Archaeologists May Have Located Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson’s Palace, as Depicted in Bayeux Tapestry
A team of archaeologists believes they have pinpointed the location of King Harold Godwinson’s residence in Bosham, England, a key detail depicted in the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry, CNN reports.
The 224-foot-long embroidery illustrates the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, including scenes of Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, at his Bosham palace.
The research, published January 9 in The Antiquaries Journal, combines traditional archaeological methods with modern techniques to identify the site. The tapestry portrays Harold feasting in the palace before sailing to France and later returning prior to the Battle of Hastings, where he was killed by William, Duke of Normandy.
Finding archaeological remains from this period is challenging, according to study co-author Oliver Creighton, a professor of archaeology at the University of Exeter. Houses, even those of high status, were typically constructed of timber, which rarely survives. The Norman Conquest likely further obscured evidence of earlier settlements.
Despite these difficulties, the team was able to piece together clues to confirm the location. While Bosham is named in the Bayeux Tapestry, the precise spot of Harold’s residence had remained unclear. Archaeologists had long suspected that a 17th-century house, now the focal point of the modern village, stood atop the former palace.
To investigate, researchers analyzed the existing house’s structure, used ground-penetrating radar to map buried remains, and reviewed findings from a 2006 excavation inside the house and garden.
The surveys revealed two previously unidentified medieval buildings within the property. Crucially, a latrine, or toilet, discovered during the 2006 excavation, provided vital dating information. Archaeologists have recently recognized the placement of toilets in elite residences as a pattern during the Anglo-Saxon period, Wright explained. The site’s proximity to an important Anglo-Saxon church in Bosham also supported the theory, as elite residences were often built near churches.
The team believes Harold’s moated palace, with its ancillary buildings like stables, granaries, and kitchens uncovered in the 2006 excavation, was one of his preferred residences.
