Medieval Warfare Blog

Pembroke Castle study uncovers possible Henry VII birthplace

2016-11-30T07:58:00.001+01:00

Researchers believe they might have uncovered the location of Henry VII's birthplace at Pembroke Castle.

Aerial photographs from 2013 gave glimpses of what lay beneath the surface, with parch marks revealing possible buildings.

A geophysical survey has now confirmed the outline of a late-medieval building in the outer ward, where the king could have been born.

Neil Ludlow, consultant archaeologist, said it shone new light on the castle.

Much of the interior of the castle, which dates from the 11th Century, was destroyed after the Middle Ages.

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Fouilles avant restauration : archéologie au château de Clisson

2016-04-01T18:35:00.001+02:00

Un mur d’enceinte primitif et une galerie voûtée : tels sont quelques-uns des vestiges médiévaux et modernes mis au jour par les archéologues de l’Inrap au niveau de la terrasse nord-est du château de Clisson, un site classé monument historique à la confluence de la Sèvre et de la Moine. Ces découvertes apportent de nouvelles connaissances sur l’histoire du château et l’évolution de son front défensif nord. L’opération, prescrite par l’État (Drac des Pays de la Loire), s’inscrit dans le cadre de travaux de restauration menés par le Département de Loire-Atlantique. Propriétaire du site, le Département apporte une attention particulière à l’étude archéologique et à la restauration de son patrimoine dont il est responsable. Ces recherches répondent à des enjeux de conservation, de restauration, d'étude scientifique et de restitution des résultats auprès du public.

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New Website for the Bayeux Tapestry

2016-02-01T19:10:00.001+01:00

As this year is the 950^th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, Archaeology in Europe has created a new website featuring the Bayeux Tapestry.

The Website gives details of the history of the Tapestry and provides detailed images of the entire tapestry.

There is also a section on the Battle of Hastings and the recent work by Time Team to locate the battle site.

Click here to go to the Website…

You may also be interested in the EMAS Archaeological Site Tour: “Landscape of the Bayeux Tapestry”

You can find details of the study tour here…

EMAS Archaeology Study Tour: Landscape of the Bayeux Tapestry

2016-01-18T22:13:00.001+01:00

Landscape of the Bayeux Tapestry

21 - 28 May 2016

2016 will be the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. The famous Bayeux Tapestry that depicts this battle also presents a map of the events that led up to Hastings.

This study tour will follow the route of this map, starting at Westminster and following Harold’s progression through Normandy, and then on to the arrival of William’s forces at Pevensey and finally to Battle, where we will look at the evidence for the suggested new location for the Battle of Hastings.

Full details of this study tour can be found here...

N.B. In order to be certain of a place you need to apply by 1 February 2016 at the latest.

Castles of North Wales

2016-01-09T18:00:00.001+01:00

EMAS Easter Study Tour: Castles of North Wales

Guide: David Beard MA, FSA, FSA (Scot)

24 - 30 March 2016

There are still a few places left on this study tour, but final reservations for the hotel must be made by 18 January.

So if you are interested, please contact EMAS straight away.

You can find details of the study tour here…

Norman castle remains found under Gloucester prison

2015-12-14T18:36:00.001+01:00

The remains of a Norman castle similar to the Tower of London have been found buried under the court of a disused prison.

The remains of a medieval keep have been discovered under the exercise yard and basketball court of Gloucester Prison. Archaeologists say the keep, which had walls up to 12 feet wide and measured around 100 feet in length, would have resembled the Tower of London
[Credit: Andrew Higgins/SWINS]

The old walls of the keep, dating back to 1110, were unearthed by archaeologists investigating the site in the centre of Gloucester before it is redeveloped.

The castle was the first in Gloucester to be built of stone and housed three chapels, two drawbridges and a royal chamber for both the King and Queen.

Neil Holbrook, chief executive of Cotswold Archaeology, said: "I am surprised by what we found.

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Explore 4,500 British Museum artifacts with Google's help

2015-11-12T16:13:00.001+01:00

The British Museum in London holds an array of beautiful and historically significant artifacts including the Rosetta Stone, which helped historians to understand the ancient hieroglyphics used in Egypt. Today, the organisation is teaming up with Google to bring its various collections online as part of the Google Cultural Institute. The search giant has been developing this resource for years by continually visiting and archiving exhibits around the world. With the British Museum, an extra 4,500 objects and artworks are being added to its collection, complete with detailed photos and descriptions.

