9. Revisiting the Location of the Battle
Recent archaeological surveys and landscape analyses have prompted a reevaluation of the Battle of Hastings’ exact location. Traditional accounts place the battle at Battle Abbey in East Sussex (english-heritage.org.uk), but new evidence suggests alternative sites. For instance, a 2021 soil stratigraphy study identified medieval-era earthworks near Caldbec Hill, approximately 2.5 miles north of Battle Abbey, showing flattened plateaus and artificial depressions consistent with mass troop movements. Additionally, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys have revealed inconsistencies between the abbey’s landscape and medieval chronicles, such as slope gradients and battlefield size, challenging the traditional site. These findings indicate that the precise location of the Battle of Hastings remains a subject of ongoing research and debate.
