This week is all about medievalism: a new exhibition in Lübeck, a Medieval Modern Exhibition at Frederiksborg in Denmark, and a new book on “unthinking medieval poetry” Read more

A 28-metre-long medieval trading ship has been discovered in the Sound off Copenhagen, making it the largest cog ever found in Northern Europe. Read more

Around 1345, volcanic eruptions led to famine. Following this, the import of grain increased, ultimately leading to the Black Death in Europe. Read more

Weighing more than six kilograms, a remarkable treasure from the reign of Knut Eriksson was discovered near Stockholm in September Read more

Birds of prey in medieval Britain relied far more heavily on scavenging human waste than previously thought, according to research that analyzed more than 30 ancient bird skeletons. Read more

On the 15th of November, the faithful carried the Virgin of the Pillar back to Notre-Dame de Paris, which reopens in all its glory on the 7th of December Read more

Imagining women’s lives and ways of thinking in another world is complicated. How do we transgress the barriers of our own cultural predispositions? These questions were recently explored at a conference focusing on “Women in the Viking World”. How should we imagine the lives of Viking women? And in what… Read more

Unearthing new documents and evidence, historians and archaeologists at York University are shedding light on the medieval Jewish population of York. The research indicates a thriving community where the leading Jewish citizens of the city were also among the most significant figures in England. Read more

NEWS: Discover the entire Bayeux Tapestry scene by scene and follow online the 70 meter-long embroidered canvas which tells the story of the conquest of England in 1066. Read more

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. Read more

A major new project relating to Medieval and Renaissance Women will secure the digitisation of a wide collection of manuscripts, letters and other sources in The British Library Read more

The Castle Ruin at Staufenberg from the 12th century in Alsace was rebuilt by the Emperor, Wilhelm II between 1900-1908. An archaeological report tells the story of this iconic “Medieval Castle” Read more

Since 2016 the national libraries in England and France have worked together to create a digitised collection of their medieval manuscripts from England and France between 700-1200. Read more

Among medieval historians, Laxton in Nottinghamshire is famous. As the last Open Field Village it offers a unique showcase of what England once looked like. Read more

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO recently added seven more medieval sites to its World Heritage List. Of special interest are the nomination of Danevirke and Haithabu (Hedeby), The Cathedral of Naumburg, and the Caliphate city of Medina Azahara. Read more

Ever so often we stumble on some minor medieval news, which do not merit a full article, but nevertheless, deserve a short notice. Read more

Ever so often we stumble on some minor medieval news, which do not merit a full article, but nevertheless, deserve a short notice. Read more

Ever so often we stumble on some minor medieval news, which do not merit a full article, but nevertheless, deserve a short notice. Read more

Ever so often we stumble on some minor medieval news, which do not merit a full article, but nevertheless, deserve a short notice. Read more

Ever so often we stumble on some minor medieval news, which do not merit a full article, but nevertheless, deserve a short notice. Read more

Surfing the net, we often stumble upon minor news about medieval “stuff”. Here are some of the interesting tidbits we found this month Read more

Each month we stumble over news which might interest – upcoming exhibitions, new blogs, new resources. Don’t miss the updated list of minor medieval news… Read more

Will it all end in a medieval feud, when 23 individuals homestead at Eden, a barren beach in North Western Scotland? Or might it bring hope to discouraged brexiters? Read more

A plaque marks the spot of the grave of Henry I at Reading Abbey. However, the exact location is uncertain and archaeologists are now scanning the ground to find it Read more

The Vita Caroli Quarti of Charles IV (1316 – 1378) is one of the earliest royal autobiographies written. A new edition celebrates the 700-year anniversary Read more

The Turin Shroud is one of the most contested relics in Christianity. New article (2016) calls for renewed studies of the ancient DNA in the blood-stains Read more

Hastings is warming up for the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings 1066 – 2016 with reenactments, an artsy festival and a new exhibition Read more

Mick Aston Photographic competition 2016 for archaeologists has as its theme “religion”. Perhaps inspiration may be had at the bottom of Martin Luther’s latrine Read more

