In 1639 and 1734, two impressive horns from c. AD 400 and made of gold were discovered at Gallehus near the present border between Denmark and Germany
Category: Medieval Histories
‘Medieval Histories’ offers medievalists all the news about exhibitions, books, research, archaeology, travel-tips and much more from the Medieval World
Who Visited Iron Age Uppåkra in AD 463?
Outside Lund, lies the remains of a unique Iron Age settlement, Uppåkra. Known for it rich archaeological finds, much more remains to be revealed. With the help of new scientific methods, more elusive remains, such as DNA, viruses, and bacteria are expected to come to light for the first time.
Whales and whaling in the Icelandic Seas – and the Kraken
Around 1250, someone wrote at princely mirror to educate Magnus, son of the Norwegian King. Here is an excerpt about whales and whaling
How to Catch a Medieval Whale?
In the Middle Ages, the main catch was the small harbour porpoises and the pilot whales. Most other whales were only subject to occasional scavenging.
Medieval Church in Södra Råda in Sweden Rebuilt
This Whitsun, Södra Råda Church in Värmland in Sweden will be re-inaugurated. The aim of the reconstruction of the burnt-down medieval treasure was to learn how a church was built in the 14th century.
The Franks – from Migrants and Tribal Warriors to Roman Mercenaries AD 200-500
The Franks were an amalgamation of people active in the region around the lower Rhine surfacing in Late Antiquity as a significant player in Gaul.
Headless horses found in Merovingian graves in Knittlingen
Recent excavations have revealed 140 Merovingan graves at Knittlingen near Stuttgart. Some of the graves were accompanied by decapitated and headless horses.
A Cultural History of Peace in the Middle Ages
Warring was endemic to the Middle Ages. But so were endeavours to try and soften the attrition to secure peace and the truce of God. New book tells the cultural history of medieval peacemaking
Medieval History and Nature at Medvedgrad and Medvenica in Croatia
Medvedgrad is a medieval castle located on the southern slope of the Medvenica mountain near Zagreb.
Elegant golden earring from Byzantium found by metal-detector
Unique 11th-century earring made of gold with cloisonné enamelling from was recently discovered by a metal-detector in Western Jutland. The earring likely derives from Byzantium or Egypt.
Early Medieval Venice – and the Making of Venetian Identity
How did Venice emerge as an independent political community between two competing empires, the Frankish realm and Byzantium? And how did its inhabitants construct a collective memory of their past?
Eric IV – Murdered Danish King c. 1216-1241
August 1250, Eric IV – also known as Eric Ploughpenny – was murdered on a boat and dumped in the firth of Schlei. His death was the culmination of ten years of civil war and the harbinger of a tumultuous period in the medieval history of Denmark.
Viking Exhibitions in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo in 2021
REVIEW: Last year, Oslo opened its doors to a new permanent Viking exhibition. June 2021, Stockholm and Copenhagen followed.
The Baptism of Harold Bluetooth, the Ordeal of Poppo and a New Source
A new source - Avico's Annals - tells a very different story about the famous conversion and baptism of Harold Bluetooth in the 960s
The Lendbreen Pass – and a Lost Viking Settlement
Cold, and desolate, the mountainous landscape in Jotunheimen in Norway offers hardship and tough hikes. Nevertheless, a thousand years ago, a rugged mountain pass was one of the arteries of Viking Age traffic.
Viking Age or Viking World? – New Manifest
New paper reviews the achievements and challenges of archaeological research on Viking Age Northern Europe and explores potential avenues for future research.