Charles Thomas was a polymath who made a major contribution to our understanding of the archaeology of late Roman and early medieval western and northern Britain and Ireland. He transformed our understanding of the material and other evidence associated with the evolution of Christianity in western and northern Britain, arguing for the continuity of Christianity from the Roman period, rather than subsequent reintroduction from Gaul. His impact on many different aspects of the archaeology and history of his native Cornwall and Scilly was immense, including a significant contribution to our understanding of post-Roman pottery, particularly imports from the Mediterranean, Gaul and Iberia
