No fewer than three races of pre-modern sheep were introduced to St Kilda; in sequence, Soays, then Borerays, then St Kildas aka Hebrideans. This sequence may carry implications for the history of domesticated sheep in the north-east Atlantic region, and for a long-term, reciprocal relationship between sheep-keeping, woollen textiles and sea travel.

The lecture focuses on Baron Philipp von Stosch (1691-1757), a Prussian famous antiquarian who was tasked by the British government with many espionage missions in Italy from 1721 to 1757. By virtue of his extraordinary network of contacts that involved cardinals, politicians, artists and savants, he could count on a substantial platform for his operation, which mainly consisted of spying the exiled court of James III Stuart.

Research reveals that copper and bronze production in the Eurasian Steppe (3500-1000 BC) spurred vast social and technological transformations. New analysis of metal debris from ancient settlements highlights evolving production methods, fuel demands, and land use impact, offering insights into early global connections and metal technology’s spread across Eurasia.

The search for the actual site of the Battle of Hastings, one of the most momentous battles in British and European history, has taken a new turn as fresh documentary evidence now points to a site named ‘Heathfield Down’, in East Sussex, ten miles from the traditional battlefield site of Battle Abbey.