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Fiona Campbell-Howes

@fortrenn.bsky.social
2.5K followers 640 following 1.6K posts

PhD student at the University of Glasgow, researching the early medieval Moray Firthlands in Scotland. Live in Penryn, Cornwall. FSAScot. Posts about early medieval Scottish history and archaeology. Blog: fortrenn.ghost.io

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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Looking forward to welcoming people to our @pictishartssociety.bsky.social conference this afternoon! A fantastic line-up of experts discussing the 'Pictishness' of Pictish art. We'll also pay tribute to David Henry, editor of the Pinkfoot Press, who very sadly died this week.
Agenda slide for Day 1 of the Pictish Arts Society conference 2026, on the theme of the Pictishness of Pictish Art. The conference runs from 1.40 to 5.30 and we have four 40-minute papers with 10 minutes Q&A each. The speakers and titles are: Professor Jane Geddes, Insular Art and its Pictish Components; Dr Martin Goldberg, The Changing Artistry of the Pictish Symbols Over Time; Professor Gordon Noble, Stone and the Gods: Religious Cognition and Stone Carving in Pictland; and Andy Heald, The Pictishness of Pictish Metalwork? The day is dedicated to the late David Henry of the Pinkfoot Press, who published a new edition of John Romilly Anderson and Joseph Anderson's foundational 1903 work The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland, as well as many other titles of key importance to Pictish studies.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
We're very excited for @archaeoplays.bsky.social's' paper - on approaches to representing Pictland accurately in her superb TTRPG and sourcebook Carved in Stone. Still time to join us!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Nothing like scheduling a quick 5-min soundcheck with a @pictishartssociety.bsky.social conference speaker, and then ending up chatting for 40 mins because their research is SO interesting! Really looking forward to @whatkatiedigs.bsky.social's paper on Sunday.
thepictishartssociety.org.uk
Conf | The PAS
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Helen Gittos @helengittos.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Wow! Major new site discovered on Lismore, in the inner Hebrides. “The most exciting moment for me was when they were doing the post-excavation analysis and they found that they had been melting gold, copper, silver, and they were making jewellery on our little island in the seventh century.”
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Simon @malkydungeon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This amazing find inspired me to make this wee illustration, I found it very evocative to imagine the early medieval churchyard at Govan could be a hive of activity and craft workers. Not just stone carving but jewellery as well
an illustration of a woman in early medieval clothing working on a piece of shale jewellery, in the top right corner is an enlarged depiction of the piece she is working on- a lump of shale being worked with a hole in the centre perhaps in the process of making a ring
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Still time to get your tickets for our @pictishartssociety.bsky.social conference next weekend! A fantastic line-up of experts looking at the 'Pictishness' of Pictish art, new findings from Burghead, and approaches to representing Picts and Pictland in the role-playing game Carved in Stone.
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James Alistair Henry @jamesbluecat.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Just remembered I'm doing this next Thursday evening if anyone's near Helston and fancies dropping by: www.ticketsource.com/the-bookshop...
ticketsource.com
An Evening with James Alistair Henry at The Bookshop in Helston
Tickets are now available for An Evening with James Alistair Henry at The Bookshop in Helston, Helston on Thu 1 Oct 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Still time to get your tickets for our @pictishartssociety.bsky.social conference next weekend! A fantastic line-up of experts looking at the 'Pictishness' of Pictish art, new findings from Burghead, and approaches to representing Picts and Pictland in the role-playing game Carved in Stone.
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James Alistair Henry @jamesbluecat.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
If you're around Chelmsford on the 3rd November, why not spend an evening with two blokes who are clearly *very* proficient at peering over or through black rimmed spectacles, discussing Francis' new book Nonesuch in particular and (I would imagine) alt history and London based fantasy in general.
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Bodies and Being: The Premodern Body Project @bodiesandbeing.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Come listen this Saturday to our online speaker, Rachel Sweeney talk about #pictish imagery and the #PapilStone. Sign up via our events page. bodiesandbeing.com/events-2/ #MedievalSky #MedievalHistory #Medieval #Skystorians #HistorySky #MaterialCulture #Bodies #WhatsHistory
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
