The Voynich Manuscript has confounded scholars ever since it was revealed by a book dealer named Wilfrid Voynich in the early part of the 20th century. There have been several theories of when this odd manuscript, which contains bizarre images and indecipherable writing, was created, with some believing it dates back to the Middle Ages.

In his article Cracking the Voynich Code, Batya Ungar-Sargon takes a look at the history of the manuscript. Radiocarbon dating finds that the manuscript was made between 1404 and 1438, although we do not know when the ink was written on it. Still, some believe the manuscript is really just a hoax, perhaps created in the 17th or even the 20th century.  You can read the article on Tablet Magazine.

Icelanders are seeing the potential value of its medieval archaeological sites as tourist attractions, according to an article in the Iceland Review Online. Ólöf Ýrr Atladóttir, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, explains that “Nature still has the most attraction but culture, in a broad sense, is gaining popularity. Tourists are constantly seeking new experiences and not least the interplay between daily life and nature through centuries. Strategic development of tourism related to cultural values like archaeological remains plays a big part in that context.”

However, she also warns that the her country needs to do a better job protecting archaeological sites from environmental degradation. Click here to read this article from Iceland Review Online.

Meanwhile, Chinese archaeologists report that they might have discovered the tomb of Emperor Yang Guang, who was the last ruler of the Sui Dynasty. The small tomb contains a gravestone that identifies the emperor and relates events about the year he died, 618. However, Shu Jiaping, head of Yangzhou's Institute of Archaeology, warns "we're still not sure whether it was the emperor's final resting place, as historical records said his tomb had been relocated several times."

Emperor Yang Shang had a very active rule, ordering major building projects including a Grand Canal and rebuilding large parts of the Great Wall. But his construction work and military campaigns bankrupted the state, eventually leading to a coup in which he was murdered. Click here to read the full article from the China Daily.

Six feet below street level in the center of Lincoln, England lies a medieval road, complete with wheel ruts, and bounded by a large building, such as a warehouse. Now archaeologists are faced with the task of discovering all they can about the site in six weeks before construction begins on a new store.

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A heraldic badge showing the Scottish crown has been found at the site of the Battle of Flodden. The badge may have been worn by someone closely affiliated with King James IV.

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Ten days more…and we of Ostgardr will be welcoming the people of the East Kingdom to Crown Tournament. The feast is set, the field is being prepared, the site tokens are made. Some notes on activities -

1. Archery: unfortunately the Boy Scouts have strict rules about use of their range at Camp Pouch, and our SCA rules do not match up. We will not be able to use the camp’s archery range, and it does not look like we will be able to set up our own range on site. This is a blow to those who wanted to come and have-at some great targets with Lord Suuder and Lord Conor. We hope to work out something for next time!
2. Youth Activities: Jolie Delarue will be the official in charge of youth activities during the day on Saturday. Youth Point will be set up next to the fighting field and will open at 12:30. Planned activities will include castle building (out of rice crispy bricks) and tassel book-mark making. There will be other activities as well. Parents: please come and help. Youth Point is not a baby sitting service, and Society policy wisely dictates that here be at least two adults to supervise youth activities.
3. Feast: Feast is set and no more pre-registrations will be accepted. If you are pre-registered for feast and have questions about the menu, please email Lord Friderich Grimme, head chef, who will answer any questions.
4. Merchants: There will be no merchants allowed. Sorry! This is a Boy Scout rule.

We of Ostgardr look forward to welcoming Their Majesties Gregor IV and Keina II, all the Crown Combatants and their Consorts, and all the people of the East Kingdom who come to witness the making of the newest Prince and Princess of the East!

Filed under: Events Tagged: Crown Tournament, events

Five short videos produced by Historic Royal Palaces explain some of the cookery aspects that are demonstrated each month at Hampton Court.

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The Barony of Endewearde is holding a 25th anniversary event this coming Saturday, April 20th, at Fort Knox in Prospect Maine. At the conclusion of the event, we are planning a recapitulation of our first quarter century. Accordingly, the Barony would like to ask anyone in the SCA who has good memories of the people or events, which together are the history of Endewearde, to contribute those memories in person or in writing. Recountings in prose, verse, song, or by picture, whether in person, by proxy, displayed, or written and read, would be welcome and may be sent to Endewearde’s Heppin Pursuivant, Mistress Brita Mairi Svensdottir, via email to Mistress Brita.

