It’s time to stop suggesting the role of aliens in archaeology as light-hearted fun – it’s a dangerous idea built on serious problems. Archaeology attracts all types, which is a wonderful thing. What is less wonderful, however, is the consistent conspiracy-theory trend for alien intervention in ancient archaeology. I’m arguing here that this shouldn’t be […]
Recently, St Cross College ran their yearly history prize. This involved, among other things, producing a plain English explanation of your current research. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share the result, and a little bit more about my research. How can we use nicknames for past societies to ask important questions about the […]
A wonderful resource for exploring the manuscript culture behind the single surviving version of the epic poem Beowulf. This week I wanted to highlight a great resource for the study of one of England’s most famous poems – the Electronic Beowulf, which you can find here. A plain text presentation of the text is matched […]
The Emporia represent an interesting set of archaeological evidence in the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ world, likely representing a return to urbanisation for the first time since the Romans. However, as is often the case with archaeological evidence, must about them is unclear. In the latest deep-dive, we take a brief look at the conflicting arguments around the […]
What do ‘Anglo-Saxon’ nicknames look like, and what sources do they appear in? What trends and themes emerge? My research focuses on nickname use among the ‘Anglo-Saxons’ – how the names change with time and space, what names are chosen, and whether this reflects social systems and groupings. Drawing on sources from the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ world, […]
Hello, my name is Tristan and I’m a first-year history PhD researcher at Oxford. The aim of this blog is to share my research and wider history on the early medieval world, help give any advice on applying to university and explaining about Oxford, and generally expanding engagement with the Humanities. So if you fall […]
Far from the aloof ethnic group envisioned by historical misuse, the ‘Vikings’ show a consistent trend towards assimilation within other cultures, adapting their ways of life to fit within local power systems, and to benefit from them. Beyond studying a single aspect in great detail, there are 2 primary ways to conceptualise the ‘Vikings’ within […]
Update: This article has ended up on quite a lot of conspiracy websites. Hello! Stay polite and considerate. Conspiracy Theorists are the bane of the academic. After years of research, experimentation and peer-review, some random person on the internet appears and instantly disregards your work, choosing to accept a sinister cover-up instead. I’ve written before […]
The Westfield Farm (Ely) cemetery represents a crucial yet under-appreciated piece of ‘Anglo-Saxon’ funerary archaeology – a cemetery focused around a single lavish female burial. Move over Sutton Hoo Mound 1 and the Prittlewell Prince, there’s a lot to be learnt here too… We hear an awful lot about the large-scale male ‘Princely’ burial of […]
Does it matter what Oxford College I attend? Which Oxford College is best? How do I choose which Oxford College to go to? Applying to Oxford brings with it hundreds of difficult questions that can stress out applicants – follow this handy guide to help relieve some of the stress! A Quick Note Before we […]
Nine of the best history documentaries for history buffs and fans, including serious documentaries, docu-dramas and light-hearted comedy, covering a broad range of time periods from the Vikings and Ancient Egypt to the Second World War. Everyone loves a good documentary, especially in the age of lockdown. The problem is, there are as many bad […]
One of the crucial aspects of historical onomastics is the question of place-names – how did places get their names, why have some names survived and others been forgotten, how can we trace the etymologies of these names? In England, place-names can be a complex mish-mash of ‘Celtic’, Latin, Old English, Old Norse and French […]
One of the crucial aspects of historical onomastics is the question of place-names – how did places get their names, why have some names survived and others been forgotten, how can we trace the etymologies of these names? In England, place-names can be a complex mish-mash of ‘Celtic’, Latin, Old English, Old Norse and French […]
All Souls College at the University of Oxford University is widely accepted to have the hardest exam in the world its entry test. How many questions can you answer? All Souls College, Oxford All Souls, one of the colleges at the University of Oxford, is unlike any other. It is open only to those with […]