My work begins in Bree, the largest settlement of Men in the North. After Arnor was divided, it fell within the borders of Arthedain, close to its neighbouring sister-kingdom of Cardolan. After the Kingdoms were defeated at the hands of Angmar, it became an independent city that lost its Numenorian identity over time. However, if one knows where to look, there are remnants of the original settlement intertwined with the Bree-lander buildings; and this is where my documentation of Arnorian ruins begins.
Amongst the back streets of Bree, one will find what the locals call the Oldstone Ruins, original Arnorian stonework which the modern settlement is built upon. Consulting the Scholar’s Stair, the scholarly archive here in town, yielded little in to the original settlement’s history. From what we do know, I speculate that it may have been primarily used by Arthedain for trade with Cardolan judging by its proximity to the border between the two kingdoms; or perhaps acting as a border town with shared Arnorian culture. It really makes one wonder what people lived here. The sheer amount of trade would have made this a very wealthy settlement, but one that would remain eternally overshadowed by the likes of Annuminas, the Tower of the West.
The most striking thing about the Oldstone Ruins, however, is a large crest carved into the stonework of a tree surrounded by six stars and adorned with a three-pronged object. Though worn over time, the features are miraculously still visible. The Dúnedain of Arnor, or the Rangers of the North as they are known here, recognise this crest as being that of the Kingdom of Arthedain, and was thus used by the royal family. The Rangers pay their respects to their fallen kin here every year, lighting candles and reminiscing on their lives. Certainly, an honourable way of remembering the Dead.
Curiously, although many Bree-lander houses now cover the Arnorian foundations, a tomb stands alone on a back alley near the town’s South Gate. The weathered stonework upon its lid reveals no clues as to whom it may have been; a noble or perhaps a hero of old? Someone who had wealth enough to be interred in such a way, regardless. The street is aptly named the Haunted Alley, for local stories claim that the tomb’s inhabitant wanders the street at night, his words not understood or going unnoticed. I was unable to see this spirit during my visit to the tomb, so these are likely tales parents tell their children so they do not wander the streets at night. In truth, the locals pay their respects to the tomb in their own way, for leaving small offerings at the base of the tomb are said to bring good fortune, and the pouches of goods and hastily written notes don't even begin to demonstrate how popular that tradition is.
There are many ruins like this scattered throughout Bree-land; such as Ost Baranor in Southern Chetwood, the similarly-named fortress of Ost Barandor in the Brandywood, the Marshwater Fort and a fortification in the Archet Dale known only as Bronwe’s Folly. On the surface, records indicate these were all used in some manner as defence against Arthedain’s neighbours Angmar and Rhudaur, the third Arnorian Kingdom largely populated by the native Hill-Men.
This initial look into Bree’s history has left me with many potential avenues to explore to expand my research. My plan is to understand the local ruins to begin with, before branching out further afield.
