The question of introduction date for rabbits to Britain is still
contentious. There is some archaeological evidence from Beddingham Roman
villa, East Sussex, of rabbit bones which are of similar size to native
Spanish rabbits (which are smaller). It is believed that these
Mediterranean animals were not suited to the British climate and died out
quite quickly.
There have been a few finds of rabbit bones on Anglo-Saxon sites but these
are usually dimissed as intrusive (e.g. Burpham, West Sussex). The fact
that there is no Anglo-Saxon name for rabbit per sei is used as supporting
evidence that there were no rabbits in Britain at this period. However,
Varo the Roman author states that there are three kinds of 'lepus', of
which rabbit is one. It is possible therefore that the Anglo-Saxons too
referred to both rabbit and hare by the same name. This is also the same
for porcupine and hedgehogs, two very different taxa.
The next suggested introduction date is shortly after the Norman Conquest,
however, the archaeological evidence is once again slight before the late
twelfth century. It is also interesting to note that there are no rabbit
bones in pre-twelfth century assemblages from northern France (they are
indigenous in the south). Therefore a Norman introduction is unlikely and
a more probable arrival date would be Angevin (the moment when the King of
England held continuous territory from Hadrians Wall to the Pyrenees).
This ties in with the earliest dated depiction of a rabbit - carved on a
corbel on Kilpeck church, Herefordshire although some believe this to be a
hare.
See articles in 'Agricultural History Review' by Warry and Bond in early
nineteen eighties. Also book by Scheil entitled 'History of the Rabbit'
I would be interested in getting hold of a copy of the forthcoming
Henderson article.
Dr Richard Jones
Research Officer
Sussex Archaeological Society
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