the River Deben in 2026 said: “This is a fantastic project that will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of both Suffolk’s and England’s Anglo-Saxon past It’s open to local people to come and see its progress at all stages of the build and so it’s a great educational project to have here in Suffolk “We want the Sizewell C project to open up new insights about Suffolk and its place in Britain. The extraordinary 11th century coin hoard recently discovered on the site is one of numerous archaeological finds we have made which give us a rare glimpse into our past “We’re delighted to support the Sutton Hoo project which will further strengthen our understanding of this area’s unique place in history.”    Described by The British Museum as “the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe,” the Anglo-Saxon ship and its burial chamber of riches was famously discovered by amateur archaeologist Basil Brown in 1939 The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company venture brings together archaeologists experts in construction and shipbuilding and many other skilled volunteers to reconstruct the mysterious ghost ship which was buried for thirteen centuries beneath the sand of Sutton Hoo Project Manager at The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company said: “The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company survives and thrives thanks to its amazing community of more than 160 volunteers and its family of supporters from across Woodbridge whose imaginations are captured by the scale and ambition of what we are achieving We are delighted to welcome Sizewell C as our newest corporate sponsor and are grateful for their support to this important local charity.”  Visitors are welcome to see the ship build in action at The Longshed on Tide Mill Way 10am-4pm weekdays and 11am-3pm on weekends Interested parties – both individuals and corporations – can find out more about sponsorship opportunities by visiting the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company website The station opened its doors in December 2012 following interest from local schools and communities to come and see how the power station makes low carbon electricity for over 2.5m homes sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum East Suffolk Council’s free Wi-Fi network has been extended to cover a larger area of Leiston The existing free to use Wi-Fi in Leiston – installed to support.. Contracts awarded to UK companies ahead of construction of new link road and two-village bypass   Family-owned Suffolk company Breheny Civil Engineering to construct new A12 roundabouts as part of infrastructure upgrade   High-value contracts.. Hydrogen buses would reduce Sizewell C project’s construction emissions and limit the impact of workforce transport on the local area Trial of first hydrogen buses in Suffolk could develop pathway to accelerate transport decarbonisation.. on International Women’s Day Comment comes as Sizewell C’s leadership now reaches 65% female representation Its apprenticeship programme – launched in 2021 – aims to be 50% female.. Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has hailed the “bright future” on offer for the town after hundreds attended a new jobs fair showcasing opportunities at Sizewell C    More than two-hundred people attended the second Sizewell.. Visitors to Sizewell Beach will benefit from free parking for the next year The twelve-month trial is intended to encourage year-round use of Sizewell Beach and relieve possible.. San Francisco Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee has had an outstanding start to the 2025 MLB season He is only in his second season in the big leagues and he is already making a name for himself Lee was in his first season in the MLB last season He was off to a decent start but his season got cut way short due to a season-ending left shoulder injury that required surgery Lee was only able to compete in 37 games last year and he batted .262 with a .310 OBP and 38 hits This start may have been indicative of him putting up the fantastic numbers that he’s currently posting To bat .262 with 38 hits in your first 37 games in the MLB is well above average Lee was likely just getting his feet wet and now that he has had time to adjust to being in the league which ties him for seventh in the National League (NL) and 16th in the entire league which is tied for tenth in the NL and 18th in the whole MLB which is tied for ninth in the NL and tenth in the overall league This ability to get on base and score is why the Giants value him so much Lee is the type of player that a team dreams of The Giants are having a strong start to the season despite being ranked third in the NL West division The NL West is a tough division featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres; the Arizona Diamondbacks are also a solid team The Giants are currently two games back of first place which would most likely get them into the playoffs The Giants may not win the NL West because the Dodgers are a dominant team they could definitely qualify for the playoffs as a wild card team The Giants have not had playoff success in recent years but that may change this year given their success so far Jung Hoo Lee has been quite the addition to the Giants He will look to carry his current momentum throughout the rest of the season to help the Giants make their first playoff appearance since 2021 About  .  Contact  .  Donation green-tinged copper alloy object while scanning a field using a metal detector Initially mistaken for an ordinary picture plate the discovery was later recognized as a “patrice,” or metal stamp used for imprinting motifs onto thin metal sheets The 5-by-4-centimeter object was brought to the Svendborg Museum and later transferred to the National Museum of Denmark for analysis Experts, including Peter Pentz, curator at the National Museum of Denmark have now confirmed that the patterns incised in the stamp bear a remarkable resemblance to those on the Sutton Hoo helmet The helmet was part of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon ship burial believed to be that of King Raedwald of East Anglia researchers believed that the Sutton Hoo helmet was of Uppland origin in eastern Sweden since its motifs were similar to other Swedish helmets depicting mounted warriors the Tåsinge find has now altered that perspective Both artifacts feature mounted warriors with specific commonalities—a shape of the harness for a horse partially reconstructed motif on the Sutton Hoo helmet that had previously been disregarded has also shown even more exact alignment with the Danish stamp These results suggest the Sutton Hoo helmet not only could have originated in Denmark but also could have been made by the same craftsmen who made the recently discovered patrice this theory would significantly alter what historians know about geopolitics in Northern Europe in the 7th century traditionally overshadowed by its more archaeologically conspicuous neighbors England and Sweden may have been at the forefront of the region’s political and artistic landscape during this period “It is still too early to draw any conclusions.” The discovery also raises the potential that Tåsinge was the location of a 7th-century metal workshop with the additional discoveries of metal scraps in the vicinity and a thin sheet of silver While the possibility remains that the stamp or the helmet was traded between areas the weight of stylistic and technical evidence falls on the side of Denmark being the helmet’s true origin researchers plan to create detailed 3D scans of both the patrice and the Sutton Hoo helmet The scans will allow for precise comparisons that can either prove or debunk the theory of a shared origin The patrice is on public display at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen starting April 1 and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative play iconHistorian Martyn Whittock speaks to GB News following the discovery of Thutmose II's tomb A