James's new book, the sequel to PAGANS, available to pre-order from Waterstones.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Superb article by Trevor, looking at animal and seabird bone assemblages to discern early medieval 'taskscapes' around the Firth of Forth. Wonderful use of evidence to 'fill in the gaps' and see what ordinary people were doing - but also to place that activity in context of wider changes. Excellent!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Happy to see @jamesbluecat.bsky.social* clarifying the publisher's pitch for his novel PAGANS, which has been making me anxious since it came out. * My husband, not a random novelist whose marketing has unsettled me!
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Daniel Hansen @danrhan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
So happy to share this article in Medieval Archaeology that I co-authored with Thomas Keyes (scribalstyles.net) on the design principles of Pictish stone sculpture. Please DM me if you need access!
tandfonline.com
The Use of Coherent Geometry in the Design of Pictish Stone Sculpture
SO-CALLED ‘PICTISH SYMBOL STONES’ are often set apart from other artistic and epigraphic traditions of northern Europe on the basis of their unique iconography; while Pictish monuments often share ...
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North Ages @northages.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
A Pictish ring was found by volunteer John Ralph during a University of Aberdeen-led dig at Burghead, Moray, #OTD in 2023. Professor Gordon Noble said it further indicated 'the high-status production of metalwork' at the Pictish power centre. 📸National Museums Scotland
The kite-shaped ring has a garnet or red glass centre.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Some excellent papers coming up at our annual PAS conference - including new thinking on the Pictish symbols, intriguing stable isotope results from Burghead, and how to represent the Pictish world accurately in popular culture. Tickets on sale now at £12 members/£15 non-members + small booking fee.
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NPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
We are now back at the labs and laying out finds to dry- here is just a small selection- all of these will be written up for a much richer view of Pictish Burghead and Pictish life than we have ever had before!!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Congratulations to @celticist.bsky.social for getting this important project funded!
bbc.co.uk
Sculpted stone study could shed new light on lost kingdoms
Some artefacts are considered "at risk" as they are in, or near, churches earmarked for closure and sale.
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Thomas Lecaque @tlecaque.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
I started my PhD program with an eight week old at home, sole income being my doctoral stipend, in a history program, in Knoxville, TN. And every month we got a new book to read to my son, free, mailed to us, so my kid, my kids, grew up in rooms full of books even when I had no money. That's Dolly.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
An excellent blog with many interesting ideas for all of us thinking about what 'became' of the Picts and their language.
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NPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Well the finds keep on coming at Burghead 2026! Two incredibly lovely pins from the upper and lower citadels of the fort! These may have been for women’s head coverings - 7th-8th century Pictish fashion!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Academic friends! What's the etiquette when you know who reviewed your peer-reviewed article - for example, if the editor left the reviewer's name in the document properties?
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Appalling news for Cornwall, for Penryn, for Exeter staff and students, and for access to Humanities courses.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
And don't tell me, the hourly rate is only paid for contact hours, not the time spent reading the supervisee's work and providing notes?
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The Pictish Arts Society @pictishartssociety.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The full agenda is now up for our 2026 conference, held online from 3-4 October. Join us to learn about the Pictishness of Pictish art, as well as the latest archaeological research from Pictland. Plus: the inside track on the making of Carved in Stone, a stunning Pictland-set TTRPG. #MedievalSky
thepictishartssociety.org.uk
Conf | The PAS
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Ooh, a whole Leeds IMC panel on what's new in Pictish studies - really looking forward to seeing what comes of this. Please do think about submitting an abstract if you can!
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Jack Harrison @jlharrison.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I’ve found out that if you google Zebedee the AI overview will pull through a description of the biblical Zebedee and an image of Zebedee from The Magic Roundabout.
AI overview from a Google search of Zebedee, containing a description and an image.

