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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 17h

The activities we are offering our @uclarchaeology.bsky.social students over the next four days #Archaeotech26

Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 20h

Home for the next few days. Huge thanks to @butserancientfarm.co.uk for welcoming all of us from @uclarchaeology.bsky.social and @archsoutheast.bsky.social back for another year. Today our new first years start their journey with us on the Experimental Archaeology Course. #ArchaeoTech26 🏺🛖

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Dr Rebecca Tyson @tyguson.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

1. #MedievalSky, grab a lifejacket and a seasickness bag, we’re casting off on a thread about the Norman invasion fleet in 1066! 960 years ago, the Normans landed at Pevensey and established a base at the Roman shore fort which was already succumbing to erosion from the sea on its south side. 1/20

Photograph of Pevensey Castle with an information board in the foreground showing an artists impression of how the view may have looked in 1066 when the sea came almost up to the walls.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today in #Palaeolunch we discussed: Will, M., Stock, J. T., Rathmann, H., Gordon, A. & Tennie, C. (2026). 'Human encephalization accelerated late & linked to cultural complexity'. doi.org/10.21203/rs.... Not a revolution but quite a step-change in the last 100k? Incl Neanderthals? #PaPa 🏺🦣

doi.org

Human encephalization accelerated late and linked to cultural complexity

Paleoanthropology and archaeology employ various proxy measures of hominin cognition, including endocranial volume, the complexity of material culture, or encephalization quotients (EQ). Competing sce...

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The shrub on Thundersbarrow Hill has been partially cleared, revealing the profile of the bank, the ditch and Thundersbarrow itself under the shrub. How old is the barrow and how does it relate to the enclosure and the 'pond' to the south? #Prehistory #SouthDowns #Adur

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Rachel Pope @prehistorian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

So awful to hear of the passing of Dr Rena Maguire today. A huge loss, and gone far too soon. She had a unique understanding of prehistory as intimately tethered to cultural history. I will miss that insight. Rest in peace.

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Aidan O'Sullivan @aidanosullivan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

How very pointless and incredibly, movingly beautiful ...

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Simone @frauchen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Between Two Rivers is a charming introduction to ancient Mesopotamian history told by describing items found in a museum of sorts in ancient Ur. The archaeologists who unearthed the items 100 years ago were the Woolleys, upon whom Agatha Christie based her characters in Murder in Mesopotamia. 💡📚💙

A photograph of two books: the 2025 North American hardcover edition of Moudhy Al-Rashid’s Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History and a paperback edition of Agatha Christie’s Murder in Mesopotamia (first published in 1936; this “official authorised” edition was published by William Morrow in 2025). Al-Rashid’s history is very accessible and offers a relatable, personal kind of introduction to the wonders of ancient Mesopotamia. The Christie novel is very much of its time (misogyny, xenophobia, colonialism), but worth reading as a companion piece to Al-Rashid’s history, if only to flesh out the fascinating character of Louise Leidner, based on the real-life archaeologist Katharine Woolley who, with her husband, worked on the site in ancient Ur and uncovered the “museum” Al-Rashid describes in her book.

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Henry Rothwell @henryrothwell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Presenting the magnificently titled Thundersbarrow Hillfort. This much denuded Sussex hillfort has some very interesting earlier features. www.digitaldigging.net/thundersbarr... #HillfortsWednesday

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Scuzzy Mortspider 🕷️ 🎃 @jussienorthside.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

How did I not know the RNLI sells some excellent swag? Ooh, this jumper. I’m imagining it under a pea coat as I scan to the far horizon. shop.rnli.org/products/rnl...

shop.rnli.org

RNLI Unisex Stripe Jumper

Stay warm in RNLI’s cream and black stripe jumper, made in the UK from 100% British wool. A cosy, nautical layer that supports RNLI lifesavers.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Stonea, Cambridgeshire, a Fenland Iron Age enclosure or Britain's lowest 'Hillfort'. Later contained a Roman settlement with a multi-story tower that must have dominated the entire landscape for miles. 1/3 #HillfortsWednesday

View from the Easten bank across the grassy interior of Stonea, under a big blue cloudy sky

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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The only possible conclusion to draw here is that Sunderland’s Reform council leadership are absolutely fine with racism in football. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Sunderland's Reform Council ends Show Racism the Red Card support

Reform ends Sunderland Council support for Show Racism the Red Card in a row with the charity's head.

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Dr Hannah Fluck @hannahfluck.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Anyone fancy a job helping deliver for nature and climate in one of the most extraordinary historic landscapes in the NE of England? One of those once in a decade opportunities just came up at @NationalTrust Wallington/Heart of Northumberland estate www.simplyhired.co.uk/job/d9vU9N7C...

simplyhired.co.uk

General Manager - National Trust | Morpeth

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Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

If you ever need your faith in the sciences restored after having it so violently compromised by techbros masquerading as technologists, I encourage you to check out the breakthrough after breakthrough ongoing in oncology.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The Dæmons is pretty good Who. Live coverage of a barrow opening, no doubt inspired by Silbury, full on 70s occult and folk horror themes, and Unit channelling our collective cold war paranoia.