remarkable archaeological discovery on Denmark's Tasinge island may rewrite the history of one of Britain's most treasured artifacts The Sutton Hoo helmet, sometimes dubbed "Britain's Tutankhamun," has long been thought to have Swedish origins a small metal stamp recently found by a detectorist shows striking similarities which point to Danish craftsmanship instead Jan Hjort was scanning a field with his metal detector when he unearthed a small PICTURED: The Sutton Hoo helmet and its reconstruction researchers later identified it as a "patrice" - a metal stamp used for imprinting motifs onto thin metal sheets The five-by-four-centimetre object was first brought to Denmark's Svendborg Museum before being transferred to the National Museum of Denmark for analysis The Sutton Hoo helmet was unearthed by archaeologist Basil Brown in Suffolk in 1939 as part of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon ship burial Experts believe it belonged to King Raedwald of East Anglia The burial site contained over 260 artifacts REMARKABLE FINDS IN BRITAIN'S SOIL - READ MORE: researchers later identified the item as a 'patrice' Basil Brown discovered the Sutton Hoo burial site in 1939 researchers attributed the helmet's origins to eastern Sweden's Uppland region due to similar motifs on Swedish helmets The resemblance between the two artifacts goes beyond general style with both featuring mounted warriors with identical details Specific commonalities include the shape of the horse's harness and a figure below the horse - while even finer details match exactly But a once-disregarded motif on the Sutton Hoo helmet has even more in common with the Danish stamp suggesting the Sutton Hoo helmet could have originated in Denmark rather than Sweden Experts now consider the possibility that the same craftsmen who created the patrice may have produced the helmet said it is "still too early to draw any conclusions" this theory would significantly alter our understanding of seventh-century Northern European history and politics traditionally overshadowed by England and Sweden in archaeological significance may have been at the forefront of the region's political and artistic landscape The discovery also suggests Tasinge could have been the location of a seventh-century metal workshop with metal scraps and a thin sheet of silver found nearby which will allow for precise comparisons that could either prove or debunk the theory of a shared origin The patrice is now on public display at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen Here's why Jung Hoo Lee is breaking out this seasonMay 2nd Watch rake in San Francisco and you'll see one of the more unique swings in Major League Baseball His swing marches forward like a military procedure Step 1: Lee starts standing tall and spread out in the batter's box his hands high over his head and his front foot wide open toward first base Step 2: As the pitcher starts his delivery now almost square to the pitcher but coiled like a spring Lee steps a second time -- he strides toward the pitcher uncoils the spring and fires off the swing that's produced a .316 batting average .893 OPS and National League-leading 11 doubles in his breakout second season in the Majors This is a style of hitting that you won't often see in MLB Lee combines the wide open batting stance of left-handed hitters like Rafael Devers with the toe tap used by Shohei Ohtani and the uppercut-style swing path used by Freddie Freeman but instead of flowing through those stages of his swing in one gradual motion the Giants' budding star goes piece by piece But the mechanical sequence of Lee's swing all boils down to one fundamental thing: "Timing," Lee said through interpreter Justin Han I make the right quality of contact on the bat against different pitches." Knowing Lee's baseball genealogy, you might guess he got his swing from his father, Korean baseball star Jong Beom Lee. But that's not the case. Lee's father, the "Son of the Wind," hit over 200 home runs in his career in Korea and Japan. But Lee, the "Grandson of the Wind," did not inherit his swing "My dad would never tell me how to play baseball so it's something that I made," Lee said my dad and I have a different kind of motion going into the swing "It's a personal feel that I have about baseball and I can't really put it into words." Lee has used the same idiosyncratic swing -- the open stance the uncoil -- since his days at Whimoon High School in Seoul He used it throughout his seven-year KBO career that's how I started hitting," Lee said "It's something that I just kept on doing my KBO team would always let me know that this is how you should be hitting So there was no need for me to change anything." Every piece of that swing contributes to Lee's ability to get the right part of the bat to the baseball at the right time He's even gotten more wide open in 2025 than he was in his debut in 2024 And Lee's pitch recognition has proven to be a strength this season It's why he can cover any pitcher and pitch type Lee is batting .304 against righties and .342 against lefties He's batting .328 against fastballs and .302 against breaking and offspeed pitches not the side stance that I have," Lee said I started facing a different kind of variety of pitchers It was just about the environment and all the pitchers that I started facing throughout the years I never meant to hit like that specifically but he's less than half that by pitch release When Lee starts the second stage of his swing and prepares to take his second step toward the pitcher Lee can take advantage of his elite bat-to-ball skill He doesn't have high-end bat speed or exit velocity but he is great at squaring up the ball on the sweet spot of the bat and it's still true even against Major League pitching And he's learned this year that his contact skills allow him to be more aggressive in the batter's box Lee is swinging more often early in the count and more often at pitches in the strike zone His first-pitch swing rate has jumped from 17% to 26% his in-zone swing rate has jumped from 58% to 64% and his swing rate against pitches that are right down the middle has jumped from 49% to 68% "It's all about experience," Lee said what happened was the pitchers tried to get me early in the count So I've just tried to use that and be aggressive with the pitchers this year." Being more aggressive results in a few extra swing-and-misses but not many -- Lee's whiff rate is still under 13% ranking in the 97th percentile of MLB hitters Lee's extra aggressiveness pays off with more dangerous contact Lee has made squared-up contact on the barrel of the bat on 35% of his swings this season, ranking in the 94th percentile of MLB hitters. His hits are no fluke. Lee's expected batting average, based on his quality of contact, is .308, ranking near the top of the league leaderboard hitters like Freeman and Steven Kwan are the best comparisons: steep swingers who are line drive and contact specialists Lee's line drive rate this season is 31%, which is up significantly from last season and currently top-25 in the Majors out of over 250 qualifying hitters on Statcast's batted ball profile leaderboard He's also increased his pulled air contact up to 20% which has helped him collect all those extra-base hits Lee sprays plenty of singles to the opposite field but his damage is down the right-field line or in the right-center-field gap "I always knew that I was never gonna be a big home run hitter," Lee said "So I just focused on hitting a lot of line drives a professor specializing in medieval history at the University of Oxford challenges perceptions regarding Sutton Hoo which is recognized as one of England’s most significant archaeological locations disseminated in the English Historical Review propose that certain individuals interred at the Sutton Hoo site could have been distinguished Anglo-Saxon warriors who fought for the Byzantine Empire including one that covers the remains of an oak ship 27 meters long and laden with precious objects and textiles pointing