I read that a Viking ship burial was found in Yorkshire said to be older than Sutton Hoo.  Sutton Hoo was of course the burial of a local and the Viking burial presumably is of a Viking (non-local).  The findings included a silver penny depicting Alfred the Great as well as a small set of folding scales.  There were a couple of swords as well as metal boat nails.  The boat nails were the surprise as it was thought they used only wooden nails.

 

This in it's self proves that the people weren't in the dark as to knowledge, we are just in the dark as to the extent of their knowledge.  This is usually where the blanks are filled in with legends and fold tales.  Since it was sooo very long ago, I don't think there are many surviving legends.

 

Very interesting.  One day in 3 thousand years from now if all the written materials and computer documentation was lost, and all but a few of the largest buildings were underwater or destroyed, the 1900's could be called dark ages.