In the 7th through 10th centuries, two super powers ruled Eastern Europe: Byzantium, "bulwark of Christendom in the east," and the Arab empire, but some historians name a third. Khazaria, a Jewish kingdom, played a crucial a part in the stemming of the Arab advance into Europe. (map)

As the saying goes, "Bows don't kill people, arrows do." Such seems to be the case for a burial in Galway, Ireland. Evidence of a shallow grave and an arrow found in the victim's skull has led researches to conclude that the man may have been murdered.

Somewhere along the Cumbria-Lancashire border, a metal detector enthusiast named Darren Webster uncovered a simple lead pot, and out spilled a fortune in Viking silver. "That's when I noticed I'd found something of great importance," he said. (photo)

Archaeologists are beginning to pack up their tools five years after the excavation of York, England's Hungate dig began. In 2012, the York Archaeological Trust will turn the 2,500 sq m (26,900 sq ft) excavation over to developers for a modern housing project.

In 2007, metal detectorists David and Andrew Whelan hit the jackpot when they discovered a huge hoard of Viking treasure in a field north of Harrogate, England. Now the Vale of York Viking Hoard will return to Harrogate for an exhibition at the Mercer Art Gallery.

An intact Viking boat burial has been found in the highlands of Scotland, the first burial of its kind found on the UK mainland. The artifacts found at the site indicate the man buried there may have been a high ranking warrior.

Dr. James Frankki, of Sam Houston State University, has studied the Kensington Runestone in Minnesota and the Heavener Runestone in Oklahoma. Now he is taking look at a recently-discovered stone in Missouri.

A series of well-preserved medieval churches in central Sudan are giving researchers new information into the world of medieval pilgrimages and veneration. Inscriptions at one site show that pilgrims came from as far away as Catalonia.

For the first time, Chinese archaeologists are getting the opportunity to mount a large-scale investigation of the Upper Capital of the Liao dynasty. The first structure excavated was the Qiande Gate of the royal city.

An intact Viking boat burial has been found in the highlands of Scotland, the first burial of its kind found on the UK mainland. The artifacts found at the site indicate the man buried there may have been a high-ranking warrior.

Satu Hovi offers techniques for creating a Finnish Viking dress on her website. The article includes research on the Eura dress and her replica from Luistari cemetery in Eura, grave 56.

The discovery of the graves of Norse women in eastern England has now led scholars to believe that Viking women emigrated earlier than once believed. Research on 14 Norse graves showed that six of the graves contained the remains of women, some armed with sword and shield.

Hundreds of narrow tunnels called "Erdstalls" can be found throughout the Bavarian region of Germany and Austria. While most experts agree that they are medieval, no one knows why they were built or how they were used. This has led to the Erstalls being called "Central Europe's last great mystery."

Bulgaria's top archeologist, Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, has been happy to announce the discovery of incredible finds at the Thracian rock sanctuary Perperikon in southern Bulgaria, including a "magnificent bronze cross from the 10th – 11th century."

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland has begun a project to digitize its collection of Islamic manuscripts. A gallery of images, including covers and bindings, is available on the museum's website.

A hoard of over 90 silver Viking coins dating to the 9th and 10th centuries was discovered recently by a metal detectorist near Furness, England. (photo)

This will be a big year for the town of Bayeux in Normandy, France, when it celebrates the 1100th birthday of the French province of Normandy. The town's 25th annual Medieval Fair will take place July 1-3, 2011, and will celebrate all things Norman.

Retired Bulgarian veterinarian Hristo Antonov has given a unique gift to his hometown, Veliki Preslav: a scale model of the city, the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 10th century. (photo)

A team of researchers from London's Kingston University may have located the site of as many as seven 10th century Anglo-Saxon kings including Athelstan and Ethelred the Unready. All Saints Church is located near Westminister Abbey.

The Medieval Hungary blog reports that three 10th century graves have been discovered near Pest, Hungary, one of which belonged to a high-ranking male. (photo)

On the blog, A Corner of Tenth-Century Europe, Jonathan Jarrett offers a review of a paper by Jane Kershaw entitled New Insights on the Viking Settlement of England: the Small Finds Evidence, presented to the Institute of Historical Research Earlier Middle Ages seminar on 9 February, 2011.

Ever wondered what Anglo-Saxon London would have looked like? Londonlist offers the opportunity to view closeups of how modern mapmakers would view medieval London.

On December 1, 2010, the bones of an 1,100-year-old pagan were interred at the Viking World museum in Reykjanesbaer, Iceland. The remains, first discovered in 1868, are part of an exhibit on ancient pagan burials.

In an article for Irish America Magazine, Edythe Preet ponders Viking history and influences in Ireland, including linguistically and in the celebration of the holiday season, especially when it comes to food and drink.

On the Genevieve.net website, Baroness Genevieve d'Aquitaine shares a pattern for a lady's Viking silk cap, pattered after one found in the Coppergate excavations. Her pattern is based on research by Mistress Isabel Ulfsdottir and Mistress Thora Sharptoot.

In "The Mystery of the Missing Viking Helmets," a 2000 article for Neurosurgery, physician and Viking historian Knut Wester explores the subject of Viking helmets through artifacts and in Norse literature, including the difficulty of finding any existing examples.

Archaeologists have long wondered about the inclusion of "thunderstones"—fist-size stone tools resembling the Norse god Thor's hammerhead -- in Viking graves. New research may show that the stones were considered good-luck talismans. (photo)

Dr Stuart Lee and the Oxford University Faculty of English have announced the launch of the Woruldhord Project "to create a comprehensive online archive of written, visual and audio-visual material related to Old English and the Anglo-Saxon period."

Archaeologists from Århus University have discovered the remains of 10th century wooden buildings which they believe are from the palace complex of King Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark from 940 to 985, in Jelling.

Turkish researchers have completed a survey of the animals depicted on the walls of the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.