Medieval Warfare Blog

Archaeology Courses at the Oxford Experience 2012

2012-01-27T12:33:00.001+01:00

The Oxford Experience SummerSchool

1 July to 11 August 2012

The 2012 Oxford Experience Programme is now online.

The Oxford Experience is a residentialsummer school held at the college of Christ Church, University of Oxford.

The programme consists of 6 weeks of coursesand participants attend for one or more weeks.
It offers a choice of twelve seminars eachweek over a period of five weeks. Participants do not need any formalqualifications to take part, just an interest in their chosen subject and adesire to meet like-minded people.

You can also find details ofthe various archaeology courses offered at Oxford Experience here...

University of Oxford Online Archaeology Courses

2011-12-17T17:50:00.001+01:00

Enrolment is now open for the following University of Oxford online courses in archaeology:
Archaeology of the Bible Lands (Online)
Exploring Roman Britain (Online)
Greek Mythology (Online)
Origins of Human Behaviour (Online)
Ritual and Religion in Prehistory (Online)
Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers (Online)

Historical probe after Stirling Castle landslide

2011-12-15T22:31:00.001+01:00

A section of wall below Stirling Castle that collapsed last week is now the subject of an archaeological investigation.

The wall was on a steep bank above the Butt Well and had been built to retain garden terraces created in the 1490s.

Archaeologists are using the collapse as an opportunity to investigate fragments of one of Scotland's oldest gardens, made for James IV.

Members of Stirling Local History Society (SLHS) are leading the work.

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Violent knights feared posttraumatic stress

2011-12-08T09:26:00.001+01:00

Medieval knights are often depicted as bloodthirsty men who enjoyed killing. But that is a completely wrong picture, new research shows.

The knights did not kill just because they wanted to, but because it was their job – precisely like soldiers today. Nor were the Middle Ages as violent as we think, despite their different perception of violence compared to ours.

“Modern military psychology enables us to read medieval texts in a new way – giving us insight into the perception of violence in the Middle Ages in the general population and the use of lethal violence by knights,” says Thomas Heebøll-Holm of the SAXO Institute at the University of Copenhagen, who researches the perception of violence in the late Middle Ages.

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Archaeology Courses at the Oxford Experience 2012

2011-10-23T17:40:00.001+02:00

1 July to 11 August 2012

The 2012 Oxford Experience Programme is now online.

The Oxford Experience is aresidential summer school held at the college of Christ Church, University ofOxford.

The programme consists of 6weeks of courses and participants attend for one or more weeks.

It offers a choice of twelveseminars each week over a period of five weeks. Participants do not need anyformal qualifications to take part, just an interest in their chosen subjectand a desire to meet like-minded people.

You can also find details ofthe various archaeology courses offered at Oxford Experience here...

Archaeology works start at heritage centre site

2011-10-06T15:51:00.001+02:00

ARCHAEOLOGISTS have begun preliminary investigations at the site of the new Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre.

Focused on the car park in the area of the proposed new centre, the dig hopes to uncover evidence of the ancient Roman road which is thought to travel through the site.

Derek Alexander, head of archaeological services at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Prior to the 1950s, this land was agricultural fields and earlier archaeological features may survive below the tarmac.

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Nevern Castle ancient inscriptions to 'ward off evil'

2011-10-04T13:01:00.001+02:00

Experts believe rare 12th Century slate inscriptions found on a castle were probably made to protect against evil.

The dozen scratchings were uncovered during a three-week excavation at Nevern in Pembrokeshire.
Archaeologists think the stars and other designs were made by a serf, labourer or soldier some time between 1170 and 1190 when the castle was built.

They say they also give an insight into the beliefs of medieval working men.

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Archaeologists dig test pits at Bannockburn ahead of new battlefield visitor centre

2011-10-03T17:57:00.001+02:00

The work to improve the visitor experience and interpretation at one of Scotland’s most important historic sites took a step closer today as archaeologists began digging test pits on the site of the proposed new visitor centre at the Bannockburn battlefield site.

Due to open in 2014 in time for the 700th anniversary of the battle, the new centre will enhance the presentation and interpretation of the major clash of arms that saw the armies of Robert the Bruce defeat the English army of Edward II.

The victory in June 1314 paved the way for Scottish independence and strengthened the position of the Bruce as king of Scotland.

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July issue of BBC History Magazine features the Crusades

2011-07-27T19:03:00.000+02:00

BBC History Magazine, a leading monthly periodical on all things history, features an article about the Crusades and Christian-Muslim medieval interaction. “Traders and Crusaders”, by Thomas Asbridge of Queen Mary University of London, examines how relations between Europe and the Islamic Middle East “were about more than war and hatred.”

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Heavy Metal Hardens Battle

2011-07-24T15:50:00.000+02:00

The French may have had a better chance at the Battle of Agincourt had they not been weighed down by heavy body armour, say researchers.

A study published July 19 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that soldiers carrying armour in Medieval times would have been using more than twice the amount of energy had they not been wearing it. This is the first clear experimental evidence of the limitations of wearing Medieval armour on a soldier's performance.

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Digging into Henry V111's defences

2011-07-18T13:36:00.000+02:00

Archaeologists are about to start excavating the site of a blockhouse thought to have been built by Henry VIII on the Angle Peninsula to defend against French invasion.

Clinging to the edge of a sea cliff in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the blockhouse is a crumbling reminder of a bitter feud between Britain and France.

It was probably built as part of Henry VIII’s coastal defences after his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, when Britain was left politically isolated by a treaty between France and Spain – and the King was determined to defend his country from attack.

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Key keeper sought for 12th Century castle near Bridgend

2011-07-06T14:31:00.000+02:00

A key keeper is being sought to take care of a 12th Century castle in south Wales.

Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, needs someone to look after Newcastle, near Bridgend.

The post, which comes with a "modest" fee, involves checking the monument on a daily basis and keeping it free of litter.

The key keeper will also report any damage, vandalism or anti-social behaviour at the site.

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Discoveries at a Templar abbey in Ireland

2011-07-04T18:50:00.000+02:00

Mourne Abbey in County Cork, Ireland, has been the focus of an archaeological excavation to discover more about the history of this medieval religious center.

The abbey was built around 1199 by the Knights Templar. After the rulers of Europe turned on the Templars and destroyed the order in 1307, resulting in 700 years of conspiracy theories, the abbey was handed over to the Knights Hospitaller. This knightly order got its name because its original purpose was to care for sick pilgrims in Jerusalem after the First Crusade, but soon they acquired more land and more power to become one of the leading forces in the Holy Land and Europe. They owned some of the toughest castles in the world.

