Basiliscoe Mercury 209

Lots of hugely diverse info on archaeology, antiques, related events and expos, etc. There's even a link to the biggest cannon auction ever to be held, near the end, in case you lost track of it (how could you?)

The Basiliscoe Mercury 209
TheInternet newsletter for the arms and armour community
Brad Pitt goes to Bovington, lost giants in Siberia and LakeOntario, and the WallaceMuseum focuses on a burgonet. Astonishing pictures of bone armour from Omsk and finding Franklin’s ship. News and books about swords, cannons and some interesting articles. Have just taken charge on spanking new computer, so hope everything comes through ok.
Arms and armour in the news
Ancient arms
Stone tipped spears give humans unfair advantage – it’s just not cricket
http://popular-archaeology.com/issu...of-stone-tipped-spears-for-prehistoric-humans
Investigating hand axes in Tanzania
http://www.ukwirednews.com/news/1600193/Brighton+archaeologist+on+Tanzania+prehistoric+axe+dig
4000 year old bone armour- pictures and drawings- from Omsk
http://siberiantimes.com/science/ca...ar-old-suit-of-bone-armour-unearthed-in-omsk/
Metal workers in ancient times
https://www.aftau.org/news-page-arc...orkersWereNotSlavesButHighlyRegardedCraftsmen
3000 year old chariot found in China
http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2014-09/01/content_18521086.htm
http://www.ecns.cn/2014/09-01/132412.shtml
And 3000 year old sword- fuzzy picture
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-29108764
Battles, towers and forts
Investigating Bibracte, home of the Aedui celts
http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index...where-julius-caesar-completed-his-gallic-wars
How Boudicca frightened one Roman lady in Colchester
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news...ens_to_shed_new_light_on_roman_town_1_3739603
Unusual find at Vindolanda
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history...ooden-toilet-seat-used-Romans-Vindolanda-fort
Viking age ring fort found in Denmark
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...king-ring-fortress-discovered-in-Denmark.html

