The Battle of Llwchwr took place #OnThisDay in 1136. The Welsh won a victory over local Norman forces in Gower, South Wales, sparking a Welsh rebellion against the Normans. Pictured is the stone commemorating the battle (Image: celebr8 via Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 2.0).

Happy New Year to all of our members, colleagues, followers and friends! With all good wishes for the coming year. We're looking forward to another bumper year of medieval archaeology - keep following for details of our 2026 conference and much more!

The Battle of Englefield took place #OnThisDay in 870. A West Saxon army led by King Æthelred I of Wessex defeated a section of the Viking Great Army which was camped at Reading. Pictured is a page in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing the Battle. (Image: British Library Cotton Tiberius B i).

The Battle of Wakefield took place #OnThisDay in 1460. Richard, Duke of York, was killed and the Lancastrian army was victorious. Picutred is a monument to Richard at the supposed spot he was slain (Image: SMJ via Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 2.0).

Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral #OnThisDay in 1170. Here is a medieval pilgrim badge appearing to depict the murder. (Image: Portable Antiquities Scheme).

Westminster Abbey, London, was also first consecrated #OnThisDay in 1065. View of the eastern façade of the cathedral. (Image: Σπάρτακος via Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 4.0).

St. Alban's Cathedral in Hertfordshire was consecrated #OnThisDay in 1115. View of the cathedral from the west. (Image: Diliff via Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 3.0).

Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire was founded #OnThisDay in 1132. View of the Abbey showing the River Skell, Tower and Chapel of Altars. (Image: WyrdLight.com via Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 4.0).

Merry Christmas & Seasons Greetings to all our friends, colleagues & followers! Here is a festive early Nativity scene on the Norman font at St. Martin's Church, Fincham, Norfolk. The panels depict Joseph, Mary with baby Jesus, & a donkey & ox above a manger (Evelyn Simak via Geograph CC BY-SA 2.0).

The reign of Stephen begins #OnThisDay in 1135. Pictured is a miniature of Stephen from Matthew Paris's Historia Anglorum. (Image: British Library Royal MS 14 C Vii).

The Lenborough Hoard was discovered #OnThisDay in 2014. It is believed to be one of the largest hoards of Anglo-Saxon coins found in Britain, containing over 5000 silver coins dating to the 11th century. (Image: © Trustees of The British Museum).

Pottery news! The Wiltshire post-Roman pottery type series project nears completion. More details here: tinyurl.com/socmedarch44 (Image: Harvey Hills).

Richard the Lionheart was captured near Vienna by Leopold of Austria #OnThisDay in 1192 on his way home from the Third Crusade. He remained Leopold's prisoner for 2 years. Pictured are the ruins of Dürnstein Castle where Richard was first kept prisoner. (Image: Airin, Wiki Commons CC BY-SA 1.0).

The reign of Henry II begins #OnThisDay in 1154. Henry is pictured here in a rare contemporary image from the Topographica Hiberniae by Gerald of Wales. (Image: British Library Royal_MS_13_b_viii).

Stuck for present ideas? How about 2 shiny new #medieval publications? - The Bamburgh Bowl Hole Anglian-period Cemetery: A bioarchaeological study of a Northumbrian royal site by Sam Lucy, Charlotte A. Roberts and Graeme Young

#OnThisDay in 1431 Henry VI of England is crowned King of France at Notre-Dame de Paris, aged just seven years old. He is the only English monarch to wear both crowns. Pictured is a mid-15th century depiction of his coronation as Henry II of France (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

The Battle of Annan took place #OnThisDay in 1332. Forces of the Bruce loyalists mounted a surprise attack on Edward Balliol, who had seized the Scottish crown a few months prior. It was a decisive victory for the Bruce loyalists. Image: Edward Balliol's seal (Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

#OnThisDay in 1488 Bartolomeu Dias returns to Portugal after becoming 1st known European to sail round the Cape of Good Hope. Statue of Dias outside the High Commission of South Africa in London (Image: Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0).

