Katherine CM Cross
@kcross.bsky.social
Historian of the Early Middle Ages based in York.
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
This might be hard to grasp for British people, but the damage that this and Brexit are doing to the international reputation of British universities is huge. When I moved here 11 years ago, coming to the UK was basically the dream. Now I would never advise international colleagues to come here
Chief exec of OfS 'said the OfS believes there are 24 institutions at risk of exiting the market in the next 12 months, seven of which are large providers with more than 3,000 students. There are another 25 or so institutions of various sizes at risk over a two- to three-year period, she added.'
Seven ‘large providers’ at risk of going under in the next year
Skills minister says no higher education institutions are at imminent risk of collapse this year but OfS confirms more than 20 providers are being closely monitored
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:28 AM
This might be hard to grasp for British people, but the damage that this and Brexit are doing to the international reputation of British universities is huge. When I moved here 11 years ago, coming to the UK was basically the dream. Now I would never advise international colleagues to come here
I just read Ali Smith’s How to be Both. Absolutely astounded to discover that different copies have the story in the opposite order!
November 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I just read Ali Smith’s How to be Both. Absolutely astounded to discover that different copies have the story in the opposite order!
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
And the news is... We're recruiting! Applications are now open for our 2026 @leverhulme.ac.uk Doctoral Scholarships. So, if you want to study at PhD level pre-modern handwritten cultures and the organisation of knowledge and power within them, do investigate our refreshed website.
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM
And the news is... We're recruiting! Applications are now open for our 2026 @leverhulme.ac.uk Doctoral Scholarships. So, if you want to study at PhD level pre-modern handwritten cultures and the organisation of knowledge and power within them, do investigate our refreshed website.
2-year position for a woman - could be a medievalist!
Marjorie McLean Oliver Post-Doctoral Fellowship – History of Classical and/or Medieval Europe. Deadline: January 15, 2026. #cdnhist @queenshistory.bsky.social cha-shc.ca/careers-and-...
November 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
2-year position for a woman - could be a medievalist!
Wonderful (if chilly) morning celebrating with our graduates in York Minster.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Wonderful (if chilly) morning celebrating with our graduates in York Minster.
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
My review of Tomás Mario Kalmar’s King Alfred the Great, his Hagiographers and his Cult: A Childhood Remembered
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
My review of Tomás Mario Kalmar’s King Alfred the Great, his Hagiographers and his Cult: A Childhood Remembered
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
My review of Tomás Mario Kalmar’s King Alfred the Great, his Hagiographers and his Cult: A Childhood Remembered
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
My review of Tomás Mario Kalmar’s King Alfred the Great, his Hagiographers and his Cult: A Childhood Remembered
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
doi.org/10.1017/jbr....
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
FORGOTTEN VIKINGS releases in paperback today, although, of course, a few early sightings have already been noted from the wildlands!
November 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
FORGOTTEN VIKINGS releases in paperback today, although, of course, a few early sightings have already been noted from the wildlands!
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
binghamton.interviewexchange.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
ICYMI yesterday afternoon a fantastic new digital resource pulling together data on the Roman road network has just launched. Explore at:
itiner-e
itiner-e.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
ICYMI yesterday afternoon a fantastic new digital resource pulling together data on the Roman road network has just launched. Explore at:
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Families "horrified" after daycare teacher pulled out of school by federal agents.
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
www.chalkbeat.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
“How did you receive the foreigner? And did you receive him and welcome him or not?”
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“How did you receive the foreigner? And did you receive him and welcome him or not?”
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Today in my Viking Age module we read Ibn Fadlan’s account of a Rus’ funeral, with this article in particular prompting some great discussion. Always find something new to talk about in this text!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Agents of Death: Reassessing Social Agency and Gendered Narratives of Human Sacrifice in the Viking Age | Cambridge Archaeological Journal | Cambridge Core
Agents of Death: Reassessing Social Agency and Gendered Narratives of Human Sacrifice in the Viking Age - Volume 31 Issue 4
www.cambridge.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Today in my Viking Age module we read Ibn Fadlan’s account of a Rus’ funeral, with this article in particular prompting some great discussion. Always find something new to talk about in this text!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
This Wednesday (5/11/25) 17.30 UTC, we're delighted to welcome Dr Peter Jones (Plymouth), who will be speaking on William Morris's travel in Iceland. Free to attend in person in the IHR or online, but please register in advance. Details, abstract and registration:
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This Wednesday (5/11/25) 17.30 UTC, we're delighted to welcome Dr Peter Jones (Plymouth), who will be speaking on William Morris's travel in Iceland. Free to attend in person in the IHR or online, but please register in advance. Details, abstract and registration:
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Discovery that one of my maternal ancestors was a shot putter led me down a rabbit hole to this great article by @hpsvanessa.bsky.social
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Testing sex and gender in sports; reinventing, reimagining and reconstructing histories
Most international sports organisations work on the premise that human beings come in one of two genders: male or female. Consequently, all athletes, including intersex and transgender individuals, must be assigned to compete in one or other ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Discovery that one of my maternal ancestors was a shot putter led me down a rabbit hole to this great article by @hpsvanessa.bsky.social
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
An important article challenging the views of earlier archaeologists about 'Pictish cellular' vs. 'Norse rectangular' building styles. The authors could also have challenged more clearly the earlier view that they mention, namely that 'the early Viking conquest' took place 'around AD 800'. 🧵1/6
A new consideration of the chronology of the key settlement of Buckquoy, Orkney - shows that the buildings here belong firmly in the Pictish tradition. This leads to a wider consideration of the timings and character of the Viking Age in the Northern Isles.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland | Antiquity | Cambridge Core
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland
www.cambridge.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
An important article challenging the views of earlier archaeologists about 'Pictish cellular' vs. 'Norse rectangular' building styles. The authors could also have challenged more clearly the earlier view that they mention, namely that 'the early Viking conquest' took place 'around AD 800'. 🧵1/6
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
When one of my colleagues asked about whether any data will be collected on learning outcomes, we were told that "AI is no longer window dressing it is table setting"
October 29, 2025 at 6:02 AM
When one of my colleagues asked about whether any data will be collected on learning outcomes, we were told that "AI is no longer window dressing it is table setting"
Useful account of some of the issues around metal detecting and the burden on FLOs and PAS. I like the idea of detectorists paying in for a licence - maybe this money could be used to provide a flat fee for any significant finds (if desired)
The piece where I get to say everything that's bugging me about the world of detecting & archaeology & ask - why are we not more concerned about this?
(Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.)
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...
(Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.)
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...
The system is broken, so why are we not more concerned?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) – the detectorist-facing branch of archaeology – whic…
bigbookoftorcs.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Useful account of some of the issues around metal detecting and the burden on FLOs and PAS. I like the idea of detectorists paying in for a licence - maybe this money could be used to provide a flat fee for any significant finds (if desired)
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
Wow! This is incredibly cynical
7. This one is almost fascinating! AI detectors may flag your human writing as AI, so the solution seems to be to use AI to make sure your human writing sounds as human as possible.
October 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Wow! This is incredibly cynical
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
yes. I switched to using “products” instead of even “tools” to make clear what they are.
I implore anyone who has an audience and speaks about genAI and LLMs to refer to them as products, not technologies, as much as possible.
Keep hammering that home.
Keep hammering that home.
I always try to write/talk critically about tech product design without focusing on particular products, or even product categories, but I continually find that LLM/GenAI products cover all the bases for what makes a bad product bad
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
yes. I switched to using “products” instead of even “tools” to make clear what they are.