Our appreciation to Don Jordan Harvey for writing this announcement.

Lady Bryn Millar & Lord Oleksandr Brazhnyk

Event Stewards

Filed under: Events

After nearly 2000 years, a wealthy Roman citizen whose remains were discovered 18 years ago in Caerleon, near Newport, Wales, has a face. (portrait)

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Elena Norreys reports that she has created an album of photos from Spring 2013 Coronation which took place April 6, 2013 in the Barony of Carillion, East Kingdom. The photos are available on PicasaWeb.

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The Gazette publishes news of interest to the East Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a historical recreation group.  Listed below are some of our most popular articles and a map with upcoming events.
The Coronation of Edward II and Thyra and the research behind the ceremony
The Coronation of Gregor IV and Kiena II
The Final Performances of a Royal Bardic Champions Competition
Scrolls Made for Presentation
A Mumming for a King and Queen
Finalists in the Royal Arts and Sciences Competition
Maps of upcoming events
The Gazette is not an official publication of the SCA.  The official webpage for the East Kingdom can be found here.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Syr Verica de Lighthaven, of the Principality of Oertha, reports that Their Majesties Obadiah and Ascelin of the West Kingdom have placed Lady Anna Di Caterina Neri on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Pelican.

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The list is in order of precedence.

Tribune Omega Aurelius Serpentius for Duchess Roxane Farabi Shahzadeh

Duke Konrad Der Lowe Von Ulm for Lady Aibhilin Fhionn

Jarl (Count) Valgard Stonecleaver for Lady Gracia Vasquez de Trillo

Earl Kenric aet Essex for Countess Avelina Keye

Syr Cedric of Thanet for Mistress Moira Fionnbhar of Argyll

Mistress Moira Fionnbhar of Argyll for Syr Cedric of Thanet

Sir Thomas of Ravenhill for Áine an Neamheaglach

Pan (Sir) Jan Janowicz Bodanski for Herrin (Lady) Rosamund von Schwyz

Master Julien de LaPointe for Mistress Carolyne de LaPointe

Sir Wilhelm von Ostenbrücke for Mistress Vienna de la Mer

Sir Sichelgaita von Halstern for Sir Wolfgang Krieger

Syr Culann mac Cianain for Baroness Edana inghean Aluinn mac Kinnon

Sir Oscad de Segovia for Giselle de Limousin

Syr Marcus Blackaert for Baroness Ástríðr Sigrun Úlfkelsdóttir

Thane Aethelhafoc Caegfindan for Honorable Lady Siubhan Wallace

Baron Duncan Kerr for Mistress Eleanor fitzPatrick

Baron Wulfhere of Stonemarch for Lady Isabeau Du Valle

Brennan mac Fearghus for Caoilfhionn inghean Fhaolain

Baron Ivan Ivanov syn Dimitriov vynuk Tzardikov for Baroness Matilde DeCadenet

Baron Joseph Harcourt for Baroness Mistress Kis Maria aka mika

THL Avaldr Valbjarnarson for Mistress Eva Woderose

Baron Jibril al-Dakhil for Baroness Rainillt de Bello Marisco

Baron Jozef Ludwiczak of Lochleven for Gwenlliana Vachan

Baron Matthew Moraveous Avdenmork for Mistress Fia Kareman

THL Tiberiv Ivlivs Rvfvs for Avraham ben Zebulun

Lord William MacCrimmon for Lady Astrid Olfasdotter

Don Luis de Castilla for Lady Tamitha of Ostgardr

Lord Ivan Valfrekr for Sasha Valfrekr

Lord Kenimathor of Lochleven for Lady Cezilia Raposa

Lord Turi MacKinnon for Marguerite De Sainte Nazaire

Lord Ionness Aurelius Serpentius for Lady Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt

Lord Rory MacLellan for Baroness Cateline la broderesse

Lord Gryffyn Dunham for Lady Azure Brennan

Lord Stefan Joseph for Baroness Cynder (Cinder) of Oakenwode

Lord Vladimir Bathory for Ophelia

Lord Gawyn O’Clery for Maeve O’Clery

Lord Tiberius Nautius for Lady Gunvar Hausakljufr

Lady Gunvar Hausakljufr for Lord Tiberius Nautius

Lord Hartmann Foscari da Ferrara for Lady Violet Coleson

Lord Dabid Docair for Lady Girsell MacLeod

Ivarr Rambison (Ibar Ramson) for Rose DuBois

source: http://seneschal.eastkingdom.org/springcrown2013.html

Filed under: Heavy List Tagged: Crown Tournament

Archaeological work being done at St.Hilda's Church in Hartlepool has turned up an Anglo-Saxon grave. Other burials from the Early Modern period were also found, as the church is digging up a section of its floor to install a new heating system.

The discovery might be evidence that an Anglo-Saxon monastery existed on this site. Bede records that a nun named Heiu founded a monastery in the area named Heruteu in the 640s.

Dr Steve Sherlock, of Tees Archaeology, said: “It’s an exciting thing. We hope to do more work to understand it. It’s always presumed that there was a church here in Norman times in 1066. We note that the church is sited in the area of St Hilda’s Anglo-Saxon monastery, about 60ft north of the present church. 

“It’s always been presumed that this church was the site of St Hilda’s Anglo-Saxon monastery. We haven’t found any trace of that, but this one burial may be one of the clues pointing towards that.”

Click here to read the full article from the Hartlepool Mail

Click here to read more about an Anglo-Saxon Monastery at Hartlepool from Teeside Archaeology

Cannonballs recovered from the Mary Rose wreck in England have been shown to contain iron cores, allowing the cannons to punch the shot through enemy vessels.

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The Conclave is over and a new Pope chosen, but the English never stood a chance. There has not, in fact, been an English Pope since Adrian IV in 1155.

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A historian in Germany has come across a new collection of medieval Arabic stories - a kind of precursor to the famous book known as One Thousand and One Nights. Claudia Ott, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, discovered The Book with the Story of the 101 Nights in a 13th century Andalusia manuscript.


The 101 Nights contains 17 stories, two of which can also be found in the 1001 Nights, with most set in India. Ott adds, “It is certainly not by chance that this backdrop has something Oriental about it when seen from an Arabic perspective. It is an image of an Orient that is far away, unfamiliar and exotic — for this reason, particularly attractive."

Ott first saw the manuscript on display at a museum in Berlin, and when she had the chance to look at, soon discovered its importance. She has translated the work into German.

You can read more about this discovery from the Egypt Independent

Greetings all,

There will be a Chivalry Order meeting at K&Q Champions on May 4, directly
after the tournament.  Laurel and Pelican meetings will happen at Panteria,
over Memorial Day weekend, times to be determined.

Their Majesties will accept recommendations for their second polling until
May 1.  Please use the recommendation link found on the East Kingdom
website.

https://2way.webhrlink.com/IIS5_CGI/2w5AX6/2WAY.html

Thank you!

Katherine
Polling Clerk

Filed under: Law and Policy, Official Notices, Uncategorized

A Missive from the Polling Clerk:

Greetings All!

Their Majesties will accept recommendations for their second polling until May 1st. Please use the recommendation link found on the East Kingdom website.

https://2way.webhrlink.com/IIS5_CGI/2w5AX6/2WAY.html

Thank you!

Katherine

Polling Clerk

Filed under: Law and Policy, Official Notices, Uncategorized

Calontir subjects or lovers of SCA history will want to check out Master Crag's Chronicles of Calontir, now available in paperback and Kindle version from Amazon.com.

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John Edgerton reports that video from the Second Tourney of the Society for Creative Anachronism, which took place June 25, 1966 in the park above Berkeley, California, is now available to view on YouTube. Transferred from Super 8 film, the video has no audio.

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The University of Sheffield’s Humanities Research Institute has created Manuscripts Online which "brings to life early printed primary sources of medieval Britain, giving online access to written materials from the year 1000 to 1500 and allowing users to contribute to the collective body of knowledge on the subject for the first time."

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