Sutton Hoo? The relics heading to France under Bayeux loan

Sutton Hoo is one of England's most important archaeological sites, with its relics offering an awe-inspiring glimpse into the country's Anglo-Saxon past.

Many are now set to be displayed in northern France next year, alongside several other medieval pieces held by the British Museum, as part of an exchange for the Bayeux Tapestry.

Here are some facts about the site in Suffolk, England, and the other high-profile items purportedly included in the Tapestry loan deal.

 What was found at Sutton Hoo?
Archaeologists in 1939 discovered an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, including a ship burial containing a wealth of Anglo-Saxon artefacts dating from the sixth and seventh centuries, and the search for more treasure continues to this day.

The artefacts at the East Anglia site include metalwork dress fittings in gold and gems, a ceremonial helmet, a shield and sword, and a silver plate from the Eastern Roman Empire.

Who was buried in the ship?

Experts think that Redwald, king of the East Angles, is the most likely person to have been buried in the ship.

He was a member of the Wuffingas dynasty, who were the first kings of the East Angles, although details about his life are sparse as documents were likely destroyed during the ninth century Viking invasions of England.

What is the significance of the site?

The discovery was key in charting the history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia and giving key insights into a period of scarcely documented English history.

The story of its excavation in 1939 was turned into a film, "The Dig", starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.

Who discovered and dug the site?

Amateur archeologist Basil Brown was the first to uncover the two grave sites, but national scholars took over when the scale of the discovery became clear. More burials were found in the 1960s and 1980s.

Who were the Anglo Saxons?

The Angles and the Saxons were Germanic tribes who settled in south eastern England after the Romans left the area in the fifth century.

Southern England at the time was divided into independent kingdoms

What does Sutton Hoo mean?

Sutton Hoo derives its name from Old English, with Sutton meaning "southern farmstead" and hoo meaning a hill "shaped like a heel spur".

It was recorded in the 11th century Domesday Book as Hoi.

Where exactly is it?

Sutton Hoo lies along a bank of a tidal estuary, which is overlooked by large mounds and was an entry point into East Anglia from the North Sea.

What are the Lewis chessmen?

They are a hoard of 93 gaming pieces, including from at least four chess sets as well as other games, found buried on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

The chess pieces were probably made in the late 12th or early 13th century in Norway, according to National Museums Scotland, which acquired 11 of them in 1888.

The hoard's discovery had first came to light when the pieces were exhibited in Edinburgh at the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1831.

The British Museum bought the rest of the hoard around that time.

What is the Battersea Shield?

An Iron Age bronze shield dating back to between 350 and 50 BC, it was found in the River Thames near London's Battersea Bridge in 1857.

It is not actually a complete shield, but only the facing -- a metal cover that was attached to the front of a wooden shield, according to the British Museum, which has it in its collection.

It is highly decorative and ornate, featuring swirling designs which may have been believed to hold magical or protective properties.

The shield does not show signs of having been damaged in combat, but the museum notes that this does not necessarily mean that it was not used in warfare.