Originally published as hbk.: London : Thames and Hudson, ©1986. With a new preface

Includes bibliographical references (pages 186-191) and index

Introduction: Celtic Britain today -- The end of Roman Britain -- Celtic Britain : the 5th and 6th centuries. The collapse during the 5th century ; The English conquest ; The arrogant usurper ; Problems of time and place ; Early British kings and kingdoms ; Paganism and Christianity ; Merchant from afar -- Early Cornwall . The origins of Cornwall ; Kings of Dumnonia ; The legendary past ; Tintagel ; Material culture ; Christianity -- Early Scotland. The Picts ; The northern Britons ; The Scots ; Interactions ; Archaeology ; Christianity -- Early Wales. The emergence of Wales ; Voyagers overseas -- Church and monastery. St Patrick ; Church organization in Celtic Britain ; Early monasticism ; Church archaeology: an outline ; The field archaeology of monasteries -- Art . Metalwork ; Pictish art ; Christian art on stone - the beginnings ; The art of the scribe -- Epilogue

The period between the departure of the Romans from Britain around A.D. 400 and the establishment of the English kingdoms in the later seventh century was a time of turmoil, of a breakdown in civilized life. Scots, Picts, and Anglo-Saxons pressed in on all sides. Yet it was also a time of renaissance, of a rebirth in Celtic language and art, which saw the rise of native British kingdoms in Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall, and the flowering of the Church in Celtic Britain. Charles Thomas--archaeologist and historian of the early Church--pieces together the truth behind the accretions of myth. The results of the latest research are brought to bear, including new ideas about Tintagel and excavations at Dunbarton Rock and elsewhere. --From publisher's description

200 pages : 25 cm

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