The archaeological authority of the Bayeux Tapestry

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the extent to which artefacts depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry reflect those of the contemporary world of the eleventh-century, comparing them with archaeological evidence on the one hand and with early medieval artistic tradition on the other.

The main body of the work will present a series of ‘test cases’ in which the verisimilitude of different types of artefacts/attributes (architecture, arms and armour, ships, dress and clothing, along with beasts and vegetation) is assessed, by comparing them with objects found archaeologically and with other depictions in contemporary art. Drawing upon these findings the thesis will propose that, although the Tapestry is a depiction of a ‘real’ sequence of events, its artefacts were influenced more by artistic convention than by the contemporary scene, and that we should therefore be wary when using it as a visual source for the appearance of objects in the third-quarter of the eleventh century.

Building on the information and insights thus gained, the thesis will then present new insights into the world of the Tapestry designer and embroiderers, the relationship between the Tapestry’s patron and designer, how the Tapestry was produced, the way in which the designer used symbolism and iconography, the extent to which the Tapestry is typical of art of the period, and - more generally - into the depiction of the ‘real world’ in early medieval art.