The Basiliscoe Mercury 292

The Basiliscoe Mercury292


TheInternet newsletter for the arms and armour community


Arms and armour in the news


Apologies for the lateness of this Bazzy; I have been travelling off and on for the last fortnight. We start with the sad news of the sudden death of John Waller, whom many of you will have known. We extend our sympathies to family and his many close friends.

On a happier note, sea mammals in medieval Iceland, Napoleonic French prisoners like to draw ships and the Vasa are looking for their cannon.



Obituaries


John Waller

http://www.bartitsu.org/index.php/2018/04/in-memoriam-master-at-arms-john-waller/


Ancient arms and defences


The defences of Mytilene

http://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-n...ring-salvage-excavation-on-lesvos-island.html


New technology used on the Antonine Wall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43838792?


Investigating a Highland vitrified fort

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...chaeology&link_location=live-reporting-story#


Harold Bluetooth’s treasure found in Rugen

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ry-danish-king-bluetooth-unearthed-in-germany


Beasts of assorted varieties…


Interesting horse burial

https://www.livescience.com/62419-ancient-horse-burial-tombos.html


Whales, seals and walruses in medieval Iceland

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04/whales-walrus-and-seals-in-medieval-icelandic-literature/


Settling Iceland, mythically

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04/the-legendary-topography-of-the-viking-settlement-of-iceland/ )


Grave stories


Investigating a 5th century massacre in Sweden

https://www.theguardian.com/science...eologists-uncover-brutal-5th-century-massacre


Studying the remains of Napoleon’sarmy

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristi...d-shed-light-on-soldiers-health/#73a4e0b4227e


How Custer’s men met their deaths

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/suicide-custer-little-big-horn-soldiers-may-be-overblown


Turning Grandpa into a weapon

https://www.livescience.com/62399-human-cassowary-bone-daggers.html


Through the arrow-slit . . .


Latest excavations in the Byzantine fortress of Trapesitsa uncover church

http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/20...pesitsa-fortress-in-bulgarias-veliko-tarnovo/


Crumbling castles make poor neighbours!

https://www.metro.news/crumbling-castle-proves-monumental-problem-for-homeowner/1019400/


What Windsor Castle used to look like

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...econstruction-medieval-fortress-a8321766.html


They’ve found the moat at Newark castle

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/business/moat-created-defend-newark-castle-1497609


What they are finding at Norwich castle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-43840546


Through the gunloop…


Lost colony’s lost fort

http://norfolkdailynews.com/news/na...cle_fd5989c0-4aed-11e8-b569-43115cdd5220.html


French prisoner of war graffiti discovered at Sissinghurst Castle

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-...issinghurst-national-trust-kent-a8328186.html


Excavating Fort Clarence

https://greatlakesledger.com/2018/04/13/fort-clarence-military-fortification-to-be-excavated/


Excavations at Fort Fredericahttps://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/first-archaeological-digs-in-year s-to-take-place-at-fort/article_cdf72ffa-cdc6-5c76-b50f-09d616de9c4b.html


Cannons to the left, cannon to the right


How Grandmaster’s Ximenez’ cannon got to the Royal Armouries

https://www.timesofmalta.com/articl...s-Cannon-from-plunder-to-prize-of-war.677148#


Decrepit old cast-iron cannon found on Palm Beach https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/...ointed-west-palm-beach/o6MGGdR7VUY5tepRQvdWLK


The two Tredegars – a shared heritage

http://ideastations.org/two-tredegars-https://www.middletownpress.com/local/article/Memento-found-in-Civil-War-cannon-12875446.php


Pair of 125-ton guns at Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island http://mynorthwest.com/966379/the-twisted-tale-of-whidbey-islands-big-guns/?