to the high rank of those buried there The site has quite often been linked with Anglo-Saxon nobility and many historians believe it might be the final resting place of King Rædwald of East Anglia Gittos proposes a different interpretation suggesting that Sutton Hoo’s ship burial reflects connections to the Byzantine world “We always want these people to be kings,” she told The Times “But this is another example of how you might have received considerable honors in your burial but it doesn’t mean that you’re royal.” The most conspicuous are silver spoons with Greek inscriptions a silver platter bearing the monogram of Emperor Anastasius I (491–518) and a bronze bowl believed to have come from the Eastern Mediterranean Rather than being evidence of trade between England and Byzantium such items likely arrived in England as personal belongings of Anglo-Saxon warriors returning from Byzantine military campaigns embroiled in heavy fighting with the Sasanian Empire of Persia launched massive recruitment drives across Europe These drives aimed to recruit skilled cavalry warriors leading to the formation of a group known as the foederati who were celebrated for their skills as woodland fighters such prestige gained through these military campaigns might have increased the social status of soldiers when they returned allowing for lavish burials such as the ones at Sutton Hoo and other items like riding gear and horse burials suggest the prominence of an equestrian elite “We should be willing to consider that these weren’t men dressed up as Roman soldiers,” Dr Although Sutton Hoo was discovered nearly a century ago Gittos’s research into the site has forced a reevaluation of the identities of those buried there putting into sharper focus their possible roles as soldiers in the Byzantine army rather than merely local rulers I had always wondered why the central figures on the purse clasp appear to show elephants (an animal not noticeably native to Anglo-Saxon Suffolk) or even representations of the Hindu god Ganesh Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab). Leave empty if the image is purely decorative. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Denmark likely played more central role in Europe’s ancient history than previously thought I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An ancient stamp unearthed by a metal detectorist suggests the Sutton Hoo was actually made in Denmark, and not Sweden as previously thought The Anglo-Saxon helmet is one of the UK’s most iconic archaeological finds and often called the “British Tutankhamen” Previous studies suggested it came from Uppland in Sweden, where helmets decorated with motifs of mounted warriors have been found. However, a new stamp unearthed at the Danish island of Tåsinge has been found to bear a “striking resemblance” to one of the motifs on the iconic helmet, the National Museum of Denmark said in a statement. “The Sutton Hoo helmet is iconic worldwide. It is a national treasure for the British on a par with the chariot of the sun for Danes,” said Peter Pentz, curator at the National Museum of Denmark. “It would be sensational if this helmet, obviously worn by someone of great importance, possibly a king, was made in Tåsinge,” he said. The new find challenges the current understanding of the helmet’s origins and the power balance in Northern Europe at the time it was made, around 600 CE. It also suggests that Denmark likely played a more central role in Europe’s ancient history than previously thought. The helmet was first uncovered during an archaeological excavation in Suffolk in 1939. It was found buried as part of an elaborate ship burial dated to the 7th century. At first, the remains of the helmet were uncovered in pieces, but archaeologists put the fragments together to find the motif of a mounted warrior with a man lying under the horse. Now, this same motif has been traced to Denmark’s Tåsinge island in the Southern Funen archipelago. A metal detectorist found a special ancient stamp known as a “patrice” on the island bearing the same motif. Comparing the motif on the stamp with that on the Sutton Hoo helmet, researchers found that the Tåsinge patrice is much closer to the one on the helmet than previously analysed Swedish motifs. Some similarities between the two include a cuff at the motif warrior’s wrist, the warrior’s hair as well as an almond-shaped harness fitting on the horse’s head, they say. On the contrary, a wild boar or bird of prey on the Swedish motif is not seen on the Sutton Hoo helmet or the new find from Tåsinge. The newly discovered stamp and the helmet may have not only come from the same region, but likely have also been made by the same artists, scientists suspect. “Despite being made in very different places, many motifs are clearly inspired by each other. But when the likeness is as strong as it is here, it could mean that they were not only made in the same place but even by the same craftsmen,” the museum curator said. “Denmark could have been relatively united and powerful as early as 600 AD. It is a find that challenges previous theories, and that is always exciting,” he added. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country Digital access for organisations. Includes exclusive features and content. See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times. it was believed that royals could have been buried at the famous site - but a leading academic has another theory For decades, it was thought those interred at the Anglo-Saxon burial mounds of Sutton Hoo, Suffolk were lavish Kings buried with their riches But a leading Anglo-Saxon expert has now suggested it might have been the grave of British soldiers who fought for the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century AD alongside Byzantium silverware and luxurious textiles “We always want these people to be kings,” medieval history professor Dr Helen Dittos “But this is another example of how you might have received considerable honours in your burial but it doesn’t mean that you’re royal,” she said “We should be willing to consider that these weren’t men dressed up as Roman soldiers,​” Dr Gittos said the Byzantines were in desperate need of men as they fought against the Sasanian​ Empire ​of Persia - launching a recruitment drive throughout Europe A group called the foederati was formed - including men from both sides of the Alps including Franks and Burgundians A Byzantine military manual referred to Britons as being good fighters in woodland and there is evidence that then-Emperor Justinian was paying subsidies ​in Britain​ So there is a chance the recruiting drive could have spread further north “That kind of adventuring can enable changes in status quite rapidly,” Dr Gittos said suggesting that the honour gained in war could have brought rewards back home He gains his status from being such a warrior.” Dr Gittos’ research, published in the journal the English Historical Review, looks not just at the burials at Sutton Hoo but at other notable sites, all of which contain common characteristics, like a large amount of items from areas around what is now Syria. Other research has suggested Sutton Hoo could be the resting place of an Anglo-Saxon King, potentially Raedwald, who ruled the kingdom of East Anglia. Sue Brunning, Curator of Early Medieval European Collections, at the British Museum, said: “It’s [the] effort, coupled with the quality and the quantity of the grave goods from all over the known world at that time, that has made people think that an Anglo-Saxon king may have been buried here.   “We can’t name that king for certain, but a popular candidate is Raedwald, who ruled the kingdom of East Anglia around this time in the early seventh century. He may have held power over neighbouring kingdoms too, which may have earned him a good send off.” Zhao Xintong wins historic World Snooker Championship defeating Mark Williams England's largest gold nugget found in Shropshire worth £30,000 New research suggests Sutton Hoo burial mounds in Suffolk may have contained Byzantine soldiers a groundbreaking study by an Oxford University academic has revealed in research published in the English Historical Review proposes that the individuals buried at sites like Sutton Hoo could have been cavalrymen who served in Byzantine forces "We always want these people to be kings," said Dr Gittos "But this is another example of how you might have received considerable honours in your burial but it doesn't mean that you're royal." The theory explains the presence of numerous Syrian artefacts found in the burials suggesting these soldiers brought items directly from their military service in the Middle East The famous Sutton Hoo burial mounds in Suffolk may have contained Byzantine soldiers The evidence centres on the unusually rapid transit of objects from the Levant to Britain including a flagon found at Prittlewell similar to those from earthquake-damaged shops in Sardis Military characteristics in the burials are particularly telling The Sutton Hoo helmet depicts warriors on horseback whilst other sites contained riding gear and nearby horse burials These men were part of an "equestrian elite" who wore Roman-style armour manufactured in Britain but inspired by foreign designs "We should be willing to consider that these weren't men dressed up as Roman soldiers," writes Dr Gittos The speed at which Syrian objects reached Britain suggests direct acquisition rather than slow trade routes A clear historical context explains how Anglo-Saxons might have joined Byzantine forces the Byzantine Empire launched a major recruitment drive across Europe desperately seeking cavalry soldiers for their war against the Sasanian Empire of Persia included Franks and Burgundians from both sides of the Alps Historical records show Byzantium was aware of Britain's potential with military manuals praising Britons as skilled woodland fighters Emperor Justinian was even paying subsidies in Britain demonstrating established connections between Britain and Byzantium decades before the Christian mission to Kent "I think we have to be really open-minded about the potential connecting routes," Dr Gittos said very reluctant to think that sometimes connections were direct and rapid." Overview of Anglo-Saxon royal burial ground The research suggests these returning soldiers had a lasting impact on Anglo-Saxon Britain Archaeological evidence shows a significant increase in Byzantine coins during this period Byzantine design styles were also widely adopted "If these men were shopping in eastern cities," Dr Gittos said "they were not bringing back gifts for their womenfolk." archaeologists have found local reproductions made in the Byzantine style Dr Gittos suggests that some recruits may have been minor royals or warlords but similar burial patterns among lower-ranking graves indicate that military service could elevate social status "That kind of adventuring can enable changes in status quite rapidly," she explained He gains his status from being such a warrior." and more below to make your Jung Hoo Lee player prop bets Lee paces the Giants with a team-high batting average of .305 Lee's home run total ranks 129th and his RBI tally ranks 36th Watch tonight's Giants game on Fubo! Medievalists.net The renowned Sutton Hoo burial site is famed for its opulent grave goods A newly published study in The English Historical Review presents a groundbreaking theory offering “a startlingly new view of early Anglo-Saxon history.” “Sutton Hoo and Syria: The Anglo-Saxons Who Served in the Byzantine Army,” Helen Gittos challenges the traditional narrative that these objects were gifts or acquired through trade with Merovingian neighbours may have been brought back by Anglo-Saxon soldiers who served as elite cavalry in the Byzantine military Gittos examined the burials at Sutton Hoo and other sites most notably the princely grave at Prittlewell which are dated to the late sixth and early seventh centuries These warriors would have been alive during a time when the Byzantine Empire reached out into Western Europe looking for soldiers the Byzantine army urgently needed more troops because of the renewed war with the Sasanians According to the early seventh-century historian Theophylact Simocatta Tiberius ‘recruited multitudes of soldiers and rendered the recruits’ hearts eager for danger through a flowing distribution of gold purchasing from them enthusiasm for death by respect for payment’ Contemporary sources talk of ‘squadrons of excellent horsemen’ numbering some 150,000; modern historians think it more likely to have been in the region of 12,000–15,000 potentially including Anglo-Saxon recruits were active on the empire’s north-eastern frontier against the Sasanian Empire they fought in key regions such as Armenia Notable campaigns included skirmishes near modern Azerbaijan and Syria with significant operations near Dara and the Arzanene region This period saw sustained conflict as the Byzantines defended their eastern borders If these Anglo-Saxon soldiers did spend years serving along the Byzantine frontier it would make sense that they would return to England with treasures and luxury goods The article notes that the metal composition and stylistic elements suggest Eastern Mediterranean or Middle Eastern origins for these goods the elite individual buried at Prittlewell was buried with: Items found at Sutton Hoo were also shown to have origins in and around the Byzantine Empire bowls and a huge silver dish stamped with the monogram of Emperor Anastasius (491–518) Even more interesting was that many of these items appear to have been made relatively recently The study emphasizes the homogeneity of elite culture in Britain during the late sixth and early seventh centuries the material culture of the Anglo-Saxon elite reveals shared tastes and influences that extended beyond the British Isles Grave sites like Sutton Hoo and Prittlewell depict a class of rulers who not only dominated locally but also interacted with a wider The equestrian identity of these elites is a recurring theme with artifacts such as horse harness fittings and elaborately decorated riding gear appearing across princely burials This shared cultural idiom likely stemmed from their experiences abroad including possible service in the Byzantine army The hypothesis that Anglo-Saxon warriors served in Byzantium offers new insights into early medieval geopolitics It suggests that the ties between Britain and the Mediterranean were not merely commercial but also military and diplomatic This challenges the traditional view of early Anglo-Saxon England as an insular society instead positioning it as an active participant in a globalized medieval world Gittos notes that she is not the only historian to suggest this kind of connection between Anglo-Saxon England and Byzantium but many have previously doubted this possibility The first is a tendency to see the Anglo-Saxons as late followers of continental trends rather than in step with them The reasons for this probably have to do with the comparatively late date for the recorded conversion to Christianity the extent to which Britain was less Romanised than other regions the degree to which urban life collapsed during the fourth century and a more general wariness about English exceptionalism there is a tendency to think of Romanitas too much in terms of a Roman past rather than a Byzantine present The third is a tendency to favour explanations which posit gradual social changes over sudden ones when of course both can happen concurrently At a time when there is much consideration about the boundaries of empires the evidence presented here indicates that the shadow cast by the eastern Roman empire in the west was longer—and less shadowy—than we have tended to think Helen Gittos’ study, “Sutton Hoo and Syria: The Anglo-Saxons Who Served in the Byzantine Army?” appears as an Advance Article in The English Historical Review. Click here to read it You can also visit this site to explore the Prittlewell Princely Burial Helen Gittos @helengittos.bsky.social