Validating resolver and trust anchors

So while troubleshooting and making a ton of changes I am now able to resolve while using the validation resolver cache. To test what may have been the issue I removed the trust and dlv anchors and it is still resolving. If that is the case, what is the point of the trust anchors? Even if I don't have trust anchors should gtm still resolve recursive lookups when using a validating resolver cache?