Katherine CM Cross
@kcross.bsky.social
Historian of the Early Middle Ages based in York.
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
This St Edmund's Day, let's talk about the *St Edmund Extended Universe*, the various invented relatives and associates that Edmund picked up along the way. First up, there's the obscure St Fremund (who?), allegedly a cousin of St Edmund... (thread)
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This St Edmund's Day, let's talk about the *St Edmund Extended Universe*, the various invented relatives and associates that Edmund picked up along the way. First up, there's the obscure St Fremund (who?), allegedly a cousin of St Edmund... (thread)
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
FORGOTTEN VIKINGS releases in paperback today, although, of course, a few early sightings have already been noted from the wildlands!
November 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
FORGOTTEN VIKINGS releases in paperback today, although, of course, a few early sightings have already been noted from the wildlands!
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
binghamton.interviewexchange.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
If you know anyone who works on medieval Judaism, please send them this! Binghamton is hiring a Talmud/Rabbinics assistant prof: half in Judaic Studies, half in the Med/Ren center. A killer R1 job for the right person, and not a ton of applicants so far....
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A thing about AI in higher ed right now is that half of us are scrambling to deal with the implosion of our information environment that broke reading/writing/source verification, while the other half is trying to achieve a massive institutional buy-in of the very thing that's causing the implosion
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
ICYMI yesterday afternoon a fantastic new digital resource pulling together data on the Roman road network has just launched. Explore at:
itiner-e
itiner-e.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
ICYMI yesterday afternoon a fantastic new digital resource pulling together data on the Roman road network has just launched. Explore at:
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Families "horrified" after daycare teacher pulled out of school by federal agents.
The incident happened in front of parents and children at Rayito de Sol in North Center, a parent said. They believe the employee, who cares for infants, is legally allowed to work in the United State...
www.chalkbeat.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:14 AM
“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
“How did you receive the foreigner? And did you receive him and welcome him or not?”
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“How did you receive the foreigner? And did you receive him and welcome him or not?”
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Pope Leo XIV challenges us to reflect on the moral cost of policies that target deeply-root immigrants and families.
Today in my Viking Age module we read Ibn Fadlan’s account of a Rus’ funeral, with this article in particular prompting some great discussion. Always find something new to talk about in this text!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Agents of Death: Reassessing Social Agency and Gendered Narratives of Human Sacrifice in the Viking Age | Cambridge Archaeological Journal | Cambridge Core
Agents of Death: Reassessing Social Agency and Gendered Narratives of Human Sacrifice in the Viking Age - Volume 31 Issue 4
www.cambridge.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Today in my Viking Age module we read Ibn Fadlan’s account of a Rus’ funeral, with this article in particular prompting some great discussion. Always find something new to talk about in this text!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
This Wednesday (5/11/25) 17.30 UTC, we're delighted to welcome Dr Peter Jones (Plymouth), who will be speaking on William Morris's travel in Iceland. Free to attend in person in the IHR or online, but please register in advance. Details, abstract and registration:
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM
This Wednesday (5/11/25) 17.30 UTC, we're delighted to welcome Dr Peter Jones (Plymouth), who will be speaking on William Morris's travel in Iceland. Free to attend in person in the IHR or online, but please register in advance. Details, abstract and registration:
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Discovery that one of my maternal ancestors was a shot putter led me down a rabbit hole to this great article by @hpsvanessa.bsky.social
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Testing sex and gender in sports; reinventing, reimagining and reconstructing histories
Most international sports organisations work on the premise that human beings come in one of two genders: male or female. Consequently, all athletes, including intersex and transgender individuals, must be assigned to compete in one or other ...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Discovery that one of my maternal ancestors was a shot putter led me down a rabbit hole to this great article by @hpsvanessa.bsky.social
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
An important article challenging the views of earlier archaeologists about 'Pictish cellular' vs. 'Norse rectangular' building styles. The authors could also have challenged more clearly the earlier view that they mention, namely that 'the early Viking conquest' took place 'around AD 800'. 🧵1/6
A new consideration of the chronology of the key settlement of Buckquoy, Orkney - shows that the buildings here belong firmly in the Pictish tradition. This leads to a wider consideration of the timings and character of the Viking Age in the Northern Isles.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland | Antiquity | Cambridge Core
Buckquoy, Orkney: addressing the Pictish-Viking transition in northern Scotland
www.cambridge.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
An important article challenging the views of earlier archaeologists about 'Pictish cellular' vs. 'Norse rectangular' building styles. The authors could also have challenged more clearly the earlier view that they mention, namely that 'the early Viking conquest' took place 'around AD 800'. 🧵1/6
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
When one of my colleagues asked about whether any data will be collected on learning outcomes, we were told that "AI is no longer window dressing it is table setting"
October 29, 2025 at 6:02 AM
When one of my colleagues asked about whether any data will be collected on learning outcomes, we were told that "AI is no longer window dressing it is table setting"
Useful account of some of the issues around metal detecting and the burden on FLOs and PAS. I like the idea of detectorists paying in for a licence - maybe this money could be used to provide a flat fee for any significant finds (if desired)
The piece where I get to say everything that's bugging me about the world of detecting & archaeology & ask - why are we not more concerned about this?
(Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.)
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...
(Thank you to everyone who read through drafts & offered thoughts, advice and ideas.)
#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/10/27/t...
The system is broken, so why are we not more concerned?
by Tess Machling [A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] Abstract The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) – the detectorist-facing branch of archaeology – whic…
bigbookoftorcs.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Useful account of some of the issues around metal detecting and the burden on FLOs and PAS. I like the idea of detectorists paying in for a licence - maybe this money could be used to provide a flat fee for any significant finds (if desired)
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
October 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
A neat tool I just came across: Viabundus, a digital road map of northern Europe 1350-1650, that lets you calculate contemporary travel routes/times. In 1500, going Amiens → Köln by horse took almost 7 days and 13 toll payments.
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
#medievalsky
www.landesgeschichte.uni-goettingen.de/handelsstras...
Wow! This is incredibly cynical
7. This one is almost fascinating! AI detectors may flag your human writing as AI, so the solution seems to be to use AI to make sure your human writing sounds as human as possible.
October 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Wow! This is incredibly cynical
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
yes. I switched to using “products” instead of even “tools” to make clear what they are.
I implore anyone who has an audience and speaks about genAI and LLMs to refer to them as products, not technologies, as much as possible.
Keep hammering that home.
Keep hammering that home.
I always try to write/talk critically about tech product design without focusing on particular products, or even product categories, but I continually find that LLM/GenAI products cover all the bases for what makes a bad product bad
October 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
yes. I switched to using “products” instead of even “tools” to make clear what they are.
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
Parents! Carers! Anyone thinking of buying a child a "science kit" for Christmas. For the same / less cost, buy a copy of "Recipes for Wonder" and put together a box of household "ingredients" which will let them do actual science and be a much more personal gift alomshaha.com/portfolio/mr...
October 25, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Parents! Carers! Anyone thinking of buying a child a "science kit" for Christmas. For the same / less cost, buy a copy of "Recipes for Wonder" and put together a box of household "ingredients" which will let them do actual science and be a much more personal gift alomshaha.com/portfolio/mr...
The more I learn about research funding the more confused I am. Do the AHRC and ESRC not have a defined pot of money to distribute per scheme? Or a set number of projects to fund? They can’t possibly be claiming that 99% of projects are not of sufficient quality.
After submitting a FOIA request UKRI, I obtained success rates by three grant call scheme and I can only say that I am disheartened by the results:
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
- AHRC Responsive Mode 2025: 2%
- ESRC New Investigator Grant 2025: 1%
- ESRC Research Grant Round 2025: 1%
October 24, 2025 at 7:34 AM
The more I learn about research funding the more confused I am. Do the AHRC and ESRC not have a defined pot of money to distribute per scheme? Or a set number of projects to fund? They can’t possibly be claiming that 99% of projects are not of sufficient quality.
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
'New research coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC has found that AI assistants – already a daily information gateway for millions of people – routinely misrepresent news content no matter which language, territory, or AI platform is tested.' 1/2
Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
'New research coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC has found that AI assistants – already a daily information gateway for millions of people – routinely misrepresent news content no matter which language, territory, or AI platform is tested.' 1/2
But, says Home Secretary, they’re wrong! We’re not generous at all!
Home Sec describes a widely held public perception (UK is the destination of choice for asylum seekers in Europe) + endorses it as true. Home Office data shows it is not true. Whatever merits of her policy change, should not make false factual claims
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3709465...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3709465...
Migrants come to Britain because they think we're Europe's most generous country
TODAY’S small boat numbers are shameful, and the British people deserve better. They contain a lesson: we must go further and faster to secure our borders. Under the last Conservative Government, t…
www.thesun.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 7:49 AM
But, says Home Secretary, they’re wrong! We’re not generous at all!
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
CfP 🚨 ‘Shaping the Word: the Form and use of Biblical Manuscripts in the Early Medieval West’
October 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
CfP 🚨 ‘Shaping the Word: the Form and use of Biblical Manuscripts in the Early Medieval West’
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
A flashback to one of our favourite photos, taken during conservation work on the standing Iguanodon back in 2015, by Lynn Hilton❤️💚
(www.lynnhilton.com)
(www.lynnhilton.com)
October 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A flashback to one of our favourite photos, taken during conservation work on the standing Iguanodon back in 2015, by Lynn Hilton❤️💚
(www.lynnhilton.com)
(www.lynnhilton.com)
Reposted by Katherine CM Cross
I think we really should stop using antifa and just fully say anti-fascist and get them saying they are against anti fascism. Using antifa is giving them some distance and I genuinely think some of their base don’t even know that’s what it stands for.
October 11, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I think we really should stop using antifa and just fully say anti-fascist and get them saying they are against anti fascism. Using antifa is giving them some distance and I genuinely think some of their base don’t even know that’s what it stands for.