The World-Tree Project – and interactive Digital Archive for the Teaching and Study of the Vikings have gone live. Explore the new website… Read more

In 1241 – 42 the Mongol invasions of Hungary caused widespread destruction Recently, a house filled with the charred remains of murdered victims plus a forgotten treasure reminds us of these horrors. Read more

A contingent of French soldiers formed a guard of honour when the purported ring of Joan of Arc illegally returned to France Read more

Eric the I of Sweden (c. 1125 – 1160) was a stout man, used to fighting and a great fan of a diet of diet of fresh-water fish. It appears, also, the legend of his death speaks the truth Read more

Around 900 – 920 a Danish Viking woman lost a crucifix. The pendant – Christ from Aunslev – may witness to an early presence of Christianity in Denmark Read more

This week a group of Norwegians succeeded in gaining access to the remains of the Dukes, Richard the I and II, at Fécamp in order to subtract DN from their remains Read more

Nimes was briefly under Muslim rule in the early 8th century. Now the presence has been proven by the find of three Muslim graves Read more

On Friday, Bede’s World Trust, which has run a visitor centre and museum at Jarrow on the Tyneside has been foreclosed due to lack of funding Read more

UNESCO considers removing World Heritage Status from the Kremlin due to the erection of a massive statue of Vladimir the Great Read more

WATCH OUT FOR: Medieval Anniversaries 2016 Read more

Neil Price, Professor at the Institution for Archaeology at the University in Uppsala has been granted 50 mill SEK (5.4 mill EUR/5,9 Mill USD) to study “Vikingafenomenet” – The Viking Phenomena. Read more

Fragments of a medieval manuscript hidden in the spine of a book for hundreds of years could shed new light on Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure, ‘The Book of Kells’. Read more

Bernt Notke (c. 1440 – 1509) was a German Painter and wood-carver responsible for the intricate altarpiece in Århus Cathedral, which has three positions, Feast, Passion and Advent Read more

Myths made by medieval monks may have fooled archaeologists searching for King Arthur’s grave Read more

In the Middle Ages Polish priests and theologians fought to eradicate old and traditional ways of cohabiting with the dead. It does not seem af if they have succeeded yet. Read more

It is pretty obvious that the food eaten at the battlefield of St. Crispin’s eve in 1415 were not the delicious seed-cakes, which were traditional fare at the end of October when sowing was finished. But dreamed they must have done… Read more

Frederic II, Holy-Roman Emperor, is known for his audacious life, his great Italian castles and his wars with the Pope. But he was also an avid patron of the arts. His hunting book is one of his great legacies. Read more

Richard III has changed his look three times in the last three years. In the latest version he is sporting unkempt mouse-coloured hair. Is that plausible? Read more

The Basilica at Boulogne-sur-Mer was built in the 19th century on top of a medieval church. Beneath is one of the largest crypts in Europe. After years of archaeological excavations and restoration it shines once more. Read more

The politics of being Norman, Byzantine and Visigothic Alicante, Bede as a computist, Anglo-Saxon and Viking battlefield in 1006. All in the new issue of Early Medieval Europe August 2015 Read more

New Journal – Medieval Worlds – aims to be the hub for Medievalists, Social Anthropologists, Scholars of Islam and of Asian Culture, stimulating comparative research Read more

Archaeologists aim to unravel the mystery of the Rhynie Man, a Pictish symbol stone from the 5th century Read more

Around AD 1000 the Mediterranean was criss-crossed by a huge number of diverse vessels running out of the Levant. Hundred years later Italian cities came to dominate Read more

Scholars from the University of Birmingham claims a fragment of a manuscript to be part of the oldest Qur’an in the world. But what is the evidence? Read more

This summer Christies auctions off a priceless manuscript – the Gospels of Queen Theutberga” – from c. 825 – 850. Read more

A long-forgotten royal mound in Uppsala from the 7th century has been found by chance. Archaeologists are excited. Read more

End of June the World Heritage Committee will decide the future for a handful of “medieval” candidates vying for the valuable designation. Who will be the winners? Read more

Helmet and pommel pieced together from hundreds of fragments present new insights into the Staffordshire Hoard Read more