Their power waned after the Muslims reconquered the Holy Land but the order still exists today. The abbey was abandoned when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries as part of his break from Rome in 1541. It has since fallen into picturesque ruin.

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Oystermouth Castle discovery exceeds expectations

2011-06-15T19:48:00.000+02:00

Remnants of an ornate medieval painting dating back to the 14th century have been discovered at Swansea's Oystermouth Castle.The surviving painting is thought to be over 700 years old and was spotted during conservation work in the historic attraction's chapel area.

Exposure to the elements has taken its toll on the painting over time but expert Cadw analysis suggests it's a double-arched canopy that contains the figures of angels.

Some of the clear elements of the painting that remain include a wing with multiple feathers and circular shapes that form a head with yellow hair surrounded by a nimbus.

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Cadw to undertake Denbigh Castle revamp

2011-06-14T18:30:00.000+02:00

Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government's historic environment agency, has confirmed that it is to undertake an upgrade of Denbigh Castle, which will feature a new visitor centre.

A total of £600,000 will be invested in the overhaul of the North Wales attraction as part of Cadw's £19m Heritage Tourism Project, which has received European Union support.

In addition to the new purpose-built visitor centre, town wall walks are to be opened up and the presentation and interpretation of the property improved.

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The Tower and the Household

2011-06-12T16:24:00.000+02:00

6th August 2011 - 7th August 2011

This conference, the second in the Towers series, shares new research from throughout northern Europe, and addresses both the most fundamental and most neglected aspect of towers – namely how were they used and how did that change?

Further information...

Stones stolen from Nunney Castle in Somerset

2011-06-11T16:16:00.000+02:00

Vandals have removed more than 30 coping stones from the perimeter wall of a castle.

The 14th century Nunney Castle in Somerset was targeted sometime this week, the parish council said.

It is not known what happened to the stones, but it is thought they might have been thrown into the moat.

Parish councillor Jeremy Gaunt said while a few stones had disappeared in the past, thefts had been nothing on this scale.

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Revamped Stirling Castle reopens

2011-06-05T17:51:00.000+02:00

The royal palace at Stirling Castle has reopened following a £12 million refurbishment to restore it to its 16th century glory.

More than five years of research has gone into the restoration project, to return the palace to the way it would have looked during the 1540s when it was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, after it was built for her parents James V and Mary of Guise.

The revamp includes four giant tapestries and the installation of replicas of the Stirling Heads, carvings which date from after 1530.

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Environmental Crusaders

2011-05-31T10:09:00.000+02:00

How Medieval Knights remade Poland’s ecosystems

In 1280, victorious Teutonic Crusaders began building the world’s largest castle on a hill overlooking the River Nogat in what is now northern Poland. Malbork Castle became the hub of a powerful Teutonic state that crushed its pagan enemies and helped remake Medieval Europe. Now, ancient pollen samples show that in addition to converting heathens to Christians, the Crusaders also converted vast swathes of Medieval forests to farmlands.

In the early-13th century, Prussian tribes living in the south-eastern Baltic became a thorn in the side of the Monastic State of Teutonic Knights, which was formed in 1224 in what is now Germany and Poland. To remove the thorn, and protect Christian converts in the region, the Teutonic Order launched a series of crusades. By the 14th century, the conquests had produced a state that ruled over more than 220,000 people, Alex Brown and Aleks Pluskowski of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom report in the Journal of Archeological Science, including new colonists who settled into fortified towns and castles.

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Stirling Castle skeletons show signs of brutal death

2011-05-29T12:24:00.000+02:00

Tests on the medieval skeletons of five people found buried at Stirling Castle have suggested they suffered "brutally violent" deaths.

Their remains were found along with those of four others during renovations of the castle's royal palace.

Scientists used radiocarbon dating to determine the nine people died between the 13th and 15th Centuries.

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Stirling Castle's Amazon warrior revealed

2011-05-29T12:18:00.000+02:00

THE discovery of the remains of an aristocratic Scottish "Amazon", killed in battle during the Wars of Independence, is set to rewrite the history books.

Her skeleton was among the remains of five "high status" individuals - all of whom had suffered violent deaths - found beneath the paved floor of the "lost" Royal Chapel at Stirling Castle.

The woman - simply known as "skeleton 539" - was a robust and muscular female, standing 5ft 4in tall. Archaeologists had previously suspected she had been a courtier at the Royal palace during the reign of Alexander 11. But detailed forensic tests have now shown that she was ruthlessly killed by a warhammer during one of the key conflicts during the Wars of Independence.

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Archaeology volunteers uncover ‘lost’ castle

2011-05-21T17:26:00.000+02:00

A castle that was once one of the most important buildings in the North Pennines and the gateway to the Bishop of Durham’s great deer park of Stanhope, is now revealing its secrets after centuries as a forgotten ruin.

Fifty volunteers from the North Pennines AONB Partnership’s Altogether Archaeology and backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage are busy uncovering the ruins of Westgate Castle in Weardale.

From the 13th until the early 17th century, Westgate Castle served as the ‘west gate’ into the Bishop of Durham’s great deer park, and functioned as an administrative headquarters for the Bishop’s extensive estate encompassing the Old Forest of Weardale.

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Hole in the head: How medieval soldiers survived after battle thanks to early day brain surgery

2011-04-11T19:56:00.001+02:00

A massive haul of bones discovered in a medieval graveyard has given an insight into the medical capabilities of people 1,500 years ago.

The skeletons, found in central Italy, show that many soldiers buried close to one another survived after suffering blows to the head with maces and battle axes.

There are signs of medical interventions with one man going on to live despite having a two inch hole in his head, probably caused by a Byzantine mace.

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Farnham Castle appoints New Chief Executive

2011-04-11T19:51:00.000+02:00

Farnham Castle has today announced the appointment of Phil Hackett as its new chief executive. Hackett takes over from Jim Twiss, the former chief executive at the Castle for ten years, who retired last month.

Previously Hackett has worked for some of the country’s finest cultural icons; having managed and promoted over 500 destinations and attractions including museums, galleries, sculpture parks, historic abbeys, castles, stately homes, heritage sites, ancient monuments; World Heritage Sites & areas of outstanding natural beauty. He joins Farnham Castle from Shakespeare Country, the tourist board for Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Kenilworth, the Cotswolds and the quintessential English market towns and villages in the Heart of England, where he was chief executive for over three years.