The most important addition is arguably the Admonitions Scroll, a Chinese text which dates back to the 6th-century. The piece is incredibly fragile, so it's only visible in the museum for a few months each year. Through the Cultural Institute, you can take a peek whenever you like -- and because it's been captured at "gigapixel" resolution you can zoom in to see some extraordinary details. All of the objects are searchable on Google's site, along with a couple of curated collections about ancient Egypt and Celtic life in the British Iron Age.

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Battle of Agincourt: 10 reasons why the French lost to Henry V's army

2015-10-23T11:38:00.001+02:00

The Battle of Agincourt is often heralded as one of the greatest English military victories. Here are ten reasons why King Henry V's army was able to defeat a French force four times its size.

The Battle of Agincourt was a major victory for England in the Hundred Years' War, and took place Friday, 25 October 1415.

The battle was heralded in Shakespeare's Henry V in which the king urges his "band of brothers" to stand together.

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Three new important items from the Castles Studies Trust

2015-10-23T11:35:00.001+02:00

The Castles Studies Trust has provided details of three new important items:

1) A digital model of Gleaston Castle in Cumbria, showing the current state of the ruins.

Find out more here...

2) A press release about work at Tibbers Castle in Dumfriesshire, enhancing our understanding of the castle's early history

Find out more here...

3) A short video about the landscape of Wressle Castle in Yorkshire

Find out more here...

Digital Reconstruction of Holt Castle

2015-07-12T15:01:00.001+02:00

Robbed of stone to build Eaton Hall in C17, little today remains of the Edwardian castle of Holt a favourite of Richard II’s. Towards the end of his reign it became Richard’s royal treasury storing an estimated 100,000 marks (£66,000) just before his downfall.

Funded by the Castle Studies Trust, leading experts Rick Turner and Chris Jones-Jenkins have digitally reconstructed Holt in great detail both internally and externally which has been converted into a video fly-through to reveal what the castle was like at its zenith in the late C15

To see the video please go here:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv_sHru_OG0

This amazing work was done by combining their extensive knowledge and expertise with a variety of historical sources such as inventories, antiquarian drawings and plans as well as the results of recent excavations.

Project leader Rick Turner says:

“It has been great fun trying to solve the disappearance of this once famous castle. All the different pieces of evidence have had to be assessed and reconciled. The most important is what survives at the crime scene itself, the visible remains and what has been found in recent excavations. Old plan and views have been helpful in rebuilding the lost parts, though at times the information they give is contradictory. Visualizing what the documentary sources are describing has been a real challenge. We hope that we have done this impressive and complex castle justice.”

Castle Studies Trust Co-Patron John Goodall:

“This project has helped reconstruct in vivid detail the splendour of a major castle that has been lost for nearly four hundred years. The video fly-through will not only help people understand what this unusual and sophisticated building looked like, but also how it would have functioned as a working building, something that is impossible in its current condition.”

Watch the Video...

You(r) Archaeology – portraying the past

2015-07-08T19:00:00.002+02:00

“You(r) Archaeology – portraying the past” - A European competition to express your view.

What is archaeology? An adventure? A pain in the neck? The appeal of the past, the magic of marvellous sites, the boredom of a dusty museum? Probably all of these together, and still more.

Up until July 31st 2015, all European citizens can answer the question and tell us about their idea of archaeology by entering a drawing, painting, photo or video in the European competition “You(r) Archaeology”.

Further details...

History in the making as first dig at Halton Castle in nearly 30 years announced

2015-04-16T17:09:00.001+02:00

Halton Castle is to host its first archaeological dig in nearly 30 years and residents have been invited to take part.

More than 50 archaeology fans packed into a Runcorn church hall on Tuesday night to find out details about the first excavation at Halton Castle in nearly 30 years.

The dig is due to take place in July and will give residents a chance to take part in uncovering the secrets hidden beneath the soil.

St Mary’s Church Hall on Castle Road hosted the meeting.

Participants will receive basic training under the guidance of professional archaeologists from Salford University.

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Richard III DNA tests uncover evidence of further royal scandal

2015-03-26T16:57:00.001+01:00

Latest genetic tests reveal another break in the male line, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the entire House of Plantagenet

When scientists revealed last year that an adulterous affair had apparently broken the male line in Richard III’s family tree, they vowed to investigate further.

