Exploring the challenges of studying East Anglian history, the importance of archaeology in uncovering its secrets, the archaeological evidence of Rendlesham as a royal center, the migration and settlement of Germanic Anglians, and the practice of cremation in pagan societies.
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Quick takeaways
Archaeology reveals little evidence of violent conquest during Anglian settlement in East Anglia, suggesting integration into existing communities with minimal disruption.
The arrival of the Anglians and Saxons in East Anglia brought cultural changes, including cremation as a burial practice and the rise of military elites who became the region's kings.
Deep dives
Archaeology as a Window into East Anglian History
Archaeology provides valuable insights into East Anglian history, particularly during the early period of Germanic settlement. The village of Rendlesham in Suffolk, located near the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial, served as an important royal center for the East Angles. The archaeological record suggests that Anglian settlement in East Anglia began in the early fifth century, not long after the departure of the Roman legions. Unlike in some other regions, there is little evidence of violent conquest, as Anglian settlers often integrated into existing communities with minimal disruption. Burial practices also offer clues about cultural differences, with the Anglians and Saxons favoring cremation while the Romano-British practiced inhumation.
The Challenges of East Anglian History
The historical study of East Anglia poses unique challenges, as written records from the region are scarce. Most of our knowledge comes from Bede, who relied on third-hand information and oral traditions. Post-1066 chroniclers like William of Malmesbury and Roger of Wendover provide dates, but their accuracy is questionable. To supplement written sources, historians turn to Saints' Lives and archaeology to piece together the history of East Anglia. However, interpreting archaeological findings can be subjective, and the absence of certain artifacts can limit our understanding of the past.
Germanic Settlement and Cultural Transformation
The arrival of the Anglians and Saxons in East Anglia brought significant cultural changes to the region. Germanic settlement likely began under the Roman Empire as part of the Saxon Shore defense system, where mercenaries were employed to protect the eastern coastline. Archaeological evidence shows that the newcomers integrated into existing communities, with no signs of major upheaval or conquest. Burial customs, such as cremation practiced by the Anglians, differed from those of the Romano-British. The migrants transformed the East Anglian landscape and gave rise to military elites who eventually became the region's kings.
East Anglian history poses a particular problem for historians of Anglo-Saxon England. The Kingdom of East Anglia was one of just four kingdoms still in existence when the Great Heathen Army landed in England in 865, but hardly anything written records have survived from its time as an independent kingdom, most likely due to its having suffered the bulk of the Army’s initial onslaught which seemingly destroyed the kingdom’s major religious and administrative centres.