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"The book covers the fortifications of England and Wales during the early period of the English Dark Ages through the Anglo Saxon invasions. The author examines possible abandoned Roman fortifications the Celtic Britons may have used and the more traditional hill top forts with earthen defenses and wooden walls. A more detailed view of South Cadbury is presented since for many years it had been considered the site of legendary King Arthur's Camelot (or at least the real king the legend grew out of). The site of Dinas Emrys in Wales, associated with Merlin and the myth of the underground pool with two dragons is described with the legend. This work also relates the Arthurian legend to many of the sites presented. The author also explains the use of the long dykes thought to be fortifications. For those interested in the period and the legends, this work helps reveal the reality." -JE Kauffman, "SiteO Newsletter" (January 2009)
"King Arthur. Few things capture the essence of romance, chivalry, mystery, and our imaginations the way that Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table do. Most wargamers are aware that the origins of Arthur are shrouded in mystery. Perhaps less well known (or at least less well discussed) is the question as to whether Arthur even existed at all. Readers wishing for a quick introduction into both the debate and the archeological evidence that exists during the "Arthurian" period would do well to pick up a copy of Angus Konstam's "British Forts in the age of Arthur,"" -Mike Dorn, "The Wargamer "(January 2009)
"King Arthur. Few things capture the essence of romance, chivalry, mystery, and our imaginations the way that Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table do. Most wargamers are aware that the origins of Arthur are shrouded in mystery. Perhaps less well known (or at least less well discussed) is the question as to whether Arthur even existed at all. Readers wishing for a quick introduction into both the debate and the archeological evidence that exists during the "Arthurian" period would do well to pick up a copy of Angus Konstam's "British Forts in the age of Arthur,"" -Mike Dorn, "The Wargamer "(January 2009)
Product Description
When the Romans left Britain around AD 410, the unconquered native peoples of modern Scotland, Ireland and Wales were presented with the opportunity to pillage what remained of Roman Britain. The Post-Roman Britons did their best to defend themselves by using fortifications. While some Roman forts were maintained, the Post-Roman Britons also created new strongholds, or re-occupied some of the hill-forts first built by their ancestors. The most famous warlord of the 'Dark Ages' was the legendary Arthur. His attempt to unite the Britons in the face of Saxon invaders was doomed, and in a little over two centuries the country had become Saxon England. However, for a few brief decades, 'Arthur of the Britons' did what he could to safeguard the culture and civilisation of Post-Roman Celtic Britain.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a big fan of Osprey's output. I must have bought a lot over the past 20 years. I have also been passionate about the 'Arthurian' age, the ending of Roman Britain and the coming of the Saxons ever since at school I learnt of the excavations at South Cadbury-Camelot back at the end of the 1960s.
So I was looking for the usual Osprey sum-up, coupled with excellent illustrations. I have to say that this book does in general deliver.
Peter Dennis's illustations are excellent, and I particularly liked his depiction of the refortified old Roman fort of Birdoswald on Hadrian's Wall in the depths of winter.
Angus Konstam is an experienced Osprey writer. He has written on the hill forts of celtic Britain and hill forts of the Picts for this series.
But he does make what seem to me, to be some odd remarks.
On p. 26 he describes renewed activity at the hill fort of South Cadbury as taking place in the last 3rd and early 4th Centuries AD "when the inhabitants of Roman Britain were left to their own devices".
If he is talking about the end of Roman Britain (as he seems to be) he clearly means c. 410AD here, not c. 300AD. It would be nice if he were not a hundred years out.
He then says that this refortication of South Cadbury took place much earlier than had initially been thought by the archaeologists who dug the site in 1966-70.
They reckoned the refortification had happened in c 470AD. In other words there was no continuity between the ending of Roman Britain and the re-occupation of South Cadbury.
Konstam's reordering of the dates changes things. It could mean that the last Romans gave up on the nearby regional capital of Ilchester, and simply decamped up the hill to South Cadbury to carry on their now-post Roman rule.
If he does mean this - and it is entirely unclear from his writing at this point, this is a radical re-interpretation of the archaeology of the most important southern British hill fort of the period.
And yet Konstam gives no explanation for why he comes to this view - nor does he cite any sources - which is frustrating.
So what are we to make of this? Is this Konstam's own view? Have there been more modern digs at South Cadbury which have come to different views, or have people gone back and re-examined the original dig's records and re-interpreted them? It would be nice to be told.