Gothic Ivories were early on an important collectors’ item. The Gothic Ivories Project has been busy publishing some very old catalogues of photos of pieces with unknown whereabouts. Read more

Is Elfdalian a dialect? Or a distinct language? Whichever way it is characterised, it is a very old variety of a Swedish dialect, Dalecarlian Read more

Fish filled with nettles and grilled over a blazing fire were on the menu in medieval Caravate near Lago Maggiore Read more

Today the world remembers the 100-year anniversary of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians. We should also remember the awful cultural destruction Read more

The Lewis Chessmen from the 12th century are among some of the most iconic images of both the Isle of Lewis itself and the Norse heritage of the British Isles. This summer six of them will come home… Read more

Identifying pigments in medieval manuscripts gives an insight into the technical expertise of artists and sometimes trade-routes. Raman spectroscopy makes it possible without sampling Read more

Genetic studies have demonstrated that a significant part of the population in San Giovanni in Persiceto near Bologna may perhaps trace its roots back to the Lombard invasion in the 8th century Read more

A medieval remedy for modern day superbugs? It sounds like an April hoax; however the research was posted in a press-release on the 30th of March and will – according to the programme – be presented at a conference in Birmingham this week. So perhaps it really is true! Read more

A lovely and inspiring website invites us all to discover the history and legacy of one of the world’s most celebrated documents, the Magna Carta Read more

In January a stunningly beautiful Anglo-Saxon pendant was discovered in South Norfolk. The find is thought to be of national importance Read more

Louvre plans to move its storage to location 200 km North of Paris Read more

Why have more than 5000 youngsters gone from Europe to Syria to join Isil? Perhaps Medieval History might offer an answer Read more

Mortuary chests in Winchester are said to hold the remains of Anglo-Saxon and Viking kings of England. Preliminary dating confirms the possibility Read more

Excavations in Northampton have uncovered a 12th century workshop, where the owner found business carving chess-pieces from antler-bones. Read more

A very early long-lost biography of St. Francis of Assisi was recently discovered. The text may help to salvage the man from the myth created later in the 13th century Read more

Last year archaeologists found a very old ski with its ski-binding intact. Now the time has come to reconstruct the find Climate change is causing the glacier in Reinheimen National Park in Norway to melt, yielding lost artefacts from the Norwegian Iron and Viking age. So-far archaeologists have uncovered more… Read more

Crystal Cross from the 16th century returned after a hundred years. It is believed to have belonged to either Mary Stewart or her mother Marie de Guise Read more

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord ), wrote Pope Francis in the guestbook of Hagia Sophia in November 2014 Read more

A Norwegian tunic, dated to AD 230 -390, is going to be recreated In Norway the ice is melting in the glaciers, shedding numerous treasures from the prehistoric as well as medieval past. A few years ago the Lendbreen glacier in Breheimen National Park thus coughed up shoes, hunting gear, tent… Read more

This year Cologne celebrates the 850th anniversary of the arrival of the three Magi with several exhibitions The city of Cologne in Germany has been celebrating its magnificent trademark – the Three Magis – all year. The occasion is the 850th anniversary of the arrival of the relics in the city. The remains of the… Read more

The Voynich Manuscript is perhaps the largest medieval enigma of them all. New digitized edition might help scholars along Read more

REVIEW: Medieval Music, Legend, and the Cult of St Martin. The Local Foundations of a Universal Saint Read more

Tours was very early on a fortified city with a flourishing Christian community on the outskirts. The two parts of the modern city still seem to reflect this ancient historyTours was very early on a fortified city with a flourishing Christian community on the outskirts. The two parts of the modern city still seem to reflect this ancient history Read more

Der Naturen Bloeme is a Masterpiece by the Dutch Poet, Jacob van Maerlant c. 1230 – 1291 Read more

Private Lives in Print: The use and abuse of books 1450-1550 is the title of a new exhibition in Cambridge University Library Read more

The Carolingian pot found in Dumfriess in October 2014 is probably the largest ever. recently it was CT-scanned to discover, what it holds. Read more