on 'Sutton Hoo and Syria: The Anglo-Saxons Who Served in the Byzantine Army?' [image or embed] — The English Historical Review (@enghistrev.bsky.social) January 3, 2025 at 10:23 AM Top Image: Sutton Hoo helmet at the British Museum – Photo by Dale Cruse / Flickr We've created a Patreon for Medievalists.net as we want to transition to a more community-funded model We aim to be the leading content provider about all things medieval podcast and Youtube page offers news and resources about the Middle Ages We hope that are our audience wants to support us so that we can further develop our podcast and remove the advertising on our platforms This will also allow our fans to get more involved in what content we do produce Member Login Charity behind Anglo-Saxon reconstruction says it may be forced to look abroad after struggling to source wood in UK The aim is ambitious: to complete a functioning reconstruction of the extraordinary Sutton Hoo burial ship by 2026 and test it on the river and sea hopefully providing fresh insight into what life was like in Anglo-Saxon times is struggling to source the right sort of British oak to finish the build and is calling for donations worried that if it does not get the wood from the UK The historian Dan Snow is among supporters who has backed the plea for British oak from the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company saying it would be a shame if they had to look overseas for wood for such a project Since 2018, the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company has been piecing together the reconstruction of the seventh-century ship in Woodbridge, Suffolk with help from more than 150 volunteers and support from the universities of Oxford and Southampton It aims to generate new knowledge about Anglo-Saxon times and seafarers and has brought together historians ship builders and project managers to lend a hand But getting the right wood is proving a challenge. The charity does not have the finances to pay commercial prices so is asking for donations and Tim Kirk, the master shipwright for the project, has been travelling across England and Wales looking for suitable trees He said: “The problem is that they are veteran trees and quite reasonably people don’t want to cut them down I understand that and fully respect that but without those trees “There must be trees in Britain that are either windblown or struggling with disease or in the way of a new infrastructure project “The major oak forests in Europe now are in France and Denmark and Poland We really don’t want to get to that stage where we’re looking at foreign timbers.” The project manager Jacq Barnard said: “There’s just less oak than they would have been in Anglo-Saxon times We would love it to be built with English wood.” Snow posted on X: “We need big oak trees to get this awesome vessel on to the water” We need big oak trees to get this awesome vessel onto the water. Please spread the word. Don’t make them ask the French. https://t.co/07ccey32Nq The historian said it was a “magical project” that reconnected modern Britons with their medieval history We can learn so much from building these ships – how they can sail But he said: “There’s a shortage of the right kind of British oak – or the availability of it.” The charity has set out on its website specific cuts of wood it needs it requires long clear runs of oak from trunks 6 metres in length and up to 1.2 metres diameter (at chest height) for planking and other longitudinal timbers They need to be straight-grained and clear of knots It is also after curved timbers up to 4 metres-long for frames which come either as curved trunks or larger branches from the lower canopy of the tree They are also making 60 oars from oak and ash These need to be of the straightest sections possible clear of knots and approximately 6 metres long The idea is to build a ship based on the understanding of the materials and building methods that would have been used by Anglo-Saxon shipbuilders sea trialswill test hypotheses such as how the vessel was propelled (by oars and sail) what it could have been used for and where it may have travelled to Free daily newsletterOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day telling you what’s happening and why it matters The charity estimates it will use the equivalent of about 12 mature oak trees to build the ship It has planted 400 oak trees to replace any it uses and so that people in the future will have the correct timber to carry out similar projects People work on the replica of the Sutton Hoo longship in Woodbridge Photograph: PA Images/AlamyIt was one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of all time In 1939, the landowner Edith Pretty tasked the archeologist Basil Brown to investigate a large Anglo-Saxon burial mound on her land at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk than anyone could have imagined – the richest intact early medieval grave in Europe comprising the ghostly imprint of a 27-metre (86ft) ship with and military equipment including an enormous shield a magnificent sword and a helmet wrapped in cloth and laid near the left side of the dead person’s head decorated with images of fighting and dancing warriors A replica of a gold belt buckle believed to have belonged to King Rædwald of East Anglia Photograph: Joe Giddens/PAIt clearly commemorated a leading figure of East Anglia the Anglo-Saxon kingdom and may even have belonged to a king who ruled East Anglia and may have held power over neighbouring kingdoms Any bodily remains were claimed by the acidic soil and only a human-shaped gap was left among the treasures he was probably left-handed as the sword was placed on the person’s right side Domestic items were also buried including wooden tubs and buckets two small cauldrons and one very large one with an intricate iron chain that would have suspended it over a fire The burial showed that early Anglo-Saxon England was a place of wonderful craftsmanship and international connections, spanning Europe and beyond and the imagery of cavernous timber halls, sparkling treasures and powerful kings in the Old English poem Beowulf were not fantasy Pretty donated the finds to the British Museum and they remain a popular draw with numbers boosted by the success of the Netflix film The Dig History CorrespondentWednesday January 08 2025 The TimesFrom the moment of their discovery more than 85 years ago the greatest mystery surrounding the Anglo-Saxon burial mounds of Sutton Hoo has been who was ​interred there It was commonly concluded that such burials were for ​mighty royals but a leading Anglo-Saxon academic has come up with a stunning and​ plausible theory​ D​r Helen Gittos of the University of Oxford suggests that the burial site and that the reason why they had so much material from what is now Syria is because they left Britain to fight in service of Byzantium ​Gittos’ decade of research has produced a fascinating case which suggests that at least some of these “princely burials” are best explained by her militaristic National Museum of Denmark curator Peter Pentz and the bronze stamp which was found on the Danish island of Taasinge in 2023 The helmet was pieced together in 1939 from fragments found at the Sutton Hoo burial site in the east of England and is now an icon of Anglo-Saxon culture A metalworking die found in Denmark features a depiction of a horse and warrior that is remarkably similar to motifs on the Sutton Hoo helmet in England The famous seventh-century helmet from Sutton Hoo in England may have been crafted in southern Scandinavia The idea comes from the discovery in Denmark of a bronze metalworking die or stamp that depicts a warrior on horseback Examinations show the design on the rectangular stamp is remarkably similar to the horse-and-rider motifs stamped into the metal of the ceremonial helmet, which was unearthed in 1939 from an Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo in the east of England Similar motifs have been found on helmets from Sweden and jewelry