iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Alice Hicklin @alicehicklin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I found this charter by searching for references to swords (as you do). It preserves a donation to a monastery but also the events that led to it, including the murder of one brother and kidnap of another. Did he get released? (spoiler alert! I think so!) alicehicklin.co.uk/2026/10/02/f...

alicehicklin.co.uk

For One Brother’s Soul, and Another’s Freedom

A charter from the monastery of Gellone and dated to 1100 preserves the aftermath of what seems to have been a night-time or dawn attack on two brothers. One, Raymond Berengarii, was struck with a …

1135

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Institute of Historical Research @ihr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

In our latest On History blog, @zoejackson.bsky.social discusses how they used two petitions as a starting point to reflect on environmental history as a field, and the usefulness of the Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) for researching environmental histories buff.ly/9yxpTE4

buff.ly

Pathways, Environmental History, and BBIH - On History

Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) Intern in Environmental Histories Zoë Jackson uses two petitions as a starting point to reflect on environmental history as a field, and the…

01711

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Ashley Brown @ashleyb2711.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Excited to give my paper next week as part of the medieval seminar series at @glasgow.ac.uk! 5pm on the 7th in 1 university gardens or on Teams! Shoot me a message or comment for the link 🥰

032

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Ecclesiastical History Society @eccleshistsoc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Calling #Historians 📢 We're looking for academics & PGs to be authors for our winter blogpost series (Jan, Feb, Mar 2027)! If you would like to write for our blog on any topic of #churchhistory, please send a 100-word abstract to eccleshistsoc@gmail.com by 30 October. We hope to hear from you!

057

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Elizabeth Biggs @elizabethbiggs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Question for #medievalSky- what should I read on 10th century Brittany? I need context for the Channel Islands and the bay of St Malo ideally, but any sense of how Brittany operated politically would be hugely appreciated.

141

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Sam Ottewill-Soulsby @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Fascinating! ‘Greece will hand over to Bulgaria the remains identified as those of Bulgarian ‌medieval ruler Tsar Samuel under an accord signed on Tuesday that also provides for the transfer of other historic and religious artefacts between the two Balkan neighbours.’

02411

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

David Gould @drdavidgould.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

My book on historic rabbit warrens in England is published on 13th Nov by Liverpool Uni Press and I'm pleased to have received my advance copies. The perfect Xmas gift for any rabbit warren-obsessed nerd, of which there are no doubt many such people. #landscapearchaeology #rabbits #medievalsky

Me in a dapper shirt pointing at the cover of my soon to be published book.

48532

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

UK Disability History and Heritage Hub @ukdishisthub.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Our monthly events are back after a summer break! Joining us tomorrow (30th September) will be @meg-sch.bsky.social, who will be talking to us about her work on the history of museum access in the UK for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) #DisHist

124

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Elizabeth Boyle @thecelticist.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Substack post by Ranke de Vries which not only shows that AI won't be taking over Medieval Irish Studies any time soon (thankfully), but also makes an eloquent case in favour of sitting with the difficulty of manuscript transcription. #MedievalSky rankedevries.substack.com/p/ai-and-med...

rankedevries.substack.com

AI and medieval Irish manuscripts

Just no.

45226

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Centre for Medieval Studies @yorkmedieval.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We're kicking off the new academic year with an exciting programme of events — explore what's coming up: www.york.ac.uk/medieval-stu...

Conservator examining a colorful medieval manuscript illustration of a stylized bird through a magnifying glass, with a soft brush and a gloved hand nearby as the page is studied for preservation.

041

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

PhD funding at Liverpool, happy to mentor medievalist with Irish Sea/ North Sea/ Atlantic interest in this theme #phds #academia #medievalsky

01111

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Medievalist.net @medievalists.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"Scholarly effort is in decline everywhere as never before. Indeed, cleverness is shunned at home and abroad. What does reading offer to pupils except tears? It is rare, worthless when it is offered for sale, and devoid of wit." www.medievalists.net/2023/09/medi... #teachers

medievalists.net

Medieval teachers complaining about their students - Medievalists.net

It is not too difficult to come across teachers talking about how bad their students are. However, even in medieval times there was a lot to complain about when it came to student performance.

