European

Originally built by the Romans over the Vardar River in Macedonia, the Skopje Stone Bridge has been rebuilt and restored over the centuries, and described by travels throughout the Middle Ages. Last year parts of the bridge fell into the river, forcing the most recent reconstruction.

A brief look at a tiny wood lathe powered with a hand-pumped bow is available on YouTube.

UC Davis geology professor Ken Verosub believes that a volcano which erupted in 1600 in Peru may have affected global weather, causing famine in Russia and a late wine harvest in France.

Scientists from the Genographic Project, which is tracking human migrations through DNA, have found traces of a particular DNA signature in Lebanon which they link to European crusaders.

"Fish heads, fish heads..." A recent study of European cod bones shows that "cod were exploited in the Middle Ages from many, often distant, fishing grounds, with an international trade in dried stockfish." The fish were much larger in medieval times, and began to began to be traded around the year 1000 C.E.

Dragon Swords N Daggers offers medieval weapons and armor as well as articles on medieval history and information about medieval times and the period that spawned Europe from the V to the XV century. The articles include medieval weaponry and torture devices, the life within a castle walls, and knighthood.

The rise of Christianity in Europe may have led to reduced practice of washing, according to Katherine Ashenburg in Clean: An Unsanitized History of Washing. Judith Flanders has the review for The Telegraph.

Lord Edward MacTavish was recognized as Veneur, the highest level of Hunter in the Hunt Guild Persona Challenge. He challenged each level over the course of several years at Gulf Wars.

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia will host Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum September 13, 2008 – January 4, 2009.

A gold amulet dating to the 3rd century CE inscribed with a Jewish prayer has been discovered in the grave of a Roman child in Halbturn, Austria proving that people of the Jewish faith inhabited the country at the time.

"Odi et amo. Quare id faciam, fortasse requiris/ Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior" ("I hate and I love. Why do I do it, perchance you might ask? I don't know, but I feel it happening to me and I'm burning up.") sings Ista, a German rap group that uses Latin verse in its performances.

The Quest, a Classic Media Group production, follows the journey of the Knights Templar through Europe by studying the work of archaeologists, anthropologists and historians.

The martial arts of western Europe are gaining popularity in the United States. Practices and conferences where participants wield swords, pikes and daggers, and quote from medieval and renaissance sources, are cropping up all over. Elizabeth Weise of USA Today has the story.

Lady Aisin Biya has concluded a six-week test of parrot feeding habits, and concludes that parrots would not have survived in medieval Europe on a diet composed only of the seeds available locally.

A new exhibit at Venice's Palazzo Grassi endeavors to disprove the reputation of the "barbaric tribes" during Europe's Dark Ages. Rome and the Barbarians: Birth of a New World will be at the Palazzo Grassi until July 20, 2008.

Lady Faoileann reports that the Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art will sponsor a special exhibit Great Expectations: Aristocratic Children in European Portraiture through June 8, 2008.

Lady Racaire from Vienna, Austria, recently visited the Wien Museum with her camera. She shares her large album of research photos on her Flickr website.

The University of St Andrews in Scotland is opening a new interdisciplinary center for Medieval Studies that is one of the largest such centers.

Now this exhibition is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and will end soon: POMP AND GLORIA! Carriages of the Princes von Thurn und Taxis began at Sep. 19, 2007 and runs until Feb. 28, 2008 at the Wagenburg, Schönbrunn Palace.

Soon a new exhibition organised by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in collaboration with the Musée du Luxembourg, Paris will be on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Picture Gallery): Arcimboldo begins at February 12, 2008 and runs until June 1, 2008.

A new study claims that explorer Christopher Columbus may have been responsible for bringing syphilis to Europe. The controversial theory has been debated for years, but the new study of molecular genetics may show whether the theory is true.

Literature and the media have glamorized medieval battle, but the reality was much different. In truth, the melee was a "brutal free-for-all with few rules designed very much as a preparation for war."

An article from Time and CNN reports on the large number of works of art stolen from houses of worship each year, a tragic loss of irreplaceable items that represents a lucrative business for thieves.

Errant Knight offers stunning hand-made authentic artefact replicas including court belts, sword and armour belts and jewelry. All items are thoroughly researched to ensure historical accuracy.

Need to take off a few pounds or kilograms from the holiday feasting? Eat like your persona! A Shropshire physician claims that Europeans in the Middle Ages were in some ways much healthier than modern people.

Racaire shares an album of photos from a recent trip to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. The photos include some beautiful images of artwork and jewelry.

Though he doesn't look a day over 500, Swiss hero William Tell has just passed the 700th anniversary of standing up to the cruel vogt by not bowing to a hat on a pole. The rest is history.

The History Channel has created a website with interactive links covering the history of all the major holidays on the calendar.

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London now allows you to browse and download high-resolution photos of their collections for free.

Seared Beef Stew

This is a simple recipe for a delicious beef stew, which is a perfect comfort food for a cold winter's day and will be served at the first Barony Beyond the Mountain Cooks Guild meeting on November 10th, 2007.

Serves 12-20
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time 2 hours

The Mirepoix
Mirepoix (pronounced mir-ˈpwä) is a mid 18th century French term for a base of sauteed aromatic vegetables which is used for soups and stews. Traditionally mirepoix is made up of two parts onions, one part carrots, and one part celery.

In a large stockpot (20-qt), melt the butter over a medium heat.
Add the cut carrots, celery, and onion, sauté until onions are translucent.
Add the parsley, basil, thyme, and oregano
Remove from mirepoix from the stockpot, leaving the liquid.

Increase temperature to medium high
add a couple of pinches of kosher salt
Add 1/2 the cubed beef and brown well
Add remaining beef and brown.
stir in 1/2 tablespoon of black pepper- (we add the pepper at this point because if you add it before browning, you will simply burn the pepper)
and cook for 1 minute
de-glaze the pan with the red wine

stir in the mirepoix
Add the garlic
stir in the potatoes

add enough water to cover the meat.
add the bouillon cubes (dissolve in warn water before adding)
Bring to a boil
Once the pot boils, reduce to a simmer and cover.

after an hour check for taste and season with salt and pepper
After two hours check the potatoes for doneness. Meat should be fork tender.

If the stew is not thick enough, you can add arrowroot or cornstarch mixed in warm water to the stew to thicken.

Serve in your favorite period bowl or for a more dramatic effect serve in a bread bowl. Garnish with a sprig of parsley.