You know what, it's actually nice to be asked to peer review an article which, based on the abstract, I'm really excited to read. Maybe that's spotting a rainbow in the howling thunderstorm of the academic publishing world, but, eh, it's a rainbow, I'll take it.

Went to hang out with my local standing stones, the Devil's Arrows in Boroughbridge, for Samhain. The last remaining fragments of a much wider ritual landscape, now swallowed by farmland and settlement; standing in conversation with the local trees. #StandingStoneSunday

When you go out to photograph standing stones but the trees are doing this... #winter

No idea why this has come up but yes, can confirm.

"I DON'T NEED YOU TO FUCKING REWRITE WHAT I'VE JUST WRITTEN!"

Whenever I do any work on oysters, I am reminded of the decidedly-nameless "specialists" I once inherited an assemblage from, who decided that the left valve of an oyster was a "marine oyster", and the right valve was a "river oyster". Pro tip: Don't do that.

Alas, it appears they were beheaded, not burnt to a... well, you know.

France: Mon dieu! Jewellery thieves have robbed the Louvre! France: ....seriously, UK, why are you laughing?

Like birds?! Like aquabirds!? Like drawings of aquabirds!? Like representations of aquabirds as processed through the mistletoe-addled imaginations of the Iron Age Britons!? Then boy is this the PhD for you! linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%...

📕#BookReview Hannah Chazin's 'Live stock and dead things' reconsiders the idea that domestic herd animals were passive economic resources in the past, investigating how living and working with animals shaped society, economy, ritual and politics 1/2 (£) doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

Thanks to CBA for two nominations for Teffont Archaeology! Delighted to see our efforts to engage people from all backgrounds and demographics in archaeology, and our training and skills work, for everyone from carers, to volunteers, to positive action placements and students, recognised like this.

Having read the blurb, the killing stone in question appears to be a Neolithic carved stone pinched from a heritage centre and, for avoidance of doubt, DO NOT commit murder with Neolithic artefacts, this is HERITAGE CRIME.

This is a brilliant collection, full of gems, including the work about Orkney and Shetland. Lots to chew on. #zooarchaeology #envhist 🏺 It can be read for free here: www.sidestone.com/books/farmer...

Ooh, it's always a good day when a new East Anglian cemetery report drops!

Anyone fancying a last-minute post-ex week, this'll be fun. Cracking location, small-group teaching, excellent people.

Lazy Sunday morning vibes.

So your life might be strange, but is it "stringing a rabbit backbone onto leftover knitting wool" strange?

🚨𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀!🚨 Looking to start a career in archaeology—or thinking about making a career change into this exciting field? Oxford Archaeology is offering two paid apprenticeships on the A66 project in Cumbria. Applications close on Sunday 📅 tr.ee/Apprentices

So I'm off on a jaunt! In fact, over the next three weeks, I'm off on multiple jaunts because almost all my workshop / guest speaker commitments have fallen in the same month. I'll be covering over 1000 miles and will thus officially be a Proclaimer, although I'm not walking it, that would be mad.

Good morning, York station, how are you?

Betwixt being forever baffled and stunned It's exhausting being an archaeologist

Talking about ancient technology, I've just resurrected my very first CD / radio / tape player for the refurbished workroom. It must be getting on for 25 years old and it still bleeding works.

When you've still got an hour on the clock as the fountain statue, but you're regretting your cavalier decision not to have a safety wee before you started 👍🏛️🍑 #MuseumBums "Andromeda", by John Bell at Osborne House, 1851 Thanks @ladybirduk.bsky.social for sharing 😁

I want to explain a few things and then it might be clearer why UK trans people are upset. In 2001 I married my wife, Sylvia. In 2005 I started medical transition. (1/13)

Note to self: "Cunetio" is exactly the sort of site name you shouldn't be typing repeatedly on a Friday afternoon because that "e" wanders...

Missed your chance to sign up for Unearthing Futures? Don’t worry, we've extended the deadline! If you’re aged 16-21 and curious about archaeology or heritage, join us at the Great North Museum: Hancock on 13 September for a free, youth-led day packed with activities & workshops 👉

Question: how much compost is left in my compost bin? Is it all just potatoes in there? 😳

This is the first paper I've seen through to completion as editor of @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social journal. It's a fantastic study, showing feasting on pork took place at Newgrange over the winter period in the late Neolithic, when all those timber monuments & henges were being constructed nearby:

White-tailed eagles - you know, the big flying barn doors that you spot occasionally in the Hebrides and go "ooh!" - used to scavenge around York in the Viking period. Also, read the replies to the original post, they are multitudinous and wonderful.

This is an official Skype a Scientist HQ Mayday Alert to all Archaeologists. We've already gotten more requests for archaeologists than we have archaeologists. We have 38. We need a lot more than 38! Dig yourself into this database, we NEED ya www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

I'm heading south-west today, so for #StandingStoneSunday here's a photo from 2022 of the Setter Stone on Eday, Orkney. Covered in lichen and on an island with a population of around 160 people, a daily ferry and one flight a week, it stands alone.

How brilliant is this www.weregildcalculator.com

Here’s a free event for anyone interested in the wonderful things archaeology can do for people. Along with my excellent colleague, Natasha, I’ll be discussing why archaeology is such a good fit for improving health and wellbeing. Tonight, 7pm, online! www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/fes...

Oh I should not be writing a PowerPoint on a Friday afternoon.

If you have any burning questions about animal bones, today's the day to be asking them! I'll be around on and off all day. #AskAnArchaeologist

Got a burning #archaeology question? #AskAnArchaeologist Day is tomorrow! 🏺 Ask a question using the hashtag #AskAnArchaeologist and any archaeologist who has an answer is encouraged to respond. Follow @askanarchaeologist.bsky.social for more. @archaeologyuk.bsky.social

New paper for anyone interested in Roman small finds, spoons in general, things from caves..... Stephen J. Greep, Tom Lord, Krista McGrath, Sonia O’Connor & Terry O’Connor (03 Jul 2025): The Perforated Spoons of Roman Britain, Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, DOI: 10.1080/00844276.2025.2508576

Certainly encouraging public engagement in historical research, yet this @theguardian.com opinion piece, again, perpetuates an outdated notion: 🏺 #Archaeology is *not* about objects. Just digging up old stuff is of little help in understanding "the past" if contextual information is abandoned.

*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*

Taken almost a year ago to the day, standing in the centre of the main circle at Callanish, Lewis. Imagine being cold enough in the wind and the clean air to need hiking boots, three layers, and a hat. #StandingStoneSunday

885) Hengebots. Take the Neolithic with you wherever you go with these monumental menhir pals.

Butterflies also eat dog crap! There is nothing like seeing a stunning red admiral sat on a dried-up pile of poo to lighten the day.

What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders? Frogs don't have ribs.

I think my bone assemblage loves me. ❤️

“Historically, no one lived past age 35” "I’ve heard *so* many versions of this claim, including recently from a menopause doctor (implying menopause is not “natural” because noone lived long enough to go through it). Every time someone states this “fact,” a demographer loses a piece of their soul"

Wondermark is generally brilliant but this is exceptional.

Am cranky, here's a lovely sunny afternoon view of Bootham Bar, York.

shel silverstein on the LLM, 1981

Every time I learn something about the private life of molluscs I end up feeling mildly outraged that I didn't know it before. Today: Who among you knew that oysters change sex repeatedly across their lifespan and never told me?!