Magic, Myth and a Small English Town: Glastonbury’s Sacred Landscape and Archaeology

Glastonbury, a small rural town in Somerset, England, lies upon an area of high land surrounded by low-lying wetland, known as the Somerset Levels. This striking environment, characterised by the influence of water, has created a landscape which plays a central role in the identification of the sacred in Glastonbury. In this landscape history and myth are often combined together, becoming interchangeable within the cultural identity of the land and its connotation as a sacred place. These aspects combined form the cultural landscape of the site. Today Glastonbury has become a central place for diverse beliefs alongside the town’s historical association with Christianity, which is still openly practiced. Different religions and beliefs are practiced side by side and they all reference Glastonbury’s cultural landscape, its histories and myths to legitimise their beliefs and association with the land. Recent archaeological investigations at Glastonbury Abbey, however, have dismissed many of these claims as fiction, legends propelled by the Abbeys Monks themselves to establish Glastonbury’s ancient connections. Despite these findings the archaeologists have respected the nature of the sacred and will work in coalition with the identity of the town to reveal the extensive history of the site and how it relates to the stories of the legends. It is an example of Archaeology and the sacred working in coalition, however this author will show it how goes beyond this. As a person who was born and has been raised in Somerset, but also an archaeologist, I recognise that there is an understanding of the past and Glastonbury’s identity, this has been highlighted throughout history and there is still a need to reference this past to legitimise the status of practiced beliefs. The Archaeological findings emphasise this and show Glastonbury’s continuing position as a sacred place.