The image is Zebedee from the magic roundabout.

The description is “Zebedee is a
biblical figure
best known as the father of the apostles James
and John, a Galilean fisherman, and the husband of Salome.”
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Highland Historic Environment Record @highlandhet.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
This year's Highland Archaeology Conference talks programme is almost ready! Save the date and watch this space for further announcements!!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Superb new volume, and free to read online - many thanks @sidestone.bsky.social!
sidestone.com
Royalty and Ritual @ Sidestone Press
Medieval kings and kingship, and the rituals that define them, continue to captivate both scholars and the wider public. This interdisciplinary volume offers a Europe-wide perspective on early medieva...
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Good to see this update of the early history of Restenneth Priory from Historic Environment Scotland. Until last year, HES was still promoting the pseudo-historical narrative that it was the church 'in the Roman style' that the Pictish king Nechtan f. Der-Ilei commissioned from Northumbria c. 710.
Quote from Historic Environment Scotland's 2004 Statement of Significance for Restenneth Priory, which was still available in 2025. The quote reads: 'c. 710: Nechtan, king of Picts, writes to Ceolfrid, abbot of Wearmouth, asking for instruction in the Roman faith and assistance to build stone churches. This request is followed by the mission of St. Boniface, who founded churches across Pictland, one of these traditionally being Restenneth'. The quote is on a slide from a lecture I gave in 2025 for Groam House Museum in Rosemarkie. Next to it is an image of the front cover of the old Statement of Significance.Screenshot of an extract of the updated HES Statement of Significance for Restenneth Priory, dated 2026. It reads: 'Antiquarian interest in the 18th century placed the priory on early tourist itineraries, but it was the proposition that the priory occupied the site, or even contained part of the still upstanding fabric, of a Pictish church, that drew most attention. Its significance since has been as a focus for often contentious debates concerning the political and religious history of the Pictish and early Scottish kingdoms. The mythical association with King Naiton and the mission to Pictland by St Boniface is perhaps the most powerful example of the ‘invention’ of early Scottish history and the
creation of a pseudo-historical narrative founded on tradition and opinion rather than firm documentary, architectural or archaeological grounds. Restenneth thus represents a unique case study for the construction of false historical narratives that have become embedded within the national canon.'
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The husband, off to record the Lovecraft/Cluedo mashup you've always wanted to hear on Radio 4.
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David Stifter 🍵📄🦊 @davidstifter.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
It's the International Day of Ogham today. The (former) OG(H)AM project are happy to announce the recipients of this year's Certificate of Achievement for Ogham Excellence, the team behind the creation of "Carved in Stone. A Storyteller's Guide to Pictland". More: carvedinstone.scot #IntDayofOgham
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NPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Well that was an amazing first full day at East Lomond. So so many finds for a first day- spindle whorls, Roman pottery, crucibles, and all sorts. And filming with Alice Roberts for her new Channel 4 series! Watch this space!!
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NPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Tomorrow we begin the 2026 field season at East Lomond hillfort! Since 2022 we've uncovered an exceptional Pictish settlement sequence (3rd century–c.600 AD), with finds including weaponry, metalworking, a silver handpin, imported E-ware and gaming pieces. Daily updates 6-17 July
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
A very satisfying thread.
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Lauren Brent @ljnbrent.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The University of Exeter is not in budget deficit. Yet are proposing to cut 150 academic jobs. This include my job. Please sign and share the petition, write our Vice Chancellor, to your MP, and get the word out about the act of self harm this university is about to commit. c.org/yKcx6Zr29H
c.org
This campaign needs you now
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
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North Ages @northages.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Unearth rare Pictish treasures: Join the Burghead dig this August www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/unearth...
northern-scot.co.uk
Unearth rare Pictish treasures: Join the Burghead dig this August
No prior experience neccesary.
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The Pictish Arts Society @pictishartssociety.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Unmissable lecture for anyone interested in Pictish art. Professor Heather Pulliam of the University of Edinburgh delivers this year's Groam House Museum Annual Academic Lecture on monsters in Pictish sculpture. Online this Thursday 25 June at 7.30pm, tickets £3 members/students and £6 non-members.
groamhouse.org.uk
What lies beneath? Pictish Monsters and the Living Frame - Groam House Museum
Find out all about Pictish monsters in this talk by Heather Pulliam, Professor of Medieval Art at Edinburgh School of Art
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
I recently used this argument to convince my client to keep using human copywriters instead of writing everything with Copilot. 'Putting no effort into your written content is disrespectful to the people you want to read it.' It worked! (For now, anyway.)
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Neil McGuigan @neilmcguigan.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
With Scotland v Morocco coming up, here is an 11th-century connection. About the time the Almoravid ruler Yusuf ibn Tashfin cofounded Marrakesh, the Scottish king Máel Coluim III founded a monastery at Monymusk. And there, in modern times, a gold dinar from Marrakesh, minted c.1097, has been found!
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NPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Bigger and better than ever - the Annual Day of the Picts at Burghead will be on the 22nd of August this year. Get it in your diaries!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Had my first direct experience of ageism yesterday. At 55, I knew it was coming someday soon, but I'd expected it to come from the professional side of my life in the tech industry, not the academic side. Trying to shrug it off today and carry on.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
More exciting news! This is quite the day for @jamesbluecat.bsky.social
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Ooh, it is my husband and his 'glorious' second novel!
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
How things are going in my house today.
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David Petts @davidpetts1.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
For historians who are endlessly organising workshops on the "material turn" - please remember that archaeology is an entire discipline predicated on material culture and we might just have something to contribute #disciplinarymyopia
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The Pictish Arts Society @pictishartssociety.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
In Edinburgh on 25 June? We'd love to see you at the launch of Common Ground, the proceedings of a conference held in 2022 to honour the late Dr Anna Ritchie. Join us to celebrate Dr Ritchie and her work as archaeologist, author and lifelong advocate of Scotland’s premodern history and heritage.
Flyer for a book launch to be held on Thursday 25 June from 3.30pm to 5.45pm. The book is names Common Ground in Scottish Archaeology and represents the proceedings of a day conference held in 2022 to honour the career and achievements of Dr Anna Ritchie, who sadly recently passed away. The book is edited by Dr Kelly Kilpatrick and will be held at the University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square, Project Room 1.06. Attendance is free and all are welcome.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Many thanks to @donnabetts.bsky.social and learned friend for interpreting this for me - and super-useful it was too.
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Early Gaelic/Old Irish help needed! What is this glossator saying at the end here - tuc col. s. leige in senchas? (Details in alt text)
Text of a mixed Latin and Early Gaelic gloss on the Martyrology of Óengus reading 'Alii dicunt cumad he colman mac aeda fil ind ardbó forbrú locha echach vel hoc quod verius est [secundum] alios .i. colman mac fergusa. dicit oengus hic sed non sic sapio sed quod tuc col. s. leige in senchas'. From Whitley Stokes, ‘On the calendar of Oengus’, Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy: Irish Manuscript Series, volume 1 (Dublin, 1880), lii https://archive.org/details/transactionsofro00roya/page/52/mode/2up
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Fiona Campbell-Howes @fortrenn.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Insanely good. It's hugely depressing to me that I have spent thirty years bigging up the transformative power of tech on behalf of my clients, and we find ourselves here.
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