Part 7/10:
The narrative surrounding the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons has long been one of invasion. Archaeological discoveries, however, are revealing a more intricate reality of cultural change through contact rather than sheer devastation. Dominant archaeological evidence suggests a continuity of life in Britain with shifting influences rather than an outright invasion.
Recent studies conducted in West Heslerton show that rather than evidence of mass migrations, there is a blend of cultural practices and populations—content and interconnected, rather than separated by violence. The changing fashions, funeral rites, and artifacts from cemeteries hint at the adoption of new cultural expressions without the violent conquest historically assumed.