But rather than clear up the mystery, their latest genetic tests have uncovered evidence of another royal sex scandal. This time, the indiscretion could potentially undermine the legitimacy of the entire House of Plantagenet.

The skeleton of Richard III, the last Plantagenet king, was discovered under a car park in Leicester in 2012. His identity was confirmed through his mitochondrial DNA, passed down through the maternal line from his sister to two relatives alive today.

But further DNA tests soon uncovered evidence of a family secret. It emerged when researchers at Leicester University compared the Y chromosomes of Richard III and five anonymous male relatives of Henry Somerset (1744-1803), who claim descent from Edward III, the great great grandfather of Richard III.

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Richard III returns to Bosworth Field for final time

2015-03-23T20:07:00.001+01:00

The last time Richard III was at Bosworth Field the outcome proved less than satisfactory for the King.

The battle, which was the last significant skirmish in the War of the Roses, saw Richard not only lose the English throne but also his life.

According to contemporaneous accounts, the dead monarch was stripped naked, slung over a horse and led back to Leicester, his skull banging against Bow Bridge as it was brought into the city. He was the last English king to die in battle.

Today Richard will have a more dignified entrance to Leicester when his body returns in ceremony within a custom-made coffin, borne on a gun carriage.

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Medieval battle site yields UK’s oldest cannon ball

2015-02-23T19:48:00.001+01:00

A lead ball found at a medieval battle site could be the oldest surviving cannonball in England, an expert says.

The lead cannon ball is believed to have bounced at least twice and possibly hit a tree [Credit: Northampton Battlefield Society]

The damaged ball was found at the site of the Battle of Northampton fought during the War of the Roses.

Medieval artillery expert Dr Glenn Foard said: "It is highly likely the projectile was fired during the battle [10 July 1460]."

It will be revealed to the public at a Northampton hotel in Eagle Drive close to the battlefield on Thursday night.

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New film footage reveals potential 'killer blow' to King Richard III

2015-02-23T19:44:00.001+01:00

New film footage revealing for the first time details of the potential killer blow that claimed the life of King Richard III has been released by the University of Leicester.

The sequence - showing the dramatic injury to the base of the skull as well as the inside of the top of the skull - is part of a package of films charting the scientific and archaeological investigations led by the project team from the University of Leicester.

It is among 26 sequences taken by University video producer Carl Vivian who is chronicling the key events in the Discovery, Science and Reburial of the last Plantagenet king. These sequences are accessible to the media by contacting Carl Vivian (details below).

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Viarmes retrouve son château médiéval

2015-02-23T19:27:00.001+01:00

Dans le cadre de l'aménagement de la place de la mairie de Viarmes, une fouille archéologique a été prescrite en 2013. Les fouilles ont permis de mieux comprendre l'origine du centre ancien de Viarmes en révélant les vestiges oubliés d'un château médiéval et d'un manoir seigneurial détruit au XIV^e siècle.

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Mysterious medieval fortifications buried in Poland detected with advanced imaging technology

2015-01-18T10:49:00.001+01:00

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of unknown medieval fortifications which may indicate the presence of Hussite clashes near a small village in Poland.

Discovered buried in wooded foothills near the village of Bieździadka in south-eastern Poland, the site was examined by archaeologists Joanna Pilszyk and Piotr Szmyd. Based on the report fromScience and Scholarship in Poland (PAP), the fortifications were discovered underground using sophisticated laser detection and aerial mapping.

The fort is to have sat on top of a plateau with steep sides, the sheer slope and height of over two meters (6.5 feet) naturally protecting the stronghold. Moats were believed to surround the site, and high fences or palisades are likely to have run along the perimeter. The age of the fort is not known, but researchers say it was probably built during the Middle Ages.

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"Extremely lucky" archaeologists find evidence of 15th century settlement near Northern Irish castle

2015-01-16T17:17:00.001+01:00

Scientific dating leads archaeologists to "extremely exciting" early settlement near ruined 13th century castle

A post-excavation shot of the late 15th or early 16th century structure found near Dunluce Castle, showing the doorway in the corner

Archaeologists searching for a lost 17th century town say the remains of a fireplace, found in a field near a medieval Irish coastal castle, was part of a previously unknown settlement which could have been established 200 years earlier.

