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Yeavering Royal Hall: Cuneus
Brian Hope-Taylor's excavations of the cuneus uncovered a unique building surviving as a series of pits or
post-holes. His plan of this structure suggested that the building was
triangular in
shape with nine equally sized steps focusing on an area that seems to have been bordered by a screen or fence
at the back and sides.
Hope-Taylor took this evidence and used it to reconstruct his idea of how the cuneus might have looked. His
reconstruction shows a tiered structure that focuses on a small stage.
The stage is surrounded by screens or fences that would have kept the audience's attention on the speaker, and
perhaps also helped to amplify the speaker's voice so that he could be more clearly heard.
Traditionally, the cuneus is believed to have been used for religious purposes,
possibly even by Paulinus in his efforts to convert Edwin, his court and the local community. However, it is
likely that the structure also had other uses such as for the King to address his court and for members of his
court to address each other.
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