Deciphering medieval shorthand – can a digital tool solve the ‘Tironian Notes’?
Medieval manuscript writers created a system of shorthand known as ‘Tironian Notes’. A new project hopes to develop a digital tool to decipher it.
Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books returns to TEFAF Maastricht 2024
Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books returns to The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht this year with a splendid selection of precious manuscripts and rare books. Their highlights this year the Pèlerinage de la Vie Humaine, the Histoire Ancienne, and the Liechtenstein Tacuinum Sanitatis. All three are outstanding, historically significant books that convey the breadth and beauty of medieval manuscript illumination.
Cranial modification took place in early medieval Japan, study finds
The Hirota people, who lived on the southern Japanese island of Tanegashima between the 3rd to 7th century CE, practiced cranial modification, according to a new study.
LEGO unveils ‘Medieval Town Square’ set
Fans of the Middle Ages and LEGO will have another reason to be happy, as the Danish company has created a new set: Medieval Town Square.
Face of Mary, Queen of Scots, revealed
To mark the anniversary of Mary Queen of Scots’ death, Historic Environment Scotland has released a digital 3D model of Mary’s face based on her death mask.
Ruins of medieval monastery explored by archaeologists in Germany
For hundreds of years during the Middle Ages, Kaltenborn monastery was thriving in central Germany. Archaeologists are now exploring the ruins of that monastery to help understand its downfall in the 16th century.
Ancient DNA reveals a multiethnic empire on the Steppe
Eurasia’s ancient and medieval history has seen several empires emerging out of the Steppe. A new study explores the rise of the Xiongnu, who foreshadowed the coming of the Huns and the Mongols.
Early medieval site discovered under National Gallery in London
Early medieval London extended further west than previously thought, as archaeologists have uncovered remains of buildings underneath the National Gallery at the north end of Trafalgar Square.
Arms and Armor exhibition at the Bruce Museum
The Bruce Museum is creating a novel way of looking at arms and armor. Their upcoming exhibition pairs man-made items with those created in nature.
Why do civilizations collapse? New study points to the risks of aging
How states and civilizations rise and fall has been an enigma that has puzzled historians for years. An analysis of hundreds of ancient and medieval societies reveals that they become more fragile as they age.
2000 medieval coins discovered in France
French archaeologists have identified more than 2,000 medieval coins from four different caches in the city of Guérande, about 330 miles southwest of Paris.
Codebreakers crack secrets of Mary Queen of Scots’ lost letters
Secret, coded letters penned by Mary Queen of Scots while she was imprisoned in England by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I have been uncovered by a multidisciplinary team of international codebreakers.
Ship burial discovered in Norway predates Viking Age
A burial mound explored last June in Norway holds the remains of a ship that predates the Viking age. Archaeologists believe this is Scandinavia’s oldest known ship burial.
15th-century bridge heavily damaged by flooding in England
Powick Old Bridge, a medieval bridge in the English city of Worcester, is now closed after a part of the bridge collapsed into the River Teme.
Study explores gender bias in witchcraft accusations in early modern England
By the end of the Middle Ages, accusations of witchcraft were being made to mostly women. A new study finds another reason why this was the case in early modern England.
‘Mona Lisa’ has toxic pigments, study finds
The mystery of the “Mona Lisa” lies not so much in her smile as in the painting techniques used by Leonardo da Vinci. Artist, engineer and architect, da Vinci was also an experimental chemist, with the “Mona Lisa” being his veritable laboratory.
Medieval and Viking-Age artifacts discovered in Norway
A very rare Byzantine coin is among dozens of medieval and Viking-era objects discovered in eastern Norway last year. Officials with Innlandet County Municipality have released details of items found by metal detectorists, including buckles, seals and pieces from swords.
Syphilis-like diseases were already widespread in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans, study finds
There has been an ongoing debate about the origins of syphilis and similar diseases. A new study shows that these illnesses pre-date the Middle Ages by a long period.
DNA used to discover origins of medieval chess set
Researchers in Poland have discovered new details about a nearly complete medieval chess set. By obtaining DNA from pieces of the Sandomierz chess set, they could determine what animals were used to make them.
Medieval stone depicting ‘Govan Warrior’ discovered in Scotland
Archaeologists working in the Scottish city of Glasgow have discovered an early medieval carved stone of a warrior figure. Dubbed the ‘Govan Warrior’, it is a unique object, even compared to other medieval stone artifacts found at the Govan Old Churchyard.
People could live the ‘American Dream’ in Tang Dynasty China, study finds
The Middle Ages are not typically seen as a time when ordinary people could have upward social mobility. However, new research focusing on China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) reveals that men could rise to better careers as if they had lived in the United States during the 1960s.
Roman and Medieval migrations to the Balkans revealed in new study
Who were the peoples that came to the Balkan Peninsula during the Roman Empire and Early Middle Ages? This was the question that a new study has answered using Ancient DNA.
Beautiful medieval brooches discovered in England and Wales
Several spectacular medieval brooches have been recently discovered in England and Wales. They include finds from both the early and later Middle Ages.
DNA study reveals the origins of the medieval Picts
The Picts, a people who inhabited Scotland during the Middle Ages, have always had a sense of mystery to them. A new study using DNA has revealed new details about their origins.