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Visitor centre planned for Denbigh Castle

2011-03-23T13:36:00.000+01:00

A new visitor facility is to be created at Denbigh Castle, North Wales, after plans to improve the attraction's tourist experience received £600,000 from Cadw.

The funding has been made available through the agency's £19m Heritage Tourism Project, which is supported by £8.5m of European Union investment.

Plans for Denbigh Castle will also incorporate the opening up of wall walks, enhancements to the site's interpretation and upgraded links with Denbigh's wider historic landscape.

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Medieval castle tower to be opened up to the public for the first time

2011-03-22T16:20:00.000+01:00

THE last-standing remains of a medieval castle in Lincolnshire will be opened up to the public for the first time.

The South Kyme Tower once formed one of the four corners of a castle, which was built on a Saxon site.

It is believed that the 14th century castle was once visited by Robin Hood and was built by a knight whose signature is on the Magna Carta.

The tower stands on private land and for years has been closed.

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Mass graves to shed light on Britain's bloodiest battle

2011-03-21T12:37:00.000+01:00

More than 28,000 died at Towton, but the Tudors' PR machine almost wiped it from history. Until now...

It was one of the biggest and probably the bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. Such was its ferocity almost 1 per cent of the English population was wiped out in a single day. Yet mention the Battle of Towton to most people and you would probably get a blank stare.

Next week marks the 550th anniversary of the engagement that changed the course of the Wars of the Roses. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 80,000 soldiers took part in the battle in 1461 between the Houses of York and Lancaster for control of the English throne. An estimated 28,000 men are said to have lost their lives.

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13th Century castle badly damaged after fire

2011-03-12T18:24:00.000+01:00

A 13th Century Scottish castle has been badly damaged after a fire broke out in its clock tower, its owners have confirmed.

About 50 firefighters battled the blaze at Blair Castle in Pitlochry, Perthshire, on Thursday evening and averted a “near catastrophe” by preventing it spreading to the main building.

Using breathing apparatus, they fought the fire for 90 minutes but had to withdraw when the 19th century roof of the clock tower collapsed.

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Stirling Castle's 16th Century defences unearthed

2011-03-02T19:45:00.000+01:00

Archaeologists have found fragments of Stirling Castle's 16th Century outer defences.

The discovery was made during work to extend the castle's main shop and ticket office.

Historic Scotland said the find would help establish exactly where the defences stood.

European experts are believed to have been used to apply the latest Italian military engineering techniques at the castle in the 1540s.

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Giant step for Raglan Castle

2011-02-22T15:57:00.000+01:00

VISITORS to Raglan Castle can see its 'hokey cokey' staircase for the first time in more than 20 years, following restoration work.

The 15th Century grand staircase, once used by the guests of the Earl of Pembroke, has been restored at Raglan Castle. The staircase, nicknamed the Hokey-Cokey staircase because it was removed and put back at least three times over 550 years, took nearly a year to complete as part of a major conservation project carried out by Cadw.

The castle’s curator, Jill Cale, said: "It has been closed for more than 20 years so it’s fantastic to see that section of the castle open to the public again."

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Your Favourite Archaeological Sites in Europe

2011-01-14T18:34:00.000+01:00

Which sites in Europe have you most enjoyed visiting? A new Archaeology in Europe website allows you to post descriptions and photos of archaeological sites that you have visited, and to give ratings and comments for sites that are already in the database.

The site is very much in its infancy at the moment, and I would welcome contributions and feedback. It is envisaged that the site will grow into a useful source of up to date information for those planning to visit sites in Europe.

You can find the site at: archaeologyineurope.phile.com.

The site runs on Phile – a brilliant application developed by Mike Schiff and Sho Kuwamoto. Phile can be best described as a combination of an online database and a social network site, and it allows people with similar interests to share much more detailed information than the usual social network sites.

I am sure that Phile has tremendous potential for archaeological societies, fieldwork studies and other work groups. Take a look at phile.com.

HLF confirms Sandsfoot Castle funding

2011-01-13T14:02:00.000+01:00

Efforts to restore Sandsfoot Castle near Weymouth, Dorset, have been handed a boost after receiving £194,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) and the Friends of Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Garden are working on the scheme to preserve the historic structure.

The HLF grant will be used to repair the castle and to provide a new walk platform around the interior walls to enable public access for the first time in years.

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Tower of London calls in team of scientists to investigate mysterious Medieval wall painting

2011-01-13T09:20:00.000+01:00

The Tower of London has allowed scientists to use eye-scanning software and infrared laser technology on a mystery Medieval wall painting which has baffled curators at the royal landmark.

A team led by Nottingham Trent University’s Dr Haida Liang used a portable Optical Coherence Tomographer, which allows them to see layers beneath the surface of paintings, and multispectral scanning – known as PRISMS – to investigate areas of the 14th century Byward Tower wall painting.

“This is an incredibly rare Medieval wall painting of extremely high quality,” said Building Curator Jane Spooner.

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Welsh castles 'more popular than Buckingham Palace'

2011-01-13T09:19:00.000+01:00

Premier League, Scotland and Stonehenge rate highly in poll of potential overseas visitors

They are more than 700 years old, and built to pacify the unruly – but the castles of Wales could soon be letting down the drawbridge for thousands of foreign tourists, particularly from Poland, Russia, Italy and Germany if a poll of more than 10,000 potential overseas visitors proves correct.

A combination of Prince William being based in north Wales and what may be an untapped market for the remains of Edward I's "iron ring" of fortresses is raising prospects of a tourist invasion in an area that currently attracts only a miniscule proportion of visitors to the UK.

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Chirk Castle's medieval guards appeal

2011-01-11T11:10:00.000+01:00

It may be 700 years since the last major recruitment drive but custodians of a castle near Wrexham are looking for medieval soldiers.

Chirk Castle keepers have appealed for more volunteers to swell the ranks of guards who dress up to greet visitors.

Joanne Jones, a visitors' manager, said: "We're looking for enthusiastic people who have a love of history."