Beasts of assorted varieties…
Hairy mammoth found in California
http://westerndigs.org/first-columbian-mammoth-with-hair-discovered-on-california-farm/
Romans kept fallow deer at Fishbourne for pets, not food
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-28951148
Grave stories
Uncovering the secrets of Siberian giant warrior – pictures
http://siberiantimes.com/science/ca...veals-his-secrets-from-almost-1000-years-ago/
Finally, Richard III making good in Leicestershire…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-28946434
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-in-on-richard-iiis-reinternment-9706943.html
DNA used to identify Jack the Ripper, possibly
http://artdaily.com/news/72716/Jack...a-sleuth-in-a-new-book-out-today#.VA6yBbAg-Uk
Through the arrow-slit . . .
Update on summer at Guedelon
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/27/guedelon-historic-chateau-project-past-life
Exploring KenilworthCastle just got more interesting
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/...ns-private-chambers-elizabeth-1-robert-dudley
Tewkesbury battlefield up for sale
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-29017900
Investigating Old Basing, looking for Civil War encampment http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk...potential_Civil_War_siege_campsite/?ref=var_0
Cannons to the left, cannon to the right
Mary Rose cannon selected to be one of 100 iconic objects to teach children English history
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/mary-rose-cannon-to-spark-interest-in-history-1-6275566
Here’s the whole website
http://www.teachinghistory100.org/
Spanish article (with pictures) about an important 16th century Italian cannon in Toledo
http://abcblogs.abc.es/espejo-de-na...tillo-de-palermo-que-lucho-en-la-gran-armada/
Explosives at Woolwich
http://greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-chemical-laboratories-in-royal.html
Two 1812 Blomefields go back on display at Chorley
http://www.itv.com/news/granada/update/2014-08-29/historic-rof-cannons-back-on-display-in-chorley/
Civil War Ames cannon from Naples, NY, restored
http://www.democratandchronicle.com...0/historical-cannon-restored-naples/14881247/
Miscellany
Finds from 18th century revolutionary war camp in Springettsbury Township, PA
http://www.eveningsun.com/local/ci_...including-british-half-penny-found?source=rss
Into the 20th century
The battle that saved Paris remembered
http://artdaily.com/news/72611/-Miracle--of-the-Marne--the-WWI-battle-that-changed-history-
Douglas A-20 Havoc lost since 1943 found in Siberia
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-route-Alaska-Second-World-War-70-years.html
1940 lost Messerschmitt found in Dorset
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history...mitt-downed-during-battle-of-britain-dogfight
Nautical news
Interesting feature on wrecks round the coasts of Japan
http://heritageofjapan.wordpress.co...ater-archaeological-survey-and-research-work/
Western AustraliaMuseum going back to re-investigate the site of the Batavia (lost 1629)
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-ground-surveying-deep-batavia-secrets.html
Piece with video on the US’s Land Tortoise
http://gizmodo.com/americas-first-floating-gun-battery-is-older-than-the-n-1630257680
More on the HMS Solebay project
http://www.fltimes.com/news/article_920bc69e-2df3-11e4-b72e-001a4bcf887a.html
Looking out for looted cannons from the Bahamas
http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/pub...edly_looted_from_Bahamas_shipwreck36790.shtml
Searching for the scant remains of HMS St Lawrence: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...at-warship-from-war-of-1812-largely-forgotten
Still searching for Franklin’s ships in Canada
http://www.saobserver.net/news/272804441.html
And already finding stuff
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/09/08/first_artifact_of_franklin_expedition_found.html
And one of the ships, too- eerie pictures and scans
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lost-franklin-expedition-ship-found-in-the-arctic-1.2760311
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/...n_wreck_was_finally_found.html?app=noRedirect
Replica of La Fayette’s Hermione sets sail in Rochefort
http://artdaily.com/news/72681/Replica-of-18th-century-ship-tests-French-waters-#.VA1lQrAg-Uk
Museum news and exhibitions
News
Hollywood glitz comes to Bovington – a real coup for the TankMuseum!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/cel...na-Jolie-with-trip-to-Dorset-Tank-Museum.html
New security for Abu Dhabi museums
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/arti...-will-link-Abu-Dhabis-big-three-museums/33457
New mseums
New gallery of 17th century Spanish art for countyDurham
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Spains-Golden-Age-to-shine-in-County-Durham-/35624
Modernizing the Louvre
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Louvre-director-plans-its-grand-revamp-/35554
Museum developments
National Gallery of Art, Washington launches App for children
http://artdaily.com/news/72467/Nati...Akids-Art-Zone-app-inspired-by-the-collection
Sweden’s NationalMuseum issues its own online magazine
http://artdaily.com/news/72594/Sweden-s-Nationalmuseum-launches-digital-journal-
The Met has series of Apps
http://artdaily.com/news/72560/Metr...flagship-app-for-iPhone--iPad--and-iPod-touch
The Red Cross puts WWI documents online
http://artdaily.com/news/72642/Red-...documenting-the-fate-of-two-million-prisoners
Conservation corner
When conservation goes (badly) wrong…
http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Gothic-churchs-frescoes-destroyed-during-restoration/33450
Investigating early Christian tunics
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=144975&CultureCode=en
Watch Durer’s Arch of Honour conserved before your eyes in Copenhagen
http://artdaily.com/news/72543/Rest...asterpiece-The-Arch-of-Honour-of-Maximilian-I
Conserving portrait of George Washington
http://artdaily.com/news/72711/Port...e-Portrait-of-George-Washington-#.VA6yS7Ag-Uk
Objects
Unsurprisingly, the Hastings/Bannockburn sword failed to sell at auction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-29031812
Wallace collection object of the month –.a close helm
http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/treasure/146
Lancaster bombers forced to stop flying
http://www.culture24.org.uk/history...er-bombers-cancel-appearances-engine-shutdown
Exhibitions
Treasures of Versailles at Arras
http://artdaily.com/news/72667/Mast...t-the-Beaux-Arts-museum-in-Arras#.VAwc7bAg-Uk
War photography in Zurich
http://www.nationalmuseum.ch/e/microsites/2014/zuerich/KaSdO.php
First World War in Zurich
http://www.nationalmuseum.ch/e/microsites/2014/zuerich/14_18.php
Current exhibitions at the Met
http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions
Series of war-related exhibitions at Chicago
http://artdaily.com/news/72456/War-...s-at-Krannert-Art-Museum-and-Kinkead-Pavilion
Books
Alan Williams: The Sword and the Crucible. A History of the Metallurgy of European Swords up to the 16th Century
http://www.brill.com/sword-and-crucible
William R. Short: Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques
http://www.westholmepublishing.com/viking-weapons-and-combat-techniques.php
Bernard Lowry: Pillboxes and Tank Traps
http://www.shirebooks.co.uk/store/Pillboxes-and-Tank-Traps_9780747813569
Free online access to recent Post Medieval archaeology for September
http://www.maneyonline.com/page/jotm/pma
Publications from Historic Scotland
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/learning/publications.htm
Bargain books from France
http://www.boutiquesdemusees.fr/fr/boutique/special/356-livres-neufs-prix-reduits
Online Book
Gransporen 13 (16th century wreck in Dutch but with pictures)
http://archeologie.eldoc.ub.rug.nl/FILES/root/Grondsporen13/Grondsporen13.pdf
Popular culture
Fury
http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...-fury-moves-up-to-october-20140812-story.html

