More about my book here 😁 bsky.app/profile/leaf...

Do you know the medieval trope of the white pig? It is sometimes thought of as this fragment of pure Celtic folklore, related to the white breed of park cattle, or the hounds of Annwn. But I think that might be wrong... (Sneak peak thread from my new book! 🧵🐗)

On a miserable June day in the north of Scotland I thought we should all see a nice bit of harl and limewash against a lovely blue sky on the island of Egilsay, Orkney @limefinishesgroup1.bsky.social

Word of the day: 'chamlett' (Camlet), yellow in this instance. C16th C'wardens accs for Wolverhampton. It may at some point have been made of camels hair, hence the name. A fine and light fabric, according to the OED at this time 'it was made of the hair of the Angora goat'. doi.org/10.1093/OED/...

On arrival to the Holm of Papay. With two #neolithic burial cairns, a true remote island experience. We do daily trips to the Holm in The Dunter our fully insured boat, provided by the Papay Trust. Bookings taken through all the usual outlets, £30 per person, only return tickets available!!

Thank you to everyone who submitted abstracts for our New Voices in Midland History Conference. We had a fantastic response and are delighted to share the final programme 👇 Join us on 6 June at the National Civil War Centre for what promises to be a fascinating day of all things Midland History

One of our PhD students, Jenny Murray, recently visited Tromsø in Norway to record a medieval altarpiece that has a statuette of St Magnus within its cabinet, for her thesis.

website that picks the Rothko closest to how the weather feels in your location (by Joonas Virtanen) rothko.joonas.wtf

Todays spot whilst doing some palaeography, 'Syngyng bread', not like those singing fish you get in chip shops but a wafer of bread used during mass. Wolverhampton Churchwardens Account 1550's. Not unsurprisingly the phrase went out of fashion by 1600, see OED: doi.org/10.1093/OED/....

This is a really nice blog on farming/landholding practices in Orkney

Wiktionary has "mouldwarp" and "moldewarpe", but not your spelling

11 years ago I was walking near Oberweier, Germany, and my German cousin pointed at mounds in the field and asked do you know these Maulwurf? It comes from the Middle High German moltwerf (earth/soil + to throw). Over time, the root molt (dirt) was corrupted into Maul (mouth).

I think this is the earliest Staffordshire reference I have found mouldiwarps (moles). Commonplace Book of James Whitehall c.1620's. Tho Issak Walton used it some 30 years later.

An evening with the Selkies. Our trips to the Holm of Papay are up and running for the summer.. #Orkney #Papay

🎉 CFP for the annual NWMS Postgrad Symposium. To be held at Chetham’s Library Tuesday 4th August 2026. Open to any PG or ECR. This year we are particularly interested in research rabbit holes that you had to cut! Email title, ~150 abstract and short bio to [email protected] by 17th July 🎉

The UHI Archaeology Institute and Glasgow School of Art, in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland, are delighted to announce a new ARCS funded PhD opportunity investigating the heritage of Fair Isle.

This is Papa Stronsay where Earl Rǫgnvaldr went to get malt to make his Xmas ale. But he was surprised by Earl Þorfinnr who set fire to his farmstead with everyone locked inside. He escaped to hide, but was given away by his dog barking on the rocky shore where he was slain. A proper holiday read!

Is the problem here the 'cold meate' the 'Loughborowe chese' or the combination of the two? James Whitehall's Commonplace Book #workinprogress

A-keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel Keep your eyes on the road, your hand upon the wheel Yeah, we're going to Roadside, gonna have a real A-good time #thedoorsvisitstronsay

I did another podcast - this was great fun, with the splendid @shieldmaidenpdx.bsky.social and @cjadrien.bsky.social for @vikingologypodcast.bsky.social vikingology.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...

Busy day tomorrow heading over to Wyre to look at places and their names in the morning before giving a talk to the fab #Rousay WI (but anyone can come!) in the evening. I hear there will be cake!

My 1st #OralHistory interview in #Rousay today done, talking about #place-names & recording their pronunciations. There were a few names that definitely made more sense when I heard how they were said. Favourites of the moment are Camps of Jupiter Fring, Knowe of Dale (where the fairies are) & Moan!