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Popular Archaeology Magazine Launched

2010-12-29T21:28:00.000+01:00

Popular Archaeology magazine is a 100% online periodical dedicated to participatory, or public, archaeology. Unlike most other major magazines related to archaeology, no paper copies will ever be produced and distributed, so it will always be "green", and it will always be less costly to produce and therefore far less costly to purchase by premium subscribers (although regular subscriptions are always free). Most of our writers and contributors are either professionals or top experts in their fields, or are individuals relating first-hand experiences; however, the magazine is unique among other archaeology-related magazines in that it makes it easy to invite and encourage members of the public (YOU) to submit pertinent articles, blogs, events, directory listings, and classified ads for publication. As a volunteer or student, do you have a fascinating story to tell about an archaeological experience? As a professional archaeologist, scholar, educator, or scientist, do you have a discovery, program or project that you think would be of interest to the world? Do you have an archaeology-related service or item for sale? Would you like to have your archaeology-related blog post featured on the front page? ( Ad and specially featured item prices are lower than what you will find in any other major archaeology magazine). Through Popular Archaeology, you can realize all of these things. Moreover, because the content is produced by a very broad spectrum of contributors, you will see more feature articles than what you would typically find in the major print publications, with the same content quality.

As a community of professionals, writers, students, and volunteers, we invite you to join us as subscribers in this adventure of archaeological discovery. It could open up a whole new world for you.

Read the magazine...

First bullets ever fired in battle found in Yorkshire

2010-12-03T09:13:00.001+01:00

Evidence of the first use of firearms on a British battlefield nearly 550 years ago has been uncovered.

Bronze barrel fragments and very early lead shot were unearthed by a metal detectorist at the site of the 1461 battle of Towton in Yorkshire.

The clash between Lancastrian king Henry VI and England’s first Yorkist king, Edward IV, during the Wars of the Roses, has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest ever fought.

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Pictures: Medieval Cave Tunnels Revealed as Never Before

2010-12-02T14:01:00.000+01:00

Carved from sandstone, the dungeon (foreground) beneath England's Nottingham Castle (top)—scanned in 3-D via lasers—is superimposed on an image of the aboveground buildings.

The pictures were created as part of the ongoing Nottingham Caves Survey, which began in March and intends to use the scans to help safeguard the man-made caves from "development, erosion, and ignorance," survey leader David Walker said. "We can compare future scans with current scans to see whether change has taken place."

For centuries, Nottingham residents have taken advantage of the stable yet pliable sandstone beneath the city, carving everything from holding pens to World War II air raid shelters to beer cellars (some still in use).

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Site of Britain's first ever gunbattle revealed

2010-12-02T14:00:00.000+01:00

Archaeologists believe they have found evidence of the first use of firearms on a British battlefield after fragments of shattered guns were unearthed on a site that saw one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil.

The bronze barrel fragments and a very early lead shot were discovered by a metal detectorist working closely with a team that has been trying to unlock the secrets of the 1461 battle of Towton, in Yorkshire, northern England.

The battle, fought over the throne between Lancastrian King Henry VI and England's first Yorkist king, Edward IV during the War of the Roses, has gone down in history as the bloodiest ever fought on the island.

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Underground tunnel discovered by archaeologists at Lincoln Castle

2010-11-27T16:34:00.000+01:00

A PREVIOUSLY unknown underground tunnel has been discovered at Lincoln Castle.

Archaeologists uncovered the medieval structure during exploratory work at ground level prior to the installation of a lift that would take people on to the castle walls.

The tunnel, which is linked to a circular room or structure, was uncovered by Lincoln Cathedral archaeologist Dr Philip Dixon and is fast becoming the talk among archaeologists and history buffs.

County archaeologist Beryl Lott described it as an exciting and unique discovery.

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Online Courses in Archaeology with the University of Oxford

2010-09-21T15:29:00.000+02:00

Cave paintings, castles and pyramids, Neanderthals, Romans and Vikings - archaeology is about the excitement of discovery, finding out about our ancestors, exploring landscape through time, piecing together puzzles of the past from material remains.

Our courses enable you to experience all this through online archaeological resources based on primary evidence from excavations and artefacts and from complex scientific processes and current thinking. Together with guided reading, discussion and activities you can experience how archaeologists work today to increase our knowledge of people and societies from the past.

View the courses available this term...

Medieval history in the making

2010-07-25T13:21:00.000+02:00

Eleven years ago, John Lichfield witnessed the birth of Château de Guédelon, the 13th-century castle being built by hand in modern day France. This week he went back to see how work is progressing

It is the year 1241. Good King Louis XI is on the throne of France. The son of Bad King John, "average" King Henry III is on the throne of England and struggling, as ever, against his revolting barons. Medievally speaking, we are in a prosperous and peaceful period. There is a brief lull between two crusades. The Black Death is still a century away.

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Medieval prison’s future as an attraction

2010-07-25T13:20:00.000+02:00

A historic prison which has operated in a castle for centuries looks set to close.

Lancaster Castle, parts of which date back to the 12th century, is thought to be the only prison and court still operating in a medieval castle.

But the building in the city centre is also a popular tourist destination and theatre venue, which is said to have become outdated and too expensive to maintain.

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2,200 'knights' reenact medieval battle in Poland

2010-07-18T22:43:00.000+02:00

Some 2,200 "knights" from across Europe donned suits of armour, flowing capes and linen shirts on Sunday to reenact one of medieval Europe's bloodiest battles.The Battle of Grunwald, which took place 600 years ago, still raises emotions among Poles and Lithuanians, who it as a symbol of national pride.

The nights sweat it out during the hour-long reenactment held in a meadow at the village of Grunwald, northern Poland, where Poles, Lithuanians and Tatars united to defeat invading Teutonic Knights in 1410. The spectacle drew 100,000 tourists, leading to traffic jams several miles long and several serious car accidents, the Polish Press Agency PAP reported.

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Nevern Castle dig unearths tower block

2010-06-27T20:12:00.001+02:00

Exciting excavations at Nevern Castle recently unearthed what is thought to be the largest group of 12th century buildings in Pembrokeshire.

The third season of excavations were directed by Dr Chris Caple from Durham University, supported by national park archaeologist Peter Crane.

The team also included students from Durham and Lampeter University and volunteers from Cardigan, Newport and Nevern.

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National Treasure

2010-05-26T16:54:00.000+02:00

A silver boar badge dropped in the mud on a Leicestershire battlefield more than 500 years ago has been officially declared treasure.

Historians believe the tiny emblem fell from a knight's tunic as he foughtalongside Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.

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Stirling Castle knight revealed as English nobleman

2010-05-22T17:48:00.000+02:00

A skeleton discovered at Stirling Castle may have been an English knight who died in the 14th Century.

Sir John de Stricheley died in 1341, when the English held the castle.

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Stirling Castle skeleton warrior to be revealed in BBC2 History Cold Case

2010-05-21T00:06:00.001+02:00

The identity of a sword-swinging War of Independence warrior whose executed skeleton was discovered buried in a forgotten chapel at Stirling Castle 13 years ago is set to be revealed this week in a BBC investigation using the latest scientific tests.