Back to the front


Future of Culloden field

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/battle-for-cullodens-future-begins-says-top-academic


Restoring a US Civil War landscape

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo...ttlefield-park-to-restore-civil-war-landscape


Princesses and Amazons


Shieldmaidens in Old Norse

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04/maiden-warriors-in-old-norse-literature/


Hunting for ladies

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/04/women-guns-hunting-far-from-recent-trend/#axzz5D0xinAxb


Into the 20th century


Ten objects from D-Day

https://museumcrush.org/ten-objects-from-the-newly-opened-d-day-story-in-portsmouth/


Wartime medicine in photographs

https://museumcrush.org/the-treasure-trove-of-wartime-medical-photos-found-in-the-archives/


Nautical news


Mystery wreck found off Western Australia

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-17/mystery-shipwreck-found-off-pilbara-coast/9663740


Finds from HMS Invincible go into museum

https://museumcrush.org/hms-invinci...from-the-watery-depths-gifted-to-navy-museum/


UK gives Canada two Franklin ships

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-britain-officially-gifts-two-long-lhttps://www.vasamuseet.se/finding-the-vasa-cannon



Museum news and exhibitions


News


Short list for UK’s Museum of the Year

https://www.theguardian.com/culture...ns-post-museum-london-heritage-art-fund-prize


Uncomfortable tours of galleries and museums

https://www.theguardian.com/artandd...-empire-uncomfortable-art-tours-alice-procter


IWM drops exhibition charges for the summer

https://www.museumsassociation.org/...042018-iwm-drops-temporary-exhibition-charges


New museums


Getty Villa re-opens

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/getty-villa-renovation


New sculpture at USA’s National WWII Museum

http://artdaily.com/news/103952/The...und-on-Bollinger-Canopy-of-Peace#.WtWrnzGG99A


Finance for new Higgins Armorydisplays at Worcester

http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2018/04/higgins_arms_and_armor_will_fi.html


Museum developments


UK sculpture to go on national database

http://artdaily.com/news/104284/Photography-starts-for-major-UK-sculpture-project#.Wul3zjGG99A


Museum musings


This week in statues & memorials

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/us-memorial-confronts-america-s-racist-history

http://artdaily.com/news/104286/Pol...monuments-to-dustbin-of-history-#.Wul3FDGG99A


Conservation corner


Tapestries from Falkland Palace conserved in Belgium

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/falkland-tapestries-return-from-belgium-ablaze-with-colour


Objects


Nine historic knives

https://www.history.com/news/knives-that-changed-history



Books


Susan Jenkins and Tony Trowles: The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey

http://www.scalapublishers.com/title.aspx?category=new-titles&subcategory=&id=3898


Online Book


Wealden Iron

https://www.wealdeniron.org.uk/pub.htm


Events


Events at Les Invalides

http://www.musee-armee.fr/programmation.html


Conferences- calls for papers


ICOMAM IN Slovenia

http://network.icom.museum/icomam/news/https://www.hermann-historica.de/en/Auktionen/Laufende

http://artdaily.com/news/103721/Her...highlights-from-its-76th-auction#.WsSELTGG99A


22 May 2018 Edinburgh

Sporting sale

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24751/


22 May 2018 LA

Tribal arms and armour

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24946/


23 May London

Arms and armour

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24657/



Websites and downloads


Scotland’s Royal Company of Archers

https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/the-royal-company-of-archers


1066 etcmedieval military revolution, crusaders, medieval militias

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04/medieval-military-revolution/

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04...-the-crusaders-at-the-battle-of-ascalon-1099/

http://www.medievalists.net/2018/04/medieval-origins-of-the-second-amendment/


Finally


This fortnight I will be tweeting about my recent travels!

https://twitter.com/Basiliscoe



Compiled by Ruth Rhynas Brown –30 April 2018


Some people have asked me about making a contribution to the Newsletter – if you would like to support us, you can make a donation here through our Paypal account – see here for details:

http://www.basiliscoe.com/id2.html

 

What a Treasure Trove of information...This will keep me busy for awhile...