SCA Today
Brat and brew in Old Town Nuremberg
A walk through old town Nuremberg, Germany takes visitors back in time to the Middle Ages. An 11th century castle, toy museum, the home of Albrecht Dürer and over six acres of brewing tradition make for a memorial travel location. Russ Juskalian of the New York Times Travel section has the story.
Research article compares historical and mythical versions of Saint Patrick
According to an article by Laurel A. Rockefeller, "Saint" Bishop Patrick as we think of him is far more myth than history.
Quivers & Quarrels debuts as archery newsletter for the SCA
A new archery newsletter has recently become available for the SCA. The newsletter, called Quivers & Quarrels, is free and will be going out to all kingdoms via each kingdom's online newsletter.
Archaeologists hope to find tunnels under Nottinghamshire marketplace
Attention Don Wildman of Cities of the Underworld: Archaeologists plan to investigate if the legendary tunnels beneath a Newark, England marketplace really exist. The two-month study, using ground-penetrating radar, will be funded by the town council.
Plague burial discovered in London construction project
In the 14th century, Charterhouse Square in London was no-man's land, making it an excellent place to bury victims of the Black Plague. Now the site is the focus of archaeological investigations after being unearthed during construction of the city's Crossrail project. (video)
Medieval textile sources online
Manchester University in England has created a searchable website of sources for medieval textiles and clothing. The lexis of cloth and clothing in Britain c. 700-1450: origins, identification, contexts and change collects documentation from "diverse academic disciplines: archaeology, archaeological textiles, art history, economic history, literature, languages."
Niall inn Orkneyskii wins Lochac Fall 2013 Crown Tourney
Medb reports that Niall inn Orkneyskii was the winner of the May 4, 2013 Crown Tournament in the Kingdom of Lochac. His Highness was inspired in His endeavor by Liadan ingen Fheradaig.
Secrets revealed at Warwick Castle
Centuries-old Warwick Castle has revealed some new secrets. Time Team presenter Tony Robinson was among the first to see four new rooms opened to visitors as part of Warwick Castle Unlocked. (video)
Roman baths found in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian resort town of Sozopol, on the Black Sea, has long attracted visitors wanting to relax. Now the discovery of a large stone thermae building shows that the attraction may stretch back to Roman times. (photo)
Face of "headless king" revealed
Four hundred years after his death, facial reconstructionists have revealed the face of France's 'Good King Henri IV' whose mummifed head is believed to have been discovered in an attic in 2008.
Higgins Armory lives on in auction catalog
Sadly, the Higgins Armory will close its doors in December, 2013, but a catalog from an auction of some of its collection, which took place March 20, 2013, is available to view online.
The science of discovery
Historians have long been fascinated by the creation of maps during the Age of Exploration. Of special interest are maps such as Waldseemüller and Ringmann's first map mentioning "America." The New York Times Science page looks at A Renaissance Globemaker’s Toolbox, a new book on the subject by John W. Hessler.
Toyoka Katsuo knighted in Northshield
Maol Mhichil mac Giolla Pheadair, Polaris Principal Herald, reports that in the last Court of Their Reign, Yngvar and Luce, King and Queen of Northshield offered admittance to the Order of Chivalry to Toyoka Katsuo.
"Lizzy" may have belonged to Sir Walter Raleigh
Shipwreck diver Todd Stevens hopes he has found a gem at the bottom of the ocean near the Isles of Scilly in the form of the Lizzy, a shipwreck which may have belonged to Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh lost a ship, the Flying Joan, in the area in 1617.
"Execution site archaeology" subject of German studies
Marita Genesis of Potsdam, Germany has an interesting area of study: execution site archaeology. Genesis is just one of a number of scientists and scholars interested in finding out how those executed died and how executioners, particularly in the Middle Ages, lived. Matthias Schulz of Der Spiegel has the story.
Pondering Ponce de León
The State of Florida is celebrating its 500th birthday, including debates about the exploration of Juan Ponce de León, who landed on the peninsula on April 2, 1513. St. Augustine is the traditional site of the landing, but historian Douglas Peck believes otherwise.
LIDAR may reveal camp of Hadrian's Wall builders
The study of a series of old LIDAR (light detection and ranging) aerial photos has led to the discovery of what may be a camp of the men who constructed Hadrian's Wall. The find could change the way historians view civilian life in Roman Britain.
Delights from Richard's table
Popular British chef, and "self-confessed medieval foodie," Clarissa Dickson Wright takes on the cooking of the 14th century when she prepares dishes from Britain's oldest known cookbook, The Forme of Cury, written during the reign of King Richard II.
Cottage wall plate "discovery of a lifetime"
Dorset auctioneer Richard Bromell had an Antiques Roadshow moment recently when he was told that a plate, "found hanging on a makeshift wire frame in a Somerset cottage" was a 16th century original maiolica, bringing over £500,000 at auction. (photo)
Mathematics solves mystery of Viking craftsmanship
Historians and craftsmen have long pondered the absolute regularity of Viking jewelry made from twisted rods of gold and silver, but a new theory by Kasper Olsen and Jakob Bohr at the Technical University of Denmark may have solved the puzzle: mathematics.
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