One of my main archaeological interests is Dark Age Britain - the period after the end of Roman rule in Britain. Roughly this is from about 410 AD to about 600 AD. Here I hope to list some useful links to resources, as well as some pages of basic information about the period.
Why the Dark Ages?
This period has several names - such as the Dark Ages, the post-Roman period, the Migration period. Late Antiquity is another term that is being used by an increasing number of people, though this is confusing as the term “Late Antiquity should really refer to a wider period - the fourth to the seventh centuries A.D. The Romans did not conquer the whole of the British Isles or any part of Ireland, but any discussion of the post-Roman period cannot leave these places out. This period also falls between the interests of those interested in the Romans, and those interested in the Anglo-Saxons.
It is a true Dark Age - the sources for the history of this period are few, and all have serious problems. I hope to add some pages on Dark Age sources sometime soon.The archaeological remains from this period are few, and material culture is poor. One of the few types of monument from this period are the Dykes - the defensive earthworks that occur across England. I will gradually be adding more information about the Dykes to this site.
