Simon Trafford
@simonjptrafford.bsky.social
Early medievalist at IHR, Univ. of London, with a current research focus on water and human immersions. Also ethnicity, identity, migration and modern medievalisms. Regrettably likely to propose a lovely long walk given half a chance.
Reposted by Simon Trafford
PhD scholarship in History or Geography at Dublin City University - applicants with an interest in medieval Ireland are particularly encouraged to apply.
#MedievalSky
www.dcu.ie/historygeogr...
#MedievalSky
www.dcu.ie/historygeogr...
PhD Scholarship Opportunity | School of History and Geography
www.dcu.ie
January 20, 2026 at 10:14 AM
PhD scholarship in History or Geography at Dublin City University - applicants with an interest in medieval Ireland are particularly encouraged to apply.
#MedievalSky
www.dcu.ie/historygeogr...
#MedievalSky
www.dcu.ie/historygeogr...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Our first seminar of 2026 is coming soon! On Fri 28/01 @linseyhunter.bsky.social will be speaking on 'Landscapes and Location in the Retellings of the Legend of Finella, Lady of the Mearns, c.1900-c.1960' 17.30 UTC in person at the IHR or online. Abstract & details: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
January 16, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Our first seminar of 2026 is coming soon! On Fri 28/01 @linseyhunter.bsky.social will be speaking on 'Landscapes and Location in the Retellings of the Legend of Finella, Lady of the Mearns, c.1900-c.1960' 17.30 UTC in person at the IHR or online. Abstract & details: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
It’s not too late to book for this online short course later this month 👇 #medievalSky @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social
palaeography.uk/study/short-...
palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Medieval Philosophical and Scientific Manuscripts – an online short course taught by Anna Somfai
This course will run online from 14:00-17:00: Monday 26 January – Thursday 29 January 2026. The course explores medieval Western philosophical and scientific manuscripts produced over the spa…
palaeography.uk
January 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM
It’s not too late to book for this online short course later this month 👇 #medievalSky @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social
palaeography.uk/study/short-...
palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
I’m looking forward to this at the end of the month. There are still a couple of places if anyone has students who would benefit. #MedievalSky @ihr.bsky.social palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Writing History c. 1000-1250: An Introduction to the Manuscript Sources – a short course taught by Charlie Rozier, Manuel Muñoz García and Laura Cleaver
The course will run online from 14:00-17:00: Monday 26 January – Thursday 29 January 2026. The past was a popular subject for writers in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries, partic…
palaeography.uk
January 7, 2026 at 10:38 AM
I’m looking forward to this at the end of the month. There are still a couple of places if anyone has students who would benefit. #MedievalSky @ihr.bsky.social palaeography.uk/study/short-...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Are you a PG research student based outside of London? Did you know that you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £500 to take one of our short courses in 2026? Find out more on our IHR Research Training and Short Courses page: www.history.ac.uk/study-traini... Applications open until 31 Jan 2026
Research Training and Short Courses
The IHR offers a wide range of training courses for historians at all career stages, from digital research and oral history to archives and publishing.
www.history.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Are you a PG research student based outside of London? Did you know that you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £500 to take one of our short courses in 2026? Find out more on our IHR Research Training and Short Courses page: www.history.ac.uk/study-traini... Applications open until 31 Jan 2026
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Can’t get to London for summer school? In Jan we are running online courses. Forget the cold by exploring medieval manuscripts. Classes are small so book now! 👇
@ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social #MedievalSky
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social #MedievalSky
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
IES: LIPS & LRBS Winter School | 2026
ies.sas.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Can’t get to London for summer school? In Jan we are running online courses. Forget the cold by exploring medieval manuscripts. Classes are small so book now! 👇
@ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social #MedievalSky
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ies-sas.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social @senatehouselib.bsky.social @ihr.bsky.social #MedievalSky
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
I've been interviewed by Historie magazine about modern popular understandings of the Vikings. Mostly on this I was trying to avoid the academic voice-of-authority-debunking-errors approach in favour of asking 'how strong are the foundations of what we think we know?' historienet.dk/civilisation...
