Thanks to the recent film 'The Dig', Suffolk's fame for its Saxon heritage has been brought to a new generation. Essex however, though home to the East Saxons, was until recently seen as a bit of a backwater when it came to Saxon history.

All this changed in 2003 with the discovery of the Prittlewell Burial. Prittlewell is part of Southend – the oldest part, as Southend was originally named as the 'south end' of Prittlewell. A survey in advance of a road-widening scheme revealed a Saxon burial chamber that represents the most spectacular find since Sutton Hoo.

Like Sutton Hoo, the timber chamber had collapsed and filled with soil, but archaeologists are able to give a detailed reconstruction of its layout. At thirteen feet square it is the largest chambered tomb ever found in England.

The treasures include drinking horns, gold foil crosses, a gold belt buckles, copper allow flagon, gold coins, a hanging bowl, glass decorated beakers and the fittings of a wooden lyre (a form of harp).

The richness of the grave goods indicate someone of wealth and status, possibly royal. The latest carbon dating points to the late 6th Century, which might indicate the grave belonged to Seaxa, brother of a Saxon king. His family are known to have converted to Christianity, and the gold foil crosses would have been placed over the eyes of the deceased. Apart from some tooth fragments, the actual body has long since dissolved.

As always, archaeologists are as fascinated by the overall assemblage as by the individual finds. The chamber is estimated to have taken the best part of a week to build, with about twenty men working with the wood of a dozen oak trees.

This would indicate a high level of organisation. The finds also point to trade with the continent and even further afield – two of the garnets in the lyre fittings may have come from India or Sri Lanka, and the flagon from Syria.

The full report of the excavation was published in 2019, and some of the finds are permanently exhibited in Southend Central Museum. The museum's website allows a full virtual tour of the chamber.

There seems little doubt that this remarkable discovery represents the earliest Christian princely burial known in England. Though we cannot be a hundred percent sure of his identity, some give him a characteristic nickname: 'The King of Bling'.