Archaeology in Europe

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• SquinchPix Image Gallery
• Researchers puzzled as grave did not hold remains of medieval Swedish king
• Viking Hoard discovered in England
• Roman Cockerel found in Gloucestershire archaeological dig
• Remains of Jane Austen's Steventon home unearthed
• Historical probe after Stirling Castle landslide
• 'New' ancient monuments come to light at Knowth
• London built with the blood of British slaves

SquinchPix Image Gallery Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:37 AM PST SquinchPix has more than 17,000 images of art, architecture and archaeology from most countries in Europe.  It is an ideal resource for researchers, tutors, students and interested members of the general public. Highly recommended! Go to SquinchPix here...

Researchers puzzled as grave did not hold remains of medieval Swedish king Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:29 AM PST Earlier this year, researchers in Sweden excavated what they believe was the tomb of King Magnus Ladulås (1240-1290) at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, hoping to learn more about the medieval Swedish ruler and his family. But DNA tests have revealed that the bodies of nine people buried in the tomb actually died sometime between 1430 and 1520. Records show that the King Magnus wished to have his remains buried in the church, and in 1573 the Swedish King, Johan III erected a sarcophagus with an effigy on top of what he believed was the location of the tomb. The researchers said on their blog: "It is a fantastic story that is rolled up in front of our eyes. Johan II had the impressive tomb put up above the wrong grave and this historical hoax has been unchallenged for 400 years! On good grounds we believe instead that Magnus Ladulås was placed in the southern tomb in front of the choir, i.e. the tomb in which King Karl Knutsson placed himself in the 15th century. With the knowledge we have today it is obvious that we have only done half the job. In order to make further progress in this project we need to open also the southern part of the choir-tombs (the tomb of Karl Knutsson) and investigate all individuals there." Read the rest of this article...

Viking Hoard discovered in England Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:26 AM PST In what is being described as a "very exciting find" over 200 items dating back to around the year 900 have been discovered near Silverdale, in north Lancashire. Now known as the Silverdale Viking Hoard, the collection cotnains a total of 201 silver objects and a well preserved lead container. Of particular interest is the fact that the hoard contains a previously unrecorded coin type, probably carrying the name of an otherwise unknown Viking ruler in northern England. The Silverdale Viking Hoard was discovered in mid-September 2011 by Darren Webster, a local metal-detectorist, who reported it to the local Finds Liaison Officer that evening. The hoard comprises 27 coins, 10 complete arm-rings of various Viking-period types, 2 finger-rings and 14 ingots (metal bars), as well as 6 bossed brooch fragments, a fine wire braid and 141 fragments of chopped-up arm-rings and ingots, collectively known as 'hacksilver'. The lead container is made of a folded-up sheet, in which the coins and small metalwork had been placed for safekeeping, while buried underground. The container is responsible for the excellent condition in which the objects have survived for more than ten centuries. The coins are a mixture of Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Viking, Frankish and Islamic types, including coins of Alfred the Great (871-99) and his god-son the Viking leader Guthrum, who became king of East Anglia with the baptismal name of Athelstan. Researchers are interested in the single coin that shows a previously unknown Viking ruler. One side of the coin has the words DNS (Dominus) REX, arranged in the form of a cross, reflecting the fact that many Vikings had converted to Christianity within a generation of settling in Britain. The other side has the enigmatic inscription. AIRDECONUT, which appears to be an attempt to represent the Scandinavian name Harthacnut. The design of the coin relates to known coins of the kings Siefredus and Cnut, who ruled the Viking kingdom of Northumbria around AD 900, but Harthacnut is otherwise unrecorded. Read the rest of this article...

Roman Cockerel found in Gloucestershire archaeological dig Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:24 AM PST THIS intricately decorated Roman cockerel has been discovered at a landmark burial site in Cirencester. Archaeologists have uncovered the striking bird figurine, which could be an offering to the gods, from a young child's grave during excavations for St James's Place Wealth Management at the former Bridges Garage site. Cotswold Archaeology chief executive Neil Holbrook said: "The cockerel is the most spectacular find from more than 60 Roman burials excavated at this site." It is the latest treasure to be found at the important plot, which has already yielded more than 60 skeletons and is believed to be one of the earliest burial sites ever found in Roman Britain. Read the rest of this article...

Remains of Jane Austen's Steventon home unearthed Posted: 16 Dec 2011 03:22 AM PST Archaeologists in Hampshire have uncovered signs of the house where Jane Austen spent more than half of her life. The Austen family lived in the rectory in Steventon, near Basingstoke, from 1775 to 1801, where the writer began three of her novels. The house was demolished early in the 19th Century soon after Austen and her family moved to Bath. Volunteers involved in the dig hope to gain an insight into life in the house. Read the rest of this article...

Historical probe after Stirling Castle landslide Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:31 PM PST A section of wall below Stirling Castle that collapsed last week is now the subject of an archaeological investigation. The wall was on a steep bank above the Butt Well and had been built to retain garden terraces created in the 1490s. Archaeologists are using the collapse as an opportunity to investigate fragments of one of Scotland's oldest gardens, made for James IV. Members of Stirling Local History Society (SLHS) are leading the work. Read the rest of this article...

'New' ancient monuments come to light at Knowth Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:28 PM PST New and exciting archaeological finds have been made at the Knowth tumulus over the last few months, according to archaeologists working on the site. The passage tomb cemetery at Brú na Binne has produced some extraordinary discoveries over the decades ever since Professor George Eogan made his first tentative exploration in and around the site. A number of previously unknown large-scale monuments in the field lying immediately to the south-east of the large mound have recently come to light. Read the rest of this article...

London built with the blood of British slaves Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:27 PM PST The Romans founded London as a centre of trade and business in about AD 50 - or so archaeologists have long believed. But new evidence suggests the capital has a more chilling history, built as a military base by slaves who were then slaughtered. Hundreds of skulls discovered along the course of the "lost" river Walbrook suggest London may have been built by forced labour. Dominic Perring, director of the Centre for Applied Archaeology at University College London, says the skulls could be those of Queen Boudica's rebel Iceni tribesmen who were brought to London to build a new military base. Read the rest of this article...

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