For everything we celebrate about King Arthur — his epic adventures , countless battles , longstanding sovereignty over Camelot , and unparalleled ability to pull a blade from its rock incasement — we still ca n’t nail down the reply to one simple question : Did he even exist at all ? Here are a few sites around the modern United Kingdom that might offer some insight into the truth behind some Arthurian tales .
1. TINTAGEL
By 1998 , the story of King Arthur had been all but give notice as myth when a orphic stone slab date from the 6thcentury was set up hide in the craggy remain of Tintagel Castle . ( Tintagel , King Arthur buffs know , is believed to be the position of Arthur ’s conception and possibly his birthing . ) The stone was inscribed with the Logos “ PATERN COLI AVI FICIT ARTOGNOU , ” which translates to , “ Artognou , father of a descendant of Coll , has had this built . ” Those eager to consider in the Arthurian legend recollect “ Artognou ” refer to King Arthur and that the “ Coll ” in motion is the 4th century Celtic King Coel Hen . However , historians are quick to point out that there is no grounds proving this is the case .
2. CADBURY CASTLE
Despite Camelot ’s prominence in Arthurian caption , historians have n’t been capable to nail down where the kingdom — if real — was located . Some theorists have posited that Arthur ’s homestead was located in South Cadbury , a civil parish in Somerset , England . This connection was first name by the sixteenth 100 antiquarian John Leland , who wrote , " At the very south remnant of the church building of South - Cadbyri standeth Camallate , sometime a famous town or castle . . . The people can tell nothing there but that they have heard Arthur much resort to Camalat . " Detractors , however , consider that Leland simply amended the names of nearby villages West Camel and Queen Camel to make the Arthur fable paroxysm .
Another piece of evidence used by the Cadbury - is - Camelot pack is the friendship between Arthur and a prince identify Cadwy , whom Arthur take on in the Somerset village of Dunster . It could be possible that Cadbury is in fact Cadwy ’s Fort , and that Arthur inherit it upon Cadwy ’s decease .
3. CAERLEON
A number of prominent Arthurian writers , including Geoffrey of Monmouth ( author ofThe History of the Kings of Britain ) , signal that King Arthur and his court were for a metre stationed at the Welsh village Caerleon . Caerleon was built upon an ancient Roman military base , and historians believe that some of the leftover Roman features would have do Arthur well . In particular , historiographer believe Arthur may have used the coliseum as a group meeting place for his ground forces — or , a Round Table for his knights .
4. THE GREAT HALL OF WINCHESTER CASTLE
Since the 15thcentury , Arthur worshipper thought that the real Round Table was located in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle in modern twenty-four hours Winchester , a city in Hampshire , England . However , in the seventies , carbon paper geological dating show that the so - name Round Table stationed there was no more than 700 years former , and therefore could not have been used by the 5thcentury king .
5. THE CHESTER AMPHITHEATER
The metropolis of Chester , England , is also eager to claim the Round Table as its own . Some historians believe that a Roman amphitheatre in Chester ( not unlike the one in Caerleon ) could have been the Round Table . Far from the average dinner party board , this Round Table would have set aside Arthur to meet with over 1,000 of his following at once . Bolstering this claim is the fact that Arthurian legends say that one of Arthur ’s major battles have place somewhere call in “ the City of Legions . ” St. Gildas , a sixth hundred monk and writer , also wrote of a City of Legions , name a shrine within it . The recent breakthrough of a shrine in the Chester amphitheater gives credence to the belief that this is the literal Round Table .
6. THE MARSHLANDS OF ARGYLL, SCOTLAND
In a book published in 2013 , one historian cook the bluff claim that King Arthur ’s adventures took position among the Marsh of Scotland . According to him , the King held court in swampy Argyll , was buried on the island of Iona , and ( dismissing the story that Excalibur came from the Lady of the Lake ) displume the notable steel from its embedding Harlan Fiske Stone — which the author insists was only a stunt — just alfresco of the village of Kilmartin . This historian make the case that Arthur was in fact Artúr mac Aedan , the son of the sixth 100 Billie Jean King of Dál Riata , Áedán mac Gabráin .
7. HADRIAN’S WALL
Running through the northern English counties Tyne , Wear , Northumberland , and Cumbria are the remains of the 2ndcentury military fortification Hadrian ’s Wall . Many believe that the Battle of Camlann , during which King Arthur is believed to have met his death , took office at the Roman fort Camboglanna , a plane section of Hadrian ’s Wall . While Geoffrey of Monmouth trace the Battle of Camlann as being between Britains and invading Saxons , historians now believe that the difference of opinion was most potential between two warring British armies .
8. GLASTONBURY ABBEY
King Arthur ’s final resting place , Avalon , is believed to be located in advanced day Glastonbury Abbey . Under the prodding of King Henry II , the monks at Glastonbury Abbey search their ground for the grave of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere in the 12thcentury . And in 1191 , their search proved fruitful : The monks institute a gravid oak coffin with the lettering , “ Hic jacet sepultus inclitus rex Arturius in insula Avalonia , ” which many interpret as , “ Here lie King Arthur bury in Avalon . ” The two skeletons find inside — believe to be Arthur and Guinevere — were affect to an flowery marble tomb in 1278 , where they stay until the grave was destroyed in 1539 . Where they are today is a mystery story .
9. THE CAVES OF CRAIG Y DDINAS
Welsh folklore regarding the Arthurian legend take issue from the English in a number of fashion , admit the ultimate lot of the mighty world-beater . sure Welsh Ketubim profess that , after being killed ( or mortally wounded ) by the traitorous Mordred at the Battle of Camlann , the wizard Merlin preserved the body of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in suspended living beneath a mysterious cavern . These tales often place the placement to be the limestone land mass Craig y Ddinas , otherwise known as Dinas Rock or Fortress Rock .
Join Josh Gates as he explore the United Kingdom to uncover the truth about King Arthur on the Season 2 premiere ofExpedition Unknown , Wednesday , October 7 at 9/8c on Travel Channel .
