News - Site Linked to King Arthur Older Than Previously Known

New carbon-dating of a castle linked to King Arthur suggests it is two centuries older than previously thought - making it the oldest stone castle in Britain.

Tintagel Castle in Cornwall was first thought to date back to the 13th century. But research now suggests it was built up to 200 years earlier, the first half of the 12th century.

The popular tourist attraction is strongly linked to the legend of King Arthur.

Historian Geoffrey of Monmouth first linked the castle to the legendary king in his 1138 work the History of the Kings of Britain.

And a new book by historian Dr. Chris Gidlow argues that it was at Tintagel where Arthur was conceived, as part of the royal court in the 6th century.

Dr. Gidlow, a leading Arthurian expert and senior lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Winchester, has examined written records and archaeological evidence to support his theory.

The new carbon dating was carried out to help determine the age of one of the earliest stone buildings on the site known as the Old Postern Gatehouse.

Archaeologists collected charcoal fragments from behind the huge granite blocks used to fill the gatehouse doorway, which they believe is the earliest part of the castle.

Once the charcoal was carbon dated, it suggested the gatehouse dates to the 1130s - 1140s, almost 200 years earlier than previously thought.

This discovery is significant, as it means that Tintagel Castle was built around the same time as other major Norman castles, such as the Tower of London and Windsor Castle.

It also suggests that the castle was not built by the Cornish, but by the Norman invaders.

The new findings are published in the latest edition of the journal 'Antiquity'.

Dr. Gidlow said:

"This new dating evidence is very exciting, as it suggests that Tintagel Castle is much older than previously thought.

"It also supports the idea that the castle was built by the Normans, not the Cornish.

"This is a significant discovery, as it challenges our understanding of the history of Tintagel Castle and its links to the legend of King Arthur".