(Question - how does this compare to the distribution for
frankish coins?), but certainly suggesting that there was direct
contact between the Byzanitine empire and the British successor
state in Cornwall, based around Tintagel. Of course Byzantium
does not mean Istanbul. The sixth century Byzantine empire had
successfully reconquered North Africa and the grain ships sailed
from Egypt and Carthage to feed the population of
Constantinople. And paralleling the coin distribution, North
African pottery is more common in west of england than east -
pointing to trade route via north africa for supply of items
such as wine and olives. And again the finds are focused around
Cornwall and Tintagel. But why would anyone bother to sail to
Tintagel from Carthage to trade with a gang of smelly celts who
spoke bad latin and claimed to be Roman. Certainly not out of
altruism. But the smelly celts had one thing that was in short
supply elsewhere - tin - needed for making bronze. And in much
the same way that minoan and phonec