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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 20h

The Battle of Old Byland took place #OnThisDay in 1322. Part of the Wars of Scottish Independence, it was the most significant victory for the Scots since Bannockburn. Pictured is the memorial stone for the battle, on the North York Moors (Image: northyorkmoors.org.uk).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 23h

Official digital representation of the Bayeux Tapestry – 11th century. Credits: City of Bayeux, DRAC Normandie, University of Caen Normandie, CNRS, Ensicaen, Photos: 2017 – La Fabrique de patrimoines en Normandie.

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 23h

The Battle of Hastings took place #OnThisDay in 1066. Pictured is Scene 51 from the Bayeux Tapestry depicting Norman knights on horseback riding into battle (© Bayeux Museum). You can explore the whole Tapestry in great detail online here: buff.ly/2OtS6Sp thanks to a landmark project.

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 2d

The Battle of Hatfield Chase took place #OnThisDay in 633. The battle saw Edwin lead the Northumbrians to victory against an alliance of Gwynedd and Mercia. The Saint King Edwin is pictured in this stained glass window at St. Mary, Sledmere (Image: DaveWebster14 via Flickr.com CC BY-SA 2.0).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 3d

For the next few #Take5 posts, we're going to take a wander round these Viking Isles, starting with Viking-Age sites in England. Clockwise from top left: excavations at High Tarns Farm, Cumbria; pottery lamp from Thetford; artefacts from Coppergate, York; finds from Torksey; mass grave at Repton.

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 4d

Pictured is Crug Mawr with the likely battlefield site in the foreground (Image: WalesOnline).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 4d

The Battle of Crug Mawr also took place #OnThisDay in 1136 (although is may have taken place earlier). The battle was part of the struggle between the Welsh & the Normans for control of Ceredigion. It was a decisive victory for the Welsh forces that set back Norman expansion in West Wales for years.

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 4d

The Battle of Tours took place #OnThisDay in 732. Charles Martel, depicted here in the Grandes Chroniques de France, defeated forces of the Umayyad Caliphate. (Image: Bibliothèque Nationale de France).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 6d

Happy Wednesday! Here are some recent medieval news stories you might have missed. First, a forgotten medieval abbey in Cerne Abbas, Dorset: tinyurl.com/socmedarch25 And a medieval knight beneath an ice cream parlour: tinyurl.com/socmedarch26 (Image of excavation: Piotr Wittman/gdansk.pl)

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 11d

Dafydd ap Gruffydd was executed #OnThisDay in 1283. He was the first person known to have been tried & executed for high treason and the first prominent person in Britain to be hung, drawn & quartered. Pictured is Dolbadarn Castle, his last stronghold before going into hiding. (Image: Cadw OGLv1.0).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 11d

The second reign of Henry VI begins #OnThisDay in 1470. Pictured is a gold Angel of Henry VI dating to 1470. (Image: Classical Numismatic Group Inc.)

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 11d

- An exhibition in Copenhagen sees a stunning Viking gaming piece go on display: tinyurl.com/socmedarch23

- Excavations at a Northumberland quarry have unearthed an early medieval settlement: tinyurl.com/socmedarch24

(Image: Roberto Fortuna, National Museum of Denmark).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 11d

- Medieval artefacts uncovered in Ryedale: tinyurl.com/socmedarch20

- A new exhibition at the Guildhall Library in London celebrates the 600th anniversary of the first London library: tinyurl.com/socmedarch21

- The remains of a medieval dungeon found in Leicester: tinyurl.com/socmedarch22

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 11d

After a brief hiatus due to focusing on our two conferences, #Take5 is finally back. There have been lots of exciting medieval archaeology discoveries over the summer so we thought we'd kick things back off with 5 recent news stories.

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 14d

The reign of Henry IV began #OnThisDay in 1399, after he overthrew and imprisoned Richard II. This painting depicts Henry's Coronation and comes from Jean Froissart's "Chroniques, Vol. IV, part 2". (Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 15d

There were some very interesting new insights and we look forward to following future findings as the projects develop.

If you missed out this year, keep an eye out here for updates about next year's conference and how to get involved.

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 15d

Check out our round-up of this year's SMA Annual Conference: medievalarchaeology.co.uk/sma-annual-c...
It was lovely to meet so many of our members and listen to their fascinating and thought-provoking projects.

The Society for Medieval Archaeology | SMA Annual Conference 2025 Round-up

The Society for Medieval Archaeology was established to study evidence of the past, whether standing buildings, landscapes, buried remains or artefacts in museums.

medievalarchaeology.co.uk

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 15d

The Bootham Hoard was discovered #OnThisDay in 1953, by workmen digging in the courtyard of Bootham School. It comprised a bronze vessel containing 839 English silver pennies like the one pictured here, as well as coins from Ireland, Scotland & the Continent. (Image: York Museums Trust CC BY-SA 4.0)

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 19d

The Battle of Stamford Bridge also took place #OnThisDay in 1066. English armies under the command of Harold Godwinson defeated an invading Norwegian force led by Harald Hadrada. (Image: Cambridge University Library MS Ee.3.59, f. 32v).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 19d

The Battle of Nicopolis took place #OnThisDay in 1396, & resulted in the rout of an allied Crusader army by an Ottoman force, raising the siege of the Danubian fortress of Nicopolis & leading to the end of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Image of battle: Bibliothèque nationale de France BnF fr. 5594).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 20d

Norwich Cathedral was first consecrated #OnThisDay in 1101. Construction began in 1096 under Bishop Herbert de Losinga and the cathedral retains much of its Norman architecture. (Image: JackPeasePhotography via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 21d

The Battle of Blore Heath took place #OnThisDay in 1459. It was a victory for the House of York & is notable for the death of Lord Audley, a distinguished veteran of the Hundred Years' War. Today a cross, pictured, marks the spot where he died. (Image: Colin Park via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 23d

Edward II died #OnThisDay in 1327.He died in Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, though the circumstances of his death are unclear. Edward III eventually executed Roger Mortimer for the murder of his father. (Image: Edward's tomb in Gloucester Cathedral, Tilman2007 via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0).

socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 24d

The Battle of Myton took place #OnThisDay in 1319. It was a major battle of the First War of Scottish Independence and was a victory for Scotland. (Image: An account of the battle from a sign on the battlefield site, www.douglashistory.com).

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socmedarch.bsky.social @socmedarch.bsky.social · 24d

Salisbury Cathedral was consecrated #OnThisDay in 1258.The present building was constructed between 1220 and 1258 - a relatively short period of time for a medieval cathedral. (Image: Antony McCallum of WyrdLight.com via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0).