from southern Germany and scholars have suggested that the Sutton Hoo helmet may have been an heirloom or diplomatic gift from those regions The latest discovery confirms that the motif of a horse and riding warrior was indeed widespread throughout Northern Europe at that time The stamp was found on the Danish island of Taasinge roughly two years ago Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox Related: Photos: Snapshots of mysterious Sutton Hoo burial excavation revealed The Sutton Hoo helmet is a curious mixture of Northern European and Roman styles It was rebuilt from hundreds of fragments found at the Sutton Hoo site which also yielded ornate grave goods — including musical instruments weapons and armor — from a burial chamber built on the deck of the buried ship The helmet and its distinctive face mask are now icons of the Anglo-Saxon culture which was established in eastern Britain during the early medieval period by migrants from what are now the coasts of Germany and Denmark a medieval historian at the University of Oxford —1,400-year-old structure discovered near Sutton Hoo in England may have been a pagan temple or cult house —Missing pieces of 6th-century Byzantine bucket finally found at Sutton Hoo —Anglo-Saxon teen girl discovered buried with lavish jewelry strewn across her head and chest University of Chester archaeologist Howard Williams, who was also not involved, said the design on the stamp is the closest parallel yet found to the horse-and-warrior motifs on the Sutton Hoo helmet. It now seems likely that the helmet was made in southern Scandinavia in the late sixth or early seventh century, or that it had been heavily influenced by the artistic style of that area, Williams told Live Science in an email. "The motifs from Taasinge and Sutton Hoo are similar but not identical, reflecting a popular design used on helmets across a wide region," he said. Live Science ContributorTom Metcalfe is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor who is based in London in the United Kingdom you will then be prompted to enter your display name Ancient Egyptians drew the Milky Way on coffins and tombs Physicists create 'black hole bomb' for first time on Earth The TimesHistorians are reassessing the origins of the Sutton Hoo helmet after a discovery in Denmark suggested that it may have been made there a buried ship at the Sutton Hoo site in Suffolk was found to contain a hoard of more than 260 artefacts It has been described as Britain’s equivalent of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and is thought to be the burial site of King Raedwald Chief among the finds were hundreds of fragments from a single helmet It was reassembled over many years to reveal a distinctive design with two eye holes The study identifies several artifacts in early English graves that may have been brought back by Anglo-Saxon warriors fighting for the Byzantines against the Sasanian Persians The famous helmet is among the Anglo-Saxon artifacts that indicate an eastern link with the Byzantine Empire The famous helmet from the ship burial at Sutton Hoo in England may be evidence that Anglo-Saxon warriors fought as mercenaries for the Byzantine Empire in the sixth century The helmet and chain mail coat found near it have distinctive features that indicate they were copies of Byzantine armor, study author Helen Gittos and Gittos speculates the warrior had later asked English workers to make an ornate copy but it has articulated cheek guards and a neck guard which were distinctive features of Roman helmets In the new study, published Jan. 2 in the journal The English Historical Review Gittos argues that some of the artifacts from early English graves and settlements suggest some Anglo-Saxon warriors fought for the Byzantine Empire against the Sasanian Persians — contrary to earlier suggestions that these objects had been acquired through trade Related: Anglo-Saxon teen girl discovered buried with lavish jewelry strewn across her head and chest that many of the Sutton Hoo findings and other Anglo-Saxon artifacts were better understood the Prittlewell grave had never been looted by grave robbers and it was excavated with modern techniques resulting in a precise date between 580 and 605 the Prittlewell grave contained a bronze pitcher silver spoons and metal bowls that appear to have been made in the eastern Mediterranean but were not valuable enough to have been traded it seemed likely that the early Anglo-Saxon nobleman buried in the Prittlewell grave had acquired them when he was fighting in the Far East "Those who returned brought back with them metalwork and other items which were current and not the kinds of things that were part of normal trading networks," Gittos wrote in the study (Image credit: © MOLA)The grave of the Anglo-Saxon nobleman known as the "Prittlewell Prince," found in 2003 has helped researchers better understand other early Anglo-Saxon artifacts found elsewhere in England (Image credit: © MOLA)This hanging bowl found in the Prittlewell grave was made to an Egyptian design Gittos noted that the Byzantine leaders launched a major military campaign in the 570s against the Sasanian Persians who threatened their Eastern territories and historical records show the Byzantine leaders recruited mercenary fighters from "both sides of the Alps." The promised pay "rendered the recruits' hearts eager for danger through a flowing distribution of gold purchasing from them enthusiasm for death by respect for payment," according to a seventh-century Byzantine historian Foreign warriors recruited by the Byzantine Empire were initially given a suit of armor and then money to buy more armor depictions of horses on other artifacts and even the skeletons of horses have also been found in the graves of early Anglo-Saxon warriors which suggests their skill as horsemen was especially valuable "These were experienced cavalry worth recruiting," Gittos wrote in the study —Anglo-Saxons plagiarized a Roman coin — and it's full of typos —Anglo-Saxon hall where kings and warriors dined discovered in England —1,600-year-old Anglo-Saxon cemetery holds speared man and wealthy woman King's College London historian and archaeologist Ken Dark, who wasn't involved in the study, told Live Science it was a "fascinating interpretation." It had been suggested before that some of the artifacts from Anglo-Saxon settlements and graves may have originated in the Byzantine world. "Nevertheless, there is no direct evidence that western Britons fought in Byzantine armies, although their military prowess — especially at fighting in woods — is noted in the Emperor Maurice's [sixth-century war manual] Strategikon, so this might be possible," Dark said in an email. Live Science ContributorTom Metcalfe is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor who is based in London in the United Kingdom. Tom writes mainly about science, space, archaeology, the Earth and the oceans. He has also written for the BBC, NBC News, National Geographic, Scientific American, Air & Space, and many others. Archaeologists discover hundreds of metal objects up to 3,400 years old on mysterious volcanic hilltop in Hungary May's full 'Flower Moon' will be a micromoon. Here's how to watch it rise. This is impossibly cool news. The newest Scuderia signing – who last weekend enjoyed a wonderful return to form in China’s Saturday sprint race before plummeting back down to Earth after being disqualified from Sunday's grand prix – told Motorsport.com about his new plan “One of the things I really want to do is I want to design a Ferrari That’s what I’m gonna work on for the next few years.” Fresh from working on brilliantly inserting himself into Ferris Bueller’s Day Off driving a 250 California GT Spider and from inserting himself in front of Enzo’s old house dressed like a mafia boss (above) it seems he wants to reinsert the F40 back onto the public stage It’s no secret the F40 is Hamilton’s favourite supercar said it was “very easy to drive… if you are experienced with racing cars" at least ones with skid blocks within regulations And it’s not the first time Hamilton has expressed an interest in going beyond the remit of his company cars. Back when he was an Mercedes-AMG hotshoe, he told TopGear.com about his desire to build a special version of the AMG-One. “I want to do a special LH Edition. I’ve already spoken to them about it, and they’re considering it. It doesn’t make sense not to do it, considering we’ve won the world championship,” he told TG back in 2019. “I’d probably change the exhaust system, make it a bit louder. I’d naturally want to give it a little bit more power. I’d probably change a few of the surfaces, add a little bit to the bodykit. I don’t know how much room they’d give me to do all of this, but I’d definitely do it. “I could custom design each one, with whoever ends up buying the car. That’d be a cool job,” he added. Know what’s even cooler? A new Ferrari supercar based on one of the GOATs, designed by a seven-time Formula One world champion and Ferrari racing driver. