Description: Through the legend of King Arthur and the real-life history of the British Isles, this fascinating account maps the latest archaeological discoveries at Tintagel in Cornwall to bring myth and reality together, offering a strong claim for the historical existence of King Arthur.
Brief description: Ken Dark is Visiting Professor of Archaeology at King's College London and the Director of the Tintagel Hinterland Project, UK. He is an archaeologist and historian specialising in the 1st millennium CE, especially well-known for his work on fifth- to seventh-century western Britain. Dark has written over 100 academic publications, including 14 books, such as Britain and the End of the Roman Empire (2001), Roman-Period and Byzantine Nazareth and its Hinterland (2020) and Archaeology of Jesus' Nazareth (2023).
Review Quotes:
"The distillation of decades of research and scholarship by Ken Dark. Focusing on how small kingdoms emerged at the end of Roman Britain, it provides a fresh interpretation of this very difficult period by delving into the archaeological evidence, much of which is new and exciting. He argues that there was a historical King Arthur; but it is a surprising and original answer." --Mark Horton, Professor of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, Royal Agricultural University, UK
"Authoritative, informative and brilliantly thought-provoking. An essential and insightful examination of the history, folklore, archaeology and geography of Tintagel, examining its role in the development of the post-Roman west by one of the leading experts in the field. Highly recommended." --Miles Russell, Principal Academic in Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology, Bournemouth University, UK "For dark-age Cornwall and beyond, Ken Dark is the essential guide. Using modern archaeological research, he sheds light on Celtic trading links with the Mediterranean, as at Tintagel, where cargoes of wine and spices and other luxuries were imported for British kings, and which is today famous for associations with Arthur, champion of the early Britons. On fact and fiction in the age of Arthur, Ken Dark is the expert for our times." --Andrew Breeze, Professor of Philology, University of Navarra, Spain "This exploration of the Arthurian world centred around Tintagel draws on the most recent textual and archaeological scholarship to produce an accessible and stimulating account that will be of interest to enthusiasts and specialists." --Stephen Driscoll, Professor of Historical Archaeology, University of Glasgow, UK