Press Releases

Reading Researchers to record Glastonbury Abbey's Archaeology

Release Date : 08 June 2007

The University of Reading has been awarded £47,000 to reveal the archaeology of ancient Glastonbury Abbey in an important year-long project.

The project is a joint venture between the Department of Archaeology at Reading and the Trustees of Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset – the village is home not only to the world-famous music festival but also one of the earliest monasteries in England, and is the reputed burial site of King Arthur.

Glastonbury Abbey has a huge and historically vital collection of architectural fragments, pottery, glass, tile and metalwork as well as plans, drawings and photographs of archaeological features excavated over the past 100 years. Detailed evidence of these features has never been published before, but this new study will catalogue the site's treasures and their potential for further study.

Research will be undertaken by Professor Roberta Gilchrist and Dr Cheryl Allum (Reading), working closely with Vicky Dawson (Curator of the Glastonbury Abbey Museum) and Dr John Allan (Archaeologist to Glastonbury Abbey).

"Glastonbury Abbey is crucial to understanding British monasticism, and it played a key role in perpetuating legends that were to become cornerstones of English identity," said Professor Gilchrist. "Between 1904 and 1979 there were eight different directors of excavations at the Abbey, none of whom published more than interim reports".

"The University of Reading is both proud and excited to be leading the pilot project that will illuminate the past of this hugely significant site."

For more information on this project contact Professor Roberta Gilchrist, tel 0118 378 6381 or email r.l.gilchrist@reading.ac.uk or visit http://www.shes.rdg.ac.uk/SHESresearch/Archaeology/Historic/Glastonbury.htm

Information regarding Glastonbury Abbey can be found at http://www.glastonburyabbey.com

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For all media enquiries please contact James Barr, University of Reading Press Assistant, tel 0118 378 7115 or email j.w.barr@reading.ac.uk