We are responding to Simon Jenkins’s opinion piece, (Every faith spawns its fables and myths. The trick is to puncture them, 26 November) which discusses our major archaeology research published last month on Glastonbury Abbey. Mr Jenkins used our research to make a broader point about religious “mythmaking” in the Middle Ages right up to modern-day extremist beliefs. However, we wanted to address some of his misinformed comments about the research being “nonsense”.
This was a four-year research project focused on the archaeological excavations that have taken place at Glastonbury. Historians have understood for many decades how the monks spun Glastonbury’s myths. However, our work challenges some of the archaeological “myths” spun by 20th-century excavators themselves – with a detailed, comprehensive analysis, assessment and interpretation of all known archaeological records from 36 separate digs at the abbey between 1904 and 1979, none of which has ever been published.
We brought modern scientific approaches to bear on antiquarian excavations, working with experts and colleagues from numerous universities, museums and archaeological units. We revealed important new evidence – including “Dark Age” occupation, Saxon churches and glass-working and the extensive rebuilding of the abbey in the middle ages. We published the findings on a project website and in the 500-page monograph, which was published last month. We would be delighted to host Mr Jenkins at the abbey itself. As the former chairman of the National Trust, we have a shared interest with him in understanding and enhancing the nation’s heritage.
Professor Roberta Gilchrist
University of Reading
Janet Bell
Director of Glastonbury Abbey
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