Dr James Wade and Dr Seb Falk.

Lost English legend decoded, solving a Chaucerian mystery

A medieval literary puzzle which has stumped scholars including MR James for 130 years has finally been solved. Cambridge scholars now believe the Song of Wade, a long-lost treasure of English culture, was a chivalric romance not a monster-filled epic. The discovery solves the most famous mystery in Chaucer's writings and provides rare evidence of a medieval preacher referencing pop culture in a sermon.

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Two of Charles Darwin’s pocket notebooks. Cambridge University Library

Charles Darwin Archive recognised by UNESCO

Documentary heritage relating to the life and work of Charles Darwin has been recognised on the prestigious UNESCO International Memory of the World Register, highlighting its critical importance to global science and the necessity of its long-term preservation and accessibility.

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Ancient Egypt gallery at The Fitzwilliam Museum. Photo: The Fitzwillliam Museum / David Valinsky Photography

Report highlights University’s under-researched African collections

The University's collections include an estimated 350,000 artefacts, alongside natural history specimens and human/ancestral remains, from Africa, according to a new report aiming to promote further research, collaboration and engagement, especially with African scholars and communities. The report emphasises that the labour and expertise of countless unnamed African people is hidden in the histories of these collections.

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