Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Also here's the stone that reputedly weeps when the heir dies (there's a castle curse). And these are Napoleon's duelling pistols which are on display in the library!? 040
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Some of the weirdest but best bits of the castle... 151
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 21/09/2026A beautiful long weekend of excavating with @nts-archaeology.bsky.social at Fyvie Castle. 1165
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Separate side trip, but there was some discussion about their potential alignment with later parish boundaries. We also went to Burghead which shows signs of deliberate destruction and burning. 010
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 02/09/2026There were also some fascinating posters shared of recent or ongoing research work. These finds from a Polish excavation of deposited weapons and armour were absolutely beautiful. 050
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Very much enjoyed this article! It was a fascinating read. 110
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 02/09/2026That's a wrap from this year's Sachsensymposion which focused on conflict and defence in late Roman / Early Med Europe. Lots of things learnt, new connections made and Pictish stones visited - thank you @scarf-scot.bsky.social for the bursary to attend and for hosting @uoa-archaeology.bsky.social. 240
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Learning all about the Bayeux Tapestry with British Museum curator Sue Brunning at this year's Sachsensymposion. 🏹 0100
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 30/08/2026It's the detail I can't get over, the nipples on the chest one and the toenails. 030
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Love a podcast? @northernpicts.bsky.social is on a recent episode of the excellent @empirepoduk.bsky.social talking about the Picts. youtu.be/fA4pwmY6Bqs?... And there's a talk tonight at 7.30pm in Burghead's village hall deep diving into the excavation at Burghead. 020
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Feeling very lucky to excavate at the promontory Pictish fort at Burghead with @uoa-archaeology.bsky.social this week. Lots of test pit digging in a local's garden to see if there were Pictish buildings. And some small finds. #smallfindsfriday 2111
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 20/08/2026At Burghead and I'm really starting to see why the Picts built a promontory fort here. It is BEAUTIFUL. You can see across the whole Moray Firth on a clear day. So yes I would also build my 4-9th century domain here. 031
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Ousdale Broch in Caithness. It is surrounded by trees and can only be reached by a rickety wooden bridge. Officially fae territory I think. 020
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026What a cutie. Also love the casual ax in the background 🪓 110
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Amazing! I would love to be there at sunset and wild camping nearby would be magic. They picked such an amazing spot. 110
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Is it just me or are there some bugs bunny vibes here? 0110
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 19/08/2026May I recommend the Carn Liath Broch for all your roadside picnic needs? Also this broch has outbuildings, which was a whole new idea for me. Every other broch I've seen stands in grand isolation. 4364
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 18/08/2026The Unstan Burial Cairn. It's quite small and sits behind a very normal looking house off the main road to Stromness. The owner was mowing the lawn as we wandered in. One would never suspect this tomb gave its name to unstan pottery. #TombTuesday 0102
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 17/08/2026And the reconstruction confirms my cosy hypothesis 010
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 17/08/2026The beauty that is Skara Brae. These Neolithic houses seem quite cosy? 160
Reposted by Hannah WickesMike Pitts @pittsmike.bsky.social · 16/08/2026My tribute to Olga Soffer “Olga Soffer, who has died aged 83, brought a revolutionary idea into the conversation about prehistoric ice age people: women mattered.” www.theguardian.com/science/2026...theguardian.comOlga Soffer obituaryProfessor of anthropology whose approach to archaeology centred on crafts executed by women 40,000 years ago 0155
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 16/08/2026The heather is out at the Ring of Brodgar #StandingStoneSunday 020832
Reposted by Hannah WickesUHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 14/08/2026The Spurness excavation in Sanday draws to a close but we're looking forward to getting back next year.archaeologyorkney.comDig diary – looking forward to the 2027 season at SpurnessThe Spurness excavation in Sanday draws to a close but we're looking forward to getting back next year. 051
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Shared a house with this lovely crew. We made it through Orkney's changeable weather intact 🙏 💗 000
