Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 17 April 2020

Deep frozen history

The MailOnline - which is always good in its coverage of archaeological discoveries - has an article about discoveries at the Lendbreen Pass in the mountains of southern central Norway, midway between Trondheim and Bergen.

As ice melts and the ice field retreats a wealth of essentially mundane objects lost or abandoned by travellers and traders between the third and fourteenth centuries are revealed and are in remarkable condition given their essentially disposable and fragile nature. The later abandonment of the Pass as a route doubtless contributed to their survival. Preserved by the ice they give a remarkable insight into daily life in the region, especially in the Viking era around the year 1000.

The very well illustrated MailOnline article can be seen here
 
The Guardian also has a shorter article about the discoveries at 
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