Category Archives: Research Papers

Iron Age Tatooing

HL Shahzia Nisaburi Courtier of the Barony of Wealdsmere

Methods of Iron Age Tattooing: Evidence from the Scythian Tombs

As technological advancements are made and archeological finds provide more evidence for study, there are ever increasing examples of tattooing from the Medieval era all the way back to Neolithic times. In my research it is my goal to recreate how a tattoo might have been made in period, specific to each civilization. I chose to examine evidence of Scythian tattooing from the Pazyryk Tombs first for this ongoing project because the tattoos are some of the most well preserved on any mummy ever discovered. The designs are fanciful, bold, and just as beautiful as the day they were applied some 2,500 years ago, between the 5th and the 3rd century B.C.E. (Krutak, pg. 215).

Kumiss – A discussion thereof

History of Kumiss / Caracosmos / Airag:

Baron Drake Morgan, OL, OP  [email protected]

Barony of Saint Florian de la Riviere, Lochac, Known World

Airag (or Kumiss, it’s Russian name) is fermented horse milk, traditionally brewed by the Mongols and other horse tribes on the steppes. It was often drunk by other cultures, such as the Russians as a health tonic.

Taking the Waters – A History of Bath (England) and Personae

Taking the Waters- A History of Bath (England) and Personae

Oswyn of Baðon mka Sean Wilson

Shire of Caer Gwyn, Middle Kingdom, Known World

For this class, I wanted to give the history of Bath but give it a window dressing of why it is good as a location for an SCA persona and by extension, what kind of things one can look for when choosing a location for one’s own persona.

The Legacy of Alfred the Great

The Legacy of Alfred the Great

By Oswyn of Baðon mka Sean Wilson

Shire of Caer Gwyn, Middle Kingdom, Known World

Imagine, you are the last Anglo-Saxon king in Southern England.  Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia, and most of your kingdom (Wessex) has been captured by the Vikings and either ruled directly by them or through puppet kings.  Your father and three brothers were king before you and fought these invaders. Most of your relations died to these invaders.  You are now huddled with the remnants of your army in a marsh in Somerset.  All the remains is a crude fort, and some hovels of some commoners.  You go out for a walk and take refuge in one of those hovels.  The occupants do not know who you are but show you hospitality.  They simply ask that you do not let the cakes (bread) burn while they gather wood and hunt.

The Riddle Game – a look at the Exeter Book Riddles

https://alexandria.midrealm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Riddle-Game.pdf

By Oswyn of Baðon mka Sean Wilson

Shire of Caer Gwyn, Middle Kingdom, Known World

While many sources of Anglo-Saxon history and literature have not survived through the years, there is one very remarkable piece that has – the Exeter Book.  This book dates from my own time, the 10th century. It contains epic poems like The Wanderer, the lives of St Guthlac and St Juliana, some traditional secular poems, and more than 90 riddles.

Vinegar 101, 201, and 301 from

Oswyn of Baðon mka Sean Wilson

Shire of Caer Gwyn, Middle Kingdom, Known World

French wine makers have a saying, “God loves to make vinegar.”  Making vinegar is very easy; it will happen on its own.  However, like brewing, you can control the process and make this easy but versatile product for yourself.

Vinegar 101 Anti Brewing Vinegar

Vinegar 201 Vinegar and Mustard

Vinegar 301 Vinegar and Shrubs

Al-Kahina: Jewish Warrior Prophetess

Al-Kahina: Jewish Warrior Prophetess by TH Gideon ha-Khazar

In the latter 600s, the Arab Muslim armies that had
conquered fortified Byzantine Egypt in just two years tried to
conquer western North Africa – and were stopped for five
years by Berber tribes under by Dihya Al-Kāhina, a Jewish
prophetess of the Berber Djeraoua (aka Jerawa) tribe. In modern
times she became a symbol of resistance, with different Berber,
Jewish, and feminist groups claiming her as “their” heroine.