Thynghowe

Thynghowe was an important Viking Era open-air assembly place or thing, located at Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire, England. It was lost to history until its rediscovery in 2005-6 by the husband and wife team Lynda Mallett and Stuart Reddish, who are local history enthusiasts. As a result of continued research, Thynghowe is now included on the English Historic England Archive. ^[1] ^[2] ^[3]

History

The site lies amidst the old oaks of an area known as the Birklands in Sherwood Forest. Experts believe it may also yield clues as to the boundary of the ancient Anglo Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. English Heritage has recently inspected the site, and has confirmed it was known as "Thynghowe" in 1334 and 1609.^[4] It functioned as a place where people came to resolve disputes and settle issues.

Etymology

Thynghowe is an Old Norse name, although the site may be older than the Danelaw, perhaps even Bronze Age. The word howe is derived from the Old Norse word haugr meaning mound. This often indicates the presence of a prehistoric burial mound.^[5] The thyng or thing (Old Norse, Old English and Icelandic: þing; other modern Scandinavian languages: ting) was historically the governing assembly in Germanic peoples and was introduced into some Celtic societies as well. It was made up of the free people of the community and presided over by lawspeakers.

References

↑ Moss, Richard (Apr. 25, 2008). "Amateur Archaeologists Find Ancient 'Thyng' In Sherwood Forest." Culture24.
↑ Thynghowe and the Forgotten Heritage of Sherwood (thynghowe.blogspot)
↑ Archaeologists to probe Sherwood Forest's Thing (BBC)
↑ Thynghowe. PastScape, English Heritage.
↑ Standard English words which have a Scandinavian Etymology.

Other sources

Gaunt, Andy (Jun. 30, 2011). A Topographic Earthwork Survey of Thynghowe, Hanger Hill, Nottinghamshire. NCA-016.
Stuart Reddish & Lynda Mallett: According to Ancient Custom: Research on the possible Origins and Purpose of Thynghowe Sherwood Forest
Community archaeology at Thynghowe, Birklands, Sherwood Forest by Lynda Mallett, Stuart Reddish, John Baker, Stuart Brookes and Andy Gaunt.Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire, Volume 116 (2012)

External links

Coordinates: 53°12′31.71″N 1°6′6.51″W / 53.2088083°N 1.1018083°W / 53.2088083; -1.1018083

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