Early medieval poetic sources mentioned Rheged as one of the kingdoms of the Hen Ogledd (Old North), which pertained to a Brittonic-speaking region comprising parts of northern England and southern Scotland. And while the borders of this elusive kingdom are not specifically talked about in the poems, scholars have long speculated that the ‘Dark Age’ kingdom was based in Cumbria, northwest England. Fast forwarding to 2012, archaeologists carried out excavations at the Trusty’s Hill, which in itself lies in proximity to Galloway in southwest Scotland. To their pleasant surprise, researchers were able to discern remnants of what might have been a stronghold from Dark Age Britain – after 1,400 years.

The fascinating discovery is discussed in detail in the new book ‘The Lost Dark Age Kingdom of Rheged‘, released in 21st January, authored by Ronan Toolis at GUARD Archaeology in Glasgow and co-authored by Christopher Bowles, a Scottish borders council archaeologist. According to the authors, their findings have revealed structural ruins (dating from circa 600 AD) atop the hill that originally belonged to a fortification system with a timber-reinforced stone rampart. The main fortification was further supplemented by smaller defense works along the low-lying slopes, thus suggesting the presence of a royal stronghold. As Toolis said (to Seeker) –

This is a type of fort that has been recognized in Scotland as a form of high status secular settlement of the early medieval period. The evidence makes a compelling case for Galloway being the core of the kingdom of Rheged.

The archaeologists also identified what can be described as a symbolic entrance to the summit of the hill, flanked by Pictish carvings on one side (pictured below) and a substantially big rock-cut basin on the other. Interestingly enough, similar types of entrances were also found almost 180 miles from Trusty’s Hill, at the Dunadd hillfort, which comprised the royal stronghold of the kings of Dalriada. Such discoveries hint at a how the path was possibly used for rite of passage for the early medieval ‘British’ kings (with specific rituals).

A laser scanned image of the carved Pictish symbols. Credit: DGNHAS / CDDV

In terms of more evidences, the researchers found remnants of a large building at the highest point of the summit, and it might have served as the king’s hall. On an adjacent lower area, they also found workshops that dealt in metalwork of gold, silver, bronze and iron. But more interestingly, the archaeologists also unearthed pottery of continental European origin, thus suggesting how the kingdom maintained trade links with their continental brethren as well as Ireland. Additionally, there were also evidences pertaining to wool spinning, leather working and feasting.

As for the contemporary economy and society of this Dark Age kingdom, Bowles has hypothesized –

The household’s wealth relied on their control of farming, animal husbandry and the management of local natural resources — minerals and timber — from an estate probably spanning the wider landscape of the Fleet valley and estuary. Control was maintained by bonding the people of this land and the districts beyond to the royal household, by gifts, promises of protection and the bounties of raiding and warfare.

Finally, coming to the historical side of affairs, the Kingdom of Rheged was probably annexed by Northumbria before 730 AD. To that end, the site in questioned suffered quite high degrees of sustained burning for weeks (or even months) – so much so that many sections of the timber-reinforced stone rampart were found to be fused together. As the researchers concluded –

The deliberate and spectacular destruction of Trusty’s Hills is a visceral reminder that the demise of this kingdom in the early seventh century AD came with sword and flame.

Credit: Guard Archaeology

Source: Seeker