BBC Two's History Cold Case has reconstructed the face of the Medieval Knight after archaeologists found his bludgeoned body in a mass grave of 10 skeletons thought to have been slaughtered in a siege during the Anglo-Scottish wars of the late 13th and 14th centuries.

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Face of medieval knight reconstructed by computers

2010-05-21T00:04:00.000+02:00

The face of a medieval knight who was killed 700 years ago has been revealed through state-of-the-art forensic techniques.

The mysterious skeleton was uncovered along with nine other people's remains underneath a chapel at Stirling Castle in 1997.

It is not known whether the man, who was killed during Scotland's Wars of Independence, is English, Scottish or even French, due to the fact the castle changed hands several times.

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Carlisle Castle's decade dig is completed

2010-05-04T15:26:00.000+02:00

An internationally important archaeological dig in Carlisle has unearthed rare articulated armour and a nit comb, with a louse still in it.

The dig, which took place over a decade in front of Carlisle Castle, has uncovered about 80,000 Roman artefacts.

The evidence provides Carlisle with almost 2,000 years of documented history.

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Laser to scan Robin Hood's prison under Nottingham city

2010-04-20T17:10:00.000+02:00

dungeon believed to have housed Robin Hood when he was caught by the Sheriff of Nottingham is to be surveyed using a laser.

It is part of a major project to explore every cave in Nottingham.

Robin Hood is believed to have been held captive in an oubliette (underground dungeon) located at what is now the Galleries of Justice.

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Battle of Prestonpans took place 'further east'

2010-04-20T08:22:00.001+02:00

A report has claimed that the Battle of Prestonpans actually took place 500 metres (0.3 miles) further east than previously thought.

A team from the University of Glasgow's Centre for Battlefield Archaeology (Guard) has been working in the area over the last 18 months.

It said the main area of attack happened further east towards Seton, not south of Cockenzie Power Station.

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Archaeological investigation to take place for Nottingham's Robin Hood Month

2010-04-20T08:21:00.000+02:00

The Galleries of Justice in Nottingham is holding a special archaeological investigation into the dungeons under Shire Hall.

Experts from Trent and Peak Archaeology, based at the University of Nottingham, have started laser scanning in the hope of discovering exactly when these mysterious dungeons were first carved out of the sandstone rock.

"Now is the time to uncover the mystery that surrounds this grim and eerie space and link the site to Nottingham's most famous outlaw," declared Tim Desmond, Chief Executive of the Galleries of Justice Museum.

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Social Networks for Archaeology

2010-04-18T12:33:00.002+02:00

The power and importance of social networks are growing all the time, not least in the field of archaeology.

I thought that it would be useful to compile a list of these sites for archaeology. The list as it stands at the moment can be found here….

Obviously, this list is very incomplete at the moment, so if you know of any archaeological social network site that should be added, please give details on the form here…

New gallery at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre reveals secrets behind Tudor scrap

2010-04-16T16:06:00.001+02:00

Two months after the exact location of the bloody 15th century battle which killed King Richard III was officially identified, a new gallery at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre will divulge how experts pinpointed the fatal field alongside a deadly display of weapons and ammunition.

Historians had spent decades debating the true location where Henry Tudor and King Richard clashed on August 22 1485, but a groundbreaking metal detecting survey named the previously unsuspected Fenn Lane field as the definitive spot.

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New Bosworth Battlefield gallery opens

2010-04-16T16:05:00.001+02:00

Leicestershire County Council (LCC) has officially unveiled a new gallery at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre,Sutton Cheney, near Market Bosworth.

The attraction boasts a range of archaeological objects uncovered at the nearby 15th century battlefield site, which was the scene for the penultimate battle of the War of the Roses in 1485.

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Bosworth battle gallery to open

2010-04-16T16:04:00.000+02:00

A new gallery showcasing objects from a 15th Century battlefield site is opening in Leicestershire.

The display at the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre will display artillery and bullets from the actual battle.

It shows how archaeologists found the true location of the conflict, centuries after it happened.

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Launch of the Online Froissart provides digital access to famous medieval chronicle

2010-04-10T18:40:00.001+02:00

A unique website showcasing virtual manuscripts chronicling the Hundred Years´ War was launched online this month thanks to the work of academics from the universities of Sheffield and Liverpool.

The website, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) will offer more than 100 transcriptions from the renowned Chronicles of Jehan Froissart, which provide a unique account of the epic battle between the English and the French.

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Illegal metal detecting crackdown

2010-03-18T14:49:00.000+01:00

Archaeologists are to team up with police in a bid to crack down on illegal metal detecting in Norfolk.

Norfolk has the highest number of recovered artefacts in the country declared treasure and a successful long-established working relationship with legitimate metal- detecting enthusiasts.

There were 109 cases of items found in Norfolk being declared treasure in 2008-09. Recent finds include a hoard of 24 Henry III short-cross pennies in Breckland, and an early Saxon gold spangle from south Norfolk.

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University of Oxford Online Courses in Archaeology

2010-03-12T16:42:00.001+01:00

Exploring Roman Britain (starts April 2010)

Origins of Human Behaviour (starts April 2010)

Pompeii and the Cities of the Roman World (starts May 2010)

Ritual and Religion in Prehistory (starts April 2010)

Vikings: Raiders, Traders and Settlers (starts May 2010)

Click on the course title for further details.

Change in Blog Address

2010-03-07T18:21:00.000+01:00

As you will have noticed, the address for this blog has changed.

This is because Blogger are phasing out their FTP service.

If you have been using an RSS feed for this blog, then you will need to change the address. Simply click on the “Subscribe to Posts [Atom]” at the bottom of the right-hand sidebar.

Similarly, if you have been receiving email notifications, you will have to register again using the form in the right-hand sidebar.

Sorry for the inconvenience,

David Beard

Balls of destruction discovered under the stairs at Goodrich Castle

2010-03-05T16:34:00.001+01:00

Staff at Goodrich Castle have unearthed a stash of 17th century cannon balls thought to have been placed under a flight of stairs during restoration and renovation in the 1970s.

The balls of destruction have been examined by an English Heritage archaeologist and are thought to have been fired during either the English Civil War or The Siege of Goodrich in 1646.

"Lots of leaves had blown through the open wooden staircase, and with little light to reveal them, the cannon balls had become a forgotten relic of the castle until they were re-discovered last year," says visitor operations manager, Wendy Amer.

