Concept and creative process
Sutton Hoo is a major UK Anglo-Saxon archaeological site. A recurring bird motif found at the dig was chosen to be incorporated as a decorative element into the series title. This motif, as if growing out of rock and discovering the past, was the concept for the opening sequence. The bird illustration was traced frame by frame onto limestone. A stone mason then cut out each segment frame by frame, while an effects dolly, each frame calibrated, moved through various axes to rotate back from close-up to wide shot. This shot was all captured in-camera in one take.