Camelot: The Historical, Archaeological and Toponymic Considerations for South Cadbury Castle as King Arthur's Camelot

By Adam Haviaras

HISTORIA: A Gateway to Ancient and Medieval History and Archaeology!

This book explores one of the most important sites in British history, archaeology and literature, a place that can, more than any other, lay claim to the name of Camelot.

The search for King Arthur and his famous capital of Camelot is a topic that has been hotly debated for over a hundred years, with many theories being put forward. It is a subject that has always been shrouded in the mist of fairy tales and legends, making the truth difficult to discover. However, there is one candidate for Camelot that shines out and brings the Arthurian legend to life: the hillfort of South Cadbury Castle.

In this book, the reader will learn not only about the evidence for a historical King Arthur, but also discover the most recent historical, archaeological, and toponymic evidence that make South Cadbury Castle the strongest contender for the title of Camelot.

Author and historian, Adam Alexander Haviaras, helps the reader to explore the possibility that King Arthur’s Camelot was not just a medieval invention, but that it was an actual place that played an important role in history and the British Heroic Age. The true Camelot of Arthur may not be what you expect, but the evidence that exists paints a clear picture of something even more exciting.

If you have an interest in ancient and medieval British history, archaeology, and Arthurian studies, or if you are on your own search for a shred of truth about King Arthur, then you will enjoy this in-depth study of one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the quest for Camelot.

After reading this book, you too may start to believe that Arthur and Camelot are not just medieval fabrications, but that they actually did exist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eagles and Dragons Publishing
• Release date: Oct 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781988309187

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Historia IV

CAMELOT

The Historical, Archaeological and Toponymic Considerations for South Cadbury Castle as King Arthur's Capital

By: Adam Alexander Haviaras

Camelot: The Historical, Archaeological and Toponymic Considerations for South Cadbury Castle as King Arthur's Capital and the Historia series

Copyright © 2019 by Adam Alexander Haviaras

Eagles and Dragons Publishing, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

All Rights Reserved.

The use of any part of this publication, with the exception of short excerpts for the purposes of book reviews, without the written consent of the author is an infringement of copyright law.

ISBN: 978-1-988309-18-7

E-Pub Edition

Cover design by LLPIx Photography

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Historia IV

CAMELOT

The Historical, Archaeological and Toponymic Considerations for South Cadbury Castle as King Arthur's Capital

Preface

On either side the river lie

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;

And through the field the road runs by

To many towered Camelot…

(Alfred, Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott)

Camelot. The images which this name conjures have always been vivid, dreamlike and romantic. In his poem, The Lady of Shalott, Tennyson captured the essence of tragedy, adventure and inspiration of King Arthur’s legendary capital.

How did this magical place come to be? Was it real or not?

For generations, tales about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have fascinated readers of all ages and, over time, Camelot has come to symbolize truth, honour, justice, adventure and even love.

Whether this magnificent fortress or city of Arthur’s ever existed has been debated relentlessly. For many, the search for ‘Camelot’ has been a lifelong pursuit. For others, disproving its existence has been a lifelong obsession.

Since I was a boy, fascinated by tales of tilting knights, fair princesses and castles, I was attracted to all manner of Arthuriana. Every legend has a base in truth, and as my studies progressed into the realm of academia, I discovered that there was tantalizing evidence in the form of ancient texts, inscriptions, place names, archaeology and more to suggest that some of the tales and personages surrounding Arthur could in fact be real.

It has now come to the point in which it is generally accepted by many that Arthur was in fact a real person. I place myself solidly inside the camp of those who believe there was an historical Arthur.

With this acceptance, the quest has now turned to one of searching in the woven mists of history, myth and legend for evidence of truth around Arthur, his knights and indeed Camelot itself.

There are of course, many competing theories about Arthur, with many regions in England, Wales, and even Scotland claiming him for themselves. Such is the draw of Arthur as a hero.

But, the image of Camelot itself, that shining city written of by Tennyson and other writers of medieval romance, is something we need to rethink. The medieval castle with high stone towers, flapping silk banners and knights in shining armour atop its lofty walls is a medieval invention. It is the Camelot of fairy tales.

However, there is evidence to suggest that the historical Arthur, who was not necessarily a king, but rather a Romano-British warlord who led a force of skilled cavalry against the invading Saxons, actually had a base of operations, a main fortress, a ‘Camelot’ if you will.

The search for that historical ‘Camelot’ will be the main focus of our quest here. There are several suggested candidates for this fortress across Britain, of course, but we will focus on one