Archaeologists find 'elite site' on land once owned by legendary king slain at famous battle

Archaeologists person uncovered an "elite" Anglo-Saxon tract connected onshore that erstwhile belonged to 1 of England's astir legendary kings.

The find was made by University of York archaeologists adjacent Skipsea, a colony successful East Yorkshire, connected onshore that erstwhile belonged to Harold II, oregon Harold Godwinson.

Pictures amusement excavators cautiously moving astir the ruins of a malthouse, a timber operation and a ample hall. 

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They besides uncovered a sunken operation that could person been utilized arsenic "a watchtower, doorbell operation oregon adjacent a tower-nave church," according to a property merchandise from the university.

The structures day betwixt 750 and 850 A.D. and were recovered little than 1,000 feet from Skipsea Castle, a Norman motte-and-bailey castle.

Researchers identified remains of a ample timber hall, malthouse and operation during excavations connected onshore erstwhile owned by King Harold Godwinson. (University of York; Print Collector/Getty Images)

Years aft the structures were built, the onshore belonged to Harold Godwinson, the past Anglo-Saxon king of England. 

Godwinson was killed during the Battle of Hastings successful 1066 — which resulted successful the Normans seizing power.

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Despite owning the land, determination is nary grounds that Godwinson ever visited Skipsea — thing researchers accidental whitethorn ne'er beryllium proven.

The malthouse and large hallway are signs the tract was erstwhile considered elite, excavation co-leader Jim Leary told Fox News Digital.

Radiocarbon dating indicates the malthouse predates Godwinson, though immoderate structures whitethorn person existed during his lifetime. (University of York)

"There was besides grounds of important trade activities, including metalworking [and] hornworking," helium added.

"All of these suggest that the tract was not a emblematic colony but thing overmuch much high-status."

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The squad besides recovered impervious it was enclosed with a ditch and slope — which Leary said indicated it was a "lordly center."

Archaeologists recovered a wattle-and-daub building, a operation made of woven woody sticks coated with mud.

"The tract would person been beside a water that nary longer exists, and we are uncovering grounds of prehistoric activity, including feasting and the crafting and usage of flint tools."

So far, Leary said that his squad has besides recovered a adust oven and a clay floor, which were some utilized successful the process of making alcohol.

"This was utilized to adust the cereal aft it had been 'steeped' and the malting process begun — a captious measurement successful brewing," helium said.

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"The timber hallway is precise ample for this benignant of gathering — 5 meters (about 16 feet) wide and 16 meters (about 52 feet) long, marked retired by station holes."

Radiocarbon dating shows that the malthouse predates Godwinson, Leary said, but the operation and hallway whitethorn person been contiguous during his lifetime.

Archaeologists besides uncovered grounds of prehistoric enactment astatine the site, including flint tools, seen astatine right, and signs of feasting adjacent a erstwhile lakeshore. (University of York)

"However, we'll ne'er beryllium certain, and uncovering archaeological grounds that helium visited the tract would beryllium astir impossible," helium said.

"There are nary documentary references to him ever visiting Skipsea."

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Leary added that, excitingly, archaeologists are uncovering adjacent earlier grounds of enactment astatine the tract — veering into prehistoric territory. 

"The tract would person been beside a water that nary longer exists, and we are uncovering grounds of prehistoric activity, including feasting and the crafting and usage of flint tools," helium said.

The onshore aboriginal belonged to Harold Godwinson, who was killed astatine the Battle of Hastings successful 1066, depicted above. (The Print Collector/Getty Images)

Excavations are planned astatine the tract each May for the adjacent 3 years, giving undergraduate students the accidental to enactment successful fieldwork.

The find comes a twelvemonth aft researchers made different Harold Godwinson-related find successful England.

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In Bosham, researchers recovered impervious of 1 of Godwinson's residences, acknowledgment to an past toilet.