A fictionalized version of this intriguing story is told in the aptly titled film "The Dig" (Netflix). Inspired by the 2007 novel by John Preston, "The Dig" focuses on Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes), a local excavator and amateur archaeologist who oversaw the project. He was scorned by museum experts for his lack of formal education, lowly social status and unorthodox methods. His contribution to the discovery was hidden from the public eye for decades. Basil's champion is Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), a wealthy widow who hires him to investigate the mysterious earthen mounds on her vast estate, Sutton Hoo. The project captures the imagination of her young son, Robert (Archie Barnes), who comes to regard Basil as a surrogate father.