Viking Pilgrims Did Not Wipe Out Anglo-Saxon Monks; Evidence Suggests That Kent Monastery Withstood Repeated Norse Invader Attacks For Almost a Century

Unlike previously thought, pilgrim vikings were not the culprits behind the wipeout of Anglo-Saxon monks in England. The Daily Mail reports that archaeologists were able to uncover evidence that the Kent monastery actually withstood repeated Norse invader attacks for almost a century.

Kent Monastery Withstood Repeated Norse Invader Attacks

According to Eurekalert, the Kent monastery of Lyminge was at the forefront of long-standing hostility of Vikings. Such hostility, however, halted when Alfred the Great won the victory.

However, new evidence suggests that monasteries were more resilient than thought. Lyminge actually withstood repeated Norse invader attacks for almost a century. Nevertheless, it consistently resisted collapse. The monastery was able to successfully do so, thanks to remarkable defense strategies that were implemented by Kent's secular leaders.

Such evidence was discovered after an in-depth examination of the historical and archaeological evidence by Dr. Gabor Thomas, an associate professor at the University of Reading's Department of Archaeology.

Lyminge Kent Monastery Was More Resilient Than Thought

He states that, while the portrayal of ruthless Viking pilgrims eradicating helpless nuns and monks is grounded in written documents, checking the evidence again revealed that monasteries were more resilient than expected.

Even if the Kent monastery was located in an area that was at the forefront of Viking attacks during the latter parts of the 8th century and early parts of the 9th century, evidence suggests that the monastery did not just survive but also recovered. The findings of the study were included in the Archaeologia journal.

The monastery's key elements were uncovered during excavations between 2007, 2015, and 2019. Such elements included a stone chapel and other structures.

Radiocarbon dating analyses of discarded animal bones revealed that the occupation continued for almost 200 years after the monastery was first established in the mid-7th century.

Certain records revealed that, after an attack in 804 AD, the monastery's community was offered relatively safe asylum within the Canterbury walls.

However, evaluations by Dr. Thomas revealed that the Anglo-Saxon monks did not just go back to their monastery but also continued their lives and development during the 9th century. Artifacts from the site, such as silver coins, that could be dated revealed the community's re-establishment.

Dr. Thomas states that the study offers a complex picture of what monasteries went through during troublesome occasions. These communities were more resilient compared to the picture of a sitting duck that was illustrated in popular accounts of Viking pilgrim attacks.

Despite exhibiting resilience, this quality eventually stretched and reached its point of breaking. During the latter parts of the 9th century, when Alfred the Great engaged in a grave conflict with Viking pilgrim invaders, the monastery site was altogether abandoned. Dr. Thomas notes that this could have been due to the lasting pressure from Viking invaders.

It was only in the 10th century that settled life was restored. It was under the leadership of the Canterbury Archbishops that the area that used to belong to the monastery was acquired.

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