Where was Camelot?

We know that King Arthur had a castle at Camelot. We know that his final battle was at Camlann. Where were they? Do they provide clear geographic links to Glastonbury?

Camlann, Arthur's last battle

Camlann was probably a site on the River Cam, which could be any of several rivers, including one near the town of Camel, not far from Cadbury and Glastonbury.

However, "Cam" was a word that meant crooked, and-like the Avon-there are several Cam rivers in the United Kingdom. For example, the most famous Cam River is at Cambridge, England.

It's easier to narrow the field by looking for Camelot.

Camelot in history

On a 1st century CE map, ancient geographer Ptolemy located a town called Camuludanum in southern England. On Ptolemy's early map, the town is on Britain's east coast, but that same map shows Scotland turned askew at a 90-degree angle, so his locations may not be reliable.

Our next clear geographical reference to Camelot was many centuries later. In 1533, John Leland kept a travel diary, as he worked on a Royal Commission of Antiquity. He wrote:

"At the very south ende of the chirch of South-Cadbyri standith Camallate, sumtyme a famose town or castelle..."

Leland explained that, according to the residents of 16th-century South Cadbury, the hill-fort near their church had been the site of Camelot.

However, in Leland's time, the 500-foot hill at South Cadbury offered little physical evidence, though his notes provide important clues.

For example, Cadbury offers the oldest documented cave-legend, dating at least to the 16th century, and perhaps earlier:

The sleeping King Arthur

They say that King Arthur lies asleep in a cave hidden within the hill at South Cadbury.

On certain nights, particularly Midsummer Night and Christmas Eve, perhaps every seventh year, King Arthur rises from his sleep and leads his knights down through the ancient gates of Cadbury Castle. They pause at the Sutton Montis Church, where their horses drink from the spring next to the chapel. Then they return to their cave and resume their sleep, until Britain needs them.

Whether the ghosts are seen or not, many people report hearing the hoof beats on the road, especially on nights when sounds carry easily through the crisp winter air.

It's a charming tale, but folklore alone cannot prove the location of Camelot at South Cadbury.

The most convincing evidence was uncovered four centuries after John Leland made his notes.

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