On Living Medieval magazine with an article about the lucet in reenactment - from #LRCrafts - DIY Passion: if you can think it, you can make it by Rici86.
As you might know, I am researching about the history of the lucet. It all began after I tried lucetting in 2015 for the first time during a living history event and heard discussions about the tool being Medieval or not. I listened to opposite opinions on the matter and got curious, so I began looking for archaeological evidences and published a blog post in August 2022 with my first results.
Well, what got me involved were the acre disputes. Among mild reenactors, there were fierce opposers of the lucet, stating it was not historical, not documented in the Middle Ages, therefore not suited for a Medieval reenactment. On the other hand, there were reenactors strongly supporting the lucet as a Medieval tool, in use among the Vikings in the UK and Scandinavia, as proved by supposed extant finds.
I’m glad this post of mine got attention and comments, I got some really constructive feedbacks. Among the attentions I got on the topic, one involves the magazine Living Medieval.
What is "Living Medieval"?
On Instagram I follow an Italian reenactor I highly recommend, Sara Vidus. Thanks to her, I discovered the first edition of the Living Medieval magazine, featuring an article she wrote about being a woman in reenactment.
I liked the publication since the subheading: “History, by those who live it“. And actually Living Medieval is an online history magazine about the medieval world, as seen through the eyes of reenactors, archaeologists and historians. An unusual way of looking at the past: not just the traditional academic research, but a more experimental approach.
You’ll find articles by researchers who also put their studies in real practice. That’s something you don’t find often. Most of the time people writing history books are not the same you meet at reenactments reconstructing the past. several reenactors, though, are archaeologists or historians, work in museums, have academic titles in the history field. Here, the two souls can merge.
By showcasing the work of reenactors who are also archaeologists or historians, the magazine offers its readers a rare opportunity to witness the harmony between theory and practice. This unique combination ensures that the articles presented are not only well-researched, but also enriched with first-hand experiences. Such a fusion of expertise adds depth and authenticity to the content, making it both informative and enjoyable.
From intriguing narratives of medieval battles to the intricate details of daily rituals and customs, each article is a captivating journey through time. The magazine’s commitment to sharing various aspects of medieval life ensures that readers are continuously engaged by the richness of this historical period.
About our article "Lucet: historically correct or reenactorism?"
Well, as I discovered the magazine, I also found out that submissions were open for the next issue.
I thought about this at lenght. I was (and still am) busy researching about the origins of the lucet. I was able to discover interesting stuff, I think. I endlessly browse museum collections all over Europe (even the USA), contact other researchers (like the lovely and knowledgeable Beatrix Nutz), analyze photos, dive deep into the rabbit hole of bibliography…
What I got so far is a good amount of extant finds that have characters in common and could fit in the lucet definition. I found different theories about the function of those artifacts and several experimental archeology tests. I found other people with interest in this topic.
So what I thought was: if I am interested and a niche group of people is interested, maybe others could find it of interest. I then opened my email and wrote to the editors of Living Medieval.
Well, they received my proposal and accepted it! Not just that, they were super kind and showed genuine curiosity.
So here I am, with the digital magazine in front of me, waiting to have a printed copy in my hands also. I go to page 7 and here it is: my article “The lucet: historically accurate or reenactorism”.
I had to stay confined into a lenght limit, of course, and that’s what got me the most nervous about writing this article. What I wanted to write was a sort of explanation of my current studies and why I go on researching on the history of the lucet.
It all began because of historical reenactment. My first question was: did it all begin here? But the most interesting question is: does it all end here? By telling the story of the tool and technique, I’d like to answer to the inquiry I used as a title for my Living Medieval article: is the lucet just a reenactors’ invention because it’s a super easy craft to master and show, or does it have its roots in the past, as most reenactor luceteers claim?
I am sorry I’m still not able to give you a fullproof answer. I’m glad I was able to collect loads of material to start shedding light on the matter, thought.
If you want to follow along my research, I’ll keep my blog post as updated as I can. For now, it still lacks some content, though, because I am busy finishing a book about the history of the lucet. I’m writing the historical part while my co-author Daniel Phelps takes care of the crafting section, and I can’t wait to have it finished! It’s going to be published in the next months, so keep an eye on the updates here on #LRCrafts.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my article on Living Medieval.
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