The mind-boggling true story behind new Netflix film The Dig starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan

NETFLIX’S The Dig was released on the streaming service earlier today – but is it based on fact or fiction?

The drama film, based John Preston’s 2007 novel of the same name, follows the events that happened during the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo.

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The blockbuster, directed by Simon Stone, explores the life of Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan), a woman who finds some interesting things on her plot of land.

Many viewers have been wondering if the film is based on a true story – and we can confirm that it is as the Sutton Hoo dig took place over 80 years ago.

Back in 1939, archeologists started digging up ruins in the area located near Woodbridge in Suffolk, which is now an “awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon royal burial site” owned by the National Trust.

And Edith Perry, born in 1883, was the owner of the Sutton Hoo estate after inheriting it from her wealthy family.

The mother-of-one always had an interest in archeology and history, so when her son Robert was a bit older, she asked for help from Ipswich museum to tell her what was on her estate.

Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes), born in 1888, was a passionate archeologist who worked on the excavation of the Great Ship Burial all those years ago.

Edith, Basil Brown and his assistants Bert Fuller and Tom Sawyer, and Ipswich museum joined forces to see what they could find.

Basil, Bert and Tom also were also given a place to stay by Edith during this time.

Their success led onto to them finding out some very important historical information of the Anglo-Saxon period.

The Great Gatsby actress Carey admitted that she wasn’t aware of her on-screen alter-ego’s name before.

She admitted: “I’d never heard her name before. The character was so compelling, but diving into her real life was extraordinary.

“She was so beyond her time as a woman at the beginning of the 20th century. She was well travelled and educated and generous throughout her life.”

Watch The Dig on Netflix now.