Traces of ancient civilisation discovered near 'King Arthur's birthplace' in Tintagel

[Judi Lynn]

Jasper Hamill
Friday 15 Jun 2018 11:42 am



A view of Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, where a stone inscribed with rare ancient writing was uncovered (Picture: Emily Whitfield-Wicks/English Heritage/PA Wire)

A stone inscribed with rare ancient writing has been uncovered at Tintagel Castle, adding weight to theories it was a royal site.

The stone’s Latin writing, Greek letters and Christian symbols all date from the seventh century AD and appear to be the work of someone practising writing a text, analysis has found.

Inscribed writing from the early Middle Ages rarely survives, so the find of the 1,300-year-old engraving is particularly unusual, according to English Heritage, which manages the site on the north Cornwall coast.

It was uncovered last summer as part of a major excavation at Tintagel by Cornwall Archaeological Unit, which has also turned up oyster shells and livestock bones, bowls from Turkey and glass goblets from Spain dating from the same period.


Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/15/traces-ancient-civilisation-discovered-near-king-arthurs-birthplace-tintagel-7633776/?ito=cbshare

[Judi Lynn]

1. Inscribed seventh-century window ledge unearthed at Tintagel

Inscribed seventh-century window ledge unearthed at Tintagel
Find adds to view that Cornish site was home to thriving trade port in early middle ages

Steven Morris
@stevenmorris20
Thu 14 Jun 2018 19.01 EDT


A seventh-century slate window ledge inscribed with an intriguing mix of Latin, Greek and Celtic words, names and symbols has been unearthed at in north Cornwall.

The discovery adds weight to the view that the rugged coastal site, which is most often , was home in the early middle ages to a sophisticated and multicultural port community.

Put together with other finds including Iberian goblets and bowls from what is now Turkey, the slate ledge suggests Tintagel may well have been an important royal base with trade links stretching from Europe’s Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean.

Tintagel is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain Onsite research is focusing not on the stories of King Arthur but on a settlement from the early middle ages. At least 100 buildings were built on the cliffs and may have been inhabited from as early as the fourth century to as late as the eighth.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/15/inscribed-7th-century-window-ledge-tintagel-cornwall