Historiker udfordrer tre populære forestillinger om vikingerne. Vi har selv skabt den hypermaskuline viking
Meget af det, vi tror, vi ved om vikinger er bygget på myter. Derfor har historiker Simon Trafford brugt sit liv på at undersøge, hvad en viking egentlig var.
historienet.dk
December 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I've been interviewed by Historie magazine about modern popular understandings of the Vikings. Mostly on this I was trying to avoid the academic voice-of-authority-debunking-errors approach in favour of asking 'how strong are the foundations of what we think we know?' historienet.dk/civilisation...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Did medieval people buy each other Christmas gifts? New Year's Day was the main gifting day, but little is known about everyday people's present giving. Our project on London's customs records has uncovered a wealth of affordable items imported around this time: gloves and hats to toys and rattles🧵
Medieval Londoners’ cheaply imported mass-produced Christmas gifts look surprisingly familiar
We often imagine medieval life as dull, dirty and short, with little in the way of material comfort or decoration. However, medieval Londoners were importing toys, treats and trinkets by the boatload ...
theconversation.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Did medieval people buy each other Christmas gifts? New Year's Day was the main gifting day, but little is known about everyday people's present giving. Our project on London's customs records has uncovered a wealth of affordable items imported around this time: gloves and hats to toys and rattles🧵
Reposted by Simon Trafford
#Medieval Christmas shopping? Check out this fantastic research from my @chppc.bsky.social colleague @justincolson.bsky.social and team!
Fascinating article in @uk.theconversation.com from the @ihr.bsky.social's @justincolson.bsky.social and @uni-bamberg.de's Werner Scheltjens discussing their work with colleagues on the "Unlocking Upcycled Medieval Data" project.
📰You can read the article here: bit.ly/3L5CthA
📰You can read the article here: bit.ly/3L5CthA
Medieval Londoners’ cheaply imported mass-produced Christmas gifts look surprisingly familiar
We often imagine medieval life as dull, dirty and short, with little in the way of material comfort or decoration. However, medieval Londoners were importing toys, treats and trinkets by the boatload ...
bit.ly
December 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
#Medieval Christmas shopping? Check out this fantastic research from my @chppc.bsky.social colleague @justincolson.bsky.social and team!
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Medievalist friends! Applications are open until end of Feb for a fully-funded PhD in Arthurian Literature with the brilliant Louise D'Arcens @medievalafterlives.bsky.social and myself, based between Sydney (Australia) and Groningen (The Netherlands).
Please share widely!
tinyurl.com/f7su6urv
Please share widely!
tinyurl.com/f7su6urv
Global PhD on Middle English Arthurian romance
The University of Groningen and Macquarie are offering a co-funded scholarship to support a student undertaking doctoral research in medieval literature.
tinyurl.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Medievalist friends! Applications are open until end of Feb for a fully-funded PhD in Arthurian Literature with the brilliant Louise D'Arcens @medievalafterlives.bsky.social and myself, based between Sydney (Australia) and Groningen (The Netherlands).
Please share widely!
tinyurl.com/f7su6urv
Please share widely!
tinyurl.com/f7su6urv
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Booking is now open for Making Medieval Manuscripts! A practice-based course where we make ink, cut quills, illuminate, make pigments and bookbind, using #medieval techniques and materials. We also explore early medieval art. No experience necessary! #bookhistory ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
Introduction to Making Medieval Manuscripts (Practice Based)
This course introduces students to the complicated and messy processes of production through which pre-modern manuscripts were created
ies.sas.ac.uk
December 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Booking is now open for Making Medieval Manuscripts! A practice-based course where we make ink, cut quills, illuminate, make pigments and bookbind, using #medieval techniques and materials. We also explore early medieval art. No experience necessary! #bookhistory ies.sas.ac.uk/study-traini...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.
The HE Ballot failed, now what?
If you’re reading this it is because today the UCU’s 2025 national ballot over pay and conditions in universities has failed. The last time…
hitchcockian.medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.
Want to use archaeology in your local history research? In my new @ihr.bsky.social 'Discovery' short course (29 April-1 May 2026) you will learn where to locate and how to use records of surveys, excavations and finds in your area. Plus a visit to the @antiquaries.bsky.social library and...
December 2, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Want to use archaeology in your local history research? In my new @ihr.bsky.social 'Discovery' short course (29 April-1 May 2026) you will learn where to locate and how to use records of surveys, excavations and finds in your area. Plus a visit to the @antiquaries.bsky.social library and...
I'm really delighted to say that the three sessions that a group of us have proposed for Leeds IMC 2026 in celebration of Prof Edward James and his many contributions not just to the history and archaeology of the early Middle Ages but also to the academic study of fantasy and sf have been accepted!
November 28, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I'm really delighted to say that the three sessions that a group of us have proposed for Leeds IMC 2026 in celebration of Prof Edward James and his many contributions not just to the history and archaeology of the early Middle Ages but also to the academic study of fantasy and sf have been accepted!
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Want to start the new year by learning new things? In January 2026 Anna Somfai will teach an online course on medieval philosophical and scientific manuscripts. More information here 👇 @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social #MedievalSky please reskeet!