City of York Council invests to protect York’s medieval Bar Walls Read more

Archaeologists have found the remains of a long-haul truck-stop near Peissen in Sachsen –Anhalt on the road between Hannover and Dresden. Read more

2015 Stuttgart celebrates the birth of the renaissance duke, Christoph of Württemberg, who invoked the reformation there. Read more

New exhibition – Popes 2017 – is being planned in Mannheim. The point is to make room for Catholic presence at the reformation festivities 2017. Read more

The Ring Fortresses of Harold Bluetooth represent a remarkable engineering feat of 10th century Scandinavia. New book presents the latest research Trelleborg, Aggersborg, Fyrkat, Nonnebakken and now Vallø are five of the most intriguing witnesses to the grandeur of the Royal project of Harold Blutooth. Although they differ slightly in… Read more

The Medieval Court of Llys Rhosyr to be rebuilt at St. Fagans Reconstruction of the medieval court of the princes of Gwynedd, excavated a decade ago, has begun at St. Fagans, the National Museum in Wales. In 1992 the archaeologist Neil Johnstone discovered the remains of Llys Rhosyr, one of… Read more

The small French village, Lagrasse, can boast of a remarkable treasure of medieval painted ceilings Read more

Painted ceilings became all the fashion in the later Middle Ages in Le Midi reaching from Catalonia to Northern Italy In the later Middle Ages in Le Midi it became fashionable to lower the ceilings of the great halls in palaces by installing wooden ceilings constructed with wooden beams. Usually… Read more

When did Scots first think of Scotland as an independent kingdom? What did they think was Scotland’s place in Britain before the age of Wallace and Bruce? Read more

New History of Scotland is the flagship series for Edinburgh University Press Read more

Scotland: A History is the most recent publication seeking to cover the history of Scotland during the last 2000 years Read more

Names starting with Mac, sprigs and feathers sported in the bonnets as well as kilts and tartans are all part of the Scottish brand. But what is the story behind? Read more

In the film Mel Gibson’s Braveheart famously shouted freedom, while being racked to death at the front of the Tower of London Read more

During the Scottish referendum only partial and very discreet hints were made to the distinct Scottish identity. Why was that? Read more

Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination was the title of an exhibition hosted at the British Library in 2011. Now selected papers have been published Read more

The Castle at Vechta – Castrum Vechtense – is a medieval Open-Air Museum South of Bremen in Northern Germany Read more

The English Village is both a reality and a romantic dream. But what were the roots of these nucleated settlements? New book explores Shapwick to find answers Read more

Recently a series of deserted medieval villages in England were recognised as ancient monuments Read more

The Angles and Saxons were according to differing political agendas either peaceful immigrants or barbaric warriors. But what were they really? New research brings us perhaps closer to an answer. Read more

From 200 BC to AD 1300 the landscape of The Etruscan Coast in Central Italy changed from forest to maquis and back again. Read more

The European Society for Environmental History promotes the study of environmental history in all academic disciplines – also among medievalists Read more

An important new book chronicles the development – or rather transformation – of the management of Hadrian’s Wall, which has taken place since the 90s. Read more

Analysis of the bones and teeth of Richard III has uncovered a fascinating story of his changing lifestyles A recent study by the British Geological Survey, in association with researchers at the University of Leicester, has delved into the bone and tooth chemistry of King Richard III and uncovered fascinating… Read more

Pontefract Castle secures Heritage Lottery Fund investment of over £3million Read more

Silesia is a region situated in the borderland between present-day Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. New book tells its Medieval History Read more

King Richard lll will be reinterred in March 2015 Read more

The Ebstorf Map belongs to a group of maps known as the Mappae Mundi Read more

Chivalry and Tournaments – the story of a late medieval festival is an exhibition in Schaffhausen in Switzerland 2014 Read more

The organ was a prestigious instrument in the Byzantine Empire. New reproductions of early medieval organs help to uncover ancient music. Read more

The throne of Charlemagne may still be seen in the Cathedral in present-day Aachen. New research presents an overview of other Carolingian thrones and argues the existence of a parallel in a Carolingian palace in Mainz Read more

