beckyhoskins's blog

You may have noticed that ancient history has been a popular subject in the news this week, with Ancient Egypt being a particularly hot topic.

A team of Austrian archaeologists have located an ancient city in the Nile Delta region of Egypt with the help of radar. The settlement is believed to be Avaris, the Hyksos capital, dating back 3,500 years. Radar images show the outlines of streets and houses hidden underneath modern farmland and settlements.

Northern Irish history has featured heavily in the headlines this week, following the publication of the Saville Report. The report, which has taken 12 years and cost £195 million to complete, criticised the British army’s actions on Bloody Sunday.

As this week marked the 66th anniversary of the D-Day landings it is somewhat fitting that the Second World War has dominated the history headlines over the last few days.

The last known survivor of the ‘Great Escape’ died this week, aged 97. Scotsman Jack Harrison was part of the break out from German war camp Stalag Luft III in 1944, which claimed 50 lives and inspired the 1963 film The Great Escape, starring Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen.

As history students around the country revise for their upcoming exams, this week's headlines have highlighted concerns over the current teaching of the topic. 

Niall Ferguson is to be involved with the Conservatives' overhaul of the school syllabus. The Harvard-based historian, who specialises in economic and colonial history, has argued that children should be taught history as part of a grand narrative with a Eurocentric focus.

As yet another version of Robin Hood tops the UK Box Office, it’s medieval history in the headlines this week.

For those interested in the outlaw’s choice of attire, there’s a look back at the history of men in tights, from Henry VIII to Tony Curtis.

It is of course the General Election that has dominated the news this week.

In the news this week: choices of the best Prime Ministers and the top elections in British history. Elsewhere, historic documentaries make headlines, Churchill goes to auction and Latin is lost from the web.

Best British Prime Ministers: The Times gives their verdict.

This week in the history headlines: there's fresh claims to the discovery of Noah's Ark, along with ancient hunting tools in Canada and Roman stones in Scotland. Elsewhere, ancient history hits Hollywood and Greek politics, British veterans are remembered at home and away, and questions loom over the fate of local museum collections.

Has Noah’s Ark been found in Turkey? A history of the search for the vessel.

Unsurprisingly it's volcanoes making the headlines this week: eruptions through history and the effects on past societies. Elsewhere, goods are under the hammer, there's a coronation renovation and competition for Stonehenge; plus, a revelation about James Bond and attempts to identify VE Day footage.

Making the news this week: old history books are brought back into the classroom in an attempt to encourage student interest. Plus, there's Grace Kelly and David Starkey, an ancient skull and shroud, and the internet lends a helping hand to historians.  

School history to be boosted by 1930s books.