Medieval Hebrew Prayerbook Could Fetch $7 Million at Auction
A lavishly illuminated medieval Hebrew prayerbook known as the Rothschild Vienna Mahzor will be offered at Sotheby’s New York this February, with an estimate of $5–7 million US. Completed in 1415 for the High Holidays, the manuscript is among the rare illustrated mahzorim to survive from the Ashkenazi world.
New Open-Access Book Maps a Medieval Kingdom of the Isles
A new open-access book is revealing fresh details about Finlaggan on Islay, a site long linked to the Lords of the Isles. The study argues the loch’s islands were not just symbolic, but the working centre of a medieval kingdom within Scotland.
Richard the Lionheart: New Study Rethinks His Capture After the Crusade
Historian Attila Bárány re-examines how Richard the Lionheart was captured after the Third Crusade, arguing that political rivalries, route choices, and the ambitions of Philip Augustus and Emperor Henry VI mattered more than legend or bad luck.
‘Princely’ Early Medieval Burial Discovered in England
Archaeologists in Suffolk, England, have uncovered a nationally significant early medieval burial ground, including a “princely” grave with two individuals, a harnessed horse, weapons, and personal items dating to the 7th century.
Winchester Cathedral Reburies Medieval Remains Linked to Royals and Bishops
Winchester Cathedral is reinterring remains from its famous mortuary chests after more than a decade of scientific analysis, with new findings on early medieval royals and bishops expected in 2026.
Medieval Discovery Made on Norwegian Island
Archaeologists on Selja, a Norwegian island off the country’s western coast, have uncovered a previously unknown medieval stone building just 30 metres from Selja Monastery, raising new questions about monastic life and work.
Medieval gold ring discovered in Norway
A medieval gold ring with a deep-blue stone has been found during excavations in Tønsberg, Norway. Archaeologists say the rare find highlights elite jewellery styles and long-distance craft influences in the Middle Ages.
Early Medieval England Saw Continuous Migration, Study Finds
A major bioarchaeological study combining tooth-enamel isotopes and ancient DNA finds migration into early medieval England was continuous from AD 400–1100, with regional and gendered patterns and evidence shaped by climate shifts.
Hidden Beneath Plaster, Medieval Frescoes Re-emerge in an Albanian Church
Medieval frescoes long hidden beneath plaster and limewash are re-emerging inside the Byzantine monastery church of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) in Mesopotamos, Albania. Conservators have uncovered previously unknown paintings near the ceiling, revealing figures and faces.
Medieval ship discovered off Copenhagen may be the world’s largest cog
A medieval cargo ship of extraordinary size has been found in the waters off Copenhagen. Built around 1410, Svælget 2 is being called the world’s largest cog, and its remarkably preserved remains are revealing new details about medieval shipbuilding and Northern European trade networks.
National Trust launches Cerne Abbas Giant land appeal
The National Trust has launched a public appeal to raise £330,000 to help fund the purchase and long-term care of 138 hectares (340 acres) of land surrounding the Cerne Abbas Giant in England—an iconic chalk figure that dates to the Early Middle Ages.
Medieval Discovery: Richard Rolle’s Original Emending of Life Survives in One Copy
New research identifies a medieval manuscript as the only complete original copy of Richard Rolle’s Emending of Life, restoring lost passages and language.
Early Medieval Church in Iraq Points to Christian–Zoroastrian Neighbours
Archaeologists excavating Gird-î Kazhaw in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region say an early medieval church complex near a Sasanian fort may show Christians and Zoroastrians living side by side in the fifth–sixth centuries.
Medieval Shoes, a Sock, and a Coin Hoard Unearthed in Berlin
Leather shoes and a sock are among the headline medieval finds from the Molkenmarkt excavation in Berlin, alongside a small hoard of coins.
Medieval drought may have aided the Mongol Empire’s push west in the 1230s, study suggests
A new tree-ring study reconstructing summer drought on the East European Plain argues that severe aridity in the 1230s may have helped the Mongol Empire’s westward expansion by shaping mobility and vulnerability across Eurasia
Newly Identified Early Medieval Castle Site Found in Switzerland
Archaeologists in northeastern Switzerland’s canton of Thurgau have confirmed a newly identified 10th–11th-century castle site near Uesslingen-Buch, with LiDAR mapping and finds including medieval arrowheads shedding new light on the long-lost Ittingen stronghold and its road network.
Was the Bayeux Tapestry Made for a Monastic Dining Hall?
New research suggests the Bayeux Tapestry may have been designed for display in a monastic refectory at St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury, where monks could view and reflect on its narrative during communal meals.
Medieval Visions of Creation Coming to the Getty Museum
The Getty Museum has announced Beginnings: The Story of Creation in the Middle Ages, a forthcoming exhibition examining how medieval manuscripts and modern artworks interpret the Biblical story of Creation, opening in early 2026.
Medieval Mystery of Brunanburh Battle May Be Solved, New Study Argues
A long-running debate over the location of one of the most important battles fought in medieval England may finally be nearing an answer. A new study argues that the Battle of Brunanburh, fought in 937, took place at Bromborough on the Wirral, bringing fresh clarity to a question that has occupied historians for more than a century.
Early Medieval and Roman Remains Discovered in York
Archaeological investigations in the English city of York have uncovered evidence of early medieval occupation alongside substantial Roman remains, shedding new light on the city’s long and complex past. The discoveries were made on the site of a new hotel development.
Forgotten Medieval Miracles of the Augustinians Revealed in New Study
New research reveals how Augustinian friars shaped medieval rural life through overlooked miracles—from healing livestock to restoring barren land—challenging long-held assumptions about the order’s history.
Archaeologists Discover Medieval Village in England
Excavations in eastern England have revealed an early medieval village near Friston, medieval kiln sites on the coast, and rare prehistoric artefacts, offering new insight into East Anglia’s long-settled landscape.
Medieval Farmers Created a Biodiversity Boom, Study Finds
A new study reveals that medieval communities around Lake Constance created a biodiversity peak through innovative farming, trade, and land management, offering insights for modern conservation.
Medieval Cemetery Unearthed in Denmark Reveals Over 50 Skeletons
Archaeologists in Aarhus, Denmark, have uncovered more than 50 skeletons in a medieval cemetery linked to St. Oluf’s Church, offering rare insight into the city’s transition from the Viking Age to Christian Europe.
