Italians have been buying Tuff (Tufo Volcanico) for thousands of years. It's still popular for non-load bearing walls, landscaping and interior feature walls.

FB memories tells me thatvit's 2 years since I submitted my MA dissertation. Absolutely nuts that in a month the book it inspired will be published.

Strong review of my book by M.J. Johnson (Vanderbilt) in CHOICE, a leading journal for academic libraries! "Swist investigates how the emperor Julian ('the Apostate') depicts himself in his literary works and how this depiction was influenced by the Neoplatonism developed by Iamblichus..."

June 13th you will find @potsofhistory.bsky.social and I making Neolithic pottery at Bryn Celli Ddu, Anglesey, North Wales. 🏺 There will be lots more to see, flint knapping with @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social #arcaeology cadw.gov.wales/ancient-arch...

The Roman Roofer apple.co/42XZYyG

Socrates's prison, with a view of very different Athens 1890s

Modern examples of how polychrome decoration to Roman marble carvings may have appeared

(*this month's task, evidently...) I wonder if there's a friendly volcanologist 🌋 out there (ideally someone conversant with tuff) who wouldn't mind glancing at the manuscript (8k words or so) to make sure there aren't any glaring errors

Roman mosaic in a house, #Italica, Santa Ponce. Depicts Sol (centre), Luna, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn in hexagons. And these Roman deities also represent a 7 day week. c. AD 150. Emperors Trajan and Hadrian were born in Italica. My 📷 #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

The downside of making a podcast, is needing to understand this stuff.

Several Roman flooring materials: - Stone mosaic - Marble tile - Terracotta pavers. #mosaicmonday #cbm

Terms like 'Carved' and 'sculpted' are used to describe ancient stone items such as this. The fact that a large part of the work was done with a drill is usually skimmed over.

The research says...

John Schofield of York University on the value of archaeology - it’s not just about the past. theconversation.com/six-reasons-...

Some 'Opus africanum' in Pompei. This was a Punic/Carthaginian style of masonry. An example of regional transfer of knowledge, but how? - Masons who'd served in the army in Nth Africa? - A foreign slave's suggestion? - Someone who'd seen it? - Someone who'd been told about its seismic resilience?

Roman aqueduct, Antibes, France. The army discovered the ancient aqueduct, restored them and put them back into use at the end of the 18th century.

Roman tegula and imbrex style roof tiles of cut stone.

The Colosseum 1821

Roman tegula and imbrex style roof tiles of cut stone.

A small but perfect limestone *elbow pestle* (an L-shaped #Roman pounding / grinding tool) Originally used to crush foodstuffs in a mortar (mortarium) Photographed shortly after discovery in a 4th century AD context at Winterborne Kingston, June 2012 All power to your elbow this #FindsFriday 💪

Not an elbow, but a similar idea.

The Roman Blacksmith

Not an episode, but an end of series update! apple.co/4fi4Fus shows.acast.com/68ad5c37b1a3... www.patreon.com/cw/BuildLike... open.spotify.com/show/3keRSIi...

The paperback version of ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME is coming out soon! And with an even more stunning cover 🥰

Arthur's Seat is a much older (340 Ma) volcano than the Roman ones I'm used to dealing with (600 - 36 Ka), but it's glorious - every city should have one (the extincter the better...)

Roman aqueduct, Antibes, France. The army discovered the ancient aqueduct, restored them and put them back into use at the end of the 18th century.

They must’ve had strong neck muscles, as bronze helmets are HEAVY

A 1920s German take on Egyptian columns and pilasters

Some 'Opus africanum' in Pompei. This was a Punic/Carthaginian style of masonry. An example of regional transfer of knowledge, but how? - Masons who'd served in the army in Nth Africa? - A foreign slave's suggestion? - Someone who'd seen it? - Someone who'd been told about its seismic resilience?

For once, dog footprints, that actually look natural. i.e., they're messy. That stone was never thrown there. That's a museum curator's interpretation.

"Little Loves" (Cupids) in deer carts. From the House of the Vetti, Pompei #frescoes

Accuracy and poetic license in the one print. Capturing the masons is a nice touch.

✨Brand New Episode - Septimius Severus with Dr Simon Elliot ✨ We chat with the delightful @simonelliott20.bsky.social to dig into the life and times of the African emperor: Septimius Severus! Catch all the details here: partialhistorians.com/2026/04/30/s...

The frescoes in the thread are beautiful (BEAUTIFUL!!) but here, as with most "Frescoes", only the red background is the true Buon Fresco, as in paint on wet plaster They're often painted onto a background, well after it's dried, sometimes years after Note the flaking. buon frescoe can't flake

✨Dancing with Apollo✨ This stunning Roman fresco comes from the Villa Moregine which is located just outside Pompeii. The figure wears gorgeous diaphanous robes in blues and seems to float against the red background while strumming a lyre. #FrescoFriday

New online courses! We will be running FOUR new courses online, starting from 6 May: Jan Haywood: Divination in the Ancient Greek and Roman Worlds Five weeks: Wednesday 6, 13, 20, 27 May, 3 June, 6pm-7.30pm (UK time) + recordings www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events

Egyptian mason’s mallets Dier el-Medina 1539-1077 BCE Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy

"The Romans didn't have forks..." Umm?

Roman blown-glass unguentarium or balsamarium in the shape of a dove, found at Rovasenda near Vercelli in N Italy, sealed since its manufacture about 1900 years ago, containing the remains of a cosmetic and the liquid in which it was once suspended. One would have snapped off the tail to open. 🏺

#Spolia pavement in the #Aracoeli for a very belated #SpoliaSunday, on Tuesday. The newly-rebuilt #Franciscan basilica was consecrated in 1268 but floor tombs continually disturbed the #Cosmatesque floor, creating the crazy-pavement of reused ancient stone we see here. #AncientBluesky 🏺

Episode 12: Roman Frescoes, Not just a pretty face Not all Frescoes are Buon!!! Can you name the others? And why were black frescoes recommended... apple.co/4tjZbUo

Some nice mixtum opus going on here!

A built up floor, for Roman mosaics and other hard floors and in order: Opus Scutulatum Opus Tessallatum Opus Scutulatum / opus mixtum #mosaicmonday #romans #rome #history #archaeology #mosaic #romanbluesky

Episode 11 is now available: Roman Floors: Roman Glass, Under Your Feet or... Roman Floors: Mosaic, Tile, Clay and Wood Apple podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b... Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/17x4... #romans #rome #history #archaeology #mosaic #romanbluesky #tiles

🥳Cover reveal for 'Gladiators in the Greek World: How a Roman Bloodsport Took Ancient Greece by Storm'🥳 Now officially available to pre-order with an early bird discount (though I'm not sure the release date on the website is 100% set in stone yet) www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Gladiators-i...

Episode 11 is now available: Roman Floors: Roman Glass, Under Your Feet or... Roman Floors: Mosaic, Tile, Clay and Wood Apple podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b... Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/17x4... #romans #rome #history #archaeology #mosaic #romanbluesky #tiles

Episode 10 is now available: Roman Glass: Roman Glass, Sand, Soda and Sunlight or... Roman Glass: One Lump or Two? Apple podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r... Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/6DsA... #romans #rome #history #archaeology #glass #romanbluesky

Episode 10 is now available: Roman Glass: Roman Glass, Sand, Soda and Sunlight or... Roman Glass: One Lump or Two? Apple podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r... Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/6DsA... #romans #rome #history #archaeology #glass #romanbluesky