Have Richard III's remains been found?

A team of historians and archaeologists may have found the remains of one of the most maligned English monarchs, Richard III. The bones which were discovered in a parking lot in Leicester are thought to be a "prime candidate" for the king. Although not a hunchback, the skeleton shows signs of a curved spine  which "would have made his right shoulder appear visibly higher than his left shoulder."

This story has a Canadian connection. The DNA of the skeleton will be compared to a Canadian man, Michael Ibsen, who is a direct descendent of Richard's sister, Anne of York. 

Read more about the exciting story here:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/bones-unearthed-in-england-may-belong-to-king-richard-iii-1.952676

New School Year

The new school year is starting soon so stay tuned for upcoming MSCU events!

In the meantime, here's an interesting story.

An English family from Plymouth, Devon recently discovered that their living room was on top of a sixteenth-century well. The well measures approximately 30 inches wide, and goes 17 feet underground.  A sword was also found within the well.

Imagine that in your living room?

Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News.

 For more info, check out the story here: 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/british-family-digs-medieval-living-room-article-1.1147901

Also, please comment if you have any ideas for new events.

Fistula in Anno

I see a swimming pool in your future...

Diagrams for palm reading

What I should be doing...

Why does work feel like work?

The shape of things to come?

Fragment Found

A couple of weeks ago I was in the Greek and Roman Studies Reading Room (fourth floor of Clearihue). Searching for an English dictionary, I stumbled upon this Greek dictionary.

When I picked up the dictionary, it nearly fell apart in my hands. I couldn't help but notice that there was what appeared to be a fragment of sorts on the spine.

It appears that this dictionary used a page from a music book in the binding. The book dates from 1861.

While this fragment is interesting, it is hardly historical. If you are interested in Medieval fragments, Dr F. Kwakkel will be giving one more lecture this year on Medieval fragments.

The last lecture of the year will be on 30 November: A Fragmentary History of Medieval Devotion

The lecture will be in McPherson Library, Room 210, at 3:00 PM