1188

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Funded PhD opportunities with a short deadline. Join our early medieval cluster at Liverpool with 7 PhDs currently working with the Institute of Irish Studies on all aspects of Irish, British and Icelandic topics and connections www.nationalgallery.org.uk/research/col... #museums #medievalsky

nationalgallery.org.uk

Collaborative PhDs | Research | National Gallery, London

As part of collaborative consortia, the Gallery hosts a cohort of PhD students funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council.

12623

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

noam @noamchompers.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

[telling people what I work on] Wow that’s so interesting Not if I keep talking about it it’s not

823621

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Charles West @pseudo-isidore.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Crikey, hadn't realised this was already happening.

21913

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Rachel Moss @menysnoweballes.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Wow, fantastic postdoc here - also pays v well, which is fair since you will need MANY skills www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSY956/p... If you've got excellent language, palaeography skills & specialist knowledge of medieval/early modern commerce, this is a job for you!!

jobs.ac.uk

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Merchants of the Staple) at University of York

Recruiting now: Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Merchants of the Staple) on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

1911

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Alex Harvey @alexharvv.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I am currently really (really) bruised after moshing in the pit at a recent punk gig Which means it is once again time to share my article about how this is the best way to research early medieval warfare; www.epoch-magazine.com/post/what-ar...

epoch-magazine.com

What Are A Few More Words? Historical parallels where you least expect them

I have a friend who makes replicas of Early Medieval jewellery. Using authentic techniques, he forges and sells his wares at fairs up and...

4133

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

The Long Middle Ages @thelongmiddleages.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

One week left to go before our first seminar of term! There's still time to register if you want to come along!

043

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Norse in the North @norseinthenorth.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Norse in the North 2027: Life and Death Abstract deadline: 1st February 2027 We welcome proposals from postgraduate students for papers in any area of Old Norse, medieval Scandinavian, and Viking studies relating to the theme. We look forward to reading your proposals! #callforpapers #oldnorse

02217

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

EPOCH History Magazine @epoch-history.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

How did the Crusades lead to the establishment of 'Hybrid Kingdoms'? In Issue 25, Matthew John Lumley explored the fascinating lives of the 'Eastern Christians'. Find it here! 👇 www.epoch-magazine.com/post/outreme...

epoch-magazine.com

Outremer and the Eastern Christians: The Hybrid Kingdom of Medieval Christendom

The First Crusade (1096-1099), commissioned by Pope Urban II in 1095 to save the Eastern Churches, was the official premise of the Crusading movement at its inception.

011

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Mapping the March: Medieval Wales and England, c.1282-1550 @mappingthemarch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Research Seminar- 19 Oct, 4pm Speaker: Brendan Smith, Professor of Medieval History, Department of History, Uni of Bristol. Title: 'Pale Reflections: English Enclaves in the Plantagenet Empire'. Open to all! Please join using the QR code or email us for the link (mapping-the-march@bristol.ac.uk).

1106

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Megan Schlanker @meg-sch.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We'll be hosting our third collaboration between the Migration and Mobility Seminar and History Lab IHR on 6th October 2026, in person at Senate House, London, and online. (1/2)

221

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Josh Coulthard @joshcoulthard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Are you a historian who works on histories of work, trade, or industry? Do you want to reach a wider public audience? If so we want your pitches for our December issue! As medieval editor I am always happy to work with any medievalist on their articles! Submit: www.epoch-magazine.com/submit

078

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Fergus @fergushs.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Summer might have ended, but the savings certainly haven't! Use code SEPTEMBER for 10% off 💰 Will be taking you on a voyage through a millennium of Scottish history - tying less explored narratives around Scotland's formation into the broader insular context, so should be a ride! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

073

Josh Coulthard @joshcoulthard.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

078

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

The Haskins Society @haskinssociety.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Emily Winkler, Haskins VP for the UK and Europe, was recently interviewed by the BBC about the British Museum's new Bayeux Tapestry exhibition!

Screenshot of BBC News Now, with a news anchor speaking to a woman in a pink shirt and cardigan. The news ticker below them reads, "BBC News Breaking: King and Queen to view Bayeux tapestry."

