The term "Sub-Roman Britain" is traditionally the name which refers to the period of British history which extends loosely from the end of Roman imperial rule in 410 AD until 'to the arrival of Saint Augustine and his Christian missionaries. in 597 AD. However, the date of the definitive end of the period is arbitrary as sub-Roman culture continued to develop in the country that would later be known as Wales and similarly in western Wales. England in areas such as Cornwall and Cumbria. The term "sub-Roman" has become synonymous with this period due to the classification of pottery from this era by archaeologists as degenerate forms of Roman craftsmanship. However, to say that sub-Roman Britain was simply Roman Britain in decadence is to overlook both its achievements (monasticism, penitentials) and the continuity with its Roman culture (Latin education, Mediterranean trade) and Celtic (La Tène jewelry, bardic tradition). pass. The aim of this essay will be to assess the period to understand and consider the legitimacy of the term 'sub-Roman' Britain. Several terms to describe Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries have had popular and reinforced usage throughout the history of scholarship. . In addition to being objectively known as two centuries between the end of Roman imperial rule and the return of Christianity, this period can also be considered part of the Early Middle Ages, if we emphasize the continuity with subsequent periods . Popular (and sometimes academic) works use a range of more dramatic names for the period: the Age of Darkness, the Brythonic Age, the Age of Tyrants, or the Age of Arthur. The term "post-Roman" appears to be the preferred form to classify this confused and enigmatic era because it is more sensitive to...... middle of paper ......lyn. Minnesota, Llewellyn PublicationsMoorhead, S., ; Stuttard, D., (2012). The Romans who shaped Britain. London, Thames & Hudson. Morris, J. (1973) The Age of Arthur, a history of the British Isles from 350 to 650, London, Weidenfeld and Nicolson Reece, R. (June 1980) “Town and Country: The End of Grande -Roman Britain” in World Archaeology, Vol. 12, No. 1, Classical Archaeology, Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Snyder, C. (1997) “Sub-Roman Britain, an introduction” on Vortigern Studies.org.uk http://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/ artgue/snyder.htm [accessed 02/01/ 14] (1996). Sub-Roman Britain (400-600 AD): a gazetteer of sites. British Archaeological Reports (BAR) British Series No. 247. Oxford: Tempvs ReparatvmStenton, FM (1971). Anglo-Saxon England (third ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University PressThomas, C. (1981) Christianity in Roman Britain to AD 500 London: Batsford