This Etruscan guttus - a vessel used to store and pour liquids in small amounts, or to refill oil lamps - is shaped like an elephant. It may have been inspired by the elephants first seen in Italy during the invasions of Pyrrhus and of Hannibal of Carthage in the 3rd c. BCE. 🏺 300-200 BCE.

Something seems fishy for #MosaicMonday! This mosaic emblema depicts eight fish, two squid/cuttlefish, and an eel. An example of the delights of the sea that were destined for the plates of an elite dinner party. From a Roman villa at Cecchignola, Rome. 🏺 1/ 50 BCE-50 CE. #BritishMuseum 📸 me

Spectacular octopus from the floor of the women’s changing room at the Central Baths in ancient Herculaneum. This magnificent #Roman monochrome mosaic makes quite an impact! 📷 by me #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

#MosaicMonday River #Nile scene, detail of Ducks, a Cobra snake and a Mongoose. The mosaic currently resides in Naples’ National Archaeological Museum, with inventory references connecting it to Pompeii and Casa del Fauno #Italy #romanarchaeology #Art #History #Roman #Archaeology

#MosaicMonday Very pleasingly designed floor in tepidarium of women's baths in Herculaneum.

For this #MosaicMonday, a memory of blue skies in Cyprus on a wonderful autumnal visit in 2018. A simple but pleasing mosaic in an early Christian basilica at Kourion. #AncientBlueSky 🏺

#MosaicMonday for the next few weeks will be obsessing over the incredible #opussectile room of #PortaMarina, from the very edge of #OstiaAntica, though the room is now hidden away in the former Museo dell'Alto Medioevo in the #EUR. #Christ takes centre stage on the south wall. #AncientBluesky 🏺

That magical moment when the pumice is gently cleared away revealing, for the first time in nearly 2000 years, a white mosaic. #MosaicMonday #Pompeii

One torc in the collection of the #BritishMuseum stands far above the others: the Snettisham Great Torc. Eight topes of twisted gold alloy threads are capped with large ornamented hollow terminals. Found by farmers in a field in Snettisham, Norfolk, in 1950. 🏺 1/ Iron Age, 150-50 BCE. 📸 me

The condition of fabrics from pile dwelling and wetland settlements is amazing. This charred ball of thread was found at the site of Marin-Epagnier/Préfargier. It was made of hemp or lime fibres, and dates about 3900 to 3300 BC. The thread measures a total of about 10 m in length. 📷 Laténium 🏺

I wish I had a mosaic like this in my bathroom!

Spectacular octopus from the floor of the women’s changing room at the Central Baths in ancient Herculaneum. This magnificent #Roman monochrome mosaic makes quite an impact! 📷 by me #MosaicMonday #Archaeology

#mosaicMonday Saturday I was asked to speak to a brilliant local charity - I don't think they are on here - Restore Hope Latimer. Their buildings and carpark are on top of Latimer Villa, excavated by Keith Branigan in the 60s. They are the proud curators of a fragment of mosaic floor!

The central part of the 4th century AD ‘Hare Mosaic’ from Roman Cirencester (Corinium). The mosaic was discovered during 1971 at Beeches Road in Cirencester, and is now on display in the fabulous Corinium Museum. 📸 My own. #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #CoriniumMuseum

Roman advertisement for wine! 🍷 At the entrance to a bar in ancient Herculaneum, this fresco with four coloured jugs, and the text ‘Ad Cucumas’ / ‘To the vessels’, was preserved by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago! 📷 by me #AncientSiteSunday #Archaeology

Roman advertisement for wine! 🍷 At the entrance to a bar in ancient Herculaneum, this fresco with four coloured jugs, and the text ‘Ad Cucumas’ / ‘To the vessels’, was preserved by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago! 📷 by me #AncientSiteSunday #Archaeology

For this week's #StandingStoneSunday Castlerigg Stone Circle courtesy of Ennor. #StandingStoneSunday #megaliths #Neolithic #BronzeAge #Archaeology

Somewhere on Salisbury Plain. Winter Solstice morning 🌞 📷 by me. #StandingStoneSunday

Irelands largest stone circle is the Grange Lios embanked stone circle in Lough Gur, County Limerick. It was occupied in the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Early Christian, Medieval, Early Modern and Modern periods. It consists of 113 stone with a diameter of 46 m. #StandingStoneSunday

#StandingStoneSunday This set of standing stones, also known as the Llanfechell Triangle, stands at a prominent location overlooking the village of Llanfechell. It is unique on Anglesey in having three standing stones erected together as a triangle.

One of the stone rows at Ballymeanoch - part of the remarkable prehistoric landscape at Kilmartin Glen in Argyll. 📸 My own. #StandingStoneSunday #Prehistory #Argyll

The 3,000-year-old gold Shropshire sun pendant was dicovered in 2018. Crafted with incredible skill and decorated with intricate geometric patterns, it symbolizes the importance of the sun in Bronze Age society. As scientific analysis has indicated, the pendant...🧵1/2 📷 me #archaeology 🏺

Closeup of a beautifully detailed silver head of a satyr on the crest of a 5th c. BCE Greek Attic-type helmet. I wonder if it was produced as a funerary item, or if the young man who owned it really did go into battle with this little companion. 🏺 #ancientbluesky #BritishMuseum 📸 me

Read more about the Roman Pharos (lighthouse) at Dover Castle on this link: artsandculture.google.com/story/NQUR8L...