Charlemagne and his entourage were constantly moving about. And needed horses and and saddles. Read more

Charlemagne – Power, Art and Treasures – are three exhibitions mounted in Aachen this summer, commemorating Charlemagne. Read more

Viator is the scholarly journal, published by Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, UCLA. Read more

New book: Early Medieval Ireland AD 400 – 1100 presents the evidence from one hundred years of archaeological Excavations Read more

The Scoliosis of Richard III, last Plantagenet King of England: diagnosis and clinical significance According to a research paper published in The Lancet, Richard III’s severe scoliosis would not have been obvious during his lifetime, and ‘a good tailor and custom-made armour could have minimised the visual impact of his… Read more

The Wootton Helmet is a rare and important North European armet from app. 1500 Read more

Rumour has it that the Holy Grail has been found in Léon, a sleepy small town in the North of Spain Read more

Does it pay to tell the real history about the Cathars to Cultural Tourists? Not really! And politically, it is silenced Read more

A collection of the wonderful pieces of religious art from the Middle Ages, which belong to the Guelph Treasure… Read more

A copy of one of the small clinker-built boats from 900 AD found at Gokstad in Norway in 1880 was recently launched… Read more

ARCHAEOLOGY: Sixty skeletons buried in a graveyard from the 5th – 6th century have been found in Florence Read more

The University of Leicester is moving ahead in order to sequence his full genome. Will somebody also clone him in the future? Read more

Recent scientific examinations of Charlemagne’s bones have brought us a bit closer to the man, who was both lean and graceful… Read more

Christians can learn from Jews and the history of the Jews, unfolding their lives as a “Creative Minority”, says Jonathan Sacks in the Erasmus Lecture 2013… Read more

EVENT: Charlemagne is celebrated in London on the 1200th anniversary of his death… Read more

This year the spirit is definitely downcast. Maybe Davos-man ought to “go medieval”… Read more

Get an overview of the ten most important medieval exhibitions spring and summer 2014 Read more

Entrains-sur-Nohain was witness to a terrible massacre in the 8th – 10th centuries INRAP – Institut national de recherches archaeologiques preventives – recently finished an archaeological investigation of a Roman village, Intaranum. Located in the Northwest of France at the crossroad of an important Roman network of roads it covered… Read more

New article outlines the conversion of Byzantine churches into Mosques in Turkey… Read more

A manuscript with the earliest Welsh poem, Y Gododdin, ca 600 AD has been digitized… Read more

Online course taught by scholars who brought King to light receives over 10,000 sign-ups A new course offered for free by the University of Leicester in association with FutureLearn builds a picture of the England that Richard III inhabited in the 15th century—and comes from the scholars in archaeology, history… Read more

Three months after the foundation stone was laid for Campus Galli, the construction of the medieval monastery is bankrupt… Read more

A priceless Salian Cross from 1050 AD has been stolen from the St. Nicomedes Church… Read more

Medieval keyboard instruments like the clavisimbalum were popular in the 15th and 16th century… Read more

The Utrecht Psalter is not only a Carolingian treasure. It was also the inspiration for Dr. Seuss… Read more

Boy wizards, elves and feisty medieval queens fighting for an iron throne inspires students to enroll at the Medieval Studies Programme, tells new director Tales of a boy wizard and stories about elves and world-shattering  fights about an uncomfortable iron throne might have something to do with an increased flow… Read more

This week Pope Francis visited the crypt in the Basilica in Assisi and prayed for less “wordliness”. But what were the life and times of his namesake, St. Francis. A series of recent biographies tries to tackle the conundrum once more… Assisi in the autumn is a evocative place, suggestive… Read more

Source of Mysterious Medieval Eruption from 1258 identified as Indonesia’s Samalas volcano, part of the Rinjani Volcanic Complex on Lombok Island Read more

Modern design won the day and the Richard III Society have withdrawn their promised funding Shadowed by legal wrangling, the Cathedral of Leicester is moving forward with their plans for the future re-interment of Richard III. Last week the design for the future tomb was unveiled – a modern tomb… Read more

Art and culture of the dynasty of the Jagellonians 1386 -1572… Read more