Then on p. 54/55 Konstam says that "by the mid-6th Century" (ie: c.550AD) the English had reached "as far as Edinburgh, the foothills of the Welsh mountains.. and the toe of south west England". This is plainly nonsense - and contradicts what he says a few lines above. He could mean c. 650AD.
Mind you, if he REALLY means the toe of south west England - then that would be even later still - around the 10th Century. He probably means a toe HOLD in south west England. But it is sloppy writing.
Finally a couple of irritating typos:
On p. 50 the Roman fort at Pevensey is variously spelt as 'Anderitum' and also 'Anderitim'.
On p. 54 a picture caption fails to tell us what is is a picture of. I am guessing Bamburgh, but it would be nice to have it in print...
So in all. A good to excellent little summary, but too full of niggles and typos and odd errors, which should have been picked up either by the author or his editors. Only 3 stars.
I would still recommend the book. It is worth having. But please Osprey, do correct it in time for the next edition.
So I was looking for the usual Osprey sum-up, coupled with excellent illustrations. I have to say that this book does in general deliver.
Peter Dennis's illustations are excellent, and I particularly liked his depiction of the refortified old Roman fort of Birdoswald on Hadrian's Wall in the depths of winter.
Angus Konstam is an experienced Osprey writer. He has written on the hill forts of celtic Britain and hill forts of the Picts for this series.
But he does make what seem to me, to be some odd remarks.
On p. 26 he describes renewed activity at the hill fort of South Cadbury as taking place in the last 3rd and early 4th Centuries AD "when the inhabitants of Roman Britain were left to their own devices".
If he is talking about the end of Roman Britain (as he seems to be) he clearly means c. 410AD here, not c. 300AD. It would be nice if he were not a hundred years out.
He then says that this refortication of South Cadbury took place much earlier than had initially been thought by the archaeologists who dug the site in 1966-70.
They reckoned the refortification had happened in c 470AD. In other words there was no continuity between the ending of Roman Britain and the re-occupation of South Cadbury.
Konstam's reordering of the dates changes things. It could mean that the last Romans gave up on the nearby regional capital of Ilchester, and simply decamped up the hill to South Cadbury to carry on their now-post Roman rule.
If he does mean this - and it is entirely unclear from his writing at this point, this is a radical re-interpretation of the archaeology of the most important southern British hill fort of the period.
And yet Konstam gives no explanation for why he comes to this view - nor does he cite any sources - which is frustrating.
So what are we to make of this? Is this Konstam's own view? Have there been more modern digs at South Cadbury which have come to different views, or have people gone back and re-examined the original dig's records and re-interpreted them? It would be nice to be told.
Then on p. 54/55 Konstam says that "by the mid-6th Century" (ie: c.550AD) the English had reached "as far as Edinburgh, the foothills of the Welsh mountains.. and the toe of south west England". This is plainly nonsense - and contradicts what he says a few lines above. He could mean c. 650AD.
Mind you, if he REALLY means the toe of south west England - then that would be even later still - around the 10th Century. He probably means a toe HOLD in south west England. But it is sloppy writing.
Finally a couple of irritating typos:
On p. 50 the Roman fort at Pevensey is variously spelt as 'Anderitum' and also 'Anderitim'.
On p. 54 a picture caption fails to tell us what is is a picture of. I am guessing Bamburgh, but it would be nice to have it in print...
So in all. A good to excellent little summary, but too full of niggles and typos and odd errors, which should have been picked up either by the author or his editors. Only 3 stars.
I would still recommend the book. It is worth having. But please Osprey, do correct it in time for the next edition.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
An Epic book for an astonishing time Period
10 April 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I usually am hesitant to buy books with no review, as I have stated in previous reviews. However, I am deeply enchanted with the Dark Ages, especially the era of Late Antiquity in Britain. The concept of a blend of Sarmatian, Celtic, Pictish, Romano-Briton culture and clash of cultures is very fascinating to me, and when the opportunity presented itself, I bought this book.
And I am glad I did. Although it does not cover some of the aspects I was hoping it would, such as the aqueducts and Roman villas in great detail, Konstam at least mentions the villas, although he seems to be primarily interested in the Hill forts, both Briton and Saxon.
As a side note of this review, it amazes me that all the great masonry and engineering of the Romans was lost, it seems so dramatic, and so pathetic, that no one left in Britain was seemingly able to duplicate their engineering, especially the 'Romano-Britons.'