Hermitage Revealed
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/04/hermitage-revealed-documentary-margy-kinmonth
Shaolin monastery looking for some social media help
http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...le-shaolin-china-seeks-brand-builders-kung-fu
How to pass the long hours in German trenches –Mensch Aergere Dich Nicht
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29050369
Richard Flanagan's The Narrow Road to the Deep North makes the Booker short List
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/09/man-booker-prize-2014-shortlist
Events
Asian arts in London
http://www.asianartinlondon.com/content/calendar
HBSA calander
https://sites.google.com/site/hbsauk/HBSA-calendar
Conferences - all battle-focused
26 - 28 September 2014Museum of Liverpool
Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology's Annual Conference:
Conflict in Context: Archaeologies of War 1618 - 1918
http://www.spma.org.uk/events/conference-archaeologies-of-war-1618-1918/
5 - 7 November 2014 Birmingham
3rd Postgraduate Conference in Conflict Archaeology
http://birminghamconflict2014.wordpress.com/
31 July – 3 August 2015
Battle of Agincourt Conference
http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/event.asp?EventID=503&Refresh=30/08/2014+21:29:43
Sales, fairs and auctions
1 Oct 2014 London, Knightsbridge
The First World War Centenary Sale
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21999/
7-9 October 2014
Online Cannons Sale
http://jamesdjulia.com/auction/369-october-2014-firearms-auction/?session=1
Websites and downloads
Dirk Breiding: Arms and Armor: A Farewell to Persistant Myths and Misconceptions
http://www.medievalists.net/2014/09/07/arms-armor-farewell-persistant-myths-misconceptions/
Artillery in central Europe in the middle ages
https://www.academia.edu/8170378/Ch...ht_of_Written_Sources_from_Bohemia_and_Poland
1066 etc: Saladin, Bayeux tapestry, axes and smiths
http://www.medievalists.net/2014/09/01/saladin-good-pr-medieval-west/
http://www.medievalists.net/2014/09/01/bayeux-tapestry-case-phantom-fleet/
http://www.medievalists.net/2014/09/01/anglo-saxon-smiths-myths/
http://www.medievalists.net/2014/09/07/sign-cross-early-medieval-axes-symbol-power-magic-religion/
Focus on heritage days
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
http://pjp-eu.coe.int/en/web/ehd-jep/home
Finally
This fortnight tweeted on a number of recent trips
https://twitter.com/Basiliscoe
Compiled by Ruth Rhynas Brown – 10 September 2014
Some people have asked me about making a contribution to the Newsletter – if you would like to support us, you can make a donation here through our Paypal account – see here for details:
http://www.basiliscoe.com/id2.html

 

Thanks, Spring!

 

WOW Spring, I just got my Kovels newsletter.

http://www.kovels.com/news-news-new...paign=Kovels+Komments:+Real+Wartime+Cannons +

 

SOS thanks, Terry K. just called me to ask questions this afternoon, had no idea it was out already.

 

Good publicity for your sale -

 

Yup, every little bit helps-especially with items that not everyone collects. Here's the cannon page (one page of the 8 total) of the brochure the auction house sent out a few days ago:

http://springfieldarsenal.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=157

 

Wow Spring nice collection....I hope you rake in lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Springfld.arsenal, I know you are pleased with the auction house which is handling the sale.

I just wanted to relay to you that DH has ordered the catalog. He said that his telephone conversation with one of the auction house representatives was the most pleasant and intelligent telephone conversations he has had in years. He said the auction house is obviously running a first-class operation and showing that it is enthusiastic about your sale.

I'm sure you chose that auction house because you knew that already, but it never hurts to know from another source that they are first-class in how they respond to people ordering a catalog.

 

Thanks much, I will pass that along to my contact at the House.

 

Springfld.arsenal, DH received his auction catalog today. DH is very pleased with it. Thank you so much for letting us know about the auction.

P.S. Not sure if it works this way, but we hope you get a "cut" of the catalog proceeds.

 

we hope you get a "cut" of the catalog proceeds

Thanks for the good wishes but no, no cut on catalog sales for consignors. I have no insight into their catalog process save my participation in supplying info and proofreading, and always asking for more photos with better coverage and contrast.

Glad DH likes it. Since I had so much historical info, imagery, etc. on the cannons, only a small part of it would fit in the printed catalog. The other 70% or so is in or linked from the online catalog, see the little brown links such as "provenance" or "see additional images."

 

Springfld., thank you so much for the info re the "little brown links" -- DH was glad to receive that info from you. DH plans take full advantage of the links as he reads the catalog.

 

One item he might want to check in the "additional images" links is lot 1402,
Spanish mortar dated 1750. I researched that one for 30 years on and off. I wondered why the Spanish didn't take it with them when they left East Florida in 1821. When I found the original treaty in the Lib, of Cong., it showed that the US required them to leave certain listed items, and that mortar is listed in the treaty. It took longer to find out precisely when/how the US Navy acquired it, and I had to look thru the ship logs of the whole fleet that Dupont had at Fernandina FL in 1862, and the very last ship's log I looked thru had the info., which, like the treaty info, is pictured in the images at the link.

 

dupe deleted