#OnThisDay in 1542, Mary Stuart became Queen of Scotland. She was just 6 days old, making her one of the youngest monarchs in history. Portrait of Mary as a 17 year old by François Clouet (Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

#OnThisDay in 1266, the rebels surrendered to Henry III at Kenilworth Castle, ending the largest and longest siege ever to have taken place in England. (© Derek Billings via Geograph CC BY-SA 2.0).

Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last) died #OnThisDay in 1282. He was one of the last native and independent rulers of Wales before its conquest by Edward I. Llywelyn is pictured here seated to the viewers's right of Edward I (Image: public domain via Wiki Commons CC BY SA 4.0).

Following our AGM last week, we would like to welcome three new Ordinary Members to the SMA Council: Dr Marianne Hem Eriksen (University of Leicester), Dr Nick Holder (English Heritage) and Dr Adrián Maldonado (National Museums Scotland).

We're concluding our #Take5 Vikings in the British Isles series with a look at five Viking Age sites on the Isle of Man. The island has a long Viking history, conquered and settled as it was by 820. Clockwise from top left: Cronk ny Merriu; The Braaid; Peel Castle; Balladoole; and Kirk Michael.

Charlemagne becomes sole King of the Franks #OnThisDay in 771, following the death of co-ruler Carloman I. Pictured is a silver denier of Charlemagne minted in Mainz in the collections of the Cabinet de Médalles in Paris. (Image: PHGCOM via Wiki Commons).

Voting for the Current Archaeology Awards 2025 is now open & there are a couple of medieval nominees in there, including our very own Editor Duncan Wright, outgoing President Oliver Creighton, and Vice President Julian Richards. View the nominations & vote for your faves here: archaeology.co.uk/vote

The Treaty of Paris was signed #OnThisDay in 1259, by Louis IX of France and Henry III of England. It established peace after decades of conflict between the two countries, albeit it temporarily. (Archives Nationales (France), Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

Adrian IV was elected Pope #OnThisDay in 1154. Adrian (formerly Nicholas Breakspear) was born in Hertfordshire and is the only Englishman to have been Pope. He is depicted here as Pope in the 12th century Chronicle of Casauria (Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

This week we held our Annual General Meeting, followed by the Winter Symposium. It was a great opportunity to catch up on Society activities over the past 12 months. A big thank you to Steve Rippon, Sam Leggett & Rebecca Boyd, & their project colleagues, for taking the time to speak to our Members.

Here are two recent medieval news stories you might have missed! First, a lost medieval hall at the House of Parliament: tinyurl.com/socmedarch42 . Then medieval spears pulled from a Polish lake: tinyurl.com/socmedarch43 (Image of diver recovering spear, credit: Marcin Trzciński) #medieval

The university of Leipzig opened #OnThisDay in 1409. One of the oldest universities in the world, it has been involved in teaching and research for over 615 years without interruption, even during the Second World War. Image: portrait of Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, who founded the university.

Henry I died #OnThisDay in 1135. He is said to have become ill after eating too many lampreys against his physician's advice. His heart and intestines were buried at the priory of Notre-Dame-du-Pre, whilst his body was finally buried at Reading Abbey. (Image: ReadingMuseum.org.uk).

Anna Komnene is born #OnThisDay in 1038. Anna was a Byzantine princess, scholar, and historian, best known for her work The Alexiad, chronicling the reign of her father, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos - an important primary source for Byzantine history. Image shows 12th-century manuscript of the Alexiad

Happy St. Andrew's Day to our Scottish followers! This medieval seal matrix, recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, depicts Andrew shackled to a saltire cross. The full record can be viewed here: buff.ly/3Za0YP3 #StAndrewsDay (Image: I. Szymanski CC BY SA 4.0).

