601 CE to 700 CE

"Mysterious black substance" found in West Stow pits

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2008-01-09 17:46
Archaeologists working at an Anglo Saxon village in West Stow, near Bury St Edmunds, England have discovered the remains of three 6th century pits. The pits contained a "mysterious black substance."

New research project to illuminate "Dark Age" Scotland

Submitted by Sabine Berard on Fri, 2007-12-14 14:10
The National Museums of Scotland are launching a new project to shed light on the so-called Dark Ages to educate people about the surprisingly sophisticated cultures of the Picts, Gaels, and Norse.

Anglo Saxon jewelry a "real find"

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-12-09 09:54
Archaeologists are delighted with the discovery of "the only known Anglo-Saxon royal burial site in the North of England" near Loftus on Teesside, where they found some incredible jewelry dating to the mid 7th century.

Saxon remains found in Twyford

Submitted by Milica on Wed, 2007-11-21 22:56
Workers on the site of a school in Twyford, England worried when they discovered human remains until it was determined that the skeletons belonged to 1,300-year-old Saxons.

Time Team finds Anglo Saxon settlement

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-08-26 20:09
Archaeologists associated with television's Time Team have unearthed a rare Anglo Saxon settlement near Harborough, England. The village dates from between 450 and 650 C.E.

French fashion trend setters for 1400 years

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2007-08-26 09:02
A new study of clothing from Anglo Saxon graves by archaeologist Penelope Walton Rogers shows that most styles followed the customs set in northern France.

Researcher discovers 6th century Japanese irrigation system

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-08-11 12:02
A retired civil engineer has written a report on a 6th and 7th century irrigation system in the in Osaka Prefecture. Kazuo Takatsu spent 15 years on the report, which chronicles a system to collect rain water.

Time Team archaeologists discover rare glass bowl

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-07-21 09:48
A 1400-year-old glass bowl was discovered in a wooden bucket recently during a broadcast of Channel 4's Time Team. The artifact was found in the new Forest area of Hamshire, England.

Metal detector finds 7th century Saxon pendant

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-04-21 18:26
Stacey Spiby, a metal detector enthusiast from Shepshed, England, has found a rare 7th century Anglo Saxon oval pendant worth “in the region of a few thousand pounds.”

1500-year-old Saxon burial promises more discoveries to come

Submitted by Milica on Sat, 2007-03-17 13:33
Archaeologists working at a recreational site near Oakington, England have discovered a 1500-year-old Saxon burial. They believe there is also evidence of a settlement.

History Channel explores the Dark Ages

Submitted by Milica on Tue, 2007-02-27 15:03
On Sunday March 4, 2007, the History Channel will premiere a two-hour program on the history of the Dark Ages. Long characterized as barbaric and uncivilized, the program will attempt to dispel the myths and explore the real and varied history of the period.

Anglo-Saxon Finds in East Sussex Church

Submitted by JaneStockton on Wed, 2007-01-17 19:30
Renovations on St Andrew's Church, at Bishopstone, near Seaford, have revealed Anglo-Saxon features dated back as far as the late 7th Century. This puts the age of the church back 100 years compared to previous datings.

British Museum Purchases Gold and Garnet Anglo-Saxon Sword Hilt

Submitted by JaneStockton on Sun, 2007-01-14 13:21
The British Museum purchased a set of gold, garnet enchrusted Anglo-Saxon sword fittings. They were discovered by a metal detectorist in 2002 near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. The fittings are a unique find for Anglo-Saxon England.

Mysterious rings puzzle archaeologists at the tomb of Chinese empress

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2007-01-12 17:14
Chinese archaeologists are confounded by a group 10 huge rings at the site of the tomb of the country's only empress, Wu Zetian. The rings, ranging from 30 to 40 meters in diameter, were discovered when aerial photos were taken.