Radiocarbon dating from the clay floor of a structure, discovered by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, suggests an earlier community could have lived in Dunluce during the late 15th and 16th centuries.

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Archéologie du château de Rodemack, la place-forte aux trois frontières

2015-01-12T18:41:00.001+01:00

Les archéologues de l’Inrap fouillent le château de Rodemack, sur prescription de l’État (Drac Lorraine), dans le cadre de sa réhabilitation par la Communauté de communes de Cattenom et environs. Après une opération de quatre mois en 2013, cette seconde campagne de fouille qui démarre, durera jusqu’en octobre 2014. Elle concerne plusieurs zones du château, rénové au XIX^e siècle, notamment son noyau originel des XII^e-XIII^e siècles, sur une emprise de 7 500 m². Place-forte très convoitée, le château de Rodemack est implanté près de trois frontières, celles du duché du Luxembourg, des pays germaniques et du duché de Lorraine. L’archéologie permet de renouveler son histoire et de retracer notamment son riche passé militaire.

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Richard III's DNA throws up infidelity surprise

2014-12-03T09:09:00.001+01:00

Analysis of DNA from Richard III has thrown up a surprise: evidence of infidelity in his family tree.

Scientists who studied genetic material from remains found in a Leicester car park say the finding might have profound historical implications.

Depending on where in the family tree it occurred, it could cast doubt on the Tudor claim to the English throne or, indeed, on Richard's.

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

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Richard III DNA shows British Royal family may not have royal bloodline

2014-12-03T09:07:00.002+01:00

When the body of Richard III was discovered in a car park in Leicester in 2012 archaeologists knew it was a momentous find.

But little did they realise that it might expose the skeletons in the cupboard of the British aristocracy, and even call into question the bloodline of the Royal family.

In order to prove that the skeleton really was Richard III, scientists needed to take a DNA sample and match it to his descendants.

Genetic testing through his maternal DNA proved conclusively that the body was the King. However, when they checked the male line they discovered something odd. The DNA did not match showing that at some point in history an adulterous affair had broken the paternal chain.

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Questions raised over Queen’s ancestry after DNA test on Richard III’s cousins

2014-12-03T09:03:00.001+01:00

Kevin Schurer and Turi King of the University of Leicester explain that a DNA analysis and other evidence confirms with almost 100% certainty that the bones are those of King Richard III. Video: University of Leicester

The bones of the king under the car park have delivered further shocks, 527 years after his death and more than two years after his remains were discovered in Leicester: Richard III was a blue-eyed blond, and the present Queen may not be descended from John of Gaunt and Edward III, the lineage on which the Tudor claim to the throne originated.

Five anonymous living donors, all members of the extended family of the present Duke of Beaufort, who claim descent from both the Plantagenets and Tudors through the children of John of Gaunt, gave DNA samples which should have matched Y chromosomes extracted from Richard’s bones. But none did.

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EMAS Easter Study Tour to North Scotland and the Isle of Skye

2014-12-01T14:56:00.001+01:00

EMAS Easter Study Tour to North Scotland

and the Isle of Skye

2 - 8 April 2015

The 2015 EMAS Easter Study Tour is to the North of Scotland, including one day on the Isle of Skye.

We will travel from London Embankment by coach, staying overnight at Carlisle on the 2nd and 7th April.

We shall be based at a hotel in Inverness, which is a very good central point from which to explore the region.

The itinerary includes a wide range of prehistoric and medieval sites, including some of the famous Pictish symbol stones.

Click Here for full details of this study tour...

Engineers found Teutonic axes in the Forest District Wipsowo

2014-09-22T15:09:00.001+02:00

Three Teutonic battle axes from the late Middle Ages have been found by engineers who remove World War II artillery shells left the forests in the Forest District Wipsowo (Warmia and Mazury). Historic weapons will be donated to the museum.

Engineers stumbled upon the historic axes by chance, while searching the woods metal detectors. The weapons have been initially identified by an archaeologist as late-medieval Teutonic battle axes.

Iron axes were close to each other, shallow underground, among the roots of trees. "It can be assumed that this is a deposit that someone left for better times. Perhaps the person fled, hid the weapons and never returned to this place" - told PAP Agata Trzop-Szczypiorska, responsible for archaeological supervision of the engineers’ work.

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