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History Roadshow finds Rare DocumentEuropeana 1914 - 1918 is a roadshow travelling Europe in an attempt to find new material on World War One. This BBC article explains how the experts who accompany the show have been shown a bible which still has the shrapnel it stopped and other items. But what's really made the news was a collector who came in with a postcard from one Adolf Hitler. Material relating to Hitler's early life is rare, and obviously vitally important, and so this find is interesting. Hitler wrote it to Karl Lanzhammer, a dispatch runner from Hitler's regiment, and it reveals a surprising desire to get back to the frontlines. The postcard has now been recorded and returned to the collector. So far 45,000 items have been recorded by Europeana, including precious firsthand accounts passed down through families.
about.com | 11-May-2012 20:06
Oetzi has World's Oldest known Red Blood Cells
As red blood cells degrade quickly, they're hard to find in most of the targets archaeologists dig. However Oetzi, a 5,300 year old body found preserved in an Alpine glacier, has provided the world with the oldest ones we have. Since Oetzi was found science has probed his body to discover how he lived and how he died - he appears to have been killed by his wounds - and now scientists have found red blood cells around those wounds. If you want to probe more into the science, the BBC has an explanation, but I should warn you they also have a picture of Oetzi as he is now, and some people don't like that sort of thing.
about.com | 11-May-2012 20:05
Iron Age find in Romanian Highway
Work is progressing in Romania on the Orastie-Sibiu highway, and the construction has been planned in association with the Romanian National History Museum. According to 'Romania Insider', eleven sites of archaeological interest have been identified, and work has begun on excavating them. One key discovery is two hundred pieces of bronze and iron which date to the ninth to eighth centuries BC. They're parts from jewellery, weapons and equipment, and are being billed as one of the most important finds in the country to date.
about.com | 11-May-2012 20:04
Cutty Sark Reopens
Five years ago, I had to report on a fire on Britain's famous 'tea clipper' ship the Cutty Sark. The initial pictures suggested severe damage, but due to good fortune, hard work and a £50 million conservation project, the ship has now reopened to resume its place as one of London's leading landmarks. The BBC has a video report, but I'm not sure if there's any geographical restrictions on viewing.
about.com | 04-May-2012 21:31
Moles: Accidental Archaeologists
I could begin this report with a selection of quotations from neighbours who find moles, those little creatures who dig through the ground and leave their distinctive hills above it, less than helpful. And when you have moles digging through the ground surrounding historic monuments, you have a problem, as the creatures do not respect archaeology.
...about.com | 04-May-2012 21:28
Shipwreck shows Roman Smuggling?
Six months ago a Roman era shipwreck was recovered by archaeologists from the shore near Trapani. Among the finds were jars containing a range of food and drink, including olives, fish sauce and wine. But they also found a large number of 'fictiles', tubular tiles were interlocked and were used in building. These were commonly smuggled into Rome from North Africa, where they could be bought at a quarter of the price, and so experts have concluded the Trapani ship was also engaged in smuggling. MSNBC has some great photos, and quotes from experts.
about.com | 04-May-2012 21:27
"Medieval fragments found sewn into Latin bible"
I love headlines like 'Medieval fragments found sewn into Latin bible'. The titular news story concerns an expert in New Zealand who was reading a fifteenth century bible when they realised that pieces of an older manuscript had been cut up and sewn into the books' bindings. Now, the medieval re-use of manuscripts isn't a surprise as it's a well established phenomenon, but finding a Carolingian manuscript fragment is always a nice surprise. New Zealand's Stuff website has a picture of the finder, and plenty of quotes from her.
about.com | 27-Apr-2012 20:58
Early Runes found on German Comb
A comb excavated in central Germany has been discovered to contain the oldest engraving of runic characters known to the region. The deer antler comb, which was excavated seven years ago but only cleaned and examined recently, has runic letters saying 'Kama', which meant comb. They date from 150 CE, and were found in the Saxony-Anhalt region. The Local has a picture.
