Traditionally, Britain was not discussed as part of the Silk Roads, and the “Dark Ages” notion led to a common misunderstanding that the islands became an isolated backwater following the collapse of Roman rule. Silk Roads demonstrates there’s plenty of historical, artistic and archaeological evidence for connections to the wider world throughout the Early Middle Ages.
“I think many UK visitors might be surprised by the distance of some of those connections,” says Sue Brunning.
“While it’s true that most ordinary people living in Britain stayed in their local areas, others were able to exploit the opportunities provided by international links – from pilgrims offering devotion to holy sites on other continents, to mercenaries out to make their fortune fighting with the Byzantine army in Syria, and being buried in magnificence with their souvenirs.”
Here are eight UK sites where you can dig deeper:
1. Jarrow: Cradle of Christianity
Roman Christianity reached lowland Britain just before AD 600, with missionaries sent by the Pope. Their efforts to spread the faith joined those of Irish missionaries, resulting in a Church culture that blended Mediterranean, Irish and other elements.
A stone window-head, window glass, painted plaster and opus signinum (crushed concrete used in Roman floors), dating from the 700s, were found in a Mediterranean-style guest house at the monastery of Jarrow. Its founder Benedict Biscop, inspired by his trips to Rome, imported artisans to construct buildings at Jarrow, and its twin foundation Monkwearmouth, in a style not seen in Britain since Roman rule.
Where to visit: Jarrow Hall, which combines an Anglo-Saxon Village and Bede Museum and is home to Europe’s largest collection of coloured glass from the 7th and 8th centuries.
2. Tintagel: Early adopters of olive oil and fine wine
Ceramic fragments from the 400s–600s found in the Cornish village of Tintagel look ordinary but tell a rich story. They come from amphorae vessels used to ship wine, oil and other provisions from the eastern Mediterranean to southwest England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.