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.
The Survival of Roman Education in Early Medieval Britain
Roman rule ended in 410, but Latin education did not. Nicholas J. Higham explores elite learning and literary culture in post-Roman Britain.
Music for a Medieval Coronation: Edward the Confessor at Winchester
What music accompanied Edward the Confessor’s coronation in 1043? Explore the procession, ceremony, and the Winchester Troper’s possible links to the chants and polyphony heard at Winchester Cathedral.
Did Alfred the Great send an embassy from England to India?
A new study is taking a fresh look at one of the most surprising lines in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle—the claim that, in the 880s, King Alfred the Great sent two men on a mission to India.
Medieval hall discovered in Northern England
Archaeologists working near Skipsea Castle in northern England say a cluster of rare discoveries is reshaping what we know about power, industry, and high-status life in the centuries before the Norman Conquest.
‘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.
Is the Staffordshire Hoard ‘Mystery Object’ a Holy Warrior’s Headpiece?
New research suggests the Staffordshire Hoard’s mysterious object may be a ceremonial headpiece worn by a priest or holy warrior in early medieval England.
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.
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.
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.