Medieval letter about ‘Voluntary enslavement’ discovered by historian
Could ever a person want to become a slave? A remarkable letter written over a thousand years ago reveals how a group of ten men were seriously considering doing just that, as they hoped to escape terrible prison conditions.
Free Access to Many Medieval Landmarks in Wales this September through Open Doors Festival
Wales is home to some of the most beautiful medieval landmarks in the world, and this September visitors can enjoy many of these locations for free.
New project aims to create database for medieval music and manuscripts
Over the next seven years, Dr. Bain will create an online platform that links and synergizes plainchant databases around the world.
Early Medieval Warrior’s remains discovered in Germany
Archaeologists in western Germany have discovered the remains of a medieval warrior. He was buried over 1300 years ago with at least four weapons and a shield.
Tale of 14th-century Killer Monk uncovered by historian
A historian searching through manuscripts in the United Kingdom’s National Archive in Kew has uncovered a fourteenth-century document that describes the extraordinary criminal career of John of Tintern, abbot of a Benedictine monastery in Wiltshire.
The Washington Haggadah and 33 other Medieval Manuscripts digitized by the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has released some 230 newly digitized manuscripts written in Hebrew and similar languages such as Judeo-Arabic, Judeo-Persian and Yiddish. It includes 34 manuscripts dating between the 11th and 16th centuries.
20,000 words included in new dictionary of Shakespeare’s English
Its publication comes after 25 years of preparation, a £1 million Arts and Humanities Research Council grant, a team of up to 25 researchers, and seven years of hard work.
Graphic Design in the Middle Ages – new exhibition at The Getty
The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles will be hosting a new exhibition – Graphic Design in the Middle Ages – that reveals the ways that design influenced the making, reading, and interpretation of medieval books. It will take place at the Getty Center from August 29, 2023 through January 28, 2024.
‘Africa & Byzantium’ exhibition coming to The Met this fall
The Metropolitan Museum of Art will be the first museum to host the upcoming exhibition ‘Africa & Byzantium’, which will showcase nearly 200 works of art.
Archaeologists explore German castle
When visitors come to Landsberg in eastern Germany, they can see the medieval Chapel of St. Crucis. However, the chapel was once part of a 12th-century castle, and archaeologists are now exploring this site.
Vlad the Impaler may have cried tears of blood, study finds
Vlad the Impaler, the notorious medieval ruler of Wallachia, has many myths and legends associated with him – including being the inspiration for Count Dracula. A new study is only going to add to his mystique, as it suggests that Vlad probably had skin and respiratory conditions that could have left him crying tears of blood.
Strange burial of 9th-century teenager reveals tragic story
English archaeologists have announced the discovery of the remains of a teenage girl buried in the Early Middle Ages. The circumstances of her burial were very unusual, suggesting she may have led a tragic life.
New source about the Norman Conquest of England discovered
It is rare to find new information about the Norman Conquest of England, but a historian has uncovered a document revealing William I’s relationship with London shortly after 1066.
Two Welsh medieval churches to be saved from ruin
Two medieval churches in Wales, which date back over 900 years, will be saved from the brink of dereliction by the Friends of Friendless Churches, who have received a grant of nearly £770k as part of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Covid-19 Response Fund.
The evolution of the Black Death pathogen tracked in new study
German and Danish researchers have identified genetic factors that were acquired by the pathogen Yersinia pestis as it evolved from its medieval version to the modern plague pandemic in the 19th century.
Medieval manuscripts to be showcased in Seoul
Next month some spectacular medieval manuscripts will be on display at the second edition of Frieze Seoul. Les Enluminures will be showcasing the items at the Korean international art fair.
Byzantine ‘magical mirror’ discovered in Israel
A high school student participating in an archaeological dig in northern Israel has uncovered an exceptional find from the Byzantine period—a 1,500-year-old “magical mirror.”
England’s King Edward IV died of syphilis, study finds
Cryptic comments in two medieval sources suggest that the English king died of syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection that was spreading among elites in the later Middle Ages.
Work begins to help preserve Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey, located in southeastern Wales, is famed for its iconic ruins. To help preserve this medieval site, a five-year conservation project has begun by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government.
Medieval Poland was hit by floods 166 times, study finds
Polish researchers examining medieval sources have discovered that the country was hit by flooding 166 times between the 11th and 15th centuries, revealing details on the causes of these disasters.
Archaeologists explore medieval monastery in Germany
For the first time, archaeologists have excavated the abandoned Himmelpforte monastery near Wernigerode in central Germany. The dig, directed by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, was able to locate monastery buildings and uncover numerous finds that tell of the everyday life of the Augustinian monks.
Castle Campbell reopens to visitors
Dating back to the 15th century, Castle Campbell is one of Scotland’s best-preserved tower house castles. It has now reopened to visitors after being closed for more than a year because of safety issues.
Hidden text of Elizabethan chronicler revealed by imaging technology
Through new imaging technology, the British Library has uncovered hidden text in William Camden’s Annals, the first official account of Elizabeth I’s reign, providing new perspectives on the queen’s life.
Bernard S. Bachrach passes away
Bernard S. Bachrach, one of the leading scholars of medieval military history, passed away on July 14th at the age of 84.
The search for the lost Norse of Greenland detailed in new book
In his new book The Vanished Settlers of Greenland: In Search of a Legend and Its Legacy, Robert Rix of the University of Copenhagen argues that the lost Norse settlement played a decisive role in Denmark’s efforts to colonize Greenland during the 18th century.