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Conferences
Calls for Papers
- Who Ruled the World? Queen Urraca and Her Contemporaries in the Early Twelfth CenturyInternational Conference 3 – 5 March 2026, Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid This conference marks the 900th anniversary of the death of Queen Urraca of León-Castile (born 1079/80, r. 1109-1126) by investigating issues of ruling power and its material display in the early twelfth century. Previous historiography has tended either to downplay Urraca’s seventeen-year reign or at best to compare it… Read more: Who Ruled the World? Queen Urraca and Her Contemporaries in the Early Twelfth Century
Exhibitions and Talks
Recent Publications or News Articles
- Mendlesham Armoury Facelift ProjectMendlesham Armoury, on the small upper floor of the north porch of the church of St Mary the Virgin in mid-Suffolk, is the only one remaining in any English parish church with its original parish collection of arms and armour. They have been stored in the same place since a law of Queen Mary Tudor… Read more: Mendlesham Armoury Facelift Project
- Textile found at Santes Creus in TarragonaRestoration works at the Royal Monastery of Santes Creus in Tarragona, Spain, has resulted in to opening of eight sarcophagi adorned with heraldic symbols, aiding in the identification of the nobles entombed within as 13th and 14th century members of the Cervelló, Cervera, Queralt, Puigvert, and Montcada families. Remains of textiles were preserved around the… Read more: Textile found at Santes Creus in Tarragona
- Production of Animal-based Metal Threads in Medieval TextilesCristina Scibè, who gave a paper, ‘Animal-based metal threads: an overview of materials and manufacturing techniques in medieval Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern textiles,’ to the 2021 MEDATS conference is the lead author of an open access article published in Nature. “Palaeoproteomics and microanalysis reveal techniques of production of animal-based metal threads in medieval textiles.”… Read more: Production of Animal-based Metal Threads in Medieval Textiles
Questions and Requests for Assistance
- Request for help – Carmelite FriarsMedats has received a request for help from Paul Chandler in Australia. Can anyone help with this question? Relies to newsletter@medats.org.uk will be forwarded. It’s well known that the Carmelite Friars exchanged their controversial striped cloak in 1287 for a more demure and “appropriate” white one. Pastoureau made (perhaps too) much of this in The… Read more: Request for help – Carmelite Friars