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
IES: LIPS & LRBS Winter School | 2026
ies.sas.ac.uk
November 19, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Want to start the new year by learning new things? In January 2026 Anna Somfai will teach an online course on medieval philosophical and scientific manuscripts. More information here 👇 @warburginstitute.bsky.social @ies-sas.bsky.social #MedievalSky please reskeet!
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Good grief, my unassuming little piece about mead has been picked up by The Independent (www.independent.co.uk/life-style/f...) and The Times (www.thetimes.com/uk/history/a...), which is gratifying.
Did the Vikings really drink mead? The truth may surprise you
Modern hipsters embrace the honey drink, but history tells a different story
www.independent.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Good grief, my unassuming little piece about mead has been picked up by The Independent (www.independent.co.uk/life-style/f...) and The Times (www.thetimes.com/uk/history/a...), which is gratifying.
Reposted by Simon Trafford
I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.
The truth about Vikings and mead might disappoint modern enthusiasts
The standard drink was far more likely to be ale.
theconversation.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.
I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.
The truth about Vikings and mead might disappoint modern enthusiasts
The standard drink was far more likely to be ale.
theconversation.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I've written about mead and its popular perception for The Conversation. theconversation.com/the-truth-ab... Mildly concerned that by pointing out that the Vikings (probably) didn't drink (much) mead, I will have annoyed all the re-enactors, many of whom have swords oh dear.
Reposted by Simon Trafford
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/...
Just back from a little holiday in unwontedly sunny Pembrokeshire. Pentre Ifan looking so perfect here that even the inadequacies of my cheap phone camera don't detract!
September 28, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Just back from a little holiday in unwontedly sunny Pembrokeshire. Pentre Ifan looking so perfect here that even the inadequacies of my cheap phone camera don't detract!
Reposted by Simon Trafford
A fabulous looking new book from Tonicha Upham exploring all the Arabic and Persian evidence on Rus burials and sacrifices, complete with translations! #medievalsky #vikings
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Death Rituals
Cambridge Core - Global History - Death Rituals
www.cambridge.org
September 15, 2025 at 10:56 AM
A fabulous looking new book from Tonicha Upham exploring all the Arabic and Persian evidence on Rus burials and sacrifices, complete with translations! #medievalsky #vikings
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Reposted by Simon Trafford
A piece in The Conversation, contextualising our results from the Bedale hoard
theconversation.com/vikings-were...
@unioxarchaeology.bsky.social @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @bgs.ac.uk
theconversation.com/vikings-were...
@unioxarchaeology.bsky.social @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @bgs.ac.uk
Vikings were captivated by silver – our new analysis of their precious loot reveals how far they travelled to get it
New analysis of silver items in the Bedale hoard reveals Scandinavians travelled to the east to trade much earlier than previously thought.
theconversation.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A piece in The Conversation, contextualising our results from the Bedale hoard
theconversation.com/vikings-were...
@unioxarchaeology.bsky.social @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @bgs.ac.uk
theconversation.com/vikings-were...
@unioxarchaeology.bsky.social @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social @bgs.ac.uk
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Anglo-Saxons with West African roots: DNA analysis of 7th century burials reported in @antiquity.ac.uk today reveals long-distance connections reached across continents and cultures. Read about it @science.org:
Youths buried in Anglo-Saxon cemeteries carried West African DNA
Despite bearing remarkably far-flung genetic origins, a girl and young man were buried just like their peers
www.science.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Anglo-Saxons with West African roots: DNA analysis of 7th century burials reported in @antiquity.ac.uk today reveals long-distance connections reached across continents and cultures. Read about it @science.org:
Reposted by Simon Trafford
Not too late to sign up for this excellent seminar on Wednesday! And we are very happy to welcome our wonderful speaker, @maggiepavleszek.bsky.social, to Bluesky. Come and hear all about her work!
For our next seminar, Maggie Pavleszek (York)
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...
April 28, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Not too late to sign up for this excellent seminar on Wednesday! And we are very happy to welcome our wonderful speaker, @maggiepavleszek.bsky.social, to Bluesky. Come and hear all about her work!
Reposted by Simon Trafford
For our next seminar, Maggie Pavleszek (York)
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...
April 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
For our next seminar, Maggie Pavleszek (York)
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...
will be speaking on '"Resolved into ashes": Norse Medievalism and Cremation in C19th Britain'. Weds 30/04, 17.30 GMT (online only). Free but please register to attend. Further details, abstract and registration at: www.history.ac.uk/events/resol...