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Diameter: 22.500 cm
(bowls)
Length: 25.500 cm
(spoons)
M&ME 1939,10-10,79-81,88,89
Room 41: Europe AD 300-1100
Sutton Hoo
Bowls and Spoons
Most people in Britain at this time were pagans, but Christianity was becoming more popular as well. Pagans believed in many different gods, and that you could take things to the afterlife with you if they were buried with your body.
One of these silver spoons says 'Paulos' on them, which could mean Paul, the Christian saint. The bowls also have a cross pattern in them. But burying precious things to use after death is not something that Christians normally do - they don't believe that you can take anything with you to the afterlife.
Perhaps the bowls were presents from a Christian, or the owner might have once been a Christian himself. Not all those who converted remained Christian.