Early Byzantine Costume Research Papers Online

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2006-11-24 13:11
Meghan Elphinstone, Arts & Sciences Champion for the Barony of Marinus in Atlantia, has posted her extensive research on early Byzantine costuming. The two papers are available in PDF format.

Today in the Middle Ages: October 5, 610

Submitted by Ursula on Thu, 2006-10-05 10:26
In the process of deposing and replacing the Byzantine emperor Phocas, Heraclius attacked Constantinople with a fleet on October 5, 610 C.E.

Saxon Belt On Display For First Time

Submitted by JaneStockton on Sun, 2006-09-03 15:00
A rare, copper alloy Saxon belt buckle, dated to between 600 CE and 720 CE has gone on display for the first time.

Byzantine Exhibit Includes Classical Themes

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2006-07-23 19:42
An exhibition of Byzantine artifacts shows how the classical style of the Greeks and Romans carried over into the Middle Ages. The Road to Byzantium: Luxury Arts of Antiquity, an exhibit which runs through September 3, 2006 at London's Sometset House, shows a wide range of pieces decorated with classical themes.

Today in the Middle Ages: July 14, 664

Submitted by Ursula on Fri, 2006-07-14 14:26
On July 14, 664, Erconberct, King of Kent died.

Bamburg Sword Unlike Any Other in the World

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2006-06-25 20:42
Experts at the Royal Armouries in Leeds have declared a 7th century sword, discovered at Bamburgh Castle in 1960, unique in the world.

Rare Exmoor ponies to help save dwindling peat bog

Submitted by Justin on Mon, 2006-06-19 16:29
Ponies from an endangered breed, descended from the original British "hill ponies," are being brought into a nature preserve on the Solway Plain in England, to graze away grasses that threaten one of the area's few remaining peat bogs.

Today in the Middle Ages: May 20, 635

Submitted by Ursula on Sat, 2006-05-20 10:42
On May 20, 635, an invading Northumbrian army was soundly trounced by the Picts under the command of King Bridei.

7th Century Cambodian Ship Discovered

Submitted by Milica on Mon, 2006-04-10 15:59
Cambodian archaeologists have discovered the remains of a wooden sailing ship thought to date back to the 7th century, pre-Angkorian Nokor Phnom era.

Mass Gravesite Discovered Dating to 616 A.D.

Submitted by Vallawulf on Fri, 2006-03-03 09:09
A war grave found near Chester, England, has helped to locate the earliest firmly identified battlefield site in England.

7th Century Chinese Palace Discovered

Submitted by Milica on Sun, 2005-12-25 17:57
Chinese archeologists are thrilled with the recent discovery of the grand gate of the Daming Palace, "the largest imperial architectural complex of the Tang Dynasty (618-907)". The Vermillion Phoenix Gate had five doorways, making it the largest palace gate in Chinese history.

6th Century Saxon Warrior & Horse May Stay in England

Submitted by Vallawulf on Sat, 2005-12-24 10:41
Ambitious plans to house at a Suffolk museum the "internationally important" discovery of the skeleton of a Saxon warrior buried with his horse have been launched.

7th Century Skeletons Discovered in Malmesbury

Submitted by Vallawulf on Tue, 2005-11-29 14:35
While digging the foundations for an expansion of the Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, England, workers discovered two skeletons believed to date back to 675 A.D.

Iona II

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2005-11-03 15:15
Archaeologists working in Scotland believe they have found the site of a second monastery founded in the 6th century by St. Columba, founder of Iona.

Bad Teeth a Medieval Myth?

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2005-09-02 19:13
Professor Wolfgang Arnold, from the University of Witten/Herdecke, believes that medieval peasants may have had better teeth than modern men because they chewed their food and ate raw vegetables.

The Mystery Stones of Hexham Abbey

Submitted by Milica on Fri, 2005-08-19 11:41
Legend says that the huge stones of Hexham Abbey's crypt were the work of giants, but now archaeologists believe that they were probably stolen from Roman bridges.