Medieval Kingdom Had Plenty of Silver but Chose Copper Coins, Study Finds
New research challenges the idea that Viking raids impoverished Anglo-Saxon Northumbria, revealing a thriving economy and an unusual approach to coinage.
20 Old English Girls’ Names and Their Meanings
Explore 20 Old English girls’ names from Anglo-Saxon England, their meanings, historical origins and the medieval women who bore them.
Mysterious Skeleton at Westminster Abbey May Belong to Medieval Abbot
New research suggests that a mysterious skeleton found in a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey may belong to an Anglo-Saxon abbot.
New Medieval Books: Tyrants and Traders: Tintagel, Arthur and the Lost Kings
The end of Roman rule brought great changes to Britain, but much of what happened in the centuries that followed remains a mystery. Focusing on western Britain, this book draws on archaeological discoveries to explore its forgotten kingdoms, their extensive trading networks, and the role of Tintagel as a royal stronghold.
Medieval Teeth Reveal Toxic Legacy of Lead Mining in England
Medieval teeth reveal how children in England’s Peak District were exposed to toxic lead pollution as early as the seventh century, a new study finds.
The Man Who Should Have Lost the Battle of Hastings
Kelly DeVries tells the remarkable story of Swegen Godwinson, whose murder, scandals and exile left his younger brother Harold to face William the Conqueror at Hastings.
Anglo-Saxon Coins Reveal Medieval England’s ‘Little England’ in Rome
Anglo-Saxon coins discovered near the Vatican reveal new evidence for Rome’s medieval English community and its connections with England.
Trepanned Skull Found in Early Medieval Mass Grave in England
A trepanned skull belonging to an exceptionally tall young man was found in an early medieval mass grave near Cambridge, England.
Rare Medieval Die Sheds New Light on Sutton Hoo-Style Helmets
A rare medieval die found in Kent offers new evidence that Sutton Hoo-style helmets and their elaborate decorations may have been made in Anglo-Saxon England.
Medieval Clues Point to Lost Viking Battlefield
Medieval accounts may help identify Castle Hill in Devon as the long-lost site of the Battle of Cynuit, where Anglo-Saxon forces defeated a Viking army in 878.
Lost Papal Letter Casts Norman Conquest as Holy War Against ‘Followers of Satan’
A lost papal letter suggests Pope Alexander II backed William’s invasion because King Harold supported a rival pope.
New Medieval Books: The First King of England
This biography tells the story of how Æthelstan rose from King of the Anglo-Saxons to King of the English. In doing so, he became a central figure in the creation of a new nation during the tenth century
New Medieval Books: Natural and Supernatural in Early Medieval England
Were strange creatures believed to inhabit the lands just beyond the known world? Could an illness be cured by a plant or a magic spell? As this book reveals, people in medieval England grappled with questions such as these.
Rare Medieval English Coins Made to Protect Against Vikings Found in Denmark
Two rare medieval coins minted to seek divine protection against Viking raids have been found in Denmark, where Vikings once wore them as jewellery.
New Medieval Books: Constructing the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles
Few texts are as important to our understanding of early medieval England as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This book investigates how the Chronicle came into being and how generations of scribes and scholars sustained the project for over 200 years.
Offa the Great: The Mercian King Who Reshaped England
Offa was one of the most powerful rulers of early medieval England, transforming Mercia into the dominant kingdom south of the Humber. In this article, Rory Naismith examines his reign, from the construction of Offa’s Dyke to the remarkable coinage and political ambitions that reshaped the English landscape.
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 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.
Burghal Hidage and Assault Forces in Medieval Siege Warfare
How large did an army need to be to successfully storm a fortified town in the early Middle Ages? David Bachrach uses the Burghal Hidage to uncover what this remarkable document reveals about the scale of assault forces and the realities of medieval siege warfare.
Medieval “Giant” with Trepanned Skull Discovered in Mass Grave
A medieval mass grave discovered near Cambridge may be linked to conflict on the frontier between English and Viking kingdoms. Among the dead is an exceptionally tall young man who survived trepanation, an ancient procedure in which a hole was cut into the skull.
Medieval Gold Discovery Goes on Display in Newcastle
A rare medieval gold object found by a Newcastle University student in Northumberland will go on display in a new treasures exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock
Who Lies in Winchester’s Medieval Mortuary Chests?
Researchers at Winchester Cathedral are using DNA, radiocarbon dating, and osteology to uncover the identities of medieval kings and bishops buried in its mortuary chests.
Did King Harold Sail to Hastings? New Study Sparks Debate Among Historians
A new study argues that King Harold sailed south in 1066 rather than marching to Hastings, but the theory is already drawing criticism from historians.
Leoba: England’s Earliest Female Poet
In the eighth century, an English nun named Leoba composed a short Latin poem that has quietly survived for more than a millennium. Though brief, the verse offers valuable insight into the education, literary culture, and spiritual ambitions of women in the early medieval Church.