New research has cast doubt on traditional theories about the historic Lewis Chessmen.
The 93 pieces – currently split between museums in Edinburgh and London – were discovered on Lewis in 1831.
But the research suggests they may have been used in both chess and Hnefatafl – a similar game that was popular in medieval Scandinavia.
It [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Middle Ages’
14 Nov
The Lewis Chessmen may not have been chessmen at all
29 Jul
Viking execution pit – 51 beheaded victim
Naked, beheaded, and tangled, the bodies of 51 young men—their heads stacked neatly to the side—have been found in a thousand-year-old pit in southern England, according to carbon-dating results released earlier this month.
24 Jun
St.Kilda World Heritage Site faces danger
One of Britain’s most prized world heritage sites, the remote islands of St Kilda, will be threatened by vandalism, storm damage and alien species if a missile testing base is closed down, a leading heritage charity has warned.
The National Trust for Scotland said it was dismayed by proposals from the Ministry of Defence to withdraw [...]
16 Jun
Aztec royal tomb discovered in Mexico City
Archaeologists working amid the smog and din of Mexico City may be on the verge of unlocking an extraordinary time capsule.
The leaders of a team exploring a site opened up by earthquake damage believe that they have found the first tomb of an Aztec ruler. If they are right the site may yield one of [...]
12 May
“Viking ship” discovered in Sweden’s largest lake
Marine archaeologists in Sweden have discovered what they believe to be the wreck of a Viking ship at the bottom the country’s largest lake.
A team of 50 divers from the Swedish coastguard happened upon the 20-metre long wreck by chance on Wednesday afternoon.
“Never before has a Viking shipwreck been found in Swedish waters,” marine archaeologist [...]