Screenshot of BBC News, with a woman in a pink shirt and cardigan and the label "Emily Winkler, Lecturer in Medieval History, Oxford University."

061

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Sara Charles @saracharles.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It was very nice to come face-to-face with little Hugo Pictor today (MS Bodl. 717, fol. 287v). Unusually for a medieval scribe, Hugo is depicted as left-handed. He was also on the front cover of my book! #bookhistory #medievalsky

An image of a seated scribe with a quill dipped into an ink pot in his left hand and a knife in his right hand, held over a book on a stand. The scribe is in a blue robe with a tonsure

Full page of medieval manuscript with the image of a scribe in the bottom right

1337

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

The Onion @theonion.com · 14/09/2026

Archaeologists Discover More Old Shit That Sucks theonion.com/archaeologists-discove…

81671172

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Christian Cooijmans @ccooijmans.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Ending the week on a high by meeting what may be the oldest Scottish book still in Scotland. Late C10/early C11, it is a psalter in Irish minuscule, presumably created in Scotland, exact provenance unknown. Richly illum. initials throughout, with fine interlacing and lots of brilliant animal heads.

Celtic Psalter (late 10th/early 11th century), opened with illuminated initials visible.

A large, colourfully illuminated initial in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and claw terminals.

A large, colourfully illuminated initial in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and leaf terminals.

Colourfully illuminated 'E' initials in a medieval manuscript, with animal head and claw terminals.

58223

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Trevor Wiley @mearcsteppende.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Want to learn how early medieval people living on the coast in Scotland hunted seals and seabirds? Or how collecting sea snails on the beach was part of new Christian practice? You should check out my new article in Water History! link.springer.com/article/10.1... #medievalsky

link.springer.com

Wild animals, small practices, and the formation of an early medieval coastal landscape on the Firth of Forth - Water History

The large-scale landscape changes that occurred in northern Britain from roughly 400–800 C.E. were built on a vast array of smaller shifting practices which reflected the realities of local environmen...

510345

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Anfor @anforsorrow.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

3D artist JR. Casals made this virtual reconstruction of how Laucenston Castle might have looked like during the 13th century, and it is also a good example of how a medieval castle would have been decorated: www.behance.net/gallery/1518...

Launceston Castle XIII century. The Upper Chamber. JR. Casals

45220

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

NEW The legal agony of Wile E Coyote Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

prospectmagazine.co.uk

The legal agony of Wile E Coyote

Coyote vs Acme may be one of the best films about civil litigation ever made

15840280

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Alex Harvey @alexharvv.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

NEW BOOK ALERT 🗣️🗣️🗣️🚨📢🎺 Releasing on the 15th of November this year, I am very happy to reveal the cover for something slightly different: a colouring book all about Norse mythology THE VIKING WORLD: A COLOURING BOOK, to be published via Amberley Publishing for £15.99 (or £14.39 via the below link)

56224

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Leonie V. Hicks @lvhicks.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

As promised (threatened), here is a brief Norman history reading list for those who want to know more. It's not comprehensive becuase i haven't got all day, but it is a starting point normanlandscapes.wordpress.com/2026/09/03/l... #Normans #medievalsky #skystorians #BayeuxTapestry.

normanlandscapes.wordpress.com

Leonie’s Norman History reading list!

The blog has been quiet for a while [gestures at UK HE problems], but given BBC Radio 4 is having a Normans day to mark the opening of the Bayeux Tapestry, it seemed sensible to put up some sensibl…

13922

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Andrew Curry @andrewcurry.com · 02/09/2026

Ancient parchments, covered in ancient disease DNA! Researchers led by @ucddublin.bsky.social's @gingerhowley.bsky.social recover the genes of a deadly animal pathogen from medieval manuscripts. @science.org

science.org

Ancient sheep virus found hiding in medieval parchment

Newly recovered sheeppox sequences reveal when and how the virus emerged

615559

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

@imc-leeds.bsky.social Leeds IMC Call for Papers for a session co-ordinated by Liverpool PhDs Hannah Evans and Nik Frenzel #medievalsky #celtic #norse #academic #skystorians

01213

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

EPOCH History Magazine @epoch-history.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