about.com | 27-Apr-2012 20:57
Spitfires to be Excavated in Burma
There are currently less than forty flying Spitfires, one of the most iconic planes of World War 2, left in the world...but there may soon be twenty more. During World War 2 twenty of the planes were shipped in their transport crates to Burma, and then buried, still packed up in wax paper and tarred seals, when people feared they might be seized by rival forces. However, a British farmer called David Cundall has spent £130,000 and plenty of time in Burma finding where they are, and has now won the support of the government in excavating them and returning them to Britain. The Telegraph has quotes, and some pro-government grandstanding.
about.com | 27-Apr-2012 20:56
Pendle Cottage Reburied
In late 2011, utility workers in Lancashire discovered a mound which, once they began to dig, they discovered contained a buried seventeenth century cottage. Media speculation began at once, with most claiming the cottage had connections to the famous 'Pendle Witches', and might have been some sort of meeting place. More down to earth was the assessment by archaeologists of the cottage as Lancashire's own "Little Pompeii" due to the well preserved nature of the finds. Experts have now studied the cottage, and believe it to be the home of weavers. However, the cottage has suffered a twofold attack, from the inclement winter weather, and from treasure hunters who have been along and stolen bits, and so United Utilities have spoken to the archaeologists, and the cottage will be reburied to preserve it. (Sourced from the Lancashire Telegraph.)
about.com | 20-Apr-2012 21:21
Pompeii Receives Rescue Cash
Long term readers will now that there's been growing fear over Pompeii, the once buried Roman town, and the decay it was reportedly suffering in the face of inadequate funding. Well, the Italian government and the EU have teamed up to fund a 105m Euro project. While some criticisms have been levelled at this - twice the sum is supposed to be needed - it's certainly a start for a great ancient site which still receives over two million visitors a year. (Cited from the BBC.)
about.com | 20-Apr-2012 21:20
Colosseum in Centurion Protest
A war of words and protest has broken out in Italy between Roman impersonators, who pose with tourists in front of historical sites in return for payment, and the Italian government, who from April 4th banned commercial activity in front of the monuments, partly to protect tourists from feeling harassed into paying for the photos. This has boiled over, and a group of protestors dressed as Roman soldiers climbed into the upper reaches of the Colosseum, where they were cheered by tourists before police bought them down. The local government is now claiming that work permits will be issued to the impersonators.
about.com | 20-Apr-2012 21:19
New This Month
This month I am focusing on the Falklands War of 1982. As well as an older piece on the history of European interaction with the Falklands, we now have a new narrative of the war, and a whole host of supporting glossary entries, such as those dealing with the Black Buck Raids, Constantino Davidoff, LADE and STUFT, and explanations for Tabbing and Yomping. I also take a look at the history behind the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' posters.
about.com | 15-Apr-2012 22:28
Summer the Most Dangerous Month for Tudors
Historian Steven Gunn has studied nine thousand coroner's reports from the Tudor period, and concluded that the summer was the most dangerous period, not the freezing winter. Between 1558 and 1560, nearly three quarters of all fatal accidents took place in the summer, and chief to blame were outdoor accidents such as cart crashes, lethal farming methods and general horse based calamity. This BBC article has plenty of examples from Gunn's work, and the study follows on from earlier reports of unusual ways Tudors died.
about.com | 13-Apr-2012 21:25
Medieval Ship Remains in Ground over Funds
In 2009, builders discovered the remains of a medieval ship buried and preserved beneath a warehouse in Talinn. Radiocarbon dates on wooden fragments revealed the ship was built between 1210 and 1280, and experts realised that over half the ship was intact. This makes it the best preserved medieval ship ever found in Estonia, and a rich ground for archaeologists. However, the ship is staying buried for the time being, because there simply isn't the money in the relevant budgets to dig. What will happen is a special protected status will be placed on the boat, so it's ready for the future.