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Look out for your regular round-up of news No money from the licence fee was used to create this website The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation Source:  Image by Mark Seymour Shutterstock Medway Council is seeking a consultant for a £400,000 upgrade of Deangate on the Hoo Peninsula [Deadline: 4 October 2024] The winning team will carry out a feasibility study looking at a range of upgrade options for Deangate and the nearby Grain Coastal Park Key ambitions include reopening a Golf Driving Range and a Pitch and Putt course at Deangate and transforming a former clubhouse building into a community The project – backed by £400,000 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) – aims to boost tourism and unlock community and economic benefits throughout the Hoo Peninsula The study will also explore the feasibility of creating a new mountain bike track and introducing a new catering unit and toilet block at the nearby Grain Coastal Park According to the brief: ‘In March 2023 Medway Council were awarded £400,000 to be spent by March 2025 The REPF bid was focused on the Hoo Peninsula and covers: Improvements to tourism infrastructure including rights of way greenspace and coastal destinations such as Grain Coastal Park enhancing the coastal offer for quiet informal recreation ‘The creation of a rural hub at a suitable location on the Hoo Peninsula a place to make friends and connect with others and opportunities around health such as drop ins and screenings ‘Develop the former Deangate Golf Course and its buildings into a tourism destination visitor centre and café linked to our work around SEMS (strategic environmental management scheme).’ Medway is a Kent local authority which provides services to around 280,000 people and includes the historic settlements of Strood The latest procurement comes a year after Medway Council re-published its call for architects to join its new £8 million construction consultancy services framework Bids for the latest commission will be evaluated 50 per cent on quality and 50 per cent on price Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of £10 million public liability insurance of £5 million and professional indemnity insurance of £1 million Tags Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… University of Virginia parent volunteer Laura Steele hugs a student during the semiannual Hoo Needs a Hug event on Thursday the students received words of encouragement as they prepare for final exams Heartfelt messages like these from University of Virginia mom Laura Steele and others greeted hundreds of students Thursday as more than 80 spirited volunteers – decked out in “Hoo Needs a Hug” T-shirts and equipped with pompoms cowbells and bright smiles – fanned out across Grounds spreading encouragement and a little extra joy during the semiannual event Hoo Needs a Hug brings volunteer “huggers” – mainly parents and grandparents of current students – to Grounds to offer students physical and “pocket hugs” (small wooden tokens that students can carry with them) snacks and kind words – small reminders that someone’s always rooting for them a first-time “hugger,” and her daughter Ava enjoy time together during the Hoo Needs a Hug event It’s especially great going into finals,” Ava said whose son is a second-year student at UVA and whose spouse is an alumnus has participated in the event before and says it’s just as rewarding for her as it is for the students While the volunteers’ energy and enthusiasm might catch some students off-guard it doesn’t take long for them to understand the heart behind it so we just give them a (pocket) hug and tell them that they matter And those are the ones …,” Steele said as her voice cracked and she trailed off remembered when she happened upon the event early in her days at UVA “I totally didn’t realize that they did this here especially now as we’re coming up into the semester and all the projects are starting to kick in Taking a break to get a hug from somebody who says they care First-time hugger LeAnne Boyer had the privilege of sharing a hug and some time with a Hoo she knows well: her daughter Ava Volunteers also distribute “pocket” hugs to students at the semiannual event Organizers say students can keep the wooden token as a reminder that they have people supporting them “The women here who have organized (these events) throughout the last times have been so welcoming To see all the Hoos on Grounds get pumped up when they see us and ask for those hugs we get excited about it,” LeAnne Boyer said It’s especially great going into finals,” she said When asked if she’ll continue volunteering as a hugger Enjoy these additional photos University Communications photographer Lathan Goumas captured of the event In Guardian Australia’s weekly interview about objects the rising standup star tells us why she saves her spectacles and travels with a kitchen appliance Lizzy Hoo aspired only to climb the corporate ladder and eventually ended up working as an account manager But the reality of office life didn’t live up to the teenage dream “really bored at work” when she started doing standup comedy courses at night stuck with it – and eventually quit her day job to be a full-time comedian in 2021 The Melbourne-based comic released an Amazon Prime standup special in 2022 and is now a regular on shows including Have You Been Paying Attention she travelled to the small Irish town her mother hails from for an episode of Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey a show Hoo describes as similar to SBS stablemate Who Do You Think You Are? Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Hoo takes one trusty kitchen appliance with her Here the comedian tells us about her indispensable mini food processor and shares the story of two other items I need glasses to see – but it’s not just that ‘I can’t remember being into this weird pointy cat-eye style I was’I’ve been wearing specks since I was 13 years old and I’ve kept every pair I’ve ever had because they become part of your face for a certain period of your life all stored underneath my bed in a box of knick-knacks I can’t remember being into this weird pointy cat-eye style but apparently I was You know how when you hear an old song and it reminds you of a certain moment in time so curries are what I make now when I’m homesick or feel like I need a little comforting And I need this little food processor to make the paste for them Free newsletterCatch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips But one thing I really do regret losing is a scarf that my mum gave me – or It was a really beautiful pashmina that had been a gift from my aunt I once lost both sets of my house keys and we had to climb in through the window for a week Lizzy Hoo appears in Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey Archaeologists from Time Team are to return to Sutton Hoo for a second dig next year after unearthing missing pieces of a 6th century Byzantine