Basiliscoe Mercury 327

The Basiliscoe Mercury327


TheInternet newsletter for the arms and armour community


Strong showing of skeletonstories this time- Viking women warriors, mammoth traps, update on Ötziand best of all, the one-legged Napoleonic general under the dance floor re-appears! Otherwise, two new books on medieval gunpowder weapons, more Swedish war ships found and a wonderful tapestry restored.


Arms and armour in the news


Ancient arms


Bronze Agesword in Bohemia- picture

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blog...-discovered-in-north.html#SruQoUkSKgiPX4je.97


Beasts of assorted varieties…


Mammoth traps! Complete with mammoths

http://artdaily.com/news/118225/Huge-trove-of-mammoth-skeletons-found-in-Mexico#.XcaY8zFCd9A


Feature on the Tamil boomerang

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...boomerang-connection/articleshow/71946275.cms


17th century hawking ring found in East Anglia- with owners name

https://www.bbc.co.https://www.zmescience.com/science/...ast-journey-reconstructed-from-ancient-flora/


Reconstructing the face of a Valkyrie

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ional-geographic-documentary?CMP=share_btn_tw


The update we have all been waiting for…Napoleon’s favourite one-legged general under the dance-floor identified!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50329041


Investigating the Franklin Expedition cemetery

https://secretsoftheice.com/news/2019/10/28/franklin-expedition/



On the frontlines


Newthoughts on the Battle of Brunanburh

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/english-battlefield-0012766


New research on Battle of Grunewald

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/new-research-into-the-battle-of-grunwald-tannenberg-zalgiris/


Through the arrow-slit . . .


The Templars’ secret tunnels discovered!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...nels-treasure-tower-israel-acre-a9174776.html


Ten tiny castles in the UK

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/oct/30/10-best-tiny-castles-uk-northumberland-orkney-scilly


Fascinating story of graffiti on slab in Ireland

https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/1025/1085614-research-sheds-new-light-on-12th-century-graffiti/


Update from the dig at Pontefract- drawbridge pit excavated

https://www.pontefractandcastleford...ntefract-castle-archaeological-dig-1-10080194


Lewes castle wall collapses

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/wall-at-lewes-castle-collapses/


Exploring a 16th century Spanish fort- and finding a jack plate- in the USA

https://www.bpr.org/post/exploring-southern-appalachia-conquistadors-and-catawba#stream/0


Cannons to the left, cannon to the right


Collecting Sikh cannon (and other weapons)

https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/11/02/tale-pieces.html


This week’s Indian cannon story- battle to own 6 British guns found in 2010

https://www.newindianexpress.com/st...adu-battle-over-british-armament-2059145.html


The story of Greene County's Confederate cannons & how one man lost an arm

https://eu.news-leader.com/story/ne...ounty-confederate-cannons-history/4100938002/


Asian round-up


Feature on Medak fort- and picture of large wrought-iron gun

https://telanganatohttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ire-blaze-engulfs-ancient-world-heritage-site


Nice illustrated feature on Alamparai Fort https://www.thenewsminute.com/artic...s-alamparai-fort-still-resound-history-111440


Café Basiliscoe


WWI brandy and Benedictine

http://artdaily.com/news/118226/Hun...lvaged-from-WWI-era-Baltic-wreck#.XcaZwzFCd9A


Miscellany


Not strictly arms and armour, but a fascinating piece of research all the same: dating stave churches

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2019/11/stave-churches-in-norway-older-thhttps://www.theartnewspaper.com/gallery/fireworks-in-pictures

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/podcast/special-fireworks


Princesses and Amazons


Researching the lives of Scottish castle-living ladies: castles Fyvie and Drum

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/miss-fraser-and-miss-bristow-of-castle-fraser

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/the-forgotten-artist-of-drum-castle


Into the 20th century


Lockheed P-38 Lightning, nicknamed the Maid of Harlech, protected

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...r-plane-off-welsh-coast-gets-protected-status


Nautical news


Cannons found amid ancient wrecks off Greek island of Kasos

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your...t-cargo-found-in-shipwrecks-off-greek-island/


Update on the two-ships-in-one- grave in Norway

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/a-viking-grave-mystery-in-norway/


Sisters of the Vasa found?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...arships-linked-to-swedens-historic-vasa-found

https://www.thelocal.se/20191108/is-this-new-shipwreck-the-missing-sister-ship-of-vasa


