How to communicate in Medieval Russia? This blog post explores how everyday medieval life is reflected in the short messages that people wrote on pieces of birchbark in Novgorod between the 11th and 15th century. Jos Schaeken • February 08, 2019
Public water provision in Bruges (part 1) In the Middle Ages, Leiden lacked a system of public water provision, as we saw in an earlier blog. How different was medieval Bruges! Roos van Oosten • September 21, 2018
In search of public water provision, particularly in Leiden (part 2) How did the people of medieval Leiden obtain their drinking water? Here is a second blog about this fascinating question. Roos van Oosten • April 26, 2018
"Alber, I beseech thee": Healing magic from the grave Medieval textual amulets, made out of metal or parchment, were worn around the neck to ward off evil powers. Elizabeth den Hartog • March 16, 2018
In search of public water provision, particularly in Leiden (part 1) How did the medieval inhabitants of Leiden obtain their drinking water? This blog presents an initial exploration of the rather sparse documentary sources. Roos van Oosten • December 08, 2017
Lucky pigs and protective boars: The medieval origins of the Glücksschwein Why are pigs associated with good luck? Traces of 'lucky pigs' are found in late medieval board and card games, while the use of boar effigies as talismans is attested as far back as the early Middle Ages. Thijs Porck • October 13, 2017