For the last decade, I have led the Glastonbury Abbey Archaeological Archive Project, which is dedicated to analysing and publishing the archive of all 36 excavation seasons. (Image: Glastonbury Abbey).ĭespite their various agendas, all the excavators of Glastonbury Abbey had one thing in common – they failed to analyse and publish the results of their excavations. Isometric annotated sketch of Saxon church excavations, ‘drawn on the spot’ and signed ‘Theodore Fyfe’ (March 1927). There were eight different directors, some of whom searched for the grave of Arthur and even the mythical Holy Grail others uncovered important evidence for the Anglo-Saxon and medieval monastic buildings and material culture. Just as the history and legends of Glastonbury Abbey influenced national narratives, so too did the attracted the attention of archaeologists throughout the 20th century.īetween 19, 36 seasons of excavations were undertaken at Glastonbury Abbey, funded by the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. These stories influenced the architectural style and layout of the abbey’s medieval buildings, particularly the Lady Chapel, which was constructed on the site of the ancient church.
The site of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset is inscribed with legends that are at the heart of English cultural identity: it is popularly regarded as the burial place of King Arthur and the cradle of English Christianity, where Joseph of Arimathea reputedly founded the earliest Christian church in Britain, in the 1st century AD. (Photo: The Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture, University of York, 2016) The Lady Chapel in its contemporary setting. Roberta Gilchrist is spearheading a major project to separate archaeological fact from the rich mythology the abbey attracts.
Excavators were repeatedly drawn to Glastonbury Abbey during the 20th century, but the fruits of their labours rarely made it into print.
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