European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                H0� to look without getting lost  vrtwa1keep research to a minimum advises arthurian scholar by Jayne traendly Quot if you re on the Trail of King Arthur Quot advises Robert Dunning Quot Don t try to sort it All out or read too Many books. You la Only get lost Quot this bit of advice for tourists from a historian who wrote Arthur the King in the West  whose Job it is to edit a series on the history of every Parish there Are 500 in Somerset county Quot it s a confusing Story Quot he explains Quot interwoven with truth  half truths. I you try to sort out the essential Story you get confused 1 indeed southwestern England including Cornwall  Somerset is promoted As Quot the legendary land of King Arthur Quot since what is known about the hero King is derived from legends place names  literature. Not that it in t possible that a historical Warrior like Arthur could have existed Here in the late sixth Century. Cadbury Castle an 18-acre Iron age Hill fort South of. Glastonbury is a Strong contender in the Quot historical Quot Camelot debate. Quot Cadbury Castle is the site that in 1542, the English antiquary John Leland said was Camelot Quot Dunning notes. Quot so it has in a sense historical claims. But that claim is strengthened by the fact that while it was previously roman it was proved that it was re fortified in the late sixth Century by the finding of Tintagel pottery which originated in the Mediterranean. Quot what that implies is that whoever was there was not Only Strong enough to re fortify the fortress but also Rich enough to import from the  x possible Sites for Arthur s Victory at the Battle of Badon in . 493 a Bath Liddington Castle in Wiltshire  Bradbury rings in Dorset a Are also nearby. But does this fact connect Cadbury with Arthur who Only got credit for the defeat from Tennius some 300 years later Quot All it Means says Dunning Quot is that maybe the Man who was in charge of Cadbury was the Man who won this last Battle. And possibly the Man who fought the last Battle won the other ones As  not much remains of the military base today except the earthwork ramparts but local legend has it that the King  his knights Are still sleeping there  travel Down to nearby Glastonbury every Christmas eve. You can climb the Steep Hill along their route to explore the Grassy plateau on top most of which is grazing land for cattle  enjoy a View of the Somerset Countryside. And i you re interested in any archaeological finds you can visit the red lion pub at the foot of the Hill. From 1966 to 1970, Leslie Alcock directed excavations of the site  the landlord kept All the newspaper clippings of this famous Camelot dig in a scrapbook. But while Cadbury Castle May have some historical claims other arthurian Sites Are less provable a  that gives Rise to some delightful storytelling. The town of Glastonbury was Home to the first British Christian Community supposedly founded by St. Joseph of arimathea. But it is also known for developing one of the most convincing medieval arthurian publicity campaigns. A As Early As the 12th Century the welshman Caradoc of Llancarfan wrote in his Vita tildae that the town had been the site of the peace negotiations Between Arthur  King me was King of the summer country Somerset who had abducted Queen guinevere to his Castle. Caradoc further strengthened this initial link to Arthur by associating Glastonbury with the Quot Isle of Glass Quot setting the stage for its later connections to Avalon. A a. A a a a. A a a a. A huge fire that destroyed most of the Abbey in 1184 prompted the biggest  most financially beneficial discovery that cemented the relationship. In 1191, the. For a amps Jayne traendly visitors making the Steep climb to the top of Glastonbury Tor Are rewarded with a breath taking i a in Somerset. Monks claimed to have dug up the Bones of King Arthur  Queen guinevere. The fact that a Cross was also found that read Quot Here lies buried the renowned King Arthur in the Isle of Avalon Quot Only strengthened their Case a even though the latin it used was not the latin spoken during the King s time. But that did Little to deter hordes of devoted pilgrims whose donations were enough to help rebuild the Abbey. Tourists still flock to the holy grounds today to visit Arthur s supposed burial site much to the Chagrin of some priests who feel visitors Overlook the Abbey s More religious history. You can wander around the place but unfortunately All that remains of the former Abbey is ruins. After Henry Viii dissolved it in 1539, later owners used the buildings As a Quarry Lor scalable Stone. But. The Well kept grounds still retain the peaceful sense of an earlier Sanctuary in contrast to the Bustle of the surrounding  within walking distance of Robert Dunning the Abbey is the towering Glastonbury Tor rising some a a a a a 525 feet above sea level. Of course it too has its arthurian connections. One Story contends it was the outpost at which King me was held guinevere. Another claims it is the legendary Isle of Avalon. The latter May not be so far off a at various times in history the surrounding Low lying peat moors were under water. It is conceivable that a wounded Arthur could have been ferried across the water to such a site. No boats Are necessary today Only the Energy needed a to climb to its Peak where you have an impressive panoramic View of Somerset. Although two churches were originally built there one destroyed by an earthquake All that remains is the ruin of St. Michael s Tower. /. In the 1960s  1970s, the arthurian legends mystical connotations attracted a different kind of f spiritual Pilgrim to Glastonbury a the hippies. And in the last 20 years a thriving new age Community has been established some of whose members Are putting a modern twist to the Story. / shops display texts that connect the round table to the Zodiac  promote Tours to ancient sacred lands to find your own personal grail. The centrally located University of Avalon offers among other courses arthurian influenced seminars such As How to meet the holy grail  claim your Birthright. Actually these hew adaptations of the legends seem to be a natural continuation of Glastonbury s history. Quot the new age movement is taking half truths Quot notes Dunning Quot not always knowing where they came from but running with it just like the earlier monks at Glastonbury. History is just repeating itself. And their modern adaptations Are Fine to As Long As the storytellers Don t pretend they re history. A Quot Arthur is a creative Force Quot he added. Quot  in the end whether it comes from the dark Ages Middle Ages Malory or new age a arthurian storytelling is an essential part of old  4 stripes Magazine november 10, 1994