Konstam suggests in his work that there was a high degree of order kept, but because authority was decentralized, order was a relative term.
He also presents a side view of the Vortigern enthusiasts who argue for the existence of a High King. Konstam points out we cannot say anything conclusively yet, but that archaeology has been of more value than literature and texts at this point.
That said, he does go on to point out the various hill forts, legends associated with them, and so forth.
The illustrations of this book strike me as both profound and enlightening. Peter Dennis is the next Angus McBride it seems to me, I have not seen any other illustrator in Osprey's arsenal paint with such clarity and yet the colors he chooses are both dashing and blunt, depending on what he is depicting--his fortifications are always complete with a `human element,' suggesting that these weren't just stark defenses, but places of living as well.
And I am glad I did. Although it does not cover some of the aspects I was hoping it would, such as the aqueducts and Roman villas in great detail, Konstam at least mentions the villas, although he seems to be primarily interested in the Hill forts, both Briton and Saxon.
As a side note of this review, it amazes me that all the great masonry and engineering of the Romans was lost, it seems so dramatic, and so pathetic, that no one left in Britain was seemingly able to duplicate their engineering, especially the 'Romano-Britons.'
Konstam suggests in his work that there was a high degree of order kept, but because authority was decentralized, order was a relative term.
He also presents a side view of the Vortigern enthusiasts who argue for the existence of a High King. Konstam points out we cannot say anything conclusively yet, but that archaeology has been of more value than literature and texts at this point.
That said, he does go on to point out the various hill forts, legends associated with them, and so forth.
The illustrations of this book strike me as both profound and enlightening. Peter Dennis is the next Angus McBride it seems to me, I have not seen any other illustrator in Osprey's arsenal paint with such clarity and yet the colors he chooses are both dashing and blunt, depending on what he is depicting--his fortifications are always complete with a `human element,' suggesting that these weren't just stark defenses, but places of living as well.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The Fortifications of Britain, 400 - 700 AD
28 May 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A number of books written in the past several decades have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to reconstruct the appearance and experiences of the sub-Roman warriors of 'Arthurian' Britain, but this is the first book I have ever read that actually looks at the forts and fortifications used by these Celtic fighting men in any detail.
The forts and fortresses used by the British warriors after the Roman collapse in the late 4th Century were various in their origins - some were newly contructed whilst others were recycled Celtic hillforts, or reoccupied Roman ruins. While detailing the strategic and cultural roles played by the forts, the author points out that their primary function was as a HQ's for the elite following of local warlords. Earlier Celtic tribes who had opposed the Romans sheltered all of their people inside their hillforts, but the wars fought after the Roman collapse were primarily the business of upper class horse-warriors, and were not as dangerous for 'civilians'.
This book is full of line illustrations, photographs, some in color, and color plates depicting daily life inside the forts - making it an excellent visual source like most Osprey books. It details not only the fortifications used by the Roman-Britons and early medieval Welsh, but even those used by their Saxon foes. In summary this is an essential book for anyone with a serious interest in the historical King Arthur and the tumultuous era in which he lived and fought.
The forts and fortresses used by the British warriors after the Roman collapse in the late 4th Century were various in their origins - some were newly contructed whilst others were recycled Celtic hillforts, or reoccupied Roman ruins. While detailing the strategic and cultural roles played by the forts, the author points out that their primary function was as a HQ's for the elite following of local warlords. Earlier Celtic tribes who had opposed the Romans sheltered all of their people inside their hillforts, but the wars fought after the Roman collapse were primarily the business of upper class horse-warriors, and were not as dangerous for 'civilians'.
This book is full of line illustrations, photographs, some in color, and color plates depicting daily life inside the forts - making it an excellent visual source like most Osprey books. It details not only the fortifications used by the Roman-Britons and early medieval Welsh, but even those used by their Saxon foes. In summary this is an essential book for anyone with a serious interest in the historical King Arthur and the tumultuous era in which he lived and fought.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Rambling and trivial, but well illustrated
23 May 2011
Format:Paperback
Really very expensive for a book that only has about 25 pages of text amid the illustrations. Rambling, repetitive, and poorly organized (one topic appears in three places, and sometimes exactly the same point is made more than once). Not a lot is known about the details of this period, so there's considerable tentative language such as "it may have this" and "could have been this large". The illustrations are the only reason to look at this book, and even they -- probably appropriately -- are vague and lack a sense of reality. I read nothing here that I cared about or will retain.
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