King Arthur birthplace: Stone inscriptions could 'prove' legend was born in CORNWALL
King Arthur birthplace: Stone inscriptions could 'prove' legend was born in CORNWALL
KING Arthur could have been born in Cornwall, experts have suggested as they say a stone covered in ancient writing could possibly hold the key to discovering the legend's birthplace
According to legend, Tintagel Castle in north Cornwall is considered to be the birthplace of the folklore monarch, in the late fifth century.
But there has been little to no proof that the famous king was born in the south-west county.
Experts previously believed that the King and Queen Guinevere were buried in the grounds of the Abbey at Glastonbury in Somerset.
The windowsill stone, which was part of an ancient cliff ledge, features Latin inscriptions, Greek lettering and Christain symbiology, thought to date back to the seventh century AD.
Tintagel curator Win Scutt said of the find: "It's incredible to think that 1,300 years ago, on this dramatic Cornish cliff-top, someone was practising their writing, using Latin phrases and Christian symbols.
"We can't know for sure who made these marks or why, but what we can say is that seventh century Tintagel had professional scribes who were familiar with the techniques of writing manuscripts and that in itself is very exciting.
"Our ongoing research has already revealed the extent of Tintagel's buildings and the richness of the lifestyle enjoyed here.
"This latest find goes one step further to show that we have a literate, Christian community, with strong connections from Atlantic Europe to the Mediterranean."
Following the discovery of the ancient stone, experts believe the site could have acted as a main royal base, with trade links stretching as far as the Mediterranean.
National Heritage, who manages the historic site on the Cornish coast, said the Middle Age-dated inscriptions are a rare find, making the 1,300-year-old engravings of special interest
For this reason, experts believe it is increasingly likely that the area played host to the English monarchy.
The organisation also believes Tintagel was the seat of early British kings. And because of its trade links to other parts of the world, the period highlighted Cornwall's "first golden age"
They also think the windowsill's inscriptions would have been the handy work of someone learning to write. The stone will go on display in Tintagel from Saturday.
But, contradicting the new evidence, in April this year a British historian found evidence that the legend of King Arthur may have actually been a reality.
Adrian Grant believes the legendary leader was born around 475AD in the kingdom's capital, Barwick-in-Elmet.
His theory, a culmination of a six-year research programme, disputes the tale that Arthur was conceived at Tintagel in Cornwall.
Mr Grant's evidence could challenge academics who believe the famous King never existed.
King Arthur birthplace: Stone inscriptions could 'prove' legend was born in CORNWALL
KING Arthur could have been born in Cornwall, experts have suggested as they say a stone covered in ancient writing could possibly hold the key to discovering the legend's birthplace
According to legend, Tintagel Castle in north Cornwall is considered to be the birthplace of the folklore monarch, in the late fifth century.
But there has been little to no proof that the famous king was born in the south-west county.
Experts previously believed that the King and Queen Guinevere were buried in the grounds of the Abbey at Glastonbury in Somerset.
The windowsill stone, which was part of an ancient cliff ledge, features Latin inscriptions, Greek lettering and Christain symbiology, thought to date back to the seventh century AD.
Tintagel curator Win Scutt said of the find: "It's incredible to think that 1,300 years ago, on this dramatic Cornish cliff-top, someone was practising their writing, using Latin phrases and Christian symbols.
"We can't know for sure who made these marks or why, but what we can say is that seventh century Tintagel had professional scribes who were familiar with the techniques of writing manuscripts and that in itself is very exciting.
"Our ongoing research has already revealed the extent of Tintagel's buildings and the richness of the lifestyle enjoyed here.
"This latest find goes one step further to show that we have a literate, Christian community, with strong connections from Atlantic Europe to the Mediterranean."
Following the discovery of the ancient stone, experts believe the site could have acted as a main royal base, with trade links stretching as far as the Mediterranean.
National Heritage, who manages the historic site on the Cornish coast, said the Middle Age-dated inscriptions are a rare find, making the 1,300-year-old engravings of special interest
For this reason, experts believe it is increasingly likely that the area played host to the English monarchy.
The organisation also believes Tintagel was the seat of early British kings. And because of its trade links to other parts of the world, the period highlighted Cornwall's "first golden age"
They also think the windowsill's inscriptions would have been the handy work of someone learning to write. The stone will go on display in Tintagel from Saturday.
But, contradicting the new evidence, in April this year a British historian found evidence that the legend of King Arthur may have actually been a reality.
Adrian Grant believes the legendary leader was born around 475AD in the kingdom's capital, Barwick-in-Elmet.
His theory, a culmination of a six-year research programme, disputes the tale that Arthur was conceived at Tintagel in Cornwall.
Mr Grant's evidence could challenge academics who believe the famous King never existed.