about.com | 13-Apr-2012 21:24
Historians try April Fools Hoax
This year, the British Library's digitised manuscripts blog ran an April Fool's day joke: the supposed uncovering of a cookery book with a recipe for unicorn. The fake history concerned one 'Geoffrey Fule', who was named as the probable creator and given a position in the court of Philippa of Hainault, a fourteenth century Queen of England. If the name of the author wasn't enough, the recipe itself spoofed modern cookbooks by beginning "Taketh one unicorne." The joke was boosted by some wonderful artwork, which can still be seen here...
about.com | 13-Apr-2012 21:23
Terrible Vandalism Figures for British Heritage
Two British universities, together with the Council for British Archaeology, have carried out a survey on the levels of vandalism and damage being caused to heritage sites on the island. The results are horrifying: 18.7% were physically damaged by 'crime', which equates to 70,000 buildings, while 8% of these suffered 'substantial' damage. Three in eight churches suffered, as did 22.7% of grade I or II listed buildings. Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, explained "Whilst heritage is not necessarily being targeted over other places, save perhaps for their valuable materials and artefacts, they are suffering a substantial rate of attrition from crime nonetheless. Damage done to a listed building or an archaeological site can often not be put right and centuries of history will be lost forever." (Cited from the Daily Mail.)
about.com | 06-Apr-2012 13:09
Thirty Years War Grave Explored
Last summer archaeologists discovered a mass grave dating from the Thirty Years War, and now they're starting to excavate. There are possibly seventy-five dead, buried in a 1.1 metre deep grave, and will take six years to fully unearth. The bodies are believed to be connected to the Battle of Lützen, one of the most costly battles of the war and the one in which King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was killed. The experts will be using modern techniques to discover the victims ages, causes of death and health, as far as is possible, and - according to The Local - they'll be able to work out where they came from.
about.com | 06-Apr-2012 13:08
'Is History Bunk?'
As you know, I like to mention articles which would be useful to history students reading about the theory side of the subject. History News Network has an interesting rebuttal of Alex Rosenberg's alleged statement "When it comes to understanding the future, history is bunk", and while it majors in US specific examples, there is a nice section on Britain and Ireland, and a look at the question of predictive history that I think students could quote.
about.com | 06-Apr-2012 13:07
World War 1 Cartoons for Auction
It might not seem likely today, but people were able to find a humorous side to World War 1 during the conflict. One example is in the cartoons of Albert Heim, who drew often funny scenes of German soldiers at rest, and in day to day life, having been commissioned by Lieutenant General von Wundt to show another side to military life. The drawings are colourful, humorous, and sometimes telling. Eighty will be auctioned by Bonhams in April, but the Mirror newspaper has reproduced some on their website.
about.com | 30-Mar-2012 12:37
German Bunkers Turning into Homes
Germany has plenty of reinforced structures dating from the war years, such as bunkers, which are posing a problem. They're very expensive to destroy, and those that are above ground tend to cast a figurative shadow in the surrounding area. I was thus interested in this Reuters article about Rainer Mielke, a German architect who is converting some into living spaces. It claims there is even going to be a competition to find conversion ideas, and people are starting to get interested. Obviously, the fact they were built by forced labour during Nazi rule means not everyone is comfortable in living in them, but it might be a viable way to handle the problem of what to do with all those remains.
about.com | 30-Mar-2012 12:36
Have Experts Found the Oldest Surviving Monastery in Europe?
The Sofian news agency Novinite is reporting on an archaeological discovery made in Bulgaria. Archaeologists claim to have found that a very early monastery, St. Athanasius near Zlatna Livada in the south of the country, dates from c. 344, which would make it the oldest surviving monastery in Europe. They also have a picture of the ancient shrine.
about.com | 30-Mar-2012 12:35
Greek Archaeologists ask for International Support
Greece is experiencing some severe financial issues at the moment, and austerity is the order of the day. Unfortunately, saving money calls for cuts, and some have come in the form of reduced budgets for museums and other areas of cultural heritage. This isn't just access to museums at stake: archaeological sites across Greece are facing thefts after reduced security. Now Greek archaeologists are calling for anyone interested in the rich and long history of Greece to campaign for greater protection for monuments and items. They also warn that the rest of Europe could follow suit if Greek's cuts aren't fought. This news piece was sourced from a BBC video report.
