Extreme Weather Pushed Medieval England into Crisis, Study Finds
Extreme weather, failed harvests, disease outbreaks, and economic collapse plunged England into crisis during the 1430s, according to a new study exploring how climate change reshaped medieval society and landholding.
Five Medieval Objects That Caught Our Eye at TimeLine Auctions
Five fascinating medieval artefacts from the latest TimeLine Auctions sale, including a Byzantine icon fragment, an early medieval sword, and a badge depicting Thomas Becket.
Medieval Chinese Surgeons Used Toxic Anaesthetic, Study Finds
Chemical analysis of surgical tools from a Ming Dynasty tomb has revealed traces of a toxic aconitine-based anaesthetic, offering rare physical evidence of sophisticated medieval Chinese medicine and surgery.
Medieval Manuscripts Reveal Hidden Animal DNA Archive
Researchers have developed a nondestructive way to extract DNA from medieval parchment manuscripts, revealing new insights into livestock, trade networks, and manuscript production across 1,300 years.
Lost Medieval Manuscript Rejoins Heidelberg’s Famous Bibliotheca Palatina
A lost medieval manuscript has been reunited with Heidelberg’s famous Bibliotheca Palatina after researchers traced the codex’s centuries-long journey across Europe.
Medieval Notebook Discovered in German Latrine
Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered a rare medieval notebook in a Paderborn latrine, preserving 700-year-old wax tablet writings that may reveal the life of a medieval merchant.
More Medieval Coins Discovered, Adding to Norway’s Largest-Ever Hoard
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered hundreds more coins from the Mørstad Hoard, now the country’s largest-ever Viking Age coin discovery, shedding new light on medieval trade and iron production.
Vikings Traded Falcons with Medieval Baghdad, Study Finds
A remarkable new study argues that Vikings may have supplied rare Arctic falcons to the rulers of the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate, creating a trade network that stretched from Iceland to Baghdad in the ninth century.
How Medieval Religious Images Evoked Sound
Medieval religious images may have been designed to evoke sound in the minds of viewers, according to a new study examining the Harley Roll, a medieval English scroll depicting the life of Saint Guthlac.
New Cambridge History Explores the Arthurian Legend from the Middle Ages to Modern Media
The Cambridge History of Arthurian Literature and Culture explores the legends of King Arthur from the early Middle Ages to modern media in a major new two-volume publication co-edited by Raluca Radulescu.
New Video Game Lets Players Live Through the Hundred Years’ War
A new historical role-playing game is aiming to immerse players in the realities of late medieval Europe, allowing them to step into the lives of more than a thousand real historical figures from the era of the Hundred Years’ War.
Medieval Pottery Village Discovered Beneath French Town
Archaeologists France uncover a medieval pottery village with burials, homes, and kilns spanning the 9th to 13th centuries.
Remains of Medieval Ship Discovered in the Netherlands
A wooden beam discovered in the Dutch town of Wijk bij Duurstede may be part of a medieval ship, with archaeologists investigating whether it dates to the Carolingian era or a later cog vessel.
Huge Medieval Coin Hoard Discovered in Norway
Over 3,000 silver coins from the Viking Age have been uncovered in Norway, marking the largest medieval hoard ever found in the country and prompting new archaeological research.
Medieval Tiles Return to Wenlock Priory After Six Decades
Three medieval tiles taken decades ago from Wenlock Priory in England have been returned, offering new insights into the site’s decorative past.
The Birth of Medieval Europe Revealed by Ancient DNA
Ancient DNA reveals how post-Roman communities mixed and integrated, reshaping the origins of medieval Europe beyond the myth of mass migration.
Medieval Manuscript in Rome Contains Rare Copy of Cædmon’s Hymn
A rediscovered medieval manuscript in Rome reveals a rare early copy of Cædmon’s Hymn, the oldest known poem in English.
Medieval Pollution and Mining Revealed in Alpine Ice Core
Alpine ice cores reveal medieval pollution from mining and metalworking, offering new insights into environmental change.
Medieval Grave in England Reveals Brother and Sister Buried Together
A medieval grave in England has revealed two children buried together were siblings, thanks to new ancient DNA analysis.
Lost Pages of a Medieval Manuscript Recovered, Revealing New Testament Text
Researchers have recovered 42 lost pages from a medieval manuscript using imaging technology, revealing new insights into the New Testament and medieval book culture.
Hoard of Medieval Cannonballs Found in Belgian City
Dozens of medieval cannonballs has been discovered in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, during excavations near the site of the city’s historic walls.
Secret Letter Detailing Late Medieval Britain Fully Decoded
A secret medieval letter detailing late medieval England and Scotland has been decoded by a team of historians.
Black Death Mass Grave Identified in Germany, Study Finds
Researchers identify a possible Black Death mass grave near medieval Erfurt, using chronicles and modern science to locate one of Europe’s rare plague burial sites.
Medieval Solar Storm Detected Through Tree Rings and Historical Records
A medieval solar storm detected in tree rings reveals hidden radiation and challenges what historians thought about the famous auroras of 1204.