Stepping Back in Time: Medieval Version

Despite its importance in the story of early medieval Britain, until recently there has been relatively little research into the archaeology of the early monastery. This is a chance to hear about the first large-scale excavation on the heart of the site, and to find out how this work is changing our understanding of the Island’s history.

Medieval thinkers were fascinated by the idea that the heavens were spherical and moved in beautiful harmony. My talk will discuss why this shape was considered ideal, exploring some of the many stunning illustrations of the cosmos in medieval manuscripts, and placing them in the context of ideas about creation, the elements, angels, the soul, the orders of nature and marvels such as shooting stars and eclipses. It will interest all those keen on the history of cosmology, diagrams and books.