TV showing sci-fi graphic vortex with the title The Dæmons

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Gavin MacGregor @gavinmacgregor.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Do you know @thescottishcrannog.bsky.social artefacts excavations of Oakbank Crannog have been recognised as Nationally Significant, including 2500 year old fabrics. Real privilege to present on behalf of @archscot.bsky.social on Why Archaeology Matters At This Time? as part of #ScotArchMonth

Side of crannog walkway overlooking Loch

View out of crannog door to distant thatched buildings

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Found myself a copy of David Bang's opus on the landscapes fringing Brighton and surrounding areas. It covers everything from geology to modern social history as well as being a call to arms in exercising our rights to roam. Search out a copy if you can.

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Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco @joshpizpom.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

EXC: 90 programmes in Edinburgh University's College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences are to be closed. The casualties, which include 48 language and literature programmes, will be 'taught out', w/ no admissions after 2027. @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2655839...

heraldscotland.com

Ninety programmes to close at leading university as savings plan takes shape

According to the document, a total of 90 programmes will be “taught out” over the next several years, including 48 in the School of Language.

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Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Leaf flint arrowheads which were found at Maiden Castle in Dorset. The arrowheads are now part of the collections at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery in Dorchester. 📸 My own. #FlintFriday #Prehistory #Dorset

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A great paper from Radchenko and colleagues. How distinct structures in mammoth ivory cued the production techniques, aesthetics and maybe wider symbology, of Late Upper Palaeolithic female figurines of communities from Mizyn, Ukraine. www.nature.com/articles/s40... #FossilFriday 🦣🏺

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Ruth Watson @ruthwatson.eurosky.social · 18/09/2026

This is on every politician, every journalist, that has not challenged the racist narrative being pushed by the far-right Farage, Robinson, 'Tommo', and Musk It is on every lazy, fearful, ignorant individual who allows themselves to be sucked into bigotry. RNLI volunteers are heroes.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Fans of electronic music won't be disappointed by the final season of The Bear Interview…Christian Lundberg’s Score Turns Up the Heat for Season 5 of ‘The Bear’ share.google/dk5O3Z4ioAPg...

share.google

Interview…Christian Lundberg’s Score Turns Up the Heat for Season 5 of ‘The Bear’

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David Connolly BAJR @bajr-badger.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The new and improved Heritage Gateway is now LIVE on the Historic England website historicengland.org.uk/listing/heri...

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Dr Tess Machling @tessmachling.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Bonnie Greer was a powerhouse. Famously, her appearance with Nick Griffin on Question Time was a tour de force. We need her kind of reasoned response now more than ever. Back then, Griffin being on QT was a scandal but he's tame compared to the far right now. 😔 www.theguardian.com/music/2011/n...

theguardian.com

Bonnie Greer: why I turned my Question Time appearance with Nick Griffin into an opera

In October 2009, the BBC controversially invited BNP leader Nick Griffin on to Question Time. Fellow panellist Bonnie Greer ended up writing a libretto about the experience

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Dr Toby Driver @drtobydriver.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Bore da / good morning all 👋 For #TombTuesday (where did Monday go?) - one of the axe-polishing stones inside West Kennett long barrow 😮, where people sharpened stone axes during construction (vertical groove, left) It's also rather a haunting face... 📷 My own, Sunday

An old stone in a dark chamber, with natural holes looking like eyes and a mouth

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Simon Gosden @simongosden.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A philanthropic gift is a new hospital ward, it’s a CAT scanner, it’s a new library, it’s a school swimming pool it’s not funding fascism.

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Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society @brightonhovearch.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

All are free, but donations welcomed to 5 local nature reserves or heritage groups

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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Best way to slow down AI is for people to stop using it. 😉

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Leonie V. Hicks @lvhicks.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Today my heart is with all colleagues facing redundancy (some for the umpteenth time), who were made redundant over the summer or who have simply had enough and left. Our sector is having its guts ripped out.

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Dr Hannah Fluck @hannahfluck.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This thread explains some helpful facts re historic tree cover. We don't need to perpetuate inaccuracy to justify increasing tree cover now. Current & future environments & needs are different. Better to explain why than keep pretending we can return to some halcyon days to fix the mess we've made.

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Nate O @nateo.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

One more example for the pile of fascists not understanding Starship Troopers, because fascists can’t read a text, understand art, etc.

Militarism is another characteristic of fascism. If Heinlein’s Federation is militaristic, however, it goes an odd way about it. There is no conscription, nor any aggressive recruiting as in the movie – indeed young people are discouraged from signