Spent today with our University of Galway 'Intro to Excavation' students as we braved the wet start to the day to accept AMS' kind invitation to visit their current excavation on the Foynes-to-Limerick road project. A fascinating multiperiod site. Thanks to all at AMS!

Who knew? Archaeology has been chosen as the theme for a global robotics competition/league run by FIRST and LEGO! I spent an interesting afternoon with a Galway youth group on Saturday, hoping to spark some ideas for their entry. www.firstinspires.org/programs/fll/game-and-season

Students volunteering to scrub animal bones... yay!

Saturdays in the Burren... (with some of the students from our 'Archaeology and Irish Identity' module)

Archaeology on the move!

So great to chat with @michellecomber.bsky.social about this fascinating site! Lots to dig into (sorry) in this episode – continuity and change, trade, the connection people had with ancient monuments in the past, and more! Find Amplify Archaeology Podcast on Spotify, Apple & all the usual places

Sometimes the back-fill gets in your boot...

This was fun! Slightly longer this time (Moncrieff on Newstalk): www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...

Something of an, er, short comment on radio this morning - the hurling chat ran over so we got squeezed! www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Irish Times online today (apologies if this is behind a paywall): www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

This week, Discovery Programme staff Susan, Ted and Hannah are onsite at Dr Michelle Comber’s excavations at Rathgurreen, Co. Galway, part of the Maree Project. The team are looking forward to a week of digging, despite yesterday's rain! @heritagecouncil.ie @uniofgalway.bsky.social

Spot the corner of the 1948 excavation...

Ring-fore!-t... Sometimes de-sodding reveals an, er, surprise...

The Ringfort Orchid (aka Pyramidal Orchid)...

Anyone seen a stone this colour before..? Caused by intense heat?

Of beads and pots... tales from Rathgurreen this week.

We were delighted to welcome visitors to Rathgurreen today!

Something a little different in the bead department - finding it made my afternoon..!

Two teeney weeney blue glass beads from Rathgurreen today...

Summer diggin'...

One man and his sieve... Pat test-driving his creation!

Prehistoric lithic or Early Medieval sherd - something for everyone at Rathgurreen this week...

Lovely little find today - part of an amber bead... Well spotted by Aidan!

A bird's eye view...

The trowelling begins...

'And we're off!' Excavation at Rathgurreen Ringfort, Co. Galway got off to a great start today - with the rain holding off until the very end of the day. Lewis even found a stone axe!

Spent the day getting this place - Rathgurreen Ringfort, Co. Galway - all ship-shape and ready for excavation on Monday. Bring on the excavation!

Excavation season is nearly upon us - the annual campus exodus for yours truly! A little 'stock-taking' to sort first...

Delighted to recently be awarded a 2025 Community Monuments Fund grant to work with the landowner, archaeologist Kate Robb, and ecologist John Conaghan to create a conservation plan for the impressive Rathgurreen Ringfort, Co. Galway. #CMF2025 @nationalmons.bsky.social

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of presenting President Michael D. Higgins with a copy of our book 'People, Prehistory, and the Past - essays in honour of John Waddell' at Aras an Uachtarain.

Gorgeous blue skies and a fabulous setting at Claregalway Castle for the launch of 'People, Prehistory, and the Past - essays in honour of John Waddell' on Friday evening. Congrats to John and all the contributors. Thanks to Deputy President University of Galway, Becky Whay, for launching the book.

If you are in Galway and free at 1pm on Thursday, come join us for this week's lunchtime lecture in Galway City Museum...

This arrived today... festschrift for John Waddell. Thanks to everyone who contributed!

It’s official. Really looking forward to the publication of this festschrift for Prof John Waddell and delighted to be part of the lineup. Out in next couple of weeks from Four Courts Press.

A medley of artefacts...

Oops....

Pin anyone..?

Small is beautiful...

Whaddya mean your office doesn't have a glowing Turoe stone..?