News: Migration Was a Constant Feature of Early Medieval England
Latest in History Shorts' occasional series of history and archaeology news from the wires...
6 Jan 2026
"These new-comers were from the three most formidable races of Germany, the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes...It was not long before such hordes of these alien peoples vied together to crowd into the island that the natives who had invited them began to live in terror." Bede, A History of the English Church and People (translated by Leo Sherley-Price)
Bede's account, written in the 8th century, of earlier mass migratory events by different 'races' into what is now England is not supported by modern scholarship.
Most recently, in January 2026, a new study affirms that migration into England was a continuous process from the end of Roman rule through to the Norman Conquest, rather than a series of short, one-off events.
Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge analysed chemical signatures in the tooth enamel of more than 700 individuals buried in England between AD 400 and 1100, alongside ancient DNA from over 300 skeletons. The results show people arriving from a wide range of regions, including Wales and Ireland, north west Europe, the Mediterranean and areas close to the Arctic Circle.
The findings indicate steady population movement across the early medieval period, with a notable increase during the seventh and eighth centuries. While male migration was more common, significant female mobility was also identified, particularly in north east England, Kent and Wessex.
The study also captured evidence of major climate events, including the Late Antique Little Ice Age. Published in Medieval Archaeology, the research challenges the idea of early medieval England as an isolated society.
Comments
Post a Comment