The wonderful Wijnaldum fibula restored - read more at www.friesmuseum.nl/en/about-the...

Coins from 8th C Chartres and 10th C Cologne both have a barred S. But what does it mean? They've each been interpreted very differently, but surely they're the same symbol. Ideas?

For #FindsFriday a richly decorated elk antler, interpreted as a shield, dated to the late 10th/ early 11th C. Supposedly from Louis the Pious's memorial chapel in Metz, but dating from long after his death in 840. Picture mine, from Het jaar 1000 (Leiden) now in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

For #FindsFriday a map showing just how many dirham finds are now known from the Netherlands - imported from Scandinavia in the second half of the 9th century. The former island of Wieringen in Noord-Holland which was part of a Scandinavian benefice at this time is particularly rich in finds.

Lovely! But in Zwolle there's a coffee shop as well!

Recently bought this Krimi on holiday in Germany. A killer is leaving victims around the North Sea coast with cryptic references to Radbod and Frisian liberation. Half way through and suspecting @karanthir.bsky.social @history-w-hilbert.bsky.social or even @frisiacoasttrail.bsky.social ... 🤔

I'm not at IMC Leeds this year, but I do hope someone managed to answer the question once and for all: WAS Charles the Bald really bald??

I've just signed up for a symposium in Cambridge on early medieval coinage, so Eventbrite thinks I will naturally want to attend a Football Family Fun Day in Croydon... 😂

Have just finished this book and LOVED it. Not just the discussion of the latest finds from Pompeii but also the reflections on the role of archaeology, museums and our relationship with the past in general. Also engagingly written and an enjoyable read - highly recommended

It was great to speak in Leiden on Friday about how the huge rise in Continental coin finds sheds new light on Scandinavian activity, with evidence not only of raids, but also settlement in Normandy and Frisia, and – something rarely mentioned in texts – trade between Franks, Frisians and Danes.

For #FindsFriday a small Anglo-Saxon whalebone plaque from Larling (Norfolk) now in Norwich Castle museum, depicting Romulus and Remus (and some gorgeous animal interlace). 📸 my own.

#OTD in 843 a Scandinavian warband infamously attacked Nantes, killing the bishop and many others, and taking many captives for ransom or slavery. It was described by a local contemporary not long afterwards. I'll be talking about it in the RMO in Leiden on Friday evening.

In the Movement for Good Community Special Draw, 20 charities will each receive £5,000. Over the next 14 days, would you please nominate St Richard's Church, Ham (where I'm vicar) using this link? movementforgood.com/draws/specia... Fixing the roof is costing us nearly £4m, but every little helps!

For #FindsFriday a rare coin in the joint names of Arnulf and Berengar I dating from 894-6 (32.9mm). From the Zuidlaren hoard (Drenthe); there are also single finds from the Confessio Petri (Vatican City) & Turin. See Numismatic Chronicle 2023. Photo: NNC 1936-883, DNB Amsterdam. #medievalsky

For #AdoorableThursday Schnoor, Bremen today

A few of the fabulous objects from the Immenbeck grave field now in Buxtehude museum. 5th/6th C. 📷 my own.

Rosamond McKitterick supervised my PhD and Jinty Nelson examined it, so both had a hugely positive influence on my becoming a historian. They both also became friends, and it is very sad to hear that Rosamond, too, has now died. Giants of Carolingian history, who'll be greatly missed.

For #FindsFriday late 9C Italian deniers found in three recent English hoards: a-b Watlington; c Herefordshire; d Bickmarsh. All must have been brought here through #Frisia, most likely by Scandinavians in the #Viking great army. Photos © Ashmolean Museum, PAS, Treasure Hunting, August 2024

Dokkum museum today, worth a visit for the locally found early medieval objects on display - an incised snake on bone, a mount with devouring beasts, and a ring decorated with a human between birds - maybe Odin? #medievalsky

In a new exhibition in the Nationalmuseet in Copenhagen, "Vølvens Varsel", this silver mount is believed to depict Loki wrapped in his son's intestines. Peter Pentz believes it's a rare early depiction of the god. It's c. 2.5cm, and was found near Skanderborg 4 years ago. www.dr.dk/nyheder/sene...

For #medievalsky - I'm preparing a talk for Groningen University on 30 June and have plotted the finds of coins of Lothar I/II & Louis the German to demonstrate how unlikely it is that the latter ruled Frisia in the 840s. For a fuller discussion see my article: works.hcommons.org/records/n3a9...

Also from a very different context the Lindau gospels cover

The Fries Museum in Leeuwarden is about to hold a major exhibition on Redbad (or Radbod!) from 5 September, including this 9/10 century ring found in 1997 in Sumar (Tytsjerksteradiel, Friesland). #medievalsky

For #FindsFriday one of 258 early Danish pennies of the face/deer type found at Damhus in 2018. The hoard showed there was a controlled economy in nearby Ribe in the 820s and a mint striking probably hundreds of 000s of coins. Four halfpennies (ship/deer) were also present. 📷 Sydvestjyske Museer

For #FindsFriday evidence of #viking brutality - a 35-year-old woman from Zutphen (NL) with sword cuts to her knee and a York copper penny by her side. Written sources report an attack on the town in 882. Neither she nor the child with her was buried. #medievalsky museazutphen.nl/stedelijk-mu...

Looking forward to giving an online talk on the evidence for #viking activity on the Continent to the @yorkshirenumsoc.bsky.social on Monday the 18th. Find our how to watch online here - yorkshirenumismatic.blogspot.com 😉 #medievalsky

Looking forward to giving this online talk to the @yorkshirenumsoc.bsky.social on Monday the 18th. And even though it's about Continental evidence I've managed to sneak in a couple of Yorkshire finds as well 😉

Museum Vest in Esbjerg has highlighted a recent find which they are trying to identify and date. Best guess is early medieval and maybe Insular? See more at sol.musvest.dk/sol_index.ph...

Another astonishing Norwegian find on Facebook - Year 1 were on a class trip last week when one 6 year old saw something odd sticking up from the ground. It is a well preserved 8/9th century sword! 😱 It has now gone to the National Museum in Oslo. Amazing! 🤩

Today the Norwegian Kulturhistorisk museum assumed responsibility for further investigation of the location of the incredible Mørstad hoard - no fewer than 3841 silver coins have now been found! 🇳🇴 All these photos are theirs, including the rare triquetra penny of Harald Hardrada.