There are lots of skáli #PlaceNames in #Orkney! At the moment I'm happily wandering around those in #Rousay: Saviskaill (sea-hall) & Langskaill (long-hall) in Wasbister & Skaill in Westness! Jane Harrison wrote about skális in 'Building mounds: Viking-Late Norse settlement in the North Atlantic'.

Coming soon, the 49th Latin and Palaeography Summer School, for students, archivists, and anyone keen to refresh their skills. Formerly held at Keele, and now in Birmingham (UK), some financial assistance is available from the Ranulph Higden Society. #Skystorians

Sophie Durbin, a UHI Archaeology Institute PhD student, has published an article in a special edition of Different Visions, which puts forward a novel approach to Orkney's Norse and Neolithic archaeology through the lens of post-modern performance.

Loch of Moan, Rousay, here to stock up on my supplies

Nousty Sand, below Saviskaill,Rousay. There is so much to see and think about in just this small part of this fascinating island.

Just under a month now!

Fantastic first day at the 7th St Magnus conference, hosted by @insuhi.bsky.social at @uhiperth.bsky.social. Looking forward to the rest of the papers and our tour of Perthshire!

Today's name story is 'Tūn: From rustic fence to urban sprawl'. It is written by Nigel Suffield-Jones and Diana Whaley. For more information, see www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

I'm delighted to be talking at the 2026 Midlands Viking Symposium on 15 May - sign up link here!

It's a month until the 2026 Midland Viking Symposium on 15 May. Sign up here! This year it's free, it's online and it's on a Friday. Please share. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sagas-the-...

This is coming out quite soon! I loved writing it. I still mean to do some posts talking about it and how it came about. I will!

Some good news - a new issue of Early Medieval Europe has dropped! And it's a bumper issue, with six articles, not the usual five. Here's a quick thread on the delights awaiting you: 1/9

Place-names are not always what they seem! This seasonal name story 'A tale of three Easters' provides a salutary reminder of that. It traces the contrasting origins of three apparently similar names from Scotland, England and Polynesia. www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

Workers restoring St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, found a box of bones, believed to be those of the saint, concealed within a pillar #OTD in 1919. In 2025, the pine box was carbon-dated to a period contemporary with the 12thC earl of Orkney's martyrdom. 📸Orkney Library & Archive #medievalsky

⚠️ Deadline tomorrow ⚠️ Final call for our New Voices in Midland History Conference, for postgraduates, early careers researchers, independent scholars, and heritage, museum, and archive professionals. Saturday 6 June at the National Civil War Centre in Newark. More details below 👇

Today's name story 'The English names of French bastides' is written by Dr Keith Briggs (@keithbriggs.bsky.social). In this story, he examines the transfer of some English names to France. www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

Some good news! My book is now listed on the Boydell & Brewer website. Out in May, available to pre-order from March. An overview and contents list here: boydellandbrewer.com/book/writing...

'Did Nobody Die? Rousay and Egilsay Kirk Sessions 1733-1747.' Join us to explore the fascinating world of 18th-century Rousay & Egilsay #Orkney UHI Institute for Northern Studies Public Seminar is to be held @uhiorkney.bsky.social & online 28/04/26 5.30pm tinyurl.com/2ncrktem

While the other birds are still thinking about it. While some have not even arrived yet. The Ravens are getting on with it. Fingers crossed for seven more to come. #Papay #ravens #orkney

That's the Papay Tour bus back on the island after it's regular winter service. All ready for the tour season. Papay tours start at the beginning of April, looking forward to a sunny, Puffin filled summer. Thanks to Orkney ferries, and the Papay pier staff. #Papay #islandtours #orkney

Many place-names are deceptive, so it’s not surprising that many people have assumed that the striking place-name Pity Me can’t really be what it seems. What is it, though? Today's name story is written by Emeritus Professor Diana Whaley of @newcastleuni.bsky.social. www.snsbi.org.uk/exploring-na...

New in Early Medieval Europe: what role did animals play in early medieval medicinal and well-being practices? A study by Holly Miller and Christina Lee (£) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New fields added to the online map! fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net#map

Some exciting things there! The Phillimore Atlas is superb. A reminder to all that it is available free here: archive.org/details/phil...

Do come along if you're in or near #Nottingham! Free to attend but do register using the link on this page: www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/even...

Sheena and I will be on Radio Orkney this evening talking about the Fields of Time project fieldsoftime.cmackenzie.net