A very little news, but these items may interest you:

• Crossrail archaeology dig unearths mass burial ground
  This short article at BBC News links to a blog and a series of photos.
  
  
• The 'Mona Lisa' model?
  Researchers plan to dig up bones in a Florence convent in an attempt to find the woman who modeled for Leonardo's enigmatic portrait. AP feature made available at the Los Angeles Times website.
  
  
• 16th century folio sets Islamic art auction record
  Feature by Mike Collett-White, at at the Los Angeles Times website.

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In the eighth century, Pope Leo III was attacked by supporters of his rival in the streets of Rome. They attempted to gouge out his eyes and cut out his tongue, and thus make him unfit to remain a pope. He was left lying in the dirt, bleeding. But Leo survived. Under cover of night, he was helped to the monastery of St. Erasmus, where he recovered all his faculties of sight and speech. His next step was to make his way to Paderborn and seek the protection of Charlemagne. For this and other associations with the Frankish king, Leo became known as "Charlemagne's Pope."

Find out more about Pope Leo III in his Who's Who Profile and Concise Biography, and see a medieval manuscript image of the pontiff crowning Charlemagne.

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A few brief news items this week:

• Youngsters unearth remains of medieval house in school field
  Remains of a medieval house unearthed by school children. Article at This Is Lincolnshire.
  
  
• Prof claims to have discovered clinching evidence
  ... of a horrific episode in Indian history. Short feature at the Times of India.
  
  
• Archaeological Dig At UKCMRI Site Behind British Library
  Before the medical center is built, archaeologists will have a look around. Item at Londonist.
  
  

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She wasn't a queen or a noblewoman, a warrior woman or an author or an abbess. She was an ordinary woman whose life story was preserved for history in a collection of letters. Through these missives, we see her first meeting with the man she was to marry, her early years of wedded bliss, the trials and tribulations of motherhood, and the struggle to hold her family together through some of the toughest circumstances in Medieval England. Margaret Paston may have held an "ordinary" place in society, but she lived an extraordinary life.

• Who's Who Profile of Margaret Paston
• Concise Biography of Margaret Paston

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He was one of the most important figures of early Christian Britain, evangelizing Ireland and probably influencing the Christianization of the Picts and the Anglo-Saxons. For all this and more, he is one of the patron saints of Ireland. Celebrate his saint's day by wearing green, watching a parade, drinking green beer, and learning a little something about him in his Who's Who Profile.

The statue of Patrick is on Slieve Patrick, County Down, Ireland. The photo is in the public domain.

Do you know who Ireland's other patron saint is? Find out!

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Just a few interesting news items that caught my eye this week:

• Medieval discovery: pottery and leather shoes found in dig
  All at the possible remains of a medieval grain mill. Article by Kitty Holland at the Irish Times.
  
  
• Archaeologists find medieval settlement in Azerbaijan
  They're calling the settlement Goshatepe. Item at News.AZ.
  
  
• Gainsborough's medieval skeletons reburied
  Skeletons discovered last summer were buried at Gainsborough General Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. Short article at BBC News.
  
  
• Stolen religious icons traced to London
  Byzantine icons stolen from monasteries and churches turn up in a Notting Hill gallery. Item by Thanasis Tsinganas at Ekathimerini.com.
  
  
• "Lost" 450-year-old mass soars on British charts
  A first recording of a long-lost Italian Renaissance mass has placed high on the British pop charts only a week after its release. Article by Michael Roddy at Reuters.
  
  

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This week we have news of archaeological discoveries, including one the public can participate in, and treasures of money, jewelry, art . . . and historical wonder.

• Dig aiming to help uncover old hospital
  Visitors will get the chance to explore the medieval ruins of a hospital in North Shields' Northumberland Park. The event is free and takes place on Thursday, March 17, at 6pm. Find out more in the announcement at the News Guardian.
  
  
• Medieval kiln found in Azerbaijan
  Archaeologists have uncovered four tiers and there may be more. See the item at News Az.
  
  
• London: restored Giotto masterpiece unveiled
  Eight years of work not only physically restored the piece, but resulted in "key intellectual discoveries." Get the scoop in the article at ICN.
  
  
• Tourist boom puts Asia's treasures at risk
  Angkor Wat and China's Great Wall are just two of the historic sites endangered by massive numbers of visitors. Find out more in the feature at The Montreal Gazette.
  
  
• Treasure haul is claimed by the Crown
  Coins discovered in Baschurch have been declared treasure trove. Check out the item in The Advertiser.
  
  
• 7th century brooch found in Kerry has links to the early Greeks
  The Greek symbol for Christ on the brooch indicates some intriguing connections. Short article at Irish Central.
  
  
• Repaired castle to reopen in South Wales
  Who doesn't love a castle? Old Beaupré Castle near Cowbridge, South Wales will reopen March 18. Check out the item at Attractions Management.

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At long last, I've bought a new computer! Hooray! It's not on my desk yet, but it's a fast Mac mini with the latest OS and plenty of memory. (Of course, in a few months an even newer OS is due out, and I'll have to upgrade -- but them's the breaks.) I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. Every few hours, I break into a happy little dance.

You're probably wondering what in the world my acquiring a new computer could possibly have to do with Alfred the Great. Well, it's simple: I've decided to name my new computer "Alfred," after the extraordinary English king of the 9th century. Like my new computer, the original Alfred was fast (harrying the Danish invaders from his stronghold), a hard worker (building his defenses up when the English were at peace with the Danes), and linguistically facile (translating important works from Latin into the English of his times, Anglo-Saxon). Just as my new mini will bring together my old Mac, my notebook and my Mom's iPad in a network, Alfred brought together disparate kingdoms of England. Alfred ruled! (So, I expect, will my new Mac.)

The portrait of Alfred is based on a period drawing by an unknown artist and appeared in Makers of History, published by A.L. Fowle, 1906. It is in the public domain.

Find out more about the only English king ever to be called "Great" in these resources:

• Who's Who Profile of Alfred the Great
• Concise biogrpahy of Alfred the Great

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Archaeologists at historic Stirling Castle, where the infant Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned and near which some significant battles were fought, have discovered fragments of the outer defenses dating to the 16th century. Scholars believe that European experts applied the latest Italian military engineering techniques, paid for by King Henri II of France and ordered by Mary of Guise. Find out more in the article at BBC News.

• More about Medieval Castles
• More about Medieval Scotland

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This week we've got a variety of news items to catch your interest:

• Archaeologists: Byzantine Funeral Chamber Uncovered in Central Syria
  Brief item by H. Sabbagh at Global Arab Network
  
  
• Shropshire medieval coin finds declared treasure trove
  Article at the Shropshire Star
  
  
• Destroyed Buddhas Reveal Their True Colors
  Story by Andrew Lawler at AAAS
  
  
• Irish and Scottish linked by High King Niall of the nine hostages
  Feature by Molly Muldoon at IrishCentral.com
  
  
• High tech gadgets used to trigger medieval weapon
  Item by Harriet McLeod at Reuters

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