The top of a leather pouch used to carry coins, the lid is made of red garnets inlaid in gold and is considered one of the most magnificent creations of the Middle Ages. The Sutton Hoo purse-lid is the richest of its kind ever to be discovered. This was only the beginning of the dazzling jewels that were found at the site. In one scene from The Dig, an excavator named Peggy Preston (Lily James) finds a small gold jewel buried among the ship’s skeleton. Among the plethora of artifacts, a handful of discoveries stand out as the most valuable treasures found during the excavation that the film fails to mention.

In addition to the bones of the ship, there were over 200 artifacts uncovered at Sutton Hoo, making it one of the most important archeological excavations in history. There are several things about the Sutton Hoo excavation that The Dig changes, including the treasures that were found at the site. Related: Is The Little Things Based On A True Story? History & Influences Explained But the ship wasn’t the only big treasure waiting to be found at Sutton Hoo. The film focuses on the people who came to work at Sutton Hoo, their various backgrounds, relationships, and how they came together during a time of strife to unearth the ancient ship’s remains.

The historical significance of the dig, the people involved, and the attention it attracted from the media and museums alike, are all part of the real-life events depicted in The Dig.

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