Medieval Scotland can be closer than you think...in New York, for instance. A home inspired by a 13th century Scottish castle is up for sale in New City, New York, just an hour north of Manhattan.

It was good news and bad news for officials at Stirling Castle in Scotland. A wall retaining late 15th century garden terraces collapsed, but the collapse now affords the opportunity to investigate remnants of gardens made for James IV.

Up Helly Aa, the rousing Viking winterfest held each year in the Shetland Islands, has been named number four in a list of the ten best winter festivals compiled by the British travel publication Wanderlust. Stephen McGinty of The Scotsman has the story.

Somewhere is Scotland exists one man who carries Santa's DNA, the NM46 marker traced to eastern Siberia and to Lapland, Santa Claus's legendary home. The unidentified man, so far the only one recorded in Scotland, may find himself visited by a relative on Christmas Eve.

Excavations near the site of Scotland's Rhynie Man, a six-foot boulder carved with the image of a Pict, have revealed a fortified early medieval settlement, possibly the seat of the mysterious Kings of Pictland.

Lord Mungo Napier reports that all 37 of the reproduction Stirling Heads, from Stirling Castle in Scotland, are available as full colour images on the Stirling Castle website.

"The Historic Saltire Society is an organisation dedicated to two things. The first is living history and the second is Fun!" reads the opening paragraph on the group's website. Historic Saltire Society travels "the length and breadth of Scotland to various venues to perform for our audiences."

"The project took five and half months and a total of 230 hours to actually make it. But it is fascinating to do something like that. We have not got any garments at all like this, only scraps if we are lucky," said experimental archaeologist Jacqui Wood about her re-creation of the Orkney Hood.

"It seems always to have stood in the churchyard at Nigg," said Liz Budge, of Nigg Old Trust about an intricately carved Pictish stone in Easter Ross, Scotland. The Nigg Old Trust has recently received a funding package of UK£178,000 for conservation and display. (photo)

One of the largest caches of Roman shoes and sandals ever found in Scotland was discovered recently in Camelon, Scotland when workers at a supermarket construction site unearthed the footwear.

When Mel Gibson brought the story of Scottish hero William Wallace to the screen in Braveheart, Wallace became a worldwide symbol of freedom, but the seeds of rebellion may have had a slightly different beginning according to a new study.

1,300 years ago, a tribe of warriors tried in vain to defend a fort below Abbey Craig in Stirling, Scotland. Their failure led to the total destruction, or vitrification, of the fort by fire. Recently archaeologists spent four days investigating the site.

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.

Isobel Henderson found something cruious - and exciting - in a stone wall on a Highland farm building near Moray Firth, Scotland: a Pictish beast stone dating to the 5th-7th centuries. The stone is carved with a beast, crescent, comb and mirror. (photo)

The site of the new visitor center at Bannockburn, Scotland may hold more history than just the battlefield. Archaeologists are looking for evidence of a Roman road which is believed to have run through the site.

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.

A metal detectorist has discovered the pommel of a 13th century sword in a farmer's field in Selkirkshire, Scotland. Experts believe the bronze pommel belonged to a Norman noble involved in the Last Crusade.

David Booth is a happy man. The hoard of gold Iron Age torcs he discovered with a metal detector in 2009, were last year's most valuable treasure reported to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, bringing the finder a reward of £462,000. (photo)

Start the new year in Scotland and Ireland! This year Caerthe’s premiere event will highlight both the Scottish and Irish people, but you will also be able to come and enjoy all the aspects of Caerthe’s 12th Night that you have come to love over the years including merchants, friends, entertainment, and good tidings on the new year.

An archaeological team from the Strathearn Environs and Royal Forteviot (SERF) project has proven the existance of trade between the Romans and the Picts with the discovery of an Iron Age broch containing trade items.

In 12th century Scotland, the "tolbooth or praetorium was the office from which the provost and baillies organised the running of the newly-created burgh." Now archaeologists believe they have found the remains of the tolbooth in St. Andrews.

Archaeologists at King's Knot in Stirling, Scotland have discovered a "circular feature" that some believe might be the fabled round table of King Arthur.

The walls of Caerlaverock Castle near Dumfries, Scotland rang with the sound of sword on shield recently when Historic Scotland presented Medieval Mayhem. A slideshow of photos by Gareth Easton is available from the BBC.

During the Middle Ages, the Border Reivers rode the lands between England and Scotland, stealing livestock and wreaking havoc with ruthless abandon. Now, their modern versions are riding to raise money for wounded British soldiers.

Stirling, Scotland is gearing up to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, which saw Robert the Bruce's victory over the English on 24 June 1314.

Looking for any information on the Picts (who lived in northern Pre-Scottland) aside from Wikipedia. Theories on language are very welcome. :) Thank you.

A new study of 12th century monastic and castle sites in southern Scotland shows that the country's pottery industry was larger than previosuly believed, and it was much less dependent on foreign imports. (photo)

For the first time, the complete folklore collection of Alexander Carmichael has been published and is available to view online. Carmichael "spent 50 years collecting legends, songs, curses and oral history from Gaelic-speakers."

The green salad goes back at least to the 14th century, when a complex mixture of herbs dressed with oil and vinegar is discussed in "The Forme of Cury". This article traces the history of rabbit food from that point forward in time.

Actor Russell Crowe brought his star power with him on a recent visit to Duncarron Fort, a replica medieval village in the Carron Valley, Scotland where he found the project "very impressive" and said it would be a version of "living history".