ABSTRACT

Roman Britain was in due course to be succeeded by Anglo-Saxon England. What influence did the former have on the formation of the latter? For many years this was an irrelevant question as it was thought that the Anglo-Saxons shunned the decaying works of the Romans. But since the Second World War the subject of continuity between the two has been a major topic of debate and research. This change in attitude came about for two main reasons. The first was the realisation that if there was a complete break between Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England, then that was utterly unlike the situation on the Continent. Surely, therefore, threads of continuity on the Continental model should be sought? The second reason was the growing realisation amongst archaeologists and historians that even when there was a known invasion, the changes that this wrought overlay a huge continuum from the pre-existing society. For instance, the Norman Conquest changed many things, but even more remained as they had been in late Saxon England. Should not, therefore, the change from Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England have also entailed a measure of continuity between the two?