Tintagel - Taking The Mantle From The Romans

Tintagel - Taking The Mantle From The Romans

Finds dating from the 5th to 7th centuries AD show us that after the Roman administration and some of the Roman military had departed from Britain in AD c.410, Tintagel, which is situated on the north-western, Atlantic side of Cornwall (Fig. 1.1), developed into an elite site which traded or continued trading with several areas in the Mediterranean.

This book uses the latest archaeology and material finds from excavations at Tintagel, to help identify the promontory as the stronghold site and the capital of Dumnonia. I will reveal why Tintagel was chosen by the kings of Dumnonia as the main stronghold and capital for its administrative and trading centre as well as the settlement and structural character of the site.

This book questions the possible trade routes used and the extent of the continued relationship between Britain and the traders from the Mediterranean and the Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire. I will ask if the Byzantine/Eastern Romans somehow continued to have some hold on Britain after AD c.410, possibly as a client state, and whether this was economic or political.