⏰ISSUE 25 IS LIVE!⏰ Join us as we celebrate Issue 25 of EPOCH, 'Hidden Histories'. With sixteen articles on topics spanning cannibals, spies, scientists, kingdoms, and archival treasures, there's something for everyone to enjoy! Read Issue 25!👇 www.epoch-magazine.com

032

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

#medievalsky #herstory Liverpool PhD Hannah Evans will be presenting research from her dissertation on the economic agency of women in textile production at this year’s Tionól in Dublin

0115

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Sam Ottewill-Soulsby @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

“Furthermore, ideas of kingship are totally foreign to us, as I was explaining the other day to our kong whose ancestors have owned most of the land here, redistributed goods and led us into war for centuries. Therefore there is no way we can possibly understand the treaties we’re signing with you.”

1192

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Josh Coulthard @joshcoulthard.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

CFP Extended to 1st September! #medievalsky #skystorians #imc2027

01311

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

International Medieval Congress Leeds @imc-leeds.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

⏰️ This is your 3 day warning until the paper proposal deadline closes for #IMC2027! ⏰️ Submit your paper proposal here www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/imc-2027/pro... before Monday 31 August 2026! 🙂 Any questions please email imc@leeds.ac.uk #MedievalSky #SkyStorians

Smiling delegates walking into a session building.

021

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Katy Bennett @katybennett.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Looking forward to speaking at this conference next month, marking the anniversary of Edward II’s deposition - online attendance is free and in-person only £10! Booking link here for anyone interested: buytickets.at/edwardiiconf...

Downfall and aftermath: Marking 700 years since the fall of Edward II, 1326-2026
Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, 25-26 September 2026
Booking link: https://buytickets.at/edwardiiconference/2185120

0138

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Colourful Roman glass cups decorated with animals from the Roman arena. Made in the AD 200s in Roman glass workshops in the Rhineland, they were found in ‘princely’ graves in Denmark, giving us a glimpse of how far Roman luxury goods travelled. National Museum of Denmark 📷 by me #Archaeology

16772208

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Alex Harvey @alexharvv.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Still time for this, so keep sending submissions in. Have some brilliant submissions for 1 panel already but would be interested in a second!

0108

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Eddie Meehan @eddiemeehan99.eurosky.social · 16/08/2026

Reposting for the weekend crowd #medievalsky #digitalhumanities

0910

Reposted by Josh Coulthard

Josh Coulthard @joshcoulthard.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Excited to open the call for papers for this strand and roundtable on the history of emotions for next year’s International Medieval Congress in Leeds @imc-leeds.bsky.social sponsored by @northwestmedieval.bsky.social #medievalsky #skystorians #imc2027

2027 marks the 25th anniversary of Barbara Rosenwein’s seminal article, ‘Worrying about Emotions in History’ (2002), in which she first put forward the concept of ‘emotional communities’. This framework has revolutionised our understanding of medieval emotions and, crucially, redefined the methodological possibilities available to researchers looking at past societies and structures. As we celebrate this milestone, this strand invites contributions from scholars at any career stage to address the question: What comes next?

In particular, we seek to explore the role of ‘non-productive’ emotions in historical research. Emotions and affects such as anxiety, discomfort, nostalgia, paranoia, melancholy, apathy, shame, and guilt have often been overlooked in medieval historiography because they frequently lack the dramatic traces left by more expressive emotions like anger, love, and joy. Yet, these states remain some of the most profound aspects of the human emotional experience, frequently underpinning the internal dynamics of governance, negotiation, and community cohesion.

Papers may address themes such as:
The methodological challenges of mapping ‘quiet’ or elusive affective states within medieval archives.
Case studies focusing on the role of apathy, anxiety, or paranoia during periods of transition, conflict, or institutional change.
How non-productive emotions shape relationships of power, diplomacy, authority, and dissent.
The interactions of materiality and material culture with non-productive emotions.
Temporalities and shifting landscapes of non-productive emotional histories.

Call for Roundtable Participants
In addition to research papers, we are organising a roundtable on this theme. To be considered for the roundtable, please send a short response (maximum 200 words) to the organisers addressing the question: ‘What can the study of non-productive emotions add to our histories?’

02617