England’s forgotten first king deserves to be famous, says Æthelstan biographer as anniversaries approach
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 2-Sep-2025 19:11 ET (2-Sep-2025 23:11 GMT/UTC)
A groundbreaking new biography of Æthelstan marks 1,100 years since his coronation in 925AD, reasserts his right to be called the first king of England, explains why he isn’t better known and highlights his many overlooked achievements. The book’s author, Professor David Woodman, is campaigning for greater public recognition of Æthelstan’s creation of England in 927AD.
Study coordinated by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice opens new perspectives on the complex behaviour of prehistoric human populations. It’s the first time that the indigotin molecule has been found on such ancient artefacts, demonstrating the processing of Isatis tinctoria L., a non-edible plant: hypotheses are open on its use as a dye or medicine.
University of Utah anthropologist used genetic studies to conclude Sahul colonizers arrived later than the commonly held 65,000-year timeframe. James O’Connell and archaeologist Jim Allen’s paper re-opens debate on when Australia was first settled.
New research published in Nature reports that world's oldest dinosaur Spicomellus afer had a tail weapon more than 30 million years before any other ankylosaur, as well as a unique bony collar ringed with metre-long spikes sticking out from either side of its neck.
Spicomellus is the world’s oldest ankylosaur, having lived more than 165 million years ago in the Middle Jurassic near what is now the Moroccan town of Boulemane. It was the first ankylosaur to be found on the African continent.