In the WTF world we find ourselves trapped in, at least we can reflect on the WTF way we got here... #HistoryBooks #NewBooks #Books #History www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GY8C487...

Downtown #Athens yesterday - @nomadpossumgr.bsky.social brandishes her copy of 'An A-Z of WTFs in History' in a forlorn attempt to bring traffic to a standstill... #NewBooks #HistoryBooks #Books #AncientHistory

Just want to big up the sensational replica Neolithic hall now completed at Stonehenge - the biggest ever! Great job! The big questions: (i) what sort of chalk daub was used, (ii) does it have a bar and (iii) will it be subject to Council Tax? Photo: copyright English Heritage

On the Thursday after Summer Solstice (June 25th), I'll be joining cult archaeologist Dr Doug Pitt on an informative and entertaining ramble round the Stonehenge landscape, embracing Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age chapters in its remarkable story. Care to join us? Still a few places left.

Marlborough Mound is 19 m high, built in 2300BC. It's the 2nd biggest mound in Britain. Often referred to as Silbury Hill's little sister and is located within the grounds of Marlborough College. Legend has it, this was the final resting place of Merlin, and was once called Maerla’s Barrow. 🧙‍♀️

An odd Roman thing for you: a tomb at the once-Samnite town of Atina in Latium, complete with funerary inscription, holds the remains of Quintus Tittius, his wife Tittia & their son Tittius Pontanus. It was built by their son Gnaeus Tittius, who liked to keep abreast of things...

Thanks very much @paulidilge.bsky.social for the very positive review of 'An A-Z of WTFs in History' that I've just seen on Amazon. Your continued interest and support are greatly appreciated! #books #history

The "...in History" trilogy is complete. #history #books

What if you read this? Still available (from Amazon, or signed from me). #History #Books #HistoryBooks

Still annoying...still available. From Amazon or (signed) from me. #History #Books #HistoryBooks

Look what arrived in the post today? 👀 My pal @profjasperh-b.bsky.social has been busy again, turning historical titbits into funny and digestible bites! If you like history and a laugh, please buy An A-Z of WTFs in History. You won’t be disappointed! 😁 #history #books

This week’s reading list @profjasperh-b.bsky.social #ABBA

You certainly can!! 👻👻👻

Britain's most WTF archaeological find? In the offbeat stakes, gotta be the 8-inch Viking doo-doo excavated in York in 1972. A York Archaeological Trust employee even said: "this is the most exciting piece of excrement I've ever seen”. Well, only he would know. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GY8C487...

Essential vocab for any history-lover: two little words and one rude one... An A-Z of WTFs in History...The Bizarre. The Bonkers. The Barely Believable. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GY8C487...

Missed out on a chance last week to go and see the #RSC's 'Hamlet' at the Theatre Royal in York. Alas, poor Jorvik!

In the new book 'An A-Z of WTFs in History', the chapter 'R is for...Roman Charges' highlights WTF emperors, as charged by historian Suetonius. Domitian had walls of galleries where he walked faced with translucent stone, so he could see in the polished surfaces what was going on behind his back...

Exciting! Ordering proof today of 'An A-Z of WTFs in History - The Bizarre. The Bonkers. The Barely Believable'. Planning tie-in 'WTF People's Tour' at unprepared/unsuitable venues up & down UK. Did I mention 'exciting'? @johnlwilson.bsky.social @weird-wiltshire.bsky.social @paulidilge.bsky.social

Just finished another seminar on Roman decorative floors. Discussing the deity depicted at Gorsty Knoll, I was shocked Prof Tessa Rye didn't know the Roman goddess of luck. After I spent 15 mins telling her, it turned out she hadn't asked "who's Fortuna?" but was checking what sandwiches we wanted.

Just out of a seminar on Roman decorative floors co-hosted by Professor Tessa Rye & Professor Mo Zake. They've just found one near Burton Lazars. I asked which goddess it shows. They kept asking if I knew. I kept saying no. Then I realised they were saying 'Juno'. 20 minutes I'll never get back.

My good friend Dr Doug Pitt has been commandeered by our old colleague, Roman mosaic expert Professor Tessa Rye, to go & point at something with his battered old Batti* on the HS2 route. He said the mosaic depicts a huge Venus. Phone line not great so had to ask him to repeat it * Battiferro trowel

So, Thursday 7th May is the day cult archaeologist Dr Doug Pitt and I have (stone) circled in our diaries for our next History Walk, Talk & Gawk round the #Stonehenge landscape, assuming it's stopped raining by then... Do join us. (DM for details.) It's our Bit Belated Beltane Bonanza!

Just 2 berths left for January's inaugural Zoom-based 'ProdTheProf' Q&A ask-me-anything-about-history session, also featuring the legendary Dr Doug Pitt (to ensure our laugh-while-you-learn metrics look impressive...). DM for more info or to reserve a slot. Precise time/date to be arranged.

Lots of chat about the British monarchy at the mo. Writing in 1867, Walter Bagehot listed odd 'theoretical' powers Queen Victoria still held under the constitution, e.g. declaring war with the aim of conquering Brittany & the right to make peace by giving away Cornwall... #History

#History's Game Time #2: Mehen. Originating 3000 BC, shared name of #AncientEgypt's coiled snake-god. Board represents a coiled snake. But no sign of a ladder. Players raced to the centre, symbolising journey of the soul (Ba) through underworld post-mortem. 'Mouse Trap' it ain't

#History's Game Time #1: The Royal Game of Ur. Mesopotamian, 3rd millennium BC. 2 players. 4-sided dice. Set of rules still exists: get your counters across board & off other side, capturing opponent's counters. A game of strategy. My strategy? To cheat. Loser's strop mandatory.

All systems go for kicking off #ProdTheProf in January - Zoom-based fun-fests where Dr Doug Pitt & I chat with you about history & try to answer ANY history question you chuck at us! Interested in joining us? DM me & we'll explore times of the day/days of the week that suit you!

Tall Tales from #History #1: George Ward Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer in Disraeli's Cabinet of 1868, was taller than Queen Victoria even when he knelt in front of her. She should have stood on a crate or sat on someone's shoulders, just to emphasise her social superiority.

Tall Tales from #History #2: Peter the Great...was six feet eight. Sounds like the start of a scurrilous poem. Tsar 1682-1725, outstripped normal folk by over a foot. Reminds me of the joke about the king who was only 12 inches tall. Terrible monarch but he did make a good ruler.

Coming in 2026: Prod the Prof! Zoom-based get-togethers where we can chat about history, you can ask my guests and me ANY history-related question and we'll give you the answer (or make one up). Let me know if interested in joining us! Places strictly limited! #ProdTheProf

Just 7 days to go till Dr Doug Pitt and I head out on the highway to host our next #Avebury History Walk, Talk & Gawk. A special not-quite-the-equinox 'equinot' event. Kicking off outside the Red Lion and ending up at...the Red Lion. Why not join us & our other willing walkers?

As we approach the equinox & the elements start to remember why they can be so elemental, let's consider History's Worst Weather: #1 Typhoons Blow Kublai Khan Off Course. Twice. In 1274 & 1281, vicious tropical storms wreck Mongol invasion fleets heading for Japan. Japandemonium! #History

Well, 'What-iffery in History: A Dozen Things that Didn't Happen (But Nearly Did)' has made it to Greece, under Plato's watchful eye in front of the Academy of Athens (Ακαδημία Αθηνών). Credit: @nomadpossumgr.bsky.social and a Japanese lady's hand. #NewBooks #HistoryBooks #Plato #Books

Just 14 days till cult archaeologist Dr Doug Pitt and I head off to #Avebury for our not-quite-the-equinox History Walk, Talk & Gawk 'event'. Do join us if you can! We'll shed some light on this exhilarating landscape, get several thousand steps in & have some fun in the process.

History, with a twist of what-ifs... #Books #NewBooks #HistoryBooks #FunnyBooks #History What-iffery in History: A Dozen Things that Didn't Happen (But Nearly Did) Available from Amazon

A little pressie arrived by post this morning! The new book by my very clever pal @profjasperh-b.bsky.social. It’s not just your average dull history book - it’s a good ol’ laugh, just like all Jasper’s books. Give him a follow and buy his book. It’s totally worth it! 📚🤩📚 #books

Blimey! 'What-iffery in History: A Dozen Things That Didn't Happen (But Nearly Did)' has picked up a couple of 5-star Amazon reviews. Thx!!

Just a reminder, Dr Doug Pitt and I will be hosting a History Walk, Talk & Gawk round the magnificent Avebury landscape on Friday 19th September. Let me know if you'd like to join us as we lift the lid on this simply amazing place and have quite a lot of fun while we do so...

A gorgeous summer evening sunset over Barbury Castle for #HillfortsWednesday

@pauld70.bsky.social Just to let you know, I'm looking to schedule a History Walk, Talk & Gawk ramble round Avebury on Fri Sept 19, accompanied by my estimable colleague Dr Doug Pitt. Do join us if you can!

Confirmed! Friday 19th Sept: cult archaeologist Dr Doug Pitt and I will be doing a History Walk, Talk & Gawk ramble round Avebury! Join us as we explore this amazing site, get some exercise, mark the equinox and accidentally end up in the Red Lion's beer garden... #AveburyWalk

Hitler goes to art school. Farming flops. No-one's heard of Shakespeare. England doesn't happen. Ditto teabags and the Norman Conquest. The Ancient World takes different turns. Can't beat a bit of pointless mulling over things that never happened! #WIIH From Amazon

Out now... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FKZH3W4...

In April 1912, a famous local newspaper headline here in the UK screamed LOCAL MAN DROWNS. (Poor chap was actually on the Titanic.) I've often wondered whether a similar headline, LOCAL MAN INVADES REICH, appeared in June 1944...

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR WORK! The so-called 'Wicked Bible' printed in 1631 accidentally left out the word 'not' in the 7th commandment. Talk about green light! Also reputedly misspelt ‘greatness’ in the Book of Deuteronomy: “Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his great-asse…” #History

A Quick #History 'Did You Know?' In total, it's generally accepted there were 11 Roman emperors called Constantine. So enough for a cricket team. Pretty sure Constantine the Great would insist on opening the bowling. And the batting. And doing all the interviews. #RomanHistory #AncientHistory

"Annoyingly brilliant" @dorotheacalm.bsky.social "An irritatingly good read" Professor Simon Pyman "Irksomely entertaining" Lord Justice Once "Gallingly engaging" Sir Titus Fock Available from Amazon and other major waterways. #HistoryBooks #History #OffbeatBooks

A #History question for you: which historical figure would you most like to see run the rule over their own Wikipedia entry? For me, #LeonardodaVinci. He'd be chuffed to learn there’s an airport, a crater on the Moon, a robotic surgery system and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle all named after him.

Will start putting pen to paper today as I launch into 'What-iffery in History: A Dozen Things That Didn't Happen (But Nearly Did)'. A kind of follow-up to 2024's 'Thirty Annoying Things in History', which some of you seemed to enjoy! Hopefully out in time for Xmas, though not sure which one...

Edington is (arguably) the most important battle in English history, even though there wasn't actually an England then. Lose that one, and you may not get an England at all. #History