Questioning the Archaeological Authority of the Bayeux Tapestry
Michael Lewis
The Bayeux Tapestry is the earliest known visual record of events leading to Norman Conquest England. In view this fact, poor survival eleventh-century material culture, and dearth contemporary imagery depicting secular life on eve Conquest, it no surprise that historians archaeologists have quarried as a source for (and death) in eleventh century. However, scholars been sufficiently critical its authority respect? Is reasonable expect medieval artist would ‘accurately’ depict world around him, given artistic tradition was one where customary artists repeat pictorial formulae reuse them new contexts? With mind, article considers an example utilized factual ‘real world’ without due caution.
Cultural & Social History