about.com | 23-Mar-2012 09:08
Medieval Doom Painting Saved by £40,000 Grant
St Nicholas' Church in Stanningfield, is home to a medieval Doom painting. These were pieces of art painted on the walls of churches to enforce the message of the vicar, using vivid and creative visions of heaven and hell. Unfortunately the Stanningfield Doom has been damaged by water leaking in from the roof, but a campaign to repair it has now received £40,000 from English Heritage and the National Lottery. I was lucky enough to see a Doom painting myself, and they're something of a rarity in England now after many were destroyed during the years of religious and political upheaval of the early modern period. Bury Free Press has a picture, but you can't really see the Doom very well at all.
about.com | 23-Mar-2012 09:08
"How a king's judges were hunted down"
During the course of the English Civil Wars, King Charles I was executed. When the country bought his son back as King Charles II several years later, the king was in vengeful mood, and a decision was taken: men who had signed the death warrant would be pursued and executed, while others would remain free, and a combination of punishment and drawing a line would occur. Three of those signatories had fled to Holland, a country frequently in conflict with England in this period, and a country they were reasonably sure wouldn't hand them back to England. But as this BBC article narrates, an agent of the crown tracked them down, abducted them, and took them to England, where they were executed. Given the controversies of the modern era, and the euphemism of 'extraordinary rendition' of terrorist suspects, modern parallels are begging to be drawn, and the article starts with one.
about.com | 23-Mar-2012 09:07
New This Month
This month I'm rounding off our World War 1 content. We look at the battle of Gallipoli, which turned into a failure for the allies, as well as examining the role of aircraft and trenches. We cover the seaborne aspect of the war with an article on the Anglo-German naval race, and one on the War at Sea itself. Finally we narrate the event which provided the final trigger, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, and then look at the major consequences of the conflict. We've also got a glossary entry on soviets.
about.com | 16-Mar-2012 12:50
500 German Fairytales Rediscovered
A hundred and fifty years ago, Franz Xaver von Schönwerth gathered a collection of folk and fairy tales from Bavaria. This was the same period in which the brothers Grimm were working, but despite great praise from his now famous compatriots, Schönwerth's work vanished from view. Now a new society in Germany is bringing his work back, and so far five hundred fairytales which don't appear in other works have been found. If you're interested and can read German, a collection has been produced, and work has begun translating them into English. The Guardian has quotes from the leading cultural archaeologist involved, Erika Eichenseer.
about.com | 16-Mar-2012 12:48
"Wartime Golf Rules"
The Lists of Note blog has recently published one of those stories which isn't really funny, but is quirkily amusing. It explains that, as the Nazis were bombing Britain during the early part of World War 2, a bomb landed at Richmond Golf Club. Rather than be put off by the problem of bombs landing, shrapnel flying, and other dangers, the club simply issued an amendment to the rules to deal with things. It's the sort of event that contributes to the British identity many associate with the wartime populace, and it's worth a look at that they said (this part might interest golfers the most.) A sample is: "In competitions, during gunfire, or while bombs are falling, players may take cover without penalty for ceasing play."
about.com | 16-Mar-2012 12:47
Flag Fen Crowdsource Archaeology
Flag Fen in Britain is the site of a precious Bronze Age survival: a causeway across the marsh which lies mostly under a layer of peat, which has kept items like leather and wood intact over the centuries. Unfortunately climate change and building work means the water in Flag Fen is ebbing away, and the items will soon start to decay. Archaeologists are working hard on excavating the site and learning as much as possible, and they're offering a scheme: pay to dig. A variant of the crowdsourcing which is popular online, people can donate money in return for getting to dig on the site. You can also donate smaller sums to stream video, see interviews and other incentives. The BBC has an interview with those behind it. If you're interested, the website to go to is DigVentures.com.