bucket during a first excavation earlier this year This summer’s four-week dig was carried out near the visitor centre at the Suffolk site away from the famous Anglo-Saxon ship burial that was discovered in 1939 Fragments of a 1,400-year-old Greek inscribed bucket were first uncovered at Sutton Hoo in 1986 It was probably made in the eastern Mediterranean region in the 6th century about 100 years before the ship and its extraordinary treasure was put to rest several Anglo-Saxon graves were discovered this year The National Trust said archaeologists from Time Team would return from 19 May 2025 for another four-week dig a regional archaeologist for the National Trust 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 the burial ground that was discovered in Garden Field in 2000 stretches further than previously thought The burial ground revealed 13 cremations and nine burials and is believed to predate the Royal Burial Ground It is likely to be the final resting place of residents of low to relatively high-status families possibly including 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 It is hoped that the second dig next year will uncover more about the prehistory of Sutton Hoo and gain a better understanding of the second cemetery in Garden Field Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know The first major renewal of switches and crossings to be delivered by VolkerRail as part of the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) was successfully completed over a number of weekends in May and June The work took place stretched across a 430 metre stretch of line at Hoo Junction and 32 plain track panels) were renewed along the two-track line aided by VolkerRail’s 125-tonne capacity Kirow 1200 crane The Kirow crane transported each unit into position before being installed on the trackbed reducing the need for multiple machines and people on site making for a safer working environment and maximising the use of limited possession times As part of Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE), VolkerRail is the track delivery partner for SID working in partnership with VolkerFitzpatrick AtkinsRéalis as part of an innovative new model established to deliver the southern region’s £9bn renewals portfolio between 2024 and 2034 The SRE model is based on the Institution of Civil Engineers’ industry leading Project 13 principles established to deliver major infrastructure projects in a more collaborative manner; making the best use of resources and maximising efficiencies over £75m of work has been completed under the SRE The renewal of switches and crossings (S&C) is the first major milestone to be completed by VolkerRail said: “I’m really proud of the team for delivering what will be the first of many key milestones over the next two control periods we have needed to pull together quickly to hit the ground running and ensure our track delivery programme got off to a positive start “The Hoo Junction S&C renewal is testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone on the team.” said: “Hoo Junction was our first major S&C renewal in CP7 and I am really proud of the team coming together to deliver it successfully It was great to see the Kirow lifting in the panels and to talk to the team as well as to three of our track apprentices who were out on site when I visited I am really excited about the opportunities we have to deliver track even more safely and efficiently in CP7.” to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years Get the latest property market news straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters Plans have been submitted to Medway Council to build a large new housing development on the Hoo Peninsula Developer Taylor Wimpey has lodged an outline planning application for the construction of a new 450-home scheme on agricultural land between Chattenden and Hoo This 31-hectare site is boarded by Main Road and Ratcliffe Highway sitting to the north of The Hundred of Hoo Academy and Hoo St Werburgh Primary School It is stated in the application that the development aims to serve as an “extension to the existing settlement of Hoo St Werburgh" and deliver "much-needed affordable and market housing within the next five-year period and beyond" These latest proposals follow previously rejected plans from Taylor Wimpey for a 475-home development on the same site submitted back in 2014 Medway Council’s planning committee ultimately rejected the proposals in 2015 and an appeal from Taylor Wimpey against the decision was dismissed the following year The newly proposed plans outline that the 450 homes would comprise a mixture of terraced semi-detached and detached houses as well as apartments with the new-builds to be kept to a maximum of three storeys Developments to the centre of the site and south of the primary street would be kept to two storeys Joining the housing would be up to 500sqm of retail space a range of facilities would be clustered together to create a "local centre" that would serve as a "hub for the community" Just under 16-hectares of the site would be dedicated to open spaces including play areas outdoor sports facilities and a sports pavilion are included within the proposals Access to development would be from the Main Road roundabout and Ratcliffe Highway It has been stated that the Main Road roundabout as well as the Four Elms roundabout could suffer from heavy congestion due to the scale of development proposed for Hoo The plans add: “Mitigation schemes will be proposed to alleviate the effect of the site at these junctions.” These proposals are awaiting a decision from Medway Council and the application can be found in full via its online planning portal using the reference MC/24/2022 Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right What it is: A decorated Anglo-Saxon metal helmet with a faceplate Related: Roman scutum: An 1,800-year-old shield dropped by a Roman soldier who likely died in battle the Sutton Hoo helmet is an iconic relic of early British history the helmet reflects the power of its owner who may have been the Anglo-Saxon king Rædwald The reconstructed helmet — which consists of a cap a mask and a neck guard — is made primarily out of iron and copper alloy the helmet is 12.5 inches (31.8 centimeters) tall and it is estimated to have originally weighed around 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) The most striking features of the helmet are in the face which are laced with silver wire and studded with garnets An engraved copper mustache lies beneath the iron nose protection which starts between the eyebrows with an animal head the Sutton Hoo helmet was called the "British Tutankhamen." —Babylonian tablet preserves student's 4,000-year-old geometry mistake —Mask of Xiuhtecuhtli: A 600-year-old mask of the Aztec fire god taken as treasure by conquistadors —Book of Kells: A 1,200-year-old manuscript made by monks escaping the Vikings and garnets that likely came all the way from India or Sri Lanka Much is still unknown about the Anglo-Saxons, who ruled England from the fifth to 11th centuries, primarily because in the ninth century, the Vikings destroyed churches where records were kept The absence of historical records is one reason this time period has been called the "Dark Ages." But large mounds like those found at Sutton Hoo were almost certainly the final resting places for Anglo-Saxon nobility such as King Rædwald The Sutton Hoo discovery shows that the "Dark Ages" of early medieval Europe were a vibrant time Kristina KillgroveStaff writerKristina Killgrove is a staff writer at Live Science with a focus on archaeology and paleoanthropology news Her articles have also appeared in venues such as Forbes, Smithsonian Killgrove holds postgraduate degrees in anthropology and classical archaeology and was formerly a university professor and researcher She has received awards from the Society for American Archaeology and the American Anthropological Association for her science writing May's full 'Flower Moon' will be a micromoon