and medieval culture takes shape out of the ruins of the classical world. Right across Europe sites of the period are rare, and standing buildings north of the Alps almost unknown. A crucial British role at this period was to draw in the remains of classical and late Roman culture, and preserve it and work with it, particularly at a number of monasteries.
Almost uniquely, there are structural remains of this period at Monkwearmouth and Jarrow, the two monasteries founded by Benedict Biscop and built by him in conscious imitation of Italian models. The two monasteries were also home to Bede, one of the giants of early medieval scholarship. The very rare survival of buildings of this period and Bede's association with them would appear to justify recommendation of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow for the Tentative List.