The soil conditions at Sutton Hoo have a significant effect on organic materials. The soil is acidic and waterlogged, which creates an environment that is hostile to most organic materials. This acidity and waterlogging break down organic materials very slowly, allowing them to survive in the soil for much longer than they would in other environments. This phenomenon helps explain how the organic materials found at Sutton Hoo, such as the wood of the ship burial, have survived for so long. Additionally, the soil conditions at Sutton Hoo have helped preserve the organic materials by preventing the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms that would typically decompose them.