Owain Gwynedd died #OnThisDay in 1170 (though some sources say 23rd Nov). The first man to style himself "Prince of Wales" is depicted here in a painting by Hugh Williams from 1909. (Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

📢 The latest edition from our SMA Monograph Series is OUT NOW! Monograph 45 by Dave Evans is titled: Excavations at the Austin Friary, Hull, Yorkshire, 1994 and 1999 - Part 1, the stratigraphic sequence.

The reign of Eadwig begins #OnThisDay in 955. Eadwig is pictured here in a miniature from a Royal Genealogy of the fourteenth century (Image: British Library Royal MS 14 B VI).

This week #Take5 continues its Viking tour with 5 Viking-Age sites in Wales. Clockwise from top left: St. Deiniol's Monastery, Bangor; Swansea; Llanbedrgoch, Anglesey; Bryn Maelgwyn, near Llandudno; Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey.

Here are two recent medieval news stories for you! First, medieval armour found in Georgia: tinyurl.com/socmedarch40 Next, a manuscript bound in sealskin which may be Norway's oldest book: tinyurl.com/socmedarch41 (Image: medieval helmet, Rustavi History Museum).

The reign of Edward I begins #OnThisDay in 1272. Pictured is the Coronation Chair he had commissioned in 1296 to house the Stone of Scone, and which is still used in the Coronation ceremony today, over 700 years later! (Image: Kjetil Bjørnsrud via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.5)

Here are two recent #medieval news stories you may have missed! First, some rare medieval remains uncovered in Glasgow: tinyurl.com/socmedarch38 And next, a medieval wall uncovered at St. Oswald's Priory: tinyurl.com/socmedarch39

The reign of Harold Harefoot began #OnThisDay in 1035, although he was not officially proclaimed so until 1037. This 13th century drawing of Harold is from "The Life of King Edward the Confessor" by Matthew Paris (Cambridge University Library MS Ee.3.59).

Our AGM and Winter Symposium will take place on Monday 1st December 2025. Full details can be found in our Autumn Newsletter which all Members should now have received. We look forward to seeing as many Members there as possible. To become a Member visit: medievalarchaeology.co.uk/how-to-join/

The coronation of Henry VI took place #OnThisDay in 1429. Henry was just 7 years old at the time and would not assume full royal powers for another 9 years. Image is an 18th century imagining of the ceremony by John Opie and Thomas Holloway (© Eton College FDA Collection, FDA-E.2166-2015).

📢 Our Autumn Newsletter has arrived!! Print copies should be arriving through letterboxes soon. SMA Members can access the digital version via our website (please email [email protected] if you have forgotten the password). #medieval #MedievalArchaeology

Edmund Tudor died #OnThisDay in 1456. Edmund was the half-brother of Henry VI and father to the future king Henry VII. Image: Edmund's tomb in St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire (Plucas58, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

Edward I married Eleanor of Castile #OnThisDay in 1254. The couple are pictured here in a 14th century manuscript (Image: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons).

This week #Take5 has of course got a #Halloween theme! We bring you 5 #medieval burials with evidence of “anti-vampire” rituals. These are burials where certain things have been done posthumously to prevent the corpse from rising again.

#OnThisDay in 1517, Martin Luther's "Ninety-five Theses" was published. The dissemination of this work triggered the Reformation, leading to lasting political & social change in medieval Europe. Pictured: the 1517 Nuremburg printing of the Ninety-five Theses. Image: Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Here are two recent #medieval news stories you might have missed! First, we have a hair-styling tool from medieval Scotland: tinyurl.com/socmedarch31 Then a new book brings together decades of excavation to reveal Ipswich's past: tinyurl.com/socmedarch32 (Image of antler gravoir © Duncan McGlynn).

The reign of Henry III begins #OnThisDay in 1216. Henry assumed the throne when he was only nine, in the middle of the First Barons' War. Pictured is the Coronation of Henry III from a 13th century manuscript. (Image: British Library Cotton Vitellius A. XIII). #OTD