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.
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.
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.
Alexander III, King of Scotland: A Child on the Throne and Schemers all Around
Alexander III’s reign both began and ended in crisis.
Changing his tune: Robert Bruce, Ireland, and the Papacy
Robert Bruce had been on a mission for over a decade by 1318, intent on forcing a peace treaty out of England acknowledging Scottish independence and his own rights as king.
The Death of a Templar Master
The Templars were forbidden to engage in fighting against other Christians. Shockingly, however, the Templar Master Brian le Jay died fighting for Edward I against the Scots in 1298. How was this possible and what did it mean?
The Battle of Bannockburn (1314)
The most famous battle in Scottish history took place at Bannockburn in 1314. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries examine how Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, was able to defeat the English led by King Edward II.
New Medieval Books: The Hot Trod: A History of the Anglo-Scottish Border
While billed as covering from Roman times to today, the bulk of this book focuses on the 13th to 16th centuries, a period of long conflict between Scotland and England.
The Templars in Scotland
Scotland played an unrecognised but central part in creating the power template for the Templar order in Britain.
The Norse and the Sea: the Maritime Cultural Landscape of Scandinavian Scotland
This paper presents early results of the ongoing research project The Norse and the Sea with particular emphasis on the fieldwork carried out on the Isle of Eigg in September 2022.
Edward I and the Scottish Succession Crisis of 1290
A long history of Anglo-Scottish relations would lead to Edward I becoming the person who would determine the next King of Scotland.
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.
The Stone of Destiny is set of for the Coronation of Charles III
The Stone of Destiny, the medieval symbol of Scotland’s monarchy, has been sent from Edinburgh Castle to Westminster Abbey, where it will serve an important role in the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Ireland, Scotland, and the Hundred Years War: A New Vista
This paper will consider how the Gaelic aristocracy interacted with ‘European’ affairs in this period.
Markings revealed on the Stone of Destiny, new research finds
Cutting-edge digital technologies and scientific analysis have revealed more of the story of the Stone of Destiny, the medieval symbol of Scotland’s monarchy which has long held fascination and intrigue due to the mystery of its earliest origins.
The Battle of Falkirk (1298)
William Wallace comes up against King Edward I in a fight for Scotland. Will the battle be like what you see in the movie Braveheart? This episode of Bow and Blade has Michael and Kelly looking at the English-Scottish wars of the late 13th century.
Scotichronicast: The Finale
With Episode 51, Scotichronicast comes to an end. In this finale, Kate Buchanan and Lucy Dean review the success of the Scotichronicast and what they hope to see in future research on medieval Scotland.
Dumbarton Castle reopens
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that Dumbarton Castle is reopening to the public on Saturday 18 February after being closed for essential conversation work.
Placenames, Politics, Settlement and Society in Medieval Argyll, c.AD 400–1400
This lecture will take a broad view of the evidence that placenames can provide for exploring the history of Atlantic Scotland by investigating them in tandem with historical and archaeological evidence.
The Scottish Wars of Independence with Iain MacInnes
In the mid-1990s, a little movie called Braveheart introduced a whole new generation to Scotland’s fight for freedom in the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Iain MacInnes about Scotland’s Wars of Independence, why a sovereign kingdom had to fight for independence in the first place, and why the story doesn’t end with the Battle of Bannockburn.
Picts, Early Scotland and Issues with Scottish History with Alex Woolf
What happened to the Picts and why does is story of early medieval Scotland so difficult to tell? In this episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan is joined by Alex Woolf to talk studying Scottish history in the Early Middle Ages.
The Scottish Borders and King Malcolm Canmore, with Neil McGuigan
On this episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan talks with Neil McGuigan about the sources for borders between Scotland and England and the importance of Malcolm Canmore III as a king.
Early medieval gold sword pommel comes to National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland has acquired an exceptionally rare gold sword pommel, created around 700 AD.
The ‘Nuclear’ Hillforts of Early Medieval Scotland
The ‘nuclear’ fort was first proposed by R.B.K Stevenson (1949) as consisting of a central citadel that sits at the summit or centre of a hill with outworks connecting and looping off the central enclosure, thus creating a descending hierarchical organisation of space through terracing and multivallation.
More faces from the Middle Ages revealed
The ability to digitally reconstruct how people from the Middle Ages looked like has greatly improved in recent years. This can be seen in a new project which has helped to reveal three people who lived 700 years ago in Scotland.