the location of the battlefield is unknown[18] and has been the subject of lively debate among historians since at least the 17th century.[49] Over forty locations have been proposed, from the southwest of England to Scotland,[50][51] although most historians agree that a location in Northern England is the most plausible.[52][53]
Wirral Archaeology, a local volunteer group, have searched for the site of the battle near Bromborough on the Wirral.[54] They found a field with a heavy concentration of artifacts which may be a result of metal working in a tenth-century army camp.[55] The location of the field is being kept secret to protect it from nighthawks. As of 2020, they are seeking funds to pursue their research further.[56] The military historian Michael Livingston argues in his 2021 book Never Greater Slaughter that Wirral Archaeology's case for Bromborough is conclusive, but this claim is criticised in a review of the book by Thomas Williams. He accepts that Bromborough is the only surviving place name which originates in Old English Brunanburh, but says that there could have been others. He comments that evidence of military metal working is unsurprising in an area of Viking activity: it is not evidence for a battle, let alone any particular battle.[57] In an article in Notes and Queries in 2022, Michael Deakin questions the philological case for Bromborough as Brunanburh, suggesting that the first element in the name is 'brown' and not 'Bruna'. Bromborough would therefore be 'the brown [stone-built] manor or fort'. The corollary of this argument being the early names of Bromborough cannot be derived from Old English Brunanburh.[58] Michael Wood, in an article in Notes and Queries in 2017, discusses the alternative spelling Brunnanburh 'the burh at the spring or stream', found in several Anglo-Saxon Chronicle manuscripts.[59]
The medieval texts employ a plethora of alternative names for the site of the battle, which historians have attempted to link to known places.[60][61][62] The earliest relevant document is the “Battle of Brunanburh” poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (version A), written within two decades of the battle, which names the battlefield location as “ymbe Brunanburh” (around Brunanburh).[63] Many other medieval sources contain variations on the name Brunanburh, such as Brune,[64][65] Brunandune,[66] Et Brunnanwerc,[33] Bruneford,[67] Cad Dybrunawc[68] Duinbrunde[69] and Brounnyngfelde.[70]
It is thought that the recurring element Brun- could be a personal name, a river name, or the Old English or Old Norse word for a spring or stream.[71][13] Less mystery surrounds the suffixes –burh/–werc, -dun, -ford and –feld, which are the Old English words for a fortification, low hill, ford, and open land respectively.[71]
Ancient artesian spring at Barton-upon-Humber
Not all the place-names contain the Brun- element, however. Symeon of Durham (early 12th C) gives the alternative name Weondune (or Wendune) for the battle site,[33][72] while the Annals of Clonmacnoise say the battle took place on the “plaines of othlyn”[73] Egil's Saga names the locations Vínheiðr and Vínuskóga.[74]
Few medieval texts refer to a known place, although the Humber estuary is mentioned by several sources. John of Worcester's Chronicon (early 12th C),[35] Symeon of Durham's Historia Regum (mid-12th C),[72] the Chronicle of Melrose (late 12th C)[75] and Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Chronicle (1338)[76] all state that Olaf's fleet entered the mouth of the Humber, while Robert of Gloucester's Metrical Chronicle (late 13th C)[77] says the invading army arrived "south of the Humber". Peter of Langtoft's Chronique (ca. 1300)[78] states the armies met at “Bruneburgh on the Humber”, while Robert Mannyng of Brunne's Chronicle (1338)[76] claims the battle was fought at “Brunesburgh on Humber”. Pseudo-Ingulf (ca. 1400)[79] says that as Æthelstan led his army into Northumbria (i.e. north of the Humber) he met on his way many pilgrims coming home from Beverley. Hector Boece's Historia (1527)[80] claims that the battle was fought by the River Ouse, which flows into the Humber estuary.
Few other geographical hints are contained in the medieval sources. The poem in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that the invaders fled over deep water on Dingesmere, perhaps meaning an area of the Irish Sea or an unidentified lake or river.[81] Deakin noted that the term ding had been used in the Old English Andreas (poem) where it is suggested to have been used metaphorically for a grave and/or Hell. His analysis of the context of lines 53–56 of the Brunanburh poem suggest to him that dingesmere is a poetic and figurative term for the sea.[58]
Egil's Saga contains more detailed topographical information than any of the other medieval texts, although its usefulness as historical evidence is disputed.[41] According to this account, Olaf's army occupied an unnamed fortified town north of a heath, with large inhabited areas nearby. Æthelstan's camp was pitched to the south of Olaf, between a river on one side and a forest on raised ground on the other, to the north of another unnamed town at several hours' ride from Olaf's camp.[74]
Many sites have been suggested, including:
Bromborough on the Wirral[b]
Barnsdale, South Yorkshire[c]
Brinsworth, South Yorkshire[d]
Bromswold[e]
Burnley[f]
Burnswark, situated near Lockerbie in southern Scotland[g]
Lanchester, County Durham[h]
Hunwick in County Durham[i]
Londesborough and Nunburnholme, East Riding of Yorkshire[101]
Heysham, Lancashire[102]
Barton-upon-Humber in North Lincolnshire[j]
Little Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire.[103]
Bourn in South Cambridgeshire[k]
