Evan Andrews of the History Channel online discusses the innovations that made Rome great in his article 10 Innovations That Built Ancient Rome.

Philantropists around the world have been invited to "adopt" a spire of the 14th century cathedral in Milan, Italy. For the gift of 100,000 euros (UK£80,000), donors will receive the right to have their names inscribed on one of the church's 135 spires.

A skeleton of a man wearing metal armor has been found in Gunma, Japan. The armor dates to the early 6th century and is very well preserved.

A  new 11-minute video from Hampton Court Palaces provides details of the behind-the-scenes construction of the replica crown worn by Henry VIII.

Archaeologists have returned to the field where the Staffordshire Hoard was found to look for more pieces. Several gold pieces fit in with items already identified.

Metal detector enthusiast Paul King was thrilled while trying out new equipment to discover a silver pilgrim badge depicting one of the companions of St. Ursula. Now he will see his find on display at the Museum of Lancashire in Preston. (photo)

A complete set of silver playng cards, created in Germany in 1616, was acquired through auction in 2010 by entrepreneur Selim Zilkha. Legend tells that the set was owned by a Portuguese princess who fled Napoleon in 1807. (photos)

Like Anglo Saxon poetry? The University of Exeter will soon have an app for that! An article for Phys.org writes, "The University of Exeter's Modern Languages department is working in collaboration with Antenna International to create the App which will reveal the secrets of medieval literature to a new audience."

Scandinavian museums proudly display artifacts plundered throughout Europe by the Vikings, but now some museum curators ask if these stolen treasures should be returned to their original countries.

Her Majesty Aryanhwy, Queen of Drachenwald, reports that She has offered elevation to the Order of the Pelican to three of Her subjects. The announcements were made at Adamastor's Yule.

Maistir Brandubh O Donnghaile, Silver Buccle Herald, reports that at Their Court at Masked Ball in the Barony of Rhydderich Hael, Their Majesties Khalek and Branwyn, Khan and Khatun of Aethelmearc offered elevation to the Order of the Pelican to Her Ladyship Ysabeau Tiercelin.

When cash-strapped Fiona McLaren took a family painting to an expert for evaluation, she was shocked to learn that the 23x28 inch (58x71 cm) piece might be an unknown work by Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci. (photo)

Romans in Burbank, California? Why not? On December 15-16, 2012, French troupe Histore'Event will present Spartacus and the Roman Legion at the Equestrian Center in Burbank. Burbank Leader reporter L. Thompson has the story.

Oblio the Heretic of the Western Shores In the Kingdom of Lochac reports that  Baron Kilic (Steven Baker), Chairman of the Board of the SCAA, the Board of Directors applicable to the Kingdom of Lochac, has announced the advancement of the Shire of Abertridwr to Barony.

Caelin on Andrede reports that he has created two albums of photos from Dragonsfire Tor Yule Revel and Steppes Xmas which took place recently in the Kingdom of Ansteorra. The photos are available on Flickr.

In February 2012, metal detectorist Andy Falconer discovered a silver seal on te Isle of Man in England. The seal was identified by the Manx Museum as a 14th-century bishop's seal, and have now placed the important artifact on display. (photo)

The organizers of the 34th Annual Medieval and Renaissance Forum at Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, are calling for papers for the April 19-20, 2013 conference. The topic is “Travel, Contact, Exchange.”

Team USA, of the Battle of the Nations international western martial arts competition, has posted a new promo video on its website.

On an island in a small river in Norway's Nord-Trøndelag County, archaeologists have discovered a 14th-century copper smeltery. “This is the first evidence that copper was produced from copper ore in Norway during the Middle Ages,” says Associate Professor Lars F. Stenvik, at the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology in Trondheim.

Katniss Everdeen beware! A young Russian archer from the Seregedel school demonstrates her fast shooting ability in a short video. Iza Privezenceva (Иза Привезенцева) shows how it is done, both from a standing position and moving. Brava!

With European exploration and expansion during the Renaissance came renewed ties with Africa. Such ties, as presented in art, are the focus of a new exhibit at the Walters Art Museum in New York City, Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe.

A UK£200,000 donation has made possible new lighting of the 13th century cloister at Norwich Cathedral. "This is a scheme we've been working on for some years and with the help of a generous personal legacy we've at last been able to achieve it," said the Very Reverend Graham Smith, Dean of Norwich. (photo)

Gudrun and Ladislaus, 2013 Rowany Festival Stewards, report that equipment bookings forms for the Festival are now available online.

A 6th-7th century skeleton, discovered in 1959 in the town of Southwell, Notts, England, has been classified as a "deviant burial" by Matthew Beresford, of Southwell Archaeology.

One of the many fascinating items found on the Mary Rose, the sunken fastship of King Henry VIII, is a knit hat. A recent photo from the Mary Rose's Facebook page (public) shows a conservator working on preservation of a hat. (photo)

Some parishoners of St Cyriac’s Church in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England are upset over the proposed auction of the town's cherished medieval chalice, the Lacock Cup, in order to finance repairs to the building's roof. (photo)

The Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum project has received a grant of UK£900,000 to promote community archaeology and to "encourage dialogue about this historic battle and how it has impacted communities from both sides of the Borders."

New research shows that a killer tsunami devastated the shoreline of Lake Geneva in Switzerland in the 6th century, swamping villages around the lake. The disaster is believed to have been caused by falling rocks on the Rhone River side of the lake.

Owen Jarus takes a look at Hadrian's Wall in a recent feature story on the Live Science website. The article traces the history of the wall and its importance to the study of Roman life in England.

Three feet (one metre) beneath the surface of the site for the new railway station building in Northampton, England, lay a secret, recently discovered: the remains of the 11th Century, Northampton Castle.