For thousands of years, people have had a keen interest in magic, whether that concerns fantastical creatures, healing charms, or the ability to fly. Bringing together a wealth of documents and artefacts, the British Library’s new exhibition, Harry Potter: a history of magic, sets out to show the substance behind the stories and reveal some of the research that went into the books.

For centuries Scotland’s finely crafted silver brooches, neck chains, vessels, and more were made from a supply of recycled Roman hacksilver. Lucia Marchini learns more about the medieval afterlife of this metal at the National Museum of Scotland’s new exhibition. When a spectacular array of cut-up silver artefacts was discovered at Traprain Law, East Lothian, […]

What can a dozen skeletons tell us about life and death in Britain through the ages? Lucia Marchini visits an exhibition at Leeds City Museum to find out. It is not uncommon for development-led archaeology to uncover human remains – fascinating traces of individuals otherwise lost to history, which often offer intimate insights into their […]

While visiting York, CA dropped by the blockbuster Viking exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum, which is shortly to go on tour.

Who were the Scythians? They left behind no written records, but archaeology lets us get up close and personal with these nomadic warriors. Lucia Marchini finds out more at the British Museum’s latest exhibition. From the end of the 17th century, the glittering possessions of nomadic warriors began to be discovered in the Urals and […]

Once a destination for pilgrims, Hailes Abbey now lies in ruins. Lucia Marchini takes a look at a newly refurbished museum on the site that explores the abbey’s history. In the late 1530s, Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries saw many religious establishments across the country put out of use, looted, and left in ruins. […]

Antiquity has long been a source of inspiration for artists, with striking images of prehistoric monuments appearing in a variety of media across the centuries. Lucia Marchini visits an exhibition that explores the popularity of British prehistory in the visual arts. The enduring appeal of prehistoric monuments makes them fitting subjects for artworks. From antiquarians […]

Remarkable finds from Must Farm take centre stage in a new exhibition at Peterborough Museum, which tells the story of excavations at the ancient river channel and settlement, and explores their connection with other prehistoric sites around the Fens. Lucia Marchini delves into Bronze Age life at Must Farm and Flag Fen. When the remains […]

As well as marking 50 years since the launch of CA, this year sees the golden anniversary of musical masterpieces and a landmark law. Lucia Marchini explores the heritage attractions that offer a taste of 1967. In 1967, San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district drew in crowds of gentle people with flowers in their hair for a […]

York’s celebrated Viking museum was forced to close when its galleries were flooded in December 2015, but with repairs and renovations now complete, its doors are open to the public once more. Carly Hilts explores the new-look Jorvik. Last year marked an exciting anniversary for those interested in the Viking Age – the millenary of […]