We look at the development of Christianity from 50AD to 1100AD in both the broader European context and also for the people of Brigantia.
Period: Dark Ages
Jun 19
Guide – Agricultural practices through time
Prehistoric Yorkshire is a landscape rich with history, revealed through various archaeological finds that offer a glimpse into the ancient past. The oldest evidence of human activity in this region dates back to around 125,000 years ago, but it is the later periods, particularly the Iron Age, that have yielded significant discoveries related to ploughing and farming.
Jun 13
Brigantia during the Dark Ages
Yorkshire’s history during the Dark Ages is a tapestry of cultural shifts and invasions, beginning with the departure of the Romans in the early 5th century. This period saw the region become a melting pot of Celtic Britons, and later, the Angles and Vikings, each leaving a distinct imprint on the cultural landscape.
Jun 13
The Gododdin (Y Gododdin)
Carl Wark Hill Fort
This is a hill fort of unproven origin, best thought to be Iron or Dark age in date. Bronze Age artifacts are also close by and show a long general occupation of the area. The primary purpose for this visit was to investigate the possibility that it was used by the Brigantes during the period of Cartimandua and, if so, to try to assess its role between 43 and 70 AD.
Castle Dykes Roman Villa
This earthwork was partially excavated in 1870, these revealed the foundations for a Roman villa of obvious opulence. It’s final Roman owners were believed to have suffered a grisly death as the villa burnt around them. It is likely that future excavations will reveal that the villa was built over of an earlier tribal centre. Probably replacing the shrine to the “Light Water” with a more Mediterranean alternative.

