Cultures of Post-Roman BritainRoman, British, Irish, ‘Anglo-Saxon’

HousingLanguageReligion

DressBurial

Literacy• Latin church generally discouraged vernacular• Byzantine church encouraged vernacular• Irish traditions

– Fosterage – Learned class– Aristocratic children in monastic schools– Early use of vernacular

• Anglo-Saxon macho opposition to learning?• Alfred

Education – Ogham and RomanInchmarnock ~750

adeptus sanctum praemium, ‘having reached the holy reward’.

Proposed Evolution of Written Language

Christianity in Britain and Ireland

St Cuileáin's bell shrine

Popular Christianity in Roman Britain

Water NewtonBarkway

Pelagianism in Britain

• Pelagianism, a belief labeled a heresy, denied original sin

• In 429 British bishops invite Germanus and Lupus to Britain to debate with Pelagians

• Germanus returns in 445 (military or religious purpose?)

Ireland I - St. Palladius

• Perhaps the Palladius who recommended the mission of St. Germanus

• Sent to Ireland in 431 to preach to Christians in Ireland

Pre-Patrician Ireland

Ireland II - St. Patrick

• Confessions• Letter to Coroticus

Disciples of St. Patrick

• Irish monasticism– Based on desert monasticism of St. Antony of

Egypt– Move to isolated places – outside the

kingdoms– Voluntary exile – Scotland; western Britain

Disciples and Successors of St. Patrick

• St. Kentigern (Mungo) –Strathclyde (d. 612)

• St. Columba - Iona

Scotland - St. Ninian (Uinniau)

• Disciple of St. Martin of Tours?• Apostle to southern Picts c. 400• Monastery at Whithorn (Candida Casa)

Christian Sites North Britain

WhithornEvidence for 6th C. church

Whithorn

Latinus

Te Domine Laudamus…

‘Celtic’ Stones

Kirkmadrine

Bêdh Morgan Morganwg

St. Columba

• Born in Donegal c. 521 (Colum Cille) • Active in Dal Riata (Irish Scotland)• Founded Iona c. 560• Iona becomes the nucleus for

Christianity in Northumbria

Christian Sites – Northern Britain

Hadrian’s Wall

Antonine WallIona

Cathach of Columba

Penitentials

• Codification of penalties• Perhaps based on secular law• Possibility of repeat offenses• Finnian of Clonard (c. 550) → Columbanus• Gildas

Irish Church – Continental Influence

• Columbanus – Return to Continent• Monasticism• Manuscript production

Columbanus• Born Ireland c, 540• 583 Annegray• 590 Luxeuil • 610 Exiled• 613 St. Gall, Switz.• 614 Bobbio, Italy• 615 Death

Christianity in Wales

• Samson 485-565 Welsh born; missionary to Brittany

• St Brynach – Nevern (6th cent.)• David, 520-588 Patron Saint

LlanBurial enclosure Cemetery w. church Church Town w. church

Christian SitesSouthern Britain500 CE

Evidence for Saxon Presence

• Cemeteries– Grave goods; Anglo-Saxon pottery

• Weapons in male graves

– Burials (where present) – N-S alignment– [Christian burials – E-W alignment]

• Rune inscriptions (rare)• Sunken buildings• Jewelry

Evidence for Saxon Development

• Increasingly elaborate sets of grave goods• Concentration of grave goods• Adoption of Saxon culture by native

Britons

‘Saxon’ Cemeteries – pre 575

Evidence for Early Settlements-rune inscriptions

Evidence for Early Settlements-tunic styles

Brooches-Roman Influence

QuoitPenannular

Fastening a penannular brooch1. With the ring of the pin upside down, push the pin of the

brooch through the fabric, picking up a couple of layers.2. Flip the ring portion of the brooch over, so that the open ends

are aligned with the end of the pin.3. Bring the end of the pin through the gap and above the

terminals, then rotate the ring until the end of the pin moves past the terminals,

1. 2. 3.

Brooches - Regionalism

Brooches-Kent

c. 630520-550

Anglian

Wrist Clasp

Cruciform, Lincolnshire

Equal Arm BroochMucking, Essex Weser-Elbe region

Frankish Artifacts

Darenth Bowl, Dartford Riseley Beads

Bracteate, Undley Common near Lakenheath, Suffolk450-500 “Howling She-Wolf”

Saxon Advent - Summary

• Peoples from a number of areas– Differences in local culture in England– Not always distinguishable– Includes, besides Anglo-Saxons, Frisians and

Franks– Styles adopted by natives?

• Exposure to Roman culture, literacy, Christianity

• Continued contact with the Continent

Britain 500 CE