In this video, we look at the archaeological evidence for the Anglo-Saxon arrival into Britain. The evidence points towards a world that is infinitely more complicated than the stories make it out to be, as we go over how a unique mixture of geographical luck, economic circumstance, and human behaviour created the perfect storm for the Romano-Celtic ideas of Eastern Britain to be totally uprooted.

Instead of being part of an army, the individuals who came were immigrants from all over the Germanic world, seeking land to improve their personal circumstance. The vast majority of them couldn't even afford a sword. Hengist and Horsa and the stories we know of them conquering Britain should, I argue, be seen as propaganda to explain a circumstance that even we struggle to understand.

This topic is incredibly difficult to summarise as I have done here, and it is an explanation that a lot of people won't be fans of. But the truth is that culture and identity in early fifth century Britain was constantly being redefined, and the concept of Anglo-Saxon, while useful in general terms, doesn't hold up to much scrutiny.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/guthlacyt
Website: www.guthlac.co.uk