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 14/08/2026That's a wrap for this year at Spurness on Sanday. Neolithic hall uncovered with a Bronze age house cut into it. Thank you for having me @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social, lots of learning from the wisdom of Jane Downes and Colin Richards. 151
Reposted by Hannah WickesUHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Photographs of the stone artefact recovered from the wall of the Spurness Early Neolithic building.archaeologyorkney.comDig diary – an enigmatic stone artefactPhotographs of the stone artefact recovered from the wall of the Spurness Early Neolithic building. 041
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 12/08/2026One of the best bits about digging in Orkney is the hamebakes. These are from Heather who visited the sight for a tour. 010
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Work continues on the #BronzeAge house at Spurness. It's cut into an imposing Neolithic house, which is the wall you can see near the scale bar. Lots of flint, a Skaill knife and hammerstone in my quadrant, plus some burnt bone. 021
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Also how beautiful is the nearby beach, what a spot to lay your ancestors. 040
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 11/08/2026The incredible stonework of Quoyness, a Chambered burial Cairn on the island of Sanday. It has one tall interior chamber and six little ones that come off it. And yes, you have to crawl to enter the tomb. #TombTuesday 19014
Reposted by Hannah WickesUHI Archaeology Institute @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social · 10/08/2026More divisional orthostats suggests Sanday Early Neolithic building was more monumental than first believed.archaeologyorkney.comDig diary – Monumental Neolithic discovery at SpurnessMore divisional orthostats suggests Early Neolithic building was more monumental than first believed. 062
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 10/08/2026My corner today has given up a Skaill knife, a stone tool, some pumice and flints. 100
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Week 2 on the Spurness excavation with @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social on the island of Sanday. We're working on a Neolithic house that had bronze age houses cut into it. 120
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 04/08/2026I'll be working here on Saturday! Finds washing and sorting today as the weather was beyond Orkney level bad. But hopefully the sun returns by our open day. 020
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 31/07/2026Nicola is my tutor at @uhihistory.bsky.social, this would be an amazing PhD to do! 020
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 25/07/2026And just finished up some volunteer days on an excellent community dig run by AOC. It was at Sprouston, so many different things going on for one site. But I was on what is hopefully a Neolithic ditch 🤞 010
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Update have gone on a deep dive and this is the photogrammetry interpretation @uoa-archaeology.bsky.social did at Eildon North! Look at that density. Also the Roman signal tower was apparently contemporary with some of the local roundhouses. 010
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 25/07/2026A visit to the now empty field of Trimontium, where one of the largest Roman forts in Scotland was built. Fascinating to see how the site was loomed over by Eildon Hill North, a local hillfort. The farm track up was also very, very straight 120
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 03/07/2026We've been working on a likely medieval chapel site all week with @historicdunkeld.bsky.social and today was flagstone lifting day. And charcoal has been found! 🙏 193
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 02/07/2026I just love this. Essentially they're stratigraphy socks. 020
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 20/06/2026You can see how hot it was in this photo, the soil has oxidised with the heat. 030
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 20/06/2026Test pit adventures really escalated in Dunkeld! We found the edge of a rampart that burnt so hot the stone looks like it started to vitrify. The little colourful markers you can see mark the charred wood beams. 251
Reposted by Hannah WickesNPicts @northernpicts.bsky.social · 19/06/2026Day 3 #KingsSeat2026: A huge day! The rampart was far more complex than expected, with multiple charred timbers, intense burning and vitrified stone showing extremely high temperatures during its destruction. Dating samples taken, and finally evidence of occupation inside! 🔥🏺⛏️ 0296
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 18/06/2026That's me with my charred rampart remains and muddy knees looking delighted 😌 061
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Unplanned visit to Chatsworth after I realised it was the Jane Austen weekend... 100
Hannah Wickes @hannahwickes.bsky.social · 13/06/2026And that's a wrap with the dig at Fonmon Castle with Cardiff University. Here's muddy me with the soil sample bags. Very very pleased I got to join this team it's been a lot of fun ❤️ 🏴 010