Archaeology & History

King Arthur's grave was a medieval hoax

By T.K. Randall
March 28, 2016

Image: King Arthur
Credit: Charles Ernest Butler (1903) / (PD) Copyright Expired Long purported to be the final resting place of the legendary King Arthur and his wife Guinevere, the marked grave at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, England is a bit of a mystery in its own right.

While excavations and discoveries at the site over the years have confirmed that the enigmatic grave actually does date back to the time of King Arthur in the fifth century, there is little evidence to suggest that it actually is the final resting place of the legendary ruler.

Instead, it turns out, the grave may have actually been little more than a medieval hoax.

Records from the time suggest that there had been growing concern over waning interest in Glastonbury Abbey following the construction of Westminster Abbey in London.In an effort to attract more visitors - as well as the donations that came with them - the monks declared that they had discovered the skeletons of King Arthur and Guinevere in a tree tunk.

Their remains were then allegedly buried in the grounds of the Abbey's new church.

While Glastonbury Abbey never did manage to regain its former glory, the grave of King Arthur certainly helped to draw a significant amount of attention over the proceeding centuries.

The real site of Arthur's grave however - if he ever existed at all - continues to remain a mystery.

Source: Arstechnica.com

Tags: King Arthur, Glastonbury Abbey