about.com | 09-Mar-2012 12:10
National Archives Titanic Exhibit
If you've read our article on the Titanic and want more information, Britain's National Archives have launched an online exhibition. It has crew and passenger lists, stories about some of those on board, podcasts and more.
about.com | 09-Mar-2012 12:10
Olympic Games Museum Robbed
Two masked thieves have robbed a museum dedicated to the ancient Olympic Games. Over sixty items were taken, and they were mostly small items which could be easily moved. The town mayor has been quoted by the BBC saying the items were of 'incalculable' value. Of equal concern is the safety of a staff member who, after refusing to hand over objects, found herself tied up by the robbers, but who seems from reports to have been otherwise unharmed.
about.com | 09-Mar-2012 12:09
"Lifestyle of the Modern Girl Condemned"
I can't speak for the USA, but British newspapers are full of stories bemoaning the lifestyle of young people. Well, this sort of reporting isn't new, and the Guardian has republished an article from the Manchester Guardian of Feb 18th, 1926 which attacks the "lifestyle of the modern girl." I should warn you, there is a fair amount of misogyny, but it makes an interesting comparison with the drink, drugs and girl gang news of today.
about.com | 02-Mar-2012 11:20
Scottish Dunkirk Ship on Ebay for £1
Skylark IX was one of the 'Little Ships', the many small civilian boats which crossed the English Channel, often many times, to retrieve British soldiers retreating from Dunkirk during the failures of early World War 2. Skylark itself rescued around six hundred men, and spent the next decades ferrying people around Loch Lomond. Unfortunately, the boat is in a bad state and is currently lying submerged. However, as it is believed to be the last of the Scottish Little Ships, Leven Cruising Club are hopeful someone, maybe a museum, will rescue it and restore it, and to this end the boat has been listed on eBay for just £1. The BBC has a range of pictures, including the current resting place.
about.com | 02-Mar-2012 11:19
The Butter Tower of Rouen
The UK's Institute of Historical Research run a blog, and recently it looked at the evolving treatment of Lent in Christianity, from having no fasting, to many weeks' worth. But what jumped out at me was a small snippet involving Rouen Cathedral. Because, in the medieval period at least, butter was prohibited during the Lenten fasting, people could pay to be allowed to eat it, and Rouen's church authorities raised so much money this way they built the entire 'Butter Tower' was the receipts.
about.com | 02-Mar-2012 11:19
World War One's 'Pompeii'
The title might be a little grand, but 'Pompeii' is the comparison an archaeologist has chosen to use in describing a find. In 1918, on the Western Front of World War 1, an underground German bunker was buried by collapsing mud thanks to enemy shells. The Germans were able to recover some of the bodies, but some had to be left because of the dangerous conditions. Now archaeologists, digging with the benefit of peace, have excavated the bunker and found the bodies sitting and resting just where they would have been before the walls caved in. Personal effects and signs of life were all around the bunker, and there was also a goat.
...about.com | 24-Feb-2012 17:14
Puppeteers get Heritage Grant
In Britain a proportion of the profits from a National Lottery are given to heritage causes. Since being established in the 90s, the Lottery has helped a lot of heritage projects, and as I was reading this article on recent grants, I saw something I thought I'd share. Right at the bottom, there's the fact that £240,000 has been given to PuppetLink, in order to help conserve and teach the "350-year-old story of Mr Punch and wider puppetry traditions."
...about.com | 24-Feb-2012 17:13
History Reality Show goes Jousting
The History Channel is starting a new reality contest, where a range of people compete for a $100,000 prize. The challenge is jousting, that famously medieval sport. Now, I've read a little bit about the show, but I haven't seen it so I've no idea whether there will be any useful historical content, or whether it'll just end up being another Deadliest Warrior. But if you're interested in jousting or loosely history related competitions, keep an eye out for 'Full Metal Jousting'.
about.com | 24-Feb-2012 17:12
Little Girl to Brit Government: Save My War Pony
As the world goes crazy for the movie of War Horse (well, the world bar a lot of critics), the Manchester Evening News have run a wonderful story. As the British nation was rounding up men and horses to fight a war on the continent in 1914, a young girl wrote a sweet letter to Lord Kitchener, the man in charge, to ask him to spare her pony:
...about.com | 17-Feb-2012 11:39
Workers Wealthier but More Stressed than 60 Years Ago?
