In 1930, Prof Eric Birley first recorded the pipework for the water supply at the Roman fort Vindolanda in Northumberland, England. Recently his grandson, Dr Andrew Birley, continued the legacy by identifying the spring-head and piping system for the fort.

On the Day of Archaeology blog, Damien Shields recounts the discovery of "one of the most beautiful archaeological objects" he had ever come across. Once thought to be a leather scabbard belt, the artifact proved to be a piece of decorated medieval horse harness. (photos)

The Nigg cross-slab, an 8th century, intricately-carved Pictish stone from Easter Ross in Scotland, has been taken to Edinburgh for restoration work at a cost of UK£180,000. Upon completion of the restoration, the stone will be returned to display at Nigg Old Church. (photos)

Police grew suspicious recently when a Viking longship was seen moving around Elcho Island, an island off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The ship was piloted by a crew of six Rus. (photo)

Murray McGillivray of the Cotton Nero A.x. Project reports that 180 high resolution, color images from the British Library's MS Cotton Nero A.x are now available to view on the website of the University of Calgary Libraries and Cultural Resources. The manuscript includes the complete story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

In 2002, a devastating fire badly damaged the World Heritage site of Cowgate in Edinburgh's Old Town, but the clouds of smoke has a silver lining with the recent discovery of street frontages and tenements dating to the 16th century beneath the fire site.

Archaeologists have discovered a wealth of artifacts dating from the late Iron Age through to the end of the Viking era on the west side of the island of South Uist in Scotland. Included among the artifacts was a piece of bone marked with an ogham inscription.

The French city of Angers has petitioned the British government for compensation payment in the death of Edward Plantagenet, son of Edward IV and nephew of Richard III of England, who died in 1499. The city was the medieval capital of Anjou, whence the Plantagenet family originated.

A road crew excavating near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland has unearthed a crannog, complete with human remains and a wealth of artifacts dating to the 9th century. Items found included a carefully-crafted, fine-toothed nit comb. (photo)

THLord Cormac Michelsone, called the Bald was elevated this past weekend to the Order of the Pelican at the 4th Tournament of Champions by TRMs Uther and Kenna.

An archaeological team led by archaeologist Ivan Hristov has discovered a 5th century Byzantine town and fortress on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Experts believe the town was destroyed by an Avar invasion which sealed the area in the way Vesuvius sealed Herculaneum.

A joint team of archaeologists from Tel Aviv University and Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority have discovered "one of the largest gold coin hoards discovered in a medieval site in the land of Israel." The coins were determined to have circulated in the 13th century, the time Crusader occupation.

Ursus of Anglesey has finished posting all his Pennsic pictures of this year, and the last albums are available online.

Experts from Interreg-Project "Bones4Culture" plan to take samples from 1000 medieval skeletons gathered from the German-Danish border land to learn more about the population, life, health and culture of the people of the region.

Logan reports that Their Majesties Hirsch and Magdalena of the Kingdom of Calontir have placed Mathieu Chartrain on vigil to contemplate elevation to the Order of the Chivalry.

If you're a gamer, a LARPer, a fan, or a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, you're welcome in Boston, according to Ethan Gilsdorf who wrote about the "dweebs, techies, trekkers, weirdos, and gamers" in an article on Boston.com. The article highlights the various activities and organizations in the city including the Barony of Carolingia.

A group of women from St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Mesa, Arizona, have created their own medieval scriptorium. Under the leadership of SCA member Lee Kitts, the women have completed the Book of Genesis, with plans to finish the other 65 books of the Old and New Testaments. Maria Polletta of Azcentral.com has the story. (slideshow)

SCA members Brian and Elise Dix and Joe and Nikky Scofield plan to take part in the Idaho Renaissance Faire in October 2012. Recently they spoke to Diana Baird of the Emmet, Idaho Messenger-Index.

Trepanation, the practice of drilling holes into the skulls of living beings for medical or religious purposes, was rarely performed in the Middle Ages, but the discovery of two skulls in Spain, dating to the 13th or 14th centuries, has made experts scramble for an answer.

Baroness Jeanne-Marie reports that Their Majesties Ard Ri  Flanagan and Ban Rion Drahomira, of the Kingdom of the Outlands, have offered The Honorable Lady Dianna Doria admittance into the Order of the Laurel.

Want to know what a deck of cards looked like at Henry VIII's table? How about Salladin? The World of Playing Cards is the place to find out!

Archaeologists have discovered a set of 11 bronze pen nibs dating back to the Age of Simeon I of Bulgaria. The artifacts were found at the site of a royal palace and church complex that housed a literary school during that time period.

St Donnan, who brought Christianity to Scotland's West Highlands, was killed by Viking riaders in the early 7th century. Now archaeologists from the University of Birmingham are investing remains found at Kildonnan Graveyard to ascertain if the body is that of the saint.

“Hip hip huzzah!” writes staff writer Sara Jane Pohlman about the announcement of the Equestrian Champion for the Kingdom of the West. Pohlman visited the event and chronicled her observations in an article for the Lodi (California) News-Sentinel. (photos)

In the latest edition of the Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, Alan E Hayden presented a theory that the islands off the coast of Kerry, Ireland were shaped by medieval earthquakes and tsunamis.

Historians' obsession with the real life Mona Lisa continues with the recent discovery of a complete skeleton beneath the floor of the derelict Convent of St. Orsola in Florence, Italy. Some experts believe the remains are those of Lisa Gherardini, AKA Mona Lisa.

Lady Anne Clifford, a favorite in Queen Elizabeth I's court, was no shrinking violet, and was, in fact, one of the earliest feminists. Her 600,000-word manuscript, Great Books of Record, is set to be released in a new, complete edition.

A woman walking along the shore of the Neddick River in southern Maine (USA) came acorss an unusual find - a 14th century penny, likely minted in Canturbury, England.

In May 2012, disaster struck the small Italian town of Finale Emilia in the form of two powerful earthquakes which destroyed the town's 13th-century clock tower. Now teams of volunteers from across Italy are coming together to help reconstruct the historic Torre dei Modenesi. (photos)

Mrs. Colin Steer is not enthused about her husband's discovery of a medieval well under their living room floor. Curiosity about an indentation in the floor led to the discovery that has now sparked tension in the family. David Greene of NPR has the brief story.