Abstract
THERE are numerous points of general and living interest relating to the Anglo-Saxon conquest of this country which are very largely dependent upon archæological research for their elucidation. Amongst these may be mentioned the question of the extent to which the Romano-British population previously in occupation was extirpated; the question of the relative position, in the scale of civilization, held by victors and vanquished; and the question of the extent of our indebtedness as to language and laws to one or other of the two nationalities. Light is thrown even upon points apparently of the most purely archæological character from such literary sources as histories of the nomenclature of localities; as the records of monasteries; as illustrations in manuscripts; and as laws. But the graves of the Anglo-Saxons and their contents have been for the present investigator the primary; and such literary works as those alluded to, and such as many of those published under the direction of the Master of the Rolls and by the Early English Society, have been only a secondary source of information. They have however, been by no means neglected by him.
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ROLLESTON, G. On the Character and Influence of the Anglo-Saxon Conquest of England, as Illustrated by Archæological Research * . Nature 1, 661–662 (1870). https://doi.org/10.1038/001661a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/001661a0