This article from the BBC on a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is rather frustrating. Basically, the Institute has published a report comparing the state of the British workforce now compared to 1952, when Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne. But while the title explains that workers are now generally wealthier than their peers two generations ago, albeit more stressed, the article doesn't follow this up.
...about.com | 17-Feb-2012 11:37
Also New this Month
I've just put up some glossary entries relating to my content on Revolutionary and late Imperial Russia : one on the Okhrana, a secret police, one on the peasant villages called Mirs, and the persecuted ( and made up) class of Kulaks, and finally a look at the Zemstovs.
about.com | 14-Feb-2012 19:09
New This Month
This month we have articles related to some of the events happening this year. First there is an article on the Titanic, because of the centenary commemorations, as well as a biography of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates sixty years on the throne this year. We also review Andrew Marr's book on Elizabeth II. We look at the ancient Olympic Games, because the modern ones come to London in 2012. There's also an article on Piltdown Man, the hoax Britain's archaeologists would probably prefer to forget, a review of one of my favourite books on the Reformation, and a brief introduction to the Cheka.
about.com | 12-Feb-2012 12:28
Last Known WW1 Service Member Dies
Florence Green, a British woman, was the last known surviving service member of World War One. She joined the Woman's Royal Air Force aged 17, and worked for them in UK air bases for two months before the war ended. Sadly, she had now died aged 110. While it is possible that other service members of the war might come forward - Green was only recognised in 2010 after a search - she is the last currently known, and represents a break with one of key events of the twentieth century.
about.com | 10-Feb-2012 11:53
Young Archaeologists Raise Money
Recently I was introduced to the Young Archaeologists Club. Basically, an educational charity in Britain called the Council for British Archaeology runs a society for interested kids called the 'Young Archaeologists Club' (YAC), and it's got branches across the country, allowing regular access to the subject. However, as with most things in credit strapped Britain, the YAC is in danger of funding losses, and recently members of the club dressed as Romans and survived the cold to walk around the walls of York to raise funds. This all sounds like a great cause, and York Press has more details, a picture and donation information.
about.com | 10-Feb-2012 11:52
Ireland to Pardon Anti-Nazi Deserters
During the Second World War, as nations in the east and west of Europe fought against Nazi Germany, Ireland stayed neutral. This wasn't ideal for some of Ireland's soldiers, and they deserted to join the allied armies in the defeat of Hitler. Of course, they were still deserters in their home, and many were dishonourably discharged when they returned home, and suffered discrimination. Now the Irish government has voted to pardon the 5,000 troops involved, and are considering an official apology. Irish Central has a quote from Irish Minister Shatter on the issue: "Many who fought in British uniforms during that war returned to Ireland. For too many years, their contribution in preserving European and Irish democracy was ignored."
about.com | 03-Feb-2012 11:51
Archaeologists Search for Missing Cross
While reading the Irish Central website to look at a different story, I found this brief article about the search for a missing cross. Until around sixty years ago a granite cross stood in Wicklow, when it vanished. Archaeologists are now planning to look for where it might be, believing it been buried. The blame for its movement seems to be on Father Matthew Blake, a local priest, who objected to what he considered obscene carvings, possibly of the folk characters Sheela Na Gig.
...about.com | 03-Feb-2012 11:50
Bosnian Archaeology Diluted
There's an ongoing joke in Britain about the Daily Mail and their habit of publishing "historical stories to which the answer is no." The format is to pose an esoteric question, such as 'Was Napoleon Scottish', fill the article with strange arguments for, and then finish by quoting a qualified expert who is allowed a sentence to rebut it all.
...about.com | 03-Feb-2012 11:49