February 2017 – Medieval Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society

IMS Open Lecture Series : Runes and Verse: The Medialities of Early Scandinavian Poetry

Tuesday 21st February, 2017 – 17.30

Judith Jesch is Professor of Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham. She is the author most recently of The Viking Diaspora (2015) and is currently working mainly on runic inscriptions and Old Norse poetry. She is also PI on the AHRC-funded ‘Bringing the Vikings Back to the East Midlands’ project, starting on 1 February 2017.

In this lecture, Professor Jesch will discuss a number of versified runic inscriptions, from ca. 400 to 1400 AD, to explore what they reveal about the forms and functions of early Scandinavian poetry outside the manuscript tradition.

Nathan Bodington Council Chamber, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds.

Thornton Le Street Heritage Lottery Fund Project.

Thornton Le Street History Group are launching their Heritage Lottery funded archaeology and history project with an Open Day to be held in the village hall on Saturday 18^th February between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Anyone interested in participating is invited to come along, see what is involved and register their interest.

Thornton le Street is a typical Vale of York village with extensive evidence of early occupation. The project will study the history of the village and its surrounding area which contains a substantial Scheduled Monument site, a water mill, a river ford, an early church, and landed estates. Two Roman roads are said to converge at this point and it is hoped to resolve whether the village is Roman or medieval in origin.

Jim Brightman of Solstice Heritage, who recently led a community archaeology project at Kiplin Hall in the nearby Vale of Mowbray, will supervise the project which will be of 18 months duration. Training and practical experience will be provided in archaeological field work and historical documentary research. The latest digital recording will be used which will be incorporated into a bespoke website which will be developed by the participants.

If you cannot attend on the day, a project synopsis is available on the village website or you can contact John Sheehan on 01609 771878 or at jgsheehan@btinternet.com

February 2017 Medieval Section Lecture

I regret to inform readers that we have just received the news that Professor Sarah Rees Jones, who had stepped in to give the Medieval Section lecture tomorrow afternoon at Swarthmore in place of Dr Peter Addyman has had to pull out due to ill health. In the circumstances we cannot find another replacement in the time avalable, so we regret that the lecture will have to be cancelled. Please pass this news on to anyone you know who you think may not receive it via this means, or through the Medieval section mailing list and blog.

February 2017 lecture

Saturday 11th February, 2017 2 p.m. at Swarthmore

Professor Sarah Rees Jones, of the Dept of Medieval Studies at the University of York and one of the co-authors of the York Historic Towns Atlas will give this Saturday’s talk to the Medieval Section instead of Peter Addyman who is unavoidably detained in the USA.

Sarah is a distinguished medieval historian whose recently-published book on medieval York has been very well received.