Battleground where ‘England was born’ is finally uncovered – but archaeologists refuse to reveal where it is
THE LOCATION of a bloody conflict that secured England's destiny has reportedly been discovered in Merseyside.
Archaeologists say they've pinpointed the Battle of Brunanburh, fought in 937 AD, to a site just south of Liverpool – but refuse to reveal it to the public.
The pivotal skirmish is long believed to have saved England from Viking invaders 1,000 years ago.
It pitted a West Saxon army against a combined horde of Scots, Irish and Vikings in a battle that spawned the country we now know as England.
Despite its importance, the location of the enormous clash – which saw the death of six different kings – has remained a mystery for centuries.
More than 40 possible sites have been proposed by historians stretching from the southwest of England to Scotland.
Now, a team of British archaeologists claims the conflict was in fact held on the Wirral peninsula in northwest England.
According to the , researchers came to the conclusion after researching medieval manuscripts and carrying out land surveys.
The spot is being kept a secret for now for "security purposes", experts at Wirral Archaeology said.
"Several eminent historians and academics have examined a range of evidence we have collected, including physical artefacts," a spokesperson said.
"They have concluded that the lost site of the Battle of Brunanburh may have been identified by Wirral Archaeology.
"There is still a great deal of investigative work that needs to be done."
Investigations are being assisted by a group of professional archaeologists, medieval historians and scientists, the spokesperson added.
The team have yet to offer up any evidence for their extraordinary claim.
The Battle of Brunanburh is considered one of the most important conflicts in the UK's history.
At the time, Britain was split into multiple kingdoms ruled by several kings and earls all vying for power.
In 927 AD, King Athelstan of Wessex invaded Northumbria, occupied York and expelled King of Ireland Anlaf Guthfrithson's kinsmen, the rulers of York and Dublin.
Ten years later, Anlaf and Constantine launched a retaliation with the biggest Viking fleet ever seen in British waters.
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Had King Athelstan been defeated, it would have meant the end of Anglo-Saxon England.
Instead, victory meant Athesltan, whose capital was based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, became the de facto first king of Britain.
Perhaps more importantly, Athelstan united the two major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia, created a single and unified England.
The nation has remained much the same to this day.
The battle was covered in the 2012 BBC One Series "A History of Scotland".
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In other archaeology news, it emerged today that the complete skeletons of a woman and child have been found at the Tower of London.
An eerie mass grave filled with bodies butchered by Mongol invaders was recently uncovered in Russia.
And, we've rounded up some of the most brutal ancient burial sites ever discovered.
Where do you think the battle was held? Let us know in the comments!
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