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This blog has moved

2010-03-05T12:56:00.001+01:00

This blog is now located at http://medieval-warfare-blog.blogspot.com/.
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True site of Richard III battlefield found

2010-02-22T19:40:00.000+01:00

Archaeologists said on Friday they had finally found the true location of one of England's most important battles and possibly the very spot where the island's last Medieval king was slain.

For centuries, enthusiasts have trudged to the top of a remote hill in Leicestershire, central England, believing it be the site of the Battle of Bosworth where King Richard III was defeated by Henry Tudor's superior forces in 1485.

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Medieval defences found at Edinburgh Castle

2010-01-17T11:03:00.001+01:00

Late medieval walls and the foundations of what appears to be a military spur, which formed part of the outer defences at Edinburgh Castle, have been found.

The defences, which date from at least the 16th Century, were discovered by archaeologists during foundation works for new Military Tattoo stands.

Service trenches were opened which revealed two structures about 2m beneath the esplanade.

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Time Team to show special on Dover Castle

2009-12-15T11:28:00.001+01:00

The recent restoration of Great Tower at Dover Castle is the subject of a special Time Team programme, which will be broadcast in the United Kingdom on Saturday, December 19.

The castle has dominated the town and the White Cliffs since it was built in 1180 by Henry II to show off the best England could offer.

But it had become a shadow of its former self and in 2008 English Heritage decided to undertake a bold piece of restoration and recreate the rooms of the castle propelling it back to the world of King Henry II.

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Get email updates from this site!

2009-12-13T12:11:00.000+01:00

You can now receive an email informing you each day when new posts are added to this blog.

Simply fill in the box in the sidebar.

Historians Reassess Battle of Agincourt

2009-10-26T09:07:00.000+01:00

The heavy clay-laced mud behind the cattle pen on Antoine Renault’s farm looks as treacherous as it must have been nearly 600 years ago, when King Henry V rode from a spot near here to lead a sodden and exhausted English Army against a French force that was said to outnumber his by as much as five to one.

No one can ever take away the shocking victory by Henry and his “band of brothers,” as Shakespeare would famously call them, on St. Crispin’s Day, Oct. 25, 1415. They devastated a force of heavily armored French nobles who had gotten bogged down in the region’s sucking mud, riddled by thousands of arrows from English longbowmen and outmaneuvered by common soldiers with much lighter gear. It would become known as the Battle of Agincourt.

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Online Courses in Archaeology

2009-08-25T11:00:00.000+02:00

Henry II 'spent a fortune on Dover Castle to counter Becket cult'

2009-07-31T16:49:00.001+02:00

Henry II spent vast sums on Dover Castle as an international public relations exercise to counter the growing "anti-monarchial cult" of Thomas Becket's shrine in nearby Canterbury, according to a new analysis.

The fiery monarch spent at least £6,440 throughout the 1180s – more than a quarter of his average annual income – building and furnishing the impressive keep at the castle, according to a study of his finances by John Gillingham, Professor Emeritus in medieval history at the London School of Economics.

The rooms have just been renovated and refurbished in a £2.45 million project managed by English Heritage, to resemble how they would have done in Henry's day.

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King's tower of 'bling' recreated

2009-07-31T16:45:00.000+02:00

The opulent interiors of King Henry II's Dover Castle have been recreated by English Heritage in a £2.45m project lasting two years.

The Kent castle's Great Tower has been brought back to life with almost psychedelic colour and drama, its restorers said. It reopens on Saturday.

It follows extensive research by a team of historians who worked closely with artists and craftspeople.

English Heritage said the castle had been a palace of "Versace-esque bling".

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Remains of a medieval castle found at St. Adrian's tunnel in Basque Region

2009-07-03T15:20:00.001+02:00

Those responsible for leading excavations into the St Adrian tunnel (between Gipuzkoa and Alava) which started a year ago have been amazed by recent findings.

"This is double what we expected (to find)," said one archaeologist. "Without doubt, what is emerging here is a big surprise."

Remains which have been found inside the tunnel, where today only the old Roman road and an ancient chapel still stand, have lead archaeologists to conclude that there once stool a medieval castle of some magnitude, as well as possibly an inn and a cemetery. All of these are evidence of the importance of the underpass which joins the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Alava.

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Secrets of Oystermouth to be unearthed

2009-06-30T19:21:00.001+02:00

Fascinating discoveries are hoped for as archaeologists today start a dig on the site of Swansea's 12th century Oystermouth Castle.

Volunteers will work alongside experts as the group excavates outside the castle's west tower, explores the knoll area and looks for the outer wall and ditch.

Daily guided tours are being organised within a few days of starting the dig and everyone taking part will have the chance to learn about excavation techniques, how to record discoveries and how to deal with objects that are found.

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Skeleton reveals violent life and death of medieval knight

2009-06-30T19:20:00.000+02:00

A 620-year-old skeleton discovered under the floor of Stirling Castle has shed new light on the violent life of a medieval knight.

Archaeologists believe that bones found in an ancient chapel on the site are those of an English knight named Robert Morley who died in a tournament there in 1388.

Radio carbon dating has confirmed that the skeleton is from that period, and detailed analysis suggests that he was in his mid-20s, was heavily muscled and had suffered several serious wounds in earlier contests.

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Hard days for Stirling knight who'd been hit by axe, arrow and sword

2009-06-30T19:19:00.002+02:00

WHEN the skeleton was discovered buried beneath Stirling Castle more than a decade ago, archaeologists knew only that the man had been someone important, possibly a priest.

However, new analytical techniques have revealed the 600-year-old bones had a very different past – as they are those of a horrifically injured knight who lived a short but "incredibly violent" life.

Research has shown the man, who was in his twenties, was killed by a sword slicing through his nose and jaw. It also revealed he had previously survived both an axe wound to the forehead and a large arrowhead being embedded in his chest.

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Dig aims to uncover castle past

2009-06-30T19:19:00.001+02:00

The first major archaeological dig to take place at a medieval castle near Swansea is underway.

Experts and volunteers are hoping to uncover artefacts along with clues as the original layout of Oystermouth Castle in Mumbles.

They will be on site digging and examining trenches for three weeks.

The ruined castle was recently given a £1.7m restoration lifeline which will pay for conservation works and for a new interpretation centre.

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Castle bones may belong to knight

2009-06-29T15:04:00.001+02:00

Archaeologists believe that bones discovered at Stirling Castle may have belonged to a knight killed in battle or during a siege in the early 1400s.

It is thought that despite the warrior's relatively young age of about 25, he may have suffered several serious wounds from earlier fights.

Researchers thinks it is also possible he may have been living for some time with a large arrowhead in his chest.

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Secrets of castle to be unlocked

2009-04-20T14:27:00.000+02:00

Archaeologists are using radar to try and discover what is hidden under the mound of Oxford castle.

Researchers hope to get a picture of what the original structure looked like during a month long project.

Subsidence work carried out last year uncovered evidence a ten-sided tower once stood on the site.

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New search to find ancient tower at castle site

2009-04-19T18:13:00.000+02:00

ARCHAEOLOGISTS are using hi-tech radar equipment to find the historic position of a wooden tower built for William the Conqueror.

In August last year, the historic mound at Oxford Castle reopened to the public following costly repair work.

A substantial part of the 900-year-old Norman structure slipped several metres towards New Road in February 2007, following heavy rain.

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Harbour site excavated at castle

2009-04-18T20:50:00.001+02:00

An archaeological dig at a medieval castle in East Sussex is expected to reveal evidence of the harbour and trading post on the site.

Experts from Archaeology South East are beginning a three-day dig at Bodiam, a moated castle near Robertsbridge.

The archaeologists are also expected to discover evidence of the leat, or stream, which fed the mill pond.

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North Yorkshire's heritage goes on line

2009-03-09T19:21:00.001+01:00

FULL details of some of North Yorkshire’s finest historic monuments is being published on the internet for the first time.

The Historic Environment Record, owned and maintained by the county council, is a database of information about archaeology, historic buildings and landscapes.

Primarily used by the authority and others to help manage and protect them, it is also often of use to researchers and of interest to the public.

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Heritage at Risk from Nighthawking

2009-02-17T10:52:00.000+01:00

New Survey Reveals Low Levels of Prosecution and Crime Reporting

A national survey commissioned by English Heritage and supported by its counterparts across the UK and Crown Dependencies has revealed that the threat to heritage posed by illegal metal detecting, or nighthawking, is high but arrest or prosecution remains at an all time low and penalties are woefully insufficient.

The Nighthawking Survey, published today (16th February 2009), found out that over a third of sites attacked by illegal metal detectorists between 1995 and 2008 are Scheduled Monuments and another 152 undesignated sites are also known to have been raided, but secrecy surrounding the crime means that it is significantly under-reported. Only 26 cases have resulted in formal legal action, with the punishment usually being a small fine from as little as £38. (Illegally parking a car carries a £120 fine.)

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History group excited by rath survey findings

2009-01-28T14:58:00.001+01:00

MEMBERS of Newbuildings and District Archaeological and Hiscoriccal Society are up-beat about the initial findings of last week's survey of the Rath off Duncastle Road.

The survey of the proposed dig site was carried out on Thursday and Friday by LTU Utility Location Intelligence, based in Oldham, England, and was organised through Precision Industrial Services Ltd, at Campsie Industrial Estate.

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Reading Bones to Unlock Mysteries of the Evolution of Hunting and Warfare

2008-12-20T14:58:00.000+01:00

Read any good bones lately?

Visiting biological anthropologist Jill Rhodes has, and they may provide some of the earliest evidence of when modern humans started doing something that would have been a pivotal development in the evolution of hunting and warfare—something we all take for granted.

New research by Rhodes and Steven E. Churchill of Duke University published in the Journal of Human Evolution addresses the question of when human hunters added long-range projectile weapons (those thrown overhead) to their arsenal and whether this was a hunting method also employed by Neandertals of the time.

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Medieval Teutonic knights' remains found in Poland

2008-12-12T12:26:00.001+01:00

Polish archaeologists said this week that they had identified the remains of three leaders of the Teutonic Knights, an armed religious order that ruled swathes of the country centuries ago.

"Anthropological and DNA testing has enabled us to back up the theory that these are the remains of the grand masters. We can be 96 percent certain," Bogumil Wisniewski, head of a team which found the skeletons, told AFP on Thursday.

Wisniewski said his team was convinced the men were Werner von Orseln, who led the knights from 1324-1330, Ludolf Koenig (1342-1345), and Heinrich von Plauen (1410-1413).

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Money for castle repairs rejected

2008-11-21T14:45:00.000+01:00

A councillor has lost his fight to restore a castle, but says his campaign will go on.

Monmouthshire councillors rejected Tony Easson's call for funding to be "sourced immediately" by the authority to make repairs to Caldicot Castle.

Problems include the roof of the south-west tower leaking and windows rotting in the banqueting hall.

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Mary Rose sunk by French cannonball

2008-11-17T08:08:00.001+01:00

For almost 500 years, the sinking of the Mary Rose has been blamed on poor seamanship and the fateful intervention of a freak gust of wind which combined to topple her over.

Now, academics believe the vessel, the pride of Henry VIII's fleet, was actually sunk by a French warship – a fact covered up by the Tudors to save face.

The Mary Rose, which was raised from the seabed in 1982 and remains on public display in Portsmouth, was sunk in 1545, as Henry watched from the shore, during the Battle of The Solent, a clash between the English fleet and a French invasion force.

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New dawn for knights of old

2008-11-17T08:07:00.001+01:00

The sword is the stuff of legend, jousting knights and the fabled Round Table of King Arthur.

In medieval times, no weapon was as clinically deadly as the sharpened longsword. But many centuries-old fighting styles were forgotten with the invention of gunpowder, which left swords obsolete.

Now, Bradford group Scola Gladiatoria is reviving some of the lost styles of European martial arts in a movement which is rapidly growing in popularity.

Thousands of martial arts enthusiasts are now practising medieval sword-fighting in countries including the USA, Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy.

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How warfare shaped human evolution

2008-11-13T11:40:00.000+01:00

IT'S a question at the heart of what it is to be human: why do we go to war? The cost to human society is enormous, yet for all our intellectual development, we continue to wage war well into the 21st century.

Now a new theory is emerging that challenges the prevailing view that warfare is a product of human culture and thus a relatively recent phenomenon. For the first time, anthropologists, archaeologists, primatologists, psychologists and political scientists are approaching a consensus. Not only is war as ancient as humankind, they say, but it has played an integral role in our evolution.

The theory helps explain the evolution of familiar aspects of warlike behaviour such as gang warfare. And even suggests the cooperative skills we've had to develop to be effective warriors have turned into the modern ability to work towards a common goal.

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Animated Bayeux Tapestry

2008-11-13T11:20:00.000+01:00

This is a clever and amusing animation of the second part of the Bayeux Tapestry (from Harold’s coronation to his death in battle).

The animation was prepared by David Newton, a freelance graphic designer.

Watch the video...

One thousand year old Danish shield discovered

2008-11-13T11:19:00.000+01:00

Danish archaeologists say they have found a well-preserved Viking shield that is more than 1,000 years old. Archaeologist Kirsten Christensen said the wooden shield has a diameter of 80 centimetres (32 inches). It was found Tuesday during excavations near Viking-age castles, some 100 kilometres west of Copenhagen.

Christensen said Thursday it is the first time such a shield has been found in Denmark. She said the moist soil in the area is "ideal to preserve wood."

The fir shield is believed to date from the late 10th century. Danish Vikings launched bloody raids along the coasts of Western Europe about 1,000 years ago and even occupied parts of England.

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Viking Age Triggered by Shortage of Wives?

2008-11-13T11:18:00.000+01:00

During the Viking Age from the late eighth to the mid-eleventh centuries, Scandinavians tore across Europe attacking, robbing and terrorizing locals. According to a new study, the young warriors were driven to seek their fortunes to better their chances of finding wives.

The odd twist to the story, said researcher James Barrett, is that it was the selective killing of female newborns that led to a shortage of Scandinavian women in the first place, resulting later in intense competition over eligible women.

"Selective female infanticide was recorded as part of pagan Scandinavian practice in later medieval sources, such as the Icelandic sagas," Barrett, who is deputy director of Cambridge University's McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, told Discovery News.

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Viking longship returns to home port after epic sail

2008-11-13T11:15:00.000+01:00

THE VIKING replica longship Sea Stallion returns to home waters in Roskilde today, after a 2,800 nautical-mile round trip between Denmark and Ireland.

The return of the ship with 60 multinational crew - under sail or rowing, depending on weather - will be greeted by countless vessels at sea, and up to 10,000 people ashore.

Young pupils from Dublin's St Patrick's Cathedral School and choir, along with members of Dublin Civil Defence were among an Irish welcoming party who flew to Denmark from Dublin yesterday.

The Sea Stallion, known in Danish as Havhingsten fra Glendalough, left Dublin port on June 29th, and navigated via the southern English coast and Holland. Project leader Preben Rather Sorensen described the initial return leg between Ireland and England as the "hardest yet", and four crew had to be transferred to the support ship, Cable One.

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Unearthing castle secrets

2008-11-13T11:13:00.000+01:00

Experts began to unearth the secrets of Nevern Castle as exciting ancient artefacts were discovered last week.

Clues to life at the site during the 12th century emerged during the dig, and pottery, a board game and counter, and a passageway were among the finds.

The two week excavation, organised by Nevern Community Council and the National Park, was led by Dr Chris Caple, senior lecturer at Durham University's archaeology department, who was joined by a team of five helpers.

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Viking warship to begin homeward journey

2008-11-13T11:08:00.001+01:00

A Viking warship will be hoisted out of the National Museum today in preparation of its journey back to Denmark.

The Sea Stallion will be lifted about 150ft out of Clarke Square, Collins Barracks, where it has been on show to the public for the last nine months.

The vessel sailed back into Dublin last August, almost 1,000 years after its original departure.

Weather permitting, it will be gently lowered into the main museum car park at 3pm in preparation for her return voyage to Denmark.

Then at 2am the replica vessel will be lifted over the Luas track to the quays where it will be carried on a low-loader to Dublin port.

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The Real Knights of the Round Table: A Time Team Special

2008-11-13T11:01:00.000+01:00

The regular series of Time Team delights lovers of history with every episode, but occasionally something so marvellous comes to light it requires a spin-off programme.

The Real Knights of the Round Table: A Time Team Special is just such a show, and will have devoted fans jumping for joy.

In 2006, the team undertook one of their most ambitious live projects ever - a series of digs at three royal palaces, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace. The event was timed to coincide with the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations, but no one could have guessed what fabulous gifts were waiting to be discovered.

At Windsor, the oldest inhabited royal residence in the world, the experts went in search of a fabled lost building - Edward III's Round Table.

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Norman invasion word impact study

2008-11-13T10:59:00.001+01:00

A project examining the impact the Norman invasion of Britain had on the English language has won £874,000.

The Anglo-Norman dictionary, housed at Aberystwyth University, will use the money to continue revising its online edition.

The university's Professor David Trotter said it reflects the "enduring influence" of the Anglo-Normans.

The dictionary, and its associated texts collected at Swansea University, now stands at eight million words.

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Medieval castle unearthed in Maenclochog

2008-11-13T10:57:00.000+01:00

A team of professional and voluntary archaeologists have uncovered what seem to be the remains of a medieval castle in a north Pembrokeshire car park.

The dig, organised by PLANED, Cambria Archaeology and the National Park, and funded by the EU Transnational project, is taking place at the castle site in Maenclochog, beneath the village's car park.

So far excavators have uncovered what look to be the outer walls of a medieval castle, as well as post holes, the hearth of a medieval house and fragments of medieval pottery.

They have also discovered the skeleton of a dog, which archaeologists think is likely to be a family pet dating from the Middle Ages.

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Archaeologists get to work at Clitheroe Castle

2008-11-13T10:52:00.000+01:00

ARCHAEOLOGISTS are compiling a comprehensive record of historic Clitheroe Castle and Museum.

The castle and its associated buildings are undergoing a £3.2m. development scheme and archaeologists have seized the opportunity to record some of its ancient features using special measuring and imaging equipment. Once complete, the record will be stored at Lancashire Records Office.

Meanwhile, pieces of medieval pottery discovered during the work will eventually go on display at the new-look Clitheroe Castle Museum.

Senior achaeologist Ian Miller said: "This is the first time this kind of work has been undertaken at Clitheroe Castle and it has given us crucial information about how the site has developed.

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Top 25 Most Beautiful Castles in the World

2008-11-13T10:51:00.000+01:00

Everyone seems to know that the most luxurious castles are located in Europe. Or, are they? As we traveled the world we learned that castles exist everywhere. From South Africa to Louisiana and from New Zealand to Iran, a curious traveler can find a castle in just about every corner in the world.

Just to prove this theory to you, we’ve gathered twenty-five amazing castles from around the world for your perusal. This selection represents some of the most intriguing castles in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, North America, and from around the world. The oldest castle is being restored in Iran after an earthquake destroyed eighty percent of its buildings.

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