Archaeologists working at Prague Castle have unearthed portions of a rampart which dates to the 10th or 11th century and part of a moat that may date as far back as the 9th century. Jana Marikova-Kubkova of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Science informed journalists that an unusual illustration of the castle’s buildings had also been discovered, calling it “the first find of this type in Prague.” Find out more in the item at Czech-Netz.com.

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Medieval fortifications discovered at Prague Castle originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 23:49:09.

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During the restoration of the Kyloe Tower in Northumberland, the faded image of a woman’s face was revealed on a stone that juts out near the top of the tower. The stone is believed to have been one of several corbels that would have been used to support a gallery from which visitors could look at the splendid view. Find out more in the article at the Journal, which includes a nice picture.

I don’t know if it’s the picture or if I’m simply missing something, but I just don’t see the face. How about you?

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Stone face revealed during tower restoration originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 23:07:15.

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Archaeologists have discovered an exceptionally large, octagon-shaped wine press about 25 miles south of Jerusalem. Measuring about 21 by 54 feet, the press was very likely part of a commercial operation, the fruits of which may have been shipped to Egypt or Europe, or both. The complexity of the device was quite advanced for 1,400 years ago, during which time the region was under the control of the Byzantine Empire. Find out more in the article at redOrbit.

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7th-century wine press discovered in Israel originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 at 23:58:35.

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The Madaba Map is a mosaic depiction of the Holy Land — including portions of Egypt, Lebanon, Sinai, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan — that was created in the 6th or 7th century C.E. It was discovered more than 100 years ago in a Jordanian church, and since then several archaeological finds have supported the idea that the map is geographically correct. Now archaeologists have uncovered a road running through the center of Jerusalem’s Old City that conforms closely to the mosaic, further supporting its validity.

Find out more in the article by Kevin Flower at CNN.com or the feature by Shira Rubin at IOL. For more information about the Madaba Map, visit the Madaba Mosaic Map site, created by Eugenio Alliata.

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Discovery of Byzantine-era road supports the validity of Madaba Map originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Thursday, February 11th, 2010 at 22:16:22.

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This week there have been several news items related to treasure — of one kind or another — from the Middle Ages.

• Viking treasure found in Shenston
  An ingot dating to the 9th or 10th century was found less than five miles from the Staffordshire Hoard. See the article at This Is Lichfield.

• More treasure found near Tamworth
  A 15th-century silver link is of a design typical of the Lancastrian dynasty. Check out the item at This Is Tamworth.

• Bronze Brooch rises from the ashes
  A “zoomorphic penannular brooch” dating from around 600 C.E. was found in the remnants of a turf fire in Kerry, Ireland. Find out more in the feature by Anne Lucey at the Irish Times.

• Search for Columba’s monastery
  A treasure hunt of a different kind is ongoing on the island of Iona. Archaeologists are seeking the original monastery built by Saint Columba when he first came to Scotland in the sixth century. Get the details in the article by Linda Engels at the Scotsman.

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Treasures in the news originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 14:29:07.

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While refurbishing a wall in a Tudor home, workmen discovered a painting done in the “Shropshire Scroll” style that is believed to date to the 16th century. The style is unique to Shropshire, and this particular example is more than twice as large as any other known painting. Find out more about the painting in the article at BBC News.

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“Shropshire Scroll” style painting discovered originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 00:01:05.

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After his capture in March of 1192, Richard I of England was held prisoner by Emperor Henry VI for nearly two years. A massive fund-raising effort was carried out in England to raise the 150,000-mark ransom, and on February 4, 1194, he was set free.

See what else took place on February 4th in medieval times through our This Date in Medieval History resource.

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Richard the Lionheart freed originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 01:31:43.

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Over the years, filmmakers have found some fairly rich source material in the Middle Ages — from serious studies of the medieval psyche like The Seventh Seal and The Passion of Joan of Arc to much lighter fare such as The Court Jester and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Some have even been recognized by Oscar®.

This year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has recognized a lesser-known work by nominating it in the category of Best Animated Feature Film. The movie is The Secret of Kells, the story of a boy who must find a way to complete the legendary Book of Kells and stop the Viking attacks on the abbey he grew up in. I haven’t seen the film myself; in fact, it isn’t due to be released in the U.S. until March. But you can get a glimpse of the film at The Secret of Kells website, which includes a plot synopsis, a trailer, an image gallery and information about the voices.

The Secret of Kells is not a slick, Pixar-style production, but it does have some very nice artwork. Most intriguing of all, though it appears to be something of a fantasy, it does tell a story related to actual historical events and a treasured artifact of medieval times. I look forward to seeing it, though I may have to wait for it to come out on DVD so I can get it through Netflix.

For more about the Book of Kells, check out:

• The Book of Kells
  An introduction by your Guide

• Images from the Book of Kells
  Highlights from the book here at the Medieval History site

If you’ve seen The Secret of Kells, please feel free to share your impressions in the comments section of this blog.

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The Secret of Kells originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 02:33:38.

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On January 29, 1327, Edward of Windsor, son of Edward II, was crowned King Edward III of England. During his 50-year reign, Edward would father five sons, create the Order of the Garter, and set off the Hundred Years’ War.

Find out what else happened on January 29th in medieval times through our This Date in Medieval History resource.

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Edward III crowned King of England originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 00:10:17.

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The chances that Henry Tudor would ever become King of England were slim at best. Yet he won the Battle of Bosworth, ousted Richard III, and founded the Tudor dynasty. He then reigned over England as one of the stingiest and most paranoid kings they ever had.

In case I was too subtle, Henry isn’t my favorite English king — though I will admit he appeared to love his wife dearly. If he’s not your favorite king, either, you might enjoy rearranging Henry’s face at the American Branch of the Richard III Society.

Did anything else happen on January 28 in the Middle Ages? Quite a lot, actually. Find out in our This Date in Medieval History resource.

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Happy Birthday, Henry Tudor! originally appeared on About.com Medieval History on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 01:30:59.

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