Archaeologists were hoping to find the first hermitage built in Cacela Velha, in Algarve, after the Christian conquest, but the remains that were unearthed in the area belonged instead to a medieval Christian necropolis and to an earlier Islamic settlement.

Cristina Garcia, from the Regional Direction of Culture (DRC) of Algarve, explains that the work is a continuation of the excavations undertaken in 1998 and 2001, in which the remains of what was thought to be the hermitage were detected, but it soon became apparent that the existing walls were, in fact, part of an Islamic bath abandoned by the Arabs before the Christian conquest and that they were later covered by a medieval Christian necropolis.

"Because the walls appeared to lie above the Christian necropolis, it was thought that they belonged to the hermitage, but only more burials of the medieval Christian cemetery were found, which had been used until the 15th or 16th century, and now we need to determine what the precise boundaries of this cemetery are", says Cristina Garcia.

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Old Theban port of Chalcis: A medieval maritime crossroads in Greece

Medieval ceramic article from Chalcis typical of main Middle Byzantine Production (MBP), 

in the collection of the Musée National de Céramique and the Manufacture de Sèvres 

(Cité de la Céramique) [Credit: S. Y. Waksman]

Showcased in museums the world over, Byzantine ceramics are the vestiges of an ancient empire that dominated the Mediterranean region for nearly ten centuries. One CNRS researcher, in cooperation with Greek colleagues, has focused her attention on a widely disseminated style of ceramics called the “main Middle Byzantine Production,” found in all four corners of the Mediterranean. Its origins had remained a mystery until these scientists traced it back to Chalcis (Khalkís), the former port of Thebes. They determined that the town had been a maritime hub from which goods were shipped to Marseille, Acre (in modern-day Israel), and beyond—as far as Chersonesus in Crimea. The team's findings have just been published online by the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

In the 12th century, the Byzantine Empire was flourishing and the city of Thebes--between Corinth and Athens--was a bustling center of commercial and cultural exchange. Its outlet to the sea was the port of Chalcis, part of a vast maritime trade network. In addition to agricultural products and silk, ceramic tableware was shipped from Chalcis throughout the Mediterranean. Most of this tableware has been assigned to the main Middle Byzantine Production (MBP) ceramic type.

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New DNA sample could prove whether Richard III was guilty of murdering the 'Princes in the Tower'

New scientific research could finally solve one of Britain’s most controversial historical mysteries.

Geneticists have succeeded in obtaining a sample of DNA that could ultimately prove whether the medieval English King Richard III was guilty or innocent of murdering the two children of his predecessor, Edward IV – the so-called Princes in the Tower.

The discovery of the crucial modern DNA is revealed in a new book, The Mythology of the ‘Princes in the Tower’, published this week.

Richard III – whose skeleton was discovered in Leicester just six years ago and whose identity was confirmed through DNA testing, was portrayed as a villain by Shakespeare and the Tudors.

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Polish archaeologists discover medieval graves in Sicily

Polish archaeologists discovered over 800 years old burials during excavations near the medieval church of San Michele del Golfo near Palermo in Sicily. According to the scientists, the graves could belong to the Normans, descendants of the Vikings.

"Some of the dead buried in the cemetery were undoubtedly members of the elites or the clergy, as the form of some of the graves indicates" - says head of excavations Prof. Sławomir Moździoch from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wroclaw.

This year, archaeologists found a total of 10 burials, including three graves of women and two graves of children. The remaining skeletons were difficult to identify. According to the discoverers, the cemetery was associated with the church hospital mentioned in a document from the 12th century. Unfortunately, no equipment was found in any of the graves.

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Archäologen entdecken mittelalterliche Steinarchitektur im Zentrum von Minden

Bei aktuellen Ausgrabungen im Zentrum von Minden haben Archäologen unter Leitung des Landschaftsverbandes Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) die Mauern nobler Bürgerhäuser aus dem Mittelalter entdeckt. Wo ein Fundamentgraben für den Neubau entstehen sollte, stieß der Bagger unerwartet auf mittelalterliche Häuser. Dank der Umsicht der Mindener Denkmalbehörde untersuchen nun Wissenschaftler diese Gebäudereste.

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12th century castle moat unearthed during Newark sewer work

The moat uncovered during work by Severn Trent in Newark

A 12th century castle moat has been unearthed during work on a £60m project on Newark's serwers.

Archaeologists working as part of Severn Trent’s water and waste improvement scheme in the town made the discovery recently.

