4 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Find the “Lost” House of the Last Anglo-Saxon King Depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry

A team from Newcastle University and the University of Exeter have uncovered evidence that a house in England is the site of a lost residence of Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.

Harold Godwinson, also known as Harold II, was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, reigning from January to October 1066. Harold became Earl of Wessex and played a significant role in defending England against Viking invasions. His claim to the throne was contested by William, Duke of Normandy, and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway. Harold famously defeated Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in September 1066 but was subsequently defeated by William at the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. His death marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England and the beginning of Norman dominance.

The team has reinterpreted previous excavations and conducted new surveys, leading them to believe they have identified a power center associated with Harold Godwinson, who met his demise at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

The coastal village of Bosham in West Sussex is prominently featured in the Bayeux Tapestry, which chronicles the Norman Conquest of England. Bosham is depicted twice in the Bayeux Tapestry. The Tapestry illustrates Harold’s feasting in an opulent hall at Bosham before his fateful journey to France, as well as his return, ultimately culminating in William, Duke of Normandy’s victory at Hastings.

The Bayeux Tapestry, shows King Harold riding to Bosham, where he attends. Credit: University of Exeter
The Bayeux Tapestry, shows King Harold riding to Bosham, where he attends. Credit: University of Exeter

While the exact location of Harold’s residence in Bosham has remained unverified, it has been suggested that a manor house in the village—now a private residence—sits on the historical site. The archaeological team employed various methods to investigate the manor’s early history, including geophysical surveys, assessments of existing structures, and a thorough review of maps and records, alongside a re-examination of evidence from excavations conducted in 2006 by West Sussex Archaeology.

Their efforts confirmed the existence of two previously unidentified medieval buildings: one incorporated into the current house and another located in the garden. Notably, excavations from 2006 uncovered a latrine within a large timber structure, indicating the site’s elite status. This aligns with a trend observed over the past decade, where high-status houses in England began integrating toilets during the 10th century AD. The presence of the latrine suggests that the timber building was part of Harold’s residence depicted in the Tapestry, which was part of a larger complex that included a surviving church.

The findings, published in The Antiquaries Journal, were led by Dr. Duncan Wright, Senior Lecturer in Medieval Archaeology at Newcastle University. He stated, “The discovery of an Anglo-Saxon en-suite in the 2006 excavations confirms that this house is situated on the site of an elite residence predating the Norman Conquest. Considering this crucial evidence alongside other findings, it is beyond reasonable doubt that we have located Harold Godwinson’s private power center, famously illustrated in the Bayeux Tapestry.”

The plot of geophysical survey results from Bosham. Credit: University of Exeter
The plot of geophysical survey results from Bosham. Credit: University of Exeter

Professor Oliver Creighton, Co-Investigator from Exeter’s Department of Archaeology and History, emphasized the significance of the discovery, noting, “The Norman Conquest replaced the English aristocracy with a new ruling class that left few physical remnants. Thus, the findings at Bosham are immensely important—we have uncovered an Anglo-Saxon show-home.”

This research at Bosham is part of the broader Where Power Lies project, involving teams from Newcastle and Exeter, and funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The project aims to investigate the origins and early development of aristocratic centers like Bosham, providing a comprehensive assessment of the archaeological evidence for these sites across England.

University of Exeter

Cover Image Credit: Public Domain

Related Articles

Dacian Treasure Discovered in Romania, Possibly Indicating a Hidden Settlement in Breaza

12 April 2025

12 April 2025

In the spring of 2025, an extraordinary archaeological discovery was made in the Breaza commune of Mureș County, Romania, when...

Researchers may have found the wreck of British explorer James Cook’s Endeavour

3 February 2022

3 February 2022

The wreck of Captain James Cook’s famed vessel the Endeavour has been found off the coast of the U.S. state...

Homo Bodoensis may be the ancestor of modern humans

28 October 2021

28 October 2021

Although modern humans are the only surviving human lineages, their kinship with other human species that roamed the world is...

Winter Solstice Solar Alignment in Kastas Monument: Alexander the Great’s Tribute to Hephaestion

27 May 2025

27 May 2025

A revolutionary study combining archaeology and solar modeling has revealed that the Kastas Monument—the largest funerary structure of ancient Greece—was...

Three Roman Graves Uncovered in Portugal

17 April 2024

17 April 2024

Three burials dating to the 5th or 6th century AD have been unearthed in the ancient Roman city of Ossónoba...

2,700-Year-Old Pre-Roman Iron Age necropolis Unearthed in Naples, Italy

8 May 2024

8 May 2024

An approximately 2,700-year-old Pre-Roman necropolis was discovered by archaeologists during excavations conducted in advance of a planned electric power plant...

Mass Grave of 150 Roman Legionaries Discovered in Vienna—First Direct Evidence of Ancient Combat on the Danube Limes

4 April 2025

4 April 2025

Archaeologists from the Vienna Museum have made a groundbreaking discovery on the outskirts of Vienna, unearthing the remains of approximately...

Medieval Hub of Arts & Crafts Center discovered in Nola: The discovery could rewrite the history of early medieval Nola

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

On the outskirts of Nola, a district from the early Middle Ages has been discovered. According to the Soprintendenza Archeologia,...

During the demolition work, a 2,500-year-old bull heads alto relievo was discovered in Sinop

20 April 2022

20 April 2022

During the demolition work of the buildings in front of the historical city walls for the City Square National Garden...

Bone workshop and oil lamp shop unearthed in Aizanoi ancient city in western Turkey

13 November 2021

13 November 2021

Archaeologists have unearthed a bone workshop and an oil lamp shop in an Aizanoi ancient city in the Çavdarhisar district...

Roman-era structures unearthed in northwestern Turkiye dam site rescue excavations

18 May 2024

18 May 2024

Rescue excavations at the Reşitköy Dam site in the northwestern Turkiye province of Balıkesir have unearthed Roman structures, including a...

Archaeologists Discovered Over 500 Ancient Coins and A Gold Template for Making jewelry in Bulgaria

17 August 2024

17 August 2024

In Plovdiv, in southern Bulgaria, archaeologists have discovered over 500 ancient coins and a gold template for making jewelry from...

1,400-year-old coins found in a piggy bank in ancient city of Hadrianopolis

3 January 2024

3 January 2024

Archaeologists unearthed a collection of 10 coins believed to date back nearly 1,400 years, retrieved from what appears to be...

A Lynx Buried with Four Big Dogs in an Ancient Roman Well in Hungary

17 April 2024

17 April 2024

Archaeologists have discovered the skeleton of an adult male lynx accompanied by four big dogs in a Roman-era pit in...

The Stonehenge road tunnel is illegal, according to the High Court

23 June 2021

23 June 2021

The transport secretary’s decision to allow a road tunnel to be built near Stonehenge was unlawful, according to the high...