King Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, is generally believed to have perished at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by having a Norman arrow shot through his eye, an event depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry (although, as it is actually unclear in the Bayeux Tapestry whether or not the arrow went in his eye, some historians are of the opinion that the arrow may have embedded itself in another part of his face).
But some archaeologists now believe that Harold II may have SURVIVED the battle and went on to live to a ripe old age.
The alternative version of events, put forward in a 12th century document housed in the British Museum, discounts the victorious Normans' portrayal of his death in the Bayeux Tapestry. As the saying goes - history is written by the victors.
The artwork, long considered an accurate depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, shows King Harold clutching at an arrow in his eye as four Norman knights hack at his body.
But now a team of historians, who discovered the remains of Richard III in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012, are eager to dispel the long-accepted story.
This Tuesday marks the 948th anniversary of the battle.
Was King Harold really killed by an arrow in the eye? Archaeologists to examine theory that he SURVIVED the Battle of Hastings and died as an 80-year-old hermit
By Jennifer Smith for MailOnline
12 October 2014
Daily Mail
Shot through the eye by an arrow, he died at the hands of four Norman knights brutally dismembering his body - or so almost 950 years of history dictates.
But archaeologists are now claiming King Harold may have survived the Battle of Hastings, and lived out his years before quietly dying of old age.
The alternative version of events, put forward in a 12th century document housed in the British Museum, discounts the Normans' portrayal of his death in the Bayeux Tapestry.
According to the Bayeux Tapestry, King Harold II (pictured gripping the fatal arrow) was killed by four Norman knights after being shot through the eye with an arrow at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (pictured)
Excavators will carry out a scan of the grounds of Waltham Abbey Church in Essex (pictured) where King Harold II is thought to be buried
The artwork, long considered an accurate depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, shows King Harold clutching at an arrow in his eye as four Norman knights hack at his body.
But now a team of historians, who discovered the remains of Richard III in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012, are eager to dispel the long-accepted story.
Oval Film and Stratascan, whose efforts were applauded around the world for the discovery, will carry out an underground scan of Abbey Gardens at Waltham Abbey Church in Essex, the supposed site of King Harold's tomb, to look for his remains.
King Harold II is thought to have been killed in the battle on 14th October 1066, one of the most famous dates in English history
'We have the Norman story put through the Bayeux Tapestry – the English story is a different one,' said Peter Burke, a historian in Waltham Abbey.
'You put things together and it begins to build a picture that is quite solid. If everything backs you up in history, you should look at it.
'You shouldn't just leave it,' the 64-year-old told the Independent.
'I am convinced Harold survived the Battle of Hastings.
'If we find the complete remains of an old man in his late 70's with scarring to his temple from a battle wound then we need to do a DNA test.
'Our understanding of this particular period of English history would have to change.'
Fronting £2,000 for the project, Mr Burke will oversee a scan of the church's grounds on Tuesday roughly 15 yards from his alleged tomb at the High Altar.
If anything is picked up by the scan, English Heritage will have to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to excavate the site.
However members of the Waltham Abbey Historical Society think it is unlikely they will find anything of interest as the site has been disturbed by building works over the years.
The remains of Richard III were found in a car park in Leicester in 2012.
It was the site of the lost Grey Friars church where the royal had been buried following his death in the Battle of Bosworth Field.
The remains of Richard III (pictured) were discovered in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012
Read more: Was King Harold really killed by an arrow in the eye? Archaeologists to examine theory that he SURVIVED the Battle of Hastings and died as an 80-year-old hermit | Daily Mail Online
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But some archaeologists now believe that Harold II may have SURVIVED the battle and went on to live to a ripe old age.
The alternative version of events, put forward in a 12th century document housed in the British Museum, discounts the victorious Normans' portrayal of his death in the Bayeux Tapestry. As the saying goes - history is written by the victors.
The artwork, long considered an accurate depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, shows King Harold clutching at an arrow in his eye as four Norman knights hack at his body.
But now a team of historians, who discovered the remains of Richard III in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012, are eager to dispel the long-accepted story.
This Tuesday marks the 948th anniversary of the battle.
Was King Harold really killed by an arrow in the eye? Archaeologists to examine theory that he SURVIVED the Battle of Hastings and died as an 80-year-old hermit
History dictates King Harold was killed in 1066 at the Battle of Hastings
The Bayeux Tapestry depicts four Norman knights dismembering his body
Historians now claim the monarch survived bloody battle and died in old age
His remains are thought to be buried at Waltham Abbey Church in Essex
Excavators to carry out an underground scan of the grounds on Tuesday
The Bayeux Tapestry depicts four Norman knights dismembering his body
Historians now claim the monarch survived bloody battle and died in old age
His remains are thought to be buried at Waltham Abbey Church in Essex
Excavators to carry out an underground scan of the grounds on Tuesday
By Jennifer Smith for MailOnline
12 October 2014
Daily Mail
Shot through the eye by an arrow, he died at the hands of four Norman knights brutally dismembering his body - or so almost 950 years of history dictates.
But archaeologists are now claiming King Harold may have survived the Battle of Hastings, and lived out his years before quietly dying of old age.
The alternative version of events, put forward in a 12th century document housed in the British Museum, discounts the Normans' portrayal of his death in the Bayeux Tapestry.
According to the Bayeux Tapestry, King Harold II (pictured gripping the fatal arrow) was killed by four Norman knights after being shot through the eye with an arrow at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 (pictured)
Excavators will carry out a scan of the grounds of Waltham Abbey Church in Essex (pictured) where King Harold II is thought to be buried
The artwork, long considered an accurate depiction of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, shows King Harold clutching at an arrow in his eye as four Norman knights hack at his body.
But now a team of historians, who discovered the remains of Richard III in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012, are eager to dispel the long-accepted story.
Oval Film and Stratascan, whose efforts were applauded around the world for the discovery, will carry out an underground scan of Abbey Gardens at Waltham Abbey Church in Essex, the supposed site of King Harold's tomb, to look for his remains.
King Harold II is thought to have been killed in the battle on 14th October 1066, one of the most famous dates in English history
'We have the Norman story put through the Bayeux Tapestry – the English story is a different one,' said Peter Burke, a historian in Waltham Abbey.
'You put things together and it begins to build a picture that is quite solid. If everything backs you up in history, you should look at it.
'You shouldn't just leave it,' the 64-year-old told the Independent.
'I am convinced Harold survived the Battle of Hastings.
'If we find the complete remains of an old man in his late 70's with scarring to his temple from a battle wound then we need to do a DNA test.
'Our understanding of this particular period of English history would have to change.'
Fronting £2,000 for the project, Mr Burke will oversee a scan of the church's grounds on Tuesday roughly 15 yards from his alleged tomb at the High Altar.
If anything is picked up by the scan, English Heritage will have to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to excavate the site.
However members of the Waltham Abbey Historical Society think it is unlikely they will find anything of interest as the site has been disturbed by building works over the years.
The remains of Richard III were found in a car park in Leicester in 2012.
It was the site of the lost Grey Friars church where the royal had been buried following his death in the Battle of Bosworth Field.
The remains of Richard III (pictured) were discovered in a municipal car park in Leicester in 2012
Read more: Was King Harold really killed by an arrow in the eye? Archaeologists to examine theory that he SURVIVED the Battle of Hastings and died as an 80-year-old hermit | Daily Mail Online
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