Severn Trent Programme Engineer Nick Wallace said: ‘It’s really exciting we’ve been able to reveal these glimpses of Newark’s hidden heritage during our work.

"We’re unveiling new information which adds to the already rich story of the development of this historic town.”

Severn Trent is working in Newark until 2020, and has a resident archaeologist on hand to oversee the work to make sure that the heritage remains undisturbed.

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St Albans Abbey 'one of England's early Norman cathedrals'

Remains of the original apse built in 1077 was unearthed during excavation work at 

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans Abbey has been confirmed as one of England's early Norman cathedrals after experts uncovered foundations of the early church.

Remains forming part of the early Norman abbey have been identified after foundations of the 11th Century church were revealed during excavation.

Site director Ross Lane said: "We knew it was probably there but this confirms it."

Other Norman cathedrals in the UK include Durham and Canterbury.

The Hertfordshire abbey is dedicated to Britain's first saint, St Alban - a citizen of Roman Verulamium - who was martyred by the Romans.

The first church at the site was probably a simple structure over St Alban's grave, making this the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain.

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12th Century graffiti art uncovered as part of medieval discovery in Dublin's Coombe

A HOTEL DEVELOPMENT in Dublin halted production last October when the remains of what appeared to be 12th century Irish structures were discovered, including an example of graffiti art carved onto a piece of slate.

The Hodson Bay Hotel Group are developing a 234 room hotel at the site on Dean Street in The Coombe, to the west of the city centre.

Archaeologists from Aisling Collins Archaeology Services (ACAS) were called in and found evidence of nine structures that are believed to date from as early as the 1100s.

Five of the structures appear to be dwellings with smaller outhouses accompanying them that likely housed animals, the archaeologists say.

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Alchemy, flushing toilets and blood-letting: The secrets of medieval Oxford revealed

Exclusive: Investigators have found writing equipment, cutlery and even ceramic beer mugs used by students and teachers going back 800 years

Oxford’s medieval secrets: a panorama of the development site and excavations 

Photos Oxford Archaeology

Archaeologists have been unearthing the realities of daily life at Oxford University – as they were experienced some seven centuries ago.

In one of Britain’s largest-ever urban excavations, investigators have found the writing equipment, refectory cutlery and even ceramic beer mugs used by students and teachers back in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.

They’ve even been able to rediscover what Oxford’s medieval scholars were eating – a very wide range of food including beef, lamb, goose, salmon, trout and eggs.

For the first time for many centuries, archaeologists were able to see substantial parts of one of the university’s greatest medieval teaching institutions – a friary established by Franciscan friars in 1224.

It was of pivotal importance in the history of Oxford University.

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Major dig to begin at Carrickfergus Castle

A major archaeological excavation at the front of Carrickfergus Castle, County Antrim, will begin later.

The dig will inform the next phase of conservation and presentation at the historic site.

Carrickfergus Castle is one of Northern Ireland's best-known historic monuments.

It has been in state care since 1928, and is now managed by the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities (DfC).

It dates back to the 1170s and is one of the most complete examples of Norman architecture in Northern Ireland, and one of the most complete castles of its type on the British Isles.

The excavation will investigate the ground at the entrance to the castle, where earlier investigations revealed buried structures and artefacts.

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Remains of Welshpool's medieval castle excavated

Archaeologists have resumed a dig at Welshpool's medieval castle.

Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) held an open day at Victoria Bowling Club on Saturday from 10:00 GMT to 16:00 to present their findings to the public.

Previous excavations found that parts of the building were well preserved.

"This year we are exploring the ditch around the castle mound," said CPAT community archaeologist Alex Sperr.

Volunteers have been helping the trust to excavate the site.

"Although the castle is on a prominent site not many people know about it, and it is great that we can help raise the profile of this important piece of Welsh heritage," said Mr Sperr.

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Mittelalterliche Mauern in Attendorn

Archäologen finden Hinweise auf Torenkasten

Im Luftbild lassen sich die beiden mächtigen Fundamente des vermuteten Torenkasten und die dazwischen liegende Abwasserrinne gut erkennen. (Foto: ABS/Köln)

In Attendorn (Kreis Olpe) haben Archäologen unter Leitung des Landschaftsverbandes Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) die Grundmauern von vier Gebäuden aus dem 15. oder 16. Jahrhundert freigelegt. Zwei Steinhäuser verfügen über ungewöhnlich starke Mauern. Die Wissenschaftler vermuten hier einen sogenannten Torenkasten, in dem Verurteilte der Öffentlichkeit vorgeführt wurden.

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