USS Johnston discovered?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...orld-war-2-rv-petrel-paul-allen-a9178821.html


Wreck of WWII Submarine HMS Urge found off Malta

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/wreck-of-wwii-submarine-hms-urge-found-off-malta


US submarine Greyback found

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-50380521



Museum news and exhibitions


News


California is running out of storage for art

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/art-storage-demands-flare-as-california-fires-rage


National Portrait Gallery in London to close for 3 years, with joblosses…

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/london-s-national-portrait-gallery-to-close-for-three-years


Anotherattempt to steal a few Rembrandts

http://artdaily.com/news/118417/Rembrandts-targeted-again-at-theft-prone-London-gallery


Museum musings


Refocusing 17th century Dutch history

http://artdaily.com/news/118108/A-Dutch-Golden-Age--That-s-only-half-the-story#.Xb6bnjFCd9A


UK ivory ban to go into law

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/judicial-review-of-uk-ivory-act-rejected


Who owns Iceland’s sagas?

http://artdaily.com/news/118301/Denmark-and-Iceland-clash-over-priceless-mediaeval-manushttps://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/knights-at-the-museum-highlight-the-age-of-chivhttps://www.nts.org.uk/stories/the-deep-clean


Objects


Napoleon’s boots for sale

http://artdaily.com/news/118284/Napoleon-s-boots-could-sell-for-up-to-80-000-euros


France returns sword to Senegal

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/france-returns-a-historic-sword-to-senegal


Weapons from Baptys to be sold

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/...sale-film-suppliers-dineley-collection-207137


Exhibitions


George IV in London

http://artdaily.com/news/118498/Exh...e-life-and-passions-of-George-IV#.XdOsFDFCd9A


Young Rembrandt in Leiden

http://artdaily.com/news/116631/Museum-De-Lakenhal-opens--Young-Rembrandt--Rising-Star--exhibition


Views of early America in NY

http://artdaily.com/news/118111/Rar...w-at-New-York-Historical-Society#.Xb_jpzFCd9A


Books


Jonathan Davies: The Medieval Cannon 1326–1494

https://ospreypublishing.com/the-medieval-cannon-1326-1494


Dan Spencer: Royal and Urban Gunpowder Weapons in Late Medieval England

https://boydellandbrewer.com/royal-and-urban-gunpowder-weapons-in-late-medieval-enghttps://www.scottishfield.co.uk/culture/books/a-fascinating-look-at-edinburghs-proud-military-past/


John Walter: Hotchkiss Machine Guns: From Verdun to Iwo Jima

https://ospreypublishing.com/store/...s/available-this-month/hotchkiss-machine-guns


Online Books


Hopton Castle, Shropshire: a survey of the earthworks

https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16067&ru=/Results.aspx?n=10&k=castle&p=2


Pevensey Castle, Pevensey, East Sussex: Architectural, Archaeological and Aerial Investigation

https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16267&ru=/Results.aspx?n=10&k=castle&p=3



Popular Culture


The King

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/medieval-movie-review-the-king/


Midway

https://midway.movie/


Historical films- some thoughts

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/the-ahistoricism-of-medieval-film/


For your diary


Conferences


23 November 2019 Raglan

Symposium: Raglan Castle

https://www.sal.org.uk/events/2019/...ail&utm_term=0_c0cb6b55f1-3da2bfbb2d-83439177


29 November 2019 London

Respect and Protect: fulfilling the obligation to safeguard cultural property in the military context

https://www.sal.org.uk/events/2019/11/respect-and-protect/


Sales, fairs and auctions


27 Nov 2019 London

Fine Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25425/


4 December 2019 London

Arms and Armour

https://www.olympiaauctions.com/thomas-del-mar-ltd/



Websites and downloads


1066 etc Military manuals, Swedish massacres, crusaders & 100 Years War

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/1...ieval-the-role-of-byzantine-military-manuals/

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/1...onal-violence-and-the-demography-of-the-dead/

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/crusaders-with-dan-jones/

https://www.medievalists.net/2019/11/duel-at-la-roche-senadoire/


Finally This fortnight I willtweet cannon from around Portsmouth

https://twitter.com/Basiliscoe



Compiled by Ruth Rhynas Brown –20 November 2019


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Thanks, Spring!