Tintagel Stone
An inscribed slate fragment discovered at Tintagel, Cornwall, providing rare evidence of literacy and elite occupation in post-Roman Britain.
Introduction#
The Tintagel Stone, sometimes called the Arthur Stone, is an inscribed slate fragment discovered on 4 July 1998 during archaeological excavations at Tintagel.
Alternative Names | Arthur Stone, Artognou Stone
Alternative Names | Arthur Stone, Artognou Stone
Discovery#
Dating to approximately the sixth century, the stone is one of the most significant finds from post-Roman Britain and has attracted considerable attention because of its association with Tintagel, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur.
The stone was unearthed on the eastern terraces of Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.
Archaeologists believe it originally formed part of a building before later being reused as a drain cover or paving stone. Its discovery provided important evidence that Tintagel remained an active and prosperous settlement during the period traditionally associated with Arthur.
Date | c. 6th century
Location | Tintagel, Cornwall
Material | Slate
Discovery | 4 July 1998
Inscription | “Artognou…”
Associated With | Post-Roman Britain, Tintagel, Arthurian Tradition
The Inscription#
One inscription is incomplete and cannot be fully read. The better-preserved text is commonly rendered as:
PATER COLI AVI FICIT ARTOGNOU
The inscription is generally interpreted as referring to a man named Artognou and may be translated as:
“Artognou, descendant of Coll, had this made.”
Alternative readings have been proposed, and some details remain uncertain.
Artognou and Arthur#
The discovery attracted widespread public interest because the name Artognou bears some resemblance to Arthur.
Some commentators suggested that the inscription might provide evidence for a historical Arthur. Most scholars, however, regard this connection as speculative.
While the stone demonstrates that a name similar to Arthur existed in sixth-century Britain, there is no evidence that the individual named Artognou was the legendary king.
Tintagel and Arthurian Legend#
Although the stone does not prove Arthur’s existence, it does strengthen the historical significance of Tintagel during the period in which Arthur is traditionally placed.
Long before the discovery, Geoffrey of Monmouth associated Tintagel with Arthur’s conception and birth. The inscription confirms that the site was occupied by people of considerable status during the post-Roman era, making it one of the most important archaeological locations connected with Arthurian tradition.
The Question of Coll#
The inscription may refer to a man called Coll, though his identity remains uncertain.
Some writers have speculated that this Coll could be connected with legendary figures such as King Cole, but no convincing evidence has established such an identification.
Significance#
Although often discussed in connection with Arthur, the Tintagel Stone is significant chiefly because it offers a rare glimpse into the literate elite of post-Roman Britain.
Together with other discoveries at Tintagel, it demonstrates that the site remained an important center of power and culture during the sixth century, the period most often associated with the historical origins of the Arthurian legends.
Sources#
Archaeological excavations at Tintagel | 1998
Historia Regum Britanniae | Geoffrey of Monmouth, c. 1138
