Newcastle University
The place, now discovered in Bosham, is portrayed twice in Bayeux’s famous tapestry.
Archaeologists at the University of Newcastle and the University of Exeter discovered the Probable place of the residence of King Harold II In Bosham, West Sussex, a place famously represented in the Bayeux tapestry.
The discovery, announced as part of the project Where Power LiesIt offers a new perspective on the power base of the last Anglo-Saxon king before his death at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, explains the.
The team reanalized previous excavations carried out in 2006 and combined them with new geophysical surveys, historical map reviews and existing structures studies in Bosham. Identified two medieval buildings on site – One integrated in a current house and one in the garden. A crucial aspect was the discovery of a wooden salon with a latrine, a characteristic that archaeologists associate elite homes in the 10th century England.
“The discovery of the latrine confirmed that it was a high -end”Explained Dr. Duncan Wright, senior professor of medieval archeology at Newcastle University. “Considering these evidence and the historical records, there is no doubt that it was the private residence of King Harold, portrayed in Bayeux’s tapestry.”
Tapestry, a famous 11th century artifact, portrays Bosham twice: First as the place where Harold dinner in a large hall before leaving for France, and again after his return. Although Bosham’s importance in the Anglo-Saxon era has been recognized for a long time, this is the first archaeological confirmation of Harold’s power center in this place.
The discovery is part of a wider project, Where Power Liesfinanced arts and humanities Research Council, which visa explore the aristocratic centers from all over England. Bosham’s discovery is the first major advance of the project and provides a new context for the life of the Anglo-Saxon elite before the Norman conquest.
Professor Oliver Creighton, co-investigator of the project, stressed its historical meaning: “The Norman conquest replaced much of the English aristocracy, leaving few physical evidence of your legacy. This discovery in Bosham offers a rare glimpse of the Anglo-Saxon elite and its way of life. ”
