I recently took my grandson to the Yorkshire Museum in York for his first visit. I have been plenty of times previously and always enjoyed wandering around the displays spread over several floors. On the day of our visit there was an exhibition celebrating the work of pioneer fossil collector and amateur palaeontologist, Mary Anning. My grandson, like so many children of his age, is fascinated by prehistoric animals, particularly dinosaurs. After we had come to the end of the special exhibition we entered the Roman displays, which he did not find as interesting as he is only 6 years old and has yet to study the Romans at school. The same was true for the medieval period, but not for me. I have mentioned previously that York has a fixation with the Vikings and that around the city there is very little reference to, or even acknowledgement of, the Anglo-Saxon period of English history, well, in the York museum it gets even worse; there appears to be a conscious effort to erase the entire Saxon period out of York's history.
The Coppergate Helmet is a famous icon of Anglo-Saxon workmanship. It is beautiful in design and execution, and sits alongside the equally illustrious Sutton-Hoo helmet as an example of the artistic invention of these peoples. I disappointed to see a picture of the Coppergate Helmet on an advertising board outside the museum with the word 'Viking' written underneath it therefore. It was also frustrating to see the description card of the actual item in its display case describe it as 'Anglian' and not Anglo-Saxon. The same holds true for the other Anglo-Saxon artefacts in the museum's collection, such as the impressive Gilling Sword, an Anglo-Saxon weapon dating from the 9th century, that are also referred to by the museum as of 'Anglian' origin. I do not recognise this alternative term and do not know of any other historian or academic institution that uses it in preference to the long established and popularly known title of Anglo-Saxon.
The Coppergate Helmet - of Anglo-Saxon design and craft
According to the York Museum, the Anglian period in York ran from 410 to 866, and the Viking period from 866 to 1066. Curiously, history tells us that Aethalstan, son of King Edward the Elder, defeated the Vikings of Northumbria, including those in the city of York, and became the first king of all England in 927. His position as such was confirmed by a decisive victory at the Battle of Brunanburh. One of the policies of followed by King Aethalstan was to offer the peoples of Norse descent settled in England, particularly in the area once referred to as the Dane-Law, the option to remain if they converted to Christianity and recognise him as their king. In this way he avoided wholesale bloodshed. In 1066, when King Harald Hardrada invaded England, he had a hope that many men of Norse descent living in Northumbria would flock to his banner, but he was disappointed. The Norse settlers chose to side with their Saxon king instead. Sadly, all of this fascinating history cannot be found on the book shelves of the museum's gift shop. The books on offer run through the periods of Roman, Viking, and then straight to Plantagenet; the entire Anglo-Saxon civilisation is missing!
It might be argued that this is just an interpretation of the history, but that is not really a valid contention given the weight of evidence in support of the existence of the Anglo-Saxons as an important and influential part of British history. What the York Museum is doing amounts to a conscious falsification of the historical record by misrepresenting the Anglo-Saxons, not only by name, but also with regard to their place as an important contributor to this country's long and rich social development. For an institution of academia and learning this is reprehensible. Visitors who lack the foreknowledge of the Anglo-Saxons will leave thinking that they were a minor contributor to English history, always in the shadow of the Vikings, when in fact they were at the very least their equal. 1066 marks the end of Anglo-Saxon England, it is a shame that York, a city close to two of the most significant battles of that year, The Battle of Fulford Gate and the Battle of Stamford Bridge, chooses not to acknowledge that fact. The Anglo-Saxons produced a vibrant, strong, and influential civilisation that existed in England for over 500 years, and it has been woven into the fabric of our society today. It is something that should be celebrated, not ignored in favour of tourism. Perhaps more importantly, there is an ethical obligation on the part of York Museum to represent known history as accurately as possible and without prejudice.
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