The battlefield of Brunanburh

Burnswark 1

Image by rockartwolf

wendun Oct 23, 2006 08:44:21

As a follow up to my recent article in the Scottish Historical Review proposing Burnswark as the site of Brunanburh I hope to do some on-site investigation in the fields along the Roman road coming up from the southeast towards the hill. Does anyone have any information on either archaeological finds or any references to alternative names for the hill itself?

Rhiannon Oct 23, 2006 10:43:12

Replying to wendun

http://www.pastmap.org.uk/
this should help with any surrounding finds and sites. It's not working for me at the moment but that could be just here.

BigSweetie Oct 23, 2006 14:42:01

Replying to wendun

Brunanburh, Brunesburh, Brunnanwerch, or Bruneswerce (from here)

you could also try asking at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/scotplace/ there are a lot of more knowledgeable people than me on there!

Cheers
Andy

wendun Oct 24, 2006 08:43:21

Replying to wendun

Thanks for the help. My own research suggests that the modern name of the hill derived by back formation from the name originally applying only to the earthworks, OE 'werc(e)'. In the tenth century the southern English knew it as 'Brunandune' - Bruna's Hill - but it was better known, at least in the north, as 'Wendune' from Old English 'Wen(ne)' or 'Wenn' meaning a wen or tumour and in place-names used to identify mounds that resembled such a swelling.