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When archaeologists were called to investigate a sinkhole that opened up in the city of York, they were surprised to find traces of a medieval hospital, according to a report by The Independent. The team encountered walls hidden just beneath the city streets that they believe once belonged to the twelfth- or thirteenth-century St. Leonard's Hospital. The institution was built just after the Norman conquest and replaced the earlier St. Peter's Hospital, which was founded by the Anglo-Saxon King Aethelstan. Stretching from what is now York's Museum Gardens to the Theatre Royal, St. Leonard's was one of the largest hospitals...

The Bayeux Tapestry, a 230-foot-long linen cloth crafted in the eleventh century, depicts scenes from William the Conqueror's invasion of England and his defeat of Harold Godwinson, England's last Anglo-Saxon king, at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. (See "Unfolding the Bayeux Tapestry," January/February 2021.) There are detailed images of boats, horses, battles, fish, and even of Harold himself. Only four actual places in England are shown on the tapestry -- one being Harold's residence -- but their locations have been hard to identify. "Despite the tapestry's relative notoriety," says Newcastle University archaeologist Duncan Wright, "it's unusual that little concerted...

BBC News reports that a metal detectorist recently retrieved a rare and unique gold coin from a field in Norwich. The artifact was analyzed by numismatist Adrian Marsden of the Norfolk Historic Environment Service, who believes it dates to between a.d. 640 and 660 and may be the oldest Anglo-Saxon coin ever found in East Anglia. It was minted at a transitional time in English history when Christianity was beginning eclipse pagan beliefs, which is reflected in the coin's iconography. One side of the thrymsa, a type of early Anglo-Saxon shilling, features a dancing man who seems to be holding...

Exceptionally Well-Preserved Anglo-Saxon Sword Found in UKArchaeologists in rural Kent, UK, have unearthed a “really incredible” 6th-century sword from an Anglo-Saxon cemetery near Canterbury. Several other striking objects have also been found at the same site. It is exceptionally well preserved; the silver-and-gilt hilt has a finely crafted decorated pattern, and the blade is embossed with runic script. Parts of the weapon’s leather-and-wood scabbard – and its beaver fur lining – have also survived. A ring is attached to its pommel, which archaeologists believe might symbolize an oath to a king. The weapon’s condition is so impressive that it is...

The pendant imitates a Roman coin called a solidus, a type of gold coin introduced by the emperor Constantine in the fourth century A.D. It was discovered in January 2023 near the town of Attleborough in Norfolk, England, and dates to the late fifth to early sixth century. The piece of jewelry copies the imagery and inscriptions found on coins from the time of emperor Honorius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire from A.D. 393 to 423.The obverse shows a bust of Honorius wearing a pearl diadem and a cuirass, or chest armor, while the reverse depicts a draped standing...

Discoveries made during excavations in Oxford have confirmed the original defensive perimeter of the then Anglo-Saxon town.An area around Oriel College was investigated by Oxford Archaeology during refurbishment works on its bar and kitchens.Experts found the remains of a ditch, indicating where the defences originally stood, confirming that Oxford in about 900AD was much smaller than the medieval town it went on to become...Excavations outside the Bodleian Library in 1899 previously revealed a section of wall thought to be the original town's north-eastern corner...Oxford Archaeology said it gave "credibility" to theories that the early fortified Oxford was smaller and had...

A British academic projecting “trans theory” onto the past has claimed that the graves of Anglo-Saxon warriors indicate that some among their ranks were transgender. James Davison, a University of Liverpool PhD candidate and tutor of medieval history, has asserted that examining the graves of Anglo-Saxon warriors through the “lens of transness” suggests that there may have been trans warriors 1,500 years ago and that so-called transgender women may have been exalted in their society. “Using approaches from trans studies – which acknowledge the potential for genders beyond a male-female binary in historical cultures – allows researchers to approach these...

Enigmatic "ivory rings" found in dozens of Anglo-Saxon burials in England have long baffled archaeologists, who weren't sure of the rings' origin and which animal they came from — elephants, walruses or mammoths. But now, scientific techniques have revealed that these rings likely came from African elephants living about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) away, a new study finds.The finding indicates a trading network brought the objects from eastern Africa and across post-Roman Europe to England...The researchers analyzed one of seven so-called "bag rings" found in graves at an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery, dated to between the late fifth and early sixth...

Archaeologists and forensic artists have successfully reconstructed the face of a young girl who passed away over 1,300 years ago. The remains of this girl were discovered in 2012, laid to rest on a wooden bed in Trumpington, Cambridgeshire. Moreover, a cross made of gold and garnet rested upon her chest. In an upcoming exhibition at Cambridge University, this facial reconstruction will be unveiled to the public. Expressing his excitement, Dr. Sam Leggett, an archaeologist involved in the project, revealed that it is not uncommon for him to encounter individuals from the past without a face. Therefore, he found it...

IRELAND — Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, expressed great pride that he was able to bring Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons so their descendants could commemorate it each year by gathering in mobs, get fall-down, hammered drunk, and commit various acts of aggravated assault on each other on March 17. "It really makes all of the hard work and sacrifice all worth it," Patrick said when reached posthumously for comment on the holiday named after him. "I really risked life and limb to preach the gospel to an entire nation populated by bloodthirsty, pagan barbarians. It's a real relief to...

Excavations were on behalf of HS2 (the purpose-built high speed railway line) near the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, England, revealing one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial sites in Britain that dates from between the 5th and 6th century AD.Most of the burials have been described as containing high-status grave goods, suggesting the site was the final resting place of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon community nearby. The site contains 138 graves, with 141 inhumation burials and 5 cremation burials, in addition to evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman activity.Many burials were found to contain two brooches in the...

Despite their high status, Anglo-Saxon royalty didn't regularly feast on copious amounts of meat and fish. Rather, these medieval rulers dined primarily on vegetables, just like the commoners they ruled over, according to two new studies.In fact, social hierarchy did not have any bearing on the amount of meat consumed; both royalty and peasants chowed down on large amounts of meat only occasionally, the research revealed. It wasn't until the Vikings settled in what is now the United Kingdom in the ninth century and onward that meat became more common on the menu, the team reported.The findings are based on...

Widsith spoke, unlocked his word-hoard, he who had travelled most of all men through tribes and nations across the earth. Often he had gained great treasure in hall. He belonged by birth to the Myrging tribe. Along with Ealhild, the kind peace-weaver, for the first time, from the Baltic coast, he sought the home of Eormanric, king of the Ostrogoths, hostile to traitors. He began then to speak at length: ‘I have heard of many men who ruled over nations. Every leader should live uprightly, rule his estates according to custom, if he wants to succeed to a kingly throne....

The house at Butser Ancient Farm, based on archaeological remains from Chalton, has taken nearly four years to complete after work started in 2018.Now thanks to the hard work of volunteers and staff, under the expert leadership of Darren Hammerton, the ancient house has now thrown open its doors – with Time Team’s Dr Harding present to mark the occasion.All timber used in the construction came from within a 10-mile radius of Butser Ancient Farm, with a combination of English oak, sweet chestnut and hazel used in the construction. The roof was thatched with water reeds.The settlement at Church Down...

A stunning gold-wrapped jar crafted out of rock crystal has finally been uncovered in its entirety, revealing a Latin inscription that might provide new clues about its mysterious origins. Researchers at National Museums Scotland, where the Viking-Age vessel is being conserved, think the receptacle was probably used for religious purposes. And one expert believes it may have been a diplomatic gift from the Roman Empire to an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in Britain. The treasure was discovered in southwest Scotland in 2014 and is part of the Galloway Hoard....the jar's inscription states "Bishop Hygauld had me made." .....

The results we obtained suggested a substantial difference between the Early Anglo-Saxon Period sample and the Middle Anglo-Saxon Period. We found that between 66 and 75 per cent of the Early Anglo-Saxon individuals were of mainland European ancestry, while between 25 and 30 per cent were of local ancestry. In contrast, we found that 50 to 70 per cent of the Middle Anglo-Saxon Period individuals were of local ancestry, while 30 to 50 per cent were of mainland European ancestry.While our estimates of the percentage of Anglo-Saxons who had mainland European ancestry fall comfortably within the range of estimates derived...

Francis Pryor examines the relics of the Dark Ages to build a fuller picture of this much-maligned era. Popular belief has always held that the departure of the Romans led to barbarism in Britain, but archaeological finds have shed light on a cultured, literate society that embraced the growing Romanised Christian religion and embarked on a profitable trading relationship with the Byzantine Empire.Sheep-farming archaeologist, Francis Pryor, presents a brand new historical series which explores Britain A.D, the British national character and the ultimate British icon King Arthur.Finding new and previously unexplained evidence, Francis Pryor overturns the idea that Britain reverted...

A "nationally significant" Anglo-Saxon cemetery with 200 graves dating back to the 7th Century has been revealed. The graves were uncovered in Oulton, near Lowestoft in Suffolk, ahead of construction of a housing development. The burial ground contained the remains of men, women and children, as well as artefacts including brooches, small iron knives and silver pennies... A spokesman said the site "lies within the Kingdom of the East Angles, made famous by the royal burial ground at nearby Sutton Hoo". Sutton Hoo, discovered in 1939, included two cemeteries from the 6th to 7th centuries and a ship burial full...

A "mystery" gold mount found in a Norfolk field has provided "another piece of the jigsaw" for historians looking for Anglo-Saxon settlements. The item was found near Fakenham and is possibly from a sword grip, but experts say it has differences to similar finds. Dr Andrew Rogerson, county archaeologist, said: "It's a fragment, but there's no context for it." No evidence of dwellings has ever been found in the village. The Portable Antiquities Scheme, which is in the process of valuing the item, said it was "similar to sword-grip mounts from the Sutton Hoo ship burial and the Staffordshire Hoard"....

AN Ipswich metal detecting enthusiast has found treasure trove expected to be worth thousands of pounds in a farmer's field. John McLaughlin, 54, discovered silver gilt brooches, Anglo Saxon dress ornaments, silver studs, rings, knives, a spearhead and amber beads in Mark Partridge's north Ipswich field. The treasure was from disturbed burial sites from the Sixth and Seventh Century Anglo Saxon and Pagan periods. Mr McLaughlin said the landowner, Mr Partridge gave him permission to metal detect over his land after it was ploughed. He said he had been finding treasure there for the last three years. “This is my...