The amazing Roman pharos (lighthouse) at Dover, still standing after almost 2,000 years! 🤩 The tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD. 📷 by me #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology

In Ancient Egypt, artists were seen as tradespeople #InternationalTradespersonDay The reliefs adorning Egyptian temples were produced by workshops, and there was likely a master-apprentice relationship between artists. Learn more 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

Bronze bracelets from the Mołtajny hoard, in 1st-millennium BC Poland. Isotope analysis shows the metal used in their production was sourced from southern France, indicating remarkably long-distance metal-sourcing networks during the Early Iron Age. 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

#OpenAccess Gardeła, L., & Borake, T. L. (2025). "The Spur Goad from Herslev: tracing the Legacy of a Western Slavic Rider in Viking Age Denmark." urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=... On #VikingAge zoomorphic spurs and #Slavic iconography from Poland. #IronAge #Medieval #Archaeology

In 2009 an early 6th Century gold bracteate was discovered in Trollhättan, Sweden, with a #runic inscription around its border. In a short report (Swe) Staffan Fridell suggests a the last name should be read backwards. #OpenAccess #Archaeology #Linguistics urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=...

What a head-scratcher. Appearing in the traditional Mistress of Animals pose (with a fierce split skirt), and holding a bird in each hand, this winged female possesses the head of a Gorgon. Look closely and you’ll see she also has tattoos. Mashup! Greek, from Kos, 600 BCE. 📸 me #BritishMuseum

New issue of European Journal of Archaeology Vol. 28 , No. 3 (2025) www.cambridge.org/core/journal... @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org @johannessterba.at @melucene.bsky.social @cjfrieman.bsky.social @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social

🆓 Download free-access articles on #EuropeanArchaeology, for #EAA2025Belgrade: 📲✅ https://cup.org/42bmHqP Free access (where not already OA) until 30/09/25. @archaeologyeaa.bsky.social @antiquity.ac.uk @cam-archaeology.bsky.social @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social @saa-aap.bsky.social#EuropeanArchaeology#EAA2025Belgrade#EAA2025

🆕 This blog for journal #AncientMesoamerica explores how #MayaBlue bridges #archaeology, chemistry, and indigenous knowledge. Read it alongside the new research - out now #openaccess: ➡️ https://cup.org/460W8an #archaeologicalscience #mesoamerica #culturalheritage

🕺Saw it last month… here’s an inside view.

#FindsFriday Among star finds from #Saxon Prittlewell Prince burial in Essex were #glass beakers w trailed lattice decoration. Beautiful and rare, so similar they were likely made as a pair, in Kent. Few other examples are known, almost all in high status burials. Southend Museums #Ancientbluesky 🏺

#RomanSiteSaturday 🏺 From this year's visit to Volterra here are both C1 BC #Roman theatre cut into slope of hill and 3C bath complex built when theatre out of use. Discovered in 1950s, theatre featured fantastic views, 16m high stage, statues of Augustus+Livia. Some seats bear local family names.

Take a closer 3D look at each of the Lewis Chess pieces in the collection at the National Museum of Scotland on this link: sketchfab.com/3d-models/le...

The baskets are exceptionally well-preserved as a result of the unique conditions in the cave where they were found; a combination of low humidity and cooling winds. Read more in the article on this link: Read more: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The Roos Carr figures are dating to the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age. They were inadvertently unearthed by laborers during ditch maintenance at Roos Carr in 1836. Approximately two meters beneath the surface, the workers discovered a collection of well-preserved...🧵1/3 📷 me #archaeology 🏺

The amazing Roman pharos (lighthouse) at Dover, still standing after almost 2,000 years! 🤩 The tallest surviving Roman structure in Britain, and one of only three surviving lighthouses from the former Roman Empire! Dated 1st-2nd century AD. 📷 by me #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology

The remains of the south-west range of North Leigh Roman Villa in Oxfordshire. The villa went through various stages of construction between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, and was probably the centre of a large agricultural estate. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain

St. Albans near London was the Roman city of Verulamium. It was already in the Iron Age the centre of the Catuvellauni. The main Roman road Watling Street passed through the city. It became a munipicium in AD 50. Its walls were built between AD 265 and 270. #RomanSiteSaturday

Ring-shaped flask 4th Century The flask, with missing base, was probably made in the Rhine workshops or imitated their productions. It has the then fashionable drinking quotations, - “Hostess, fill my flask ….” Found Rue des Ursins, Paris Now Musée Carnavalet, #Paris #RomanSiteSaturday

The so-called 'Roman Bridge' close to the Antonine Wall at Duntocher in Scotland features a Latin plaque claiming that it was constructed in the second century. In fact, it is probably medieval and was also heavily restored after WWII. #RomanSiteSaturday

Timeless design! Incredibly, these beautiful fibre baskets are about 9,500 years old! 🤯 Look like they were made yesterday rather than by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers! From the Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Cave of Bats), Spain. Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 by me #FindsFriday #Archaeology

For #FindsFriday the extraordinary Late Bronze Age Arthog bucket, a huge & rare 35 litre vessel discovered at the foot of Cader Idris mountain in Eryri/Snowdonia in 1826 🥰 Now on display in the St Fagans archaeology galleries of National Museum Wales 🤔👉 museum.wales/collections/... 📷 My own

Timeless design! Incredibly, these beautiful fibre baskets are about 9,500 years old! 🤯 Look like they were made yesterday rather than by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers! From the Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Cave of Bats), Spain. Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid 📷 by me #FindsFriday #Archaeology

For #FindsFriday I offer the gold plaques from the hoard from Ashwell, Hertfordshire. Deposited in the Roman period they bear the name Senuna, a local deity previously unknown. My 📷 objects in the British Museum

Palaeolithic flint hand axe that was found at South Cerney, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. The axe is part of the collections at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester, and is around 250,000 years old! 📸 My own. #FlintFriday #Prehistory #Cotswolds #CoriniumMuseum