Archive

March 21st, 2010

British Museum to host York treasures

A stunning collection of artifacts from the Yorkshire Museum will be given a place of honor at the British Museum in London for the exhibition The Treasures of Medieval York: England’s Other Capital until summer 2010.

Ballad to Thomas "Donsbane"

What happens when a new SCA fencer encounters a number of Dons at Canterbury Faire and his exploits come to the notice of bard Lord Luan an Fael? Watch the YouTube video to find out.

March 20th

Flowers on the menu

Amy Barclay de Tolly and Peggy Trowbridge of the Home Cooking Guide website offer information on edible flowers including which of the plants are safe to eat.

Two elevated to Pelican in AnTir

Constance Davies, Head of Retinue for Their Royal Majesties Owain and Wrenn of the Kingdom of AnTir, reports that two subjects were elevated to the Order of the Pelican at the Festival of the Red Lantern in the Shire of Dregate.

Early Christian brooch found in Irish turf

A zoomorphic penannular brooch dating to the 7th century has been discovered in a clump of turf cut for burning in Mantara, Ireland. The Brooch is believed to have belonged to an early Christian clergyman. (video)

March 19th

Beheaded Vikings found at London Olympics site

Excavation work in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London has uncovered the bodies of 51 Vikings who were beheaded and thrown into a mass grave.

Eden Blacksmith offered Pelican at Estrella

Katharine of Cate Hall reports that Their Majesties of the Kingdom of Atenveldt have placed Lady Eden Blacksmith on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Pelican.

Byzantine Wine Press found in Israel

Archaeologists working near Tel Aviv, Israel have found a wine press whose size and advanced design are exceptional for its period.

15th century mourners march to New York City

Thirty-seven statues of mourners from the 15th century tomb of John the Fearless and his wife Margaret of Bavaria are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

March 18th

Medieval shipwreck found in Baltic Sea

Twelve shipwrecks, including some that may date back as far as 800 years, have been found by a gas company building an underwater pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

SCA President's announcement regarding the SCA Grants Committee

SCA President Denise Leeson-Provost has published an announcement concerning the SCA's Grants Committee.

Eliseg’s Pillar still a mystery

Little seems to be known about the origins of Eliseg’s Pillar, a Dark Ages monument in Wales' Pant y Groes, the Valley of the Cross. The original pillar was kncoked down during the English Civil War, and re-erected in the 18th century.

March 17th

"It Won't Go to Zero"

Financial planner Ken Robinson wanted a way to reach more people with his message of hope: As bad as the economy may be, it will eventually recover. So he wrote "It Won't Go to Zero" as a rap song and video. The rap song might blend well with his other works, including the Cleftlands Battle Song.

Stonehenge surrounded by Stonehedge

A new study of the landscape around Stonehenge seems to suggest that Stonehenge was once surrounded by two low, concentric hedges. The media have dubbed the foliage "Stonehedge."

Trash to tunes: Making a bagpipe from recorders and a garbage bag

Anyone who has ever longed to play the bagpipes, but was deterred by the cost of the instrument, may want to consider an article on Instructables which teaches how to build a set of bagpipes from recorders and garbage bags.

March 16th

Period quilts on display at European museums

Lisa Evans, from the Quilt History discussion list, reports that two famous period quilts, the Tristan Quilt and the Coperta di Usella, will be on display this spring at museums in London and Florence.

Building an Iron Age Celtic roundhouse

A PDF with complete instructions for construction of an SCA tent version of an Iron Age Celtic roundhouse is available to download online.

Photos from the first Coronet of Insulae Draconis

Arianwen ferch Arthur has announced the creation of several albums of photos from the recent Coronet Tourney in the Crown Principality of Insulae Draconis, Kingdom of Drachenwald.

March 15th

Roberta Rhiannon McMorland elevated to Laurel in AEthelmearc

THLord Brandubh O Donnghaile, Silver Buccle Herald for the Kingdom of AEthelmearc, reports that Their Royal Majesties, Henri and Elena have elevated Baroness Roberta Rhiannon McMorland to the Order of the Laurel.

Photos from Bjornsborg Academy of Defense IV online

Lady Elisava Illiesca, aka Bess, has posted an album of photos from the Bjornsborg Academy of Defense IV, which took place recently in the Kingdom of Ansteorra.

Medieval Myths panel discussion on CalonSound

Mathurin Kerbusso reports that a podcast of a panel discussion entitled Dispelling Medieval Myths, which was presented at the recent Medieval Mindset RUSH in the Kingdom of Calontir, is now available in the CalonSound Project archives.

March 14th

Northshield event photos online

Viscountess Elashava bas Riva, Chronicler for the Kingdom of Northshield, shares her photos from Fighters' School, which took place February 20, 2010 in the Barony of Jararvellir, and Nordskogen's 12th Night.

Skull of St. Bridget may not be authentic

A research group at Uppsala University's Department of Genetics and Pathology recently used DNA and other tests to determine whether or not the skulls of Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Swedenand her daughter Katarina are authentic.

Experts believe they have found true site of Battle of Bosworth Field

A new study of documents, artifacts, and archaeological surveys seem to prove the true location of the Battle of Bosworth, the site of the death of King Richard of England. (map & photo)

March 13th

Medieval Irish abbots lived "life of O'Riley"

Ongoing excavations on the grounds of Rothe House in Kilkenny, Ireland, have discovered that Cistercian abbots, who had a previous residence at the site, lived a lavish lifestyle of roast swan and French wine.

Byzantine-era road uncovered in Jerusalem

The Madaba Map, a mosaic depicting 6th-7th century Jerusalem, shows Cardo Street in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Now, the Byzantine-era street has been discovered by archaeologists.

Evidence of pre-Islamic society found in Ghana

Archaeologists working on a site near the village of Yikpabongo in the western African country of Ghana have discovered dozens of clay figures depicting people and animals dating from the 7th to 13th centuries. They believe the artifacts are evidence of a pre-Islamic society.

March 12th

Estrella War XXVI photos online

Lady Ailish, Séaghdha mac Roberd, and Christmas report that they have created albums of photos from the recent Estrella War XXVI. Ailish's photos are available at PicasaWeb, and Christmas' on Flickr.

The love poems of Michelangelo on display

In his fifties, it appears that renaissance master Michelangelo fell in love with a Roman nobleman 40 years his junior. A record of the infatuation can be found in handwritten sonnets on display for the first time at the British Museum in London.

Drachenwald's first Crown Tourney video available on YouTube

Sir Corby has posted video of the first Crown Tournament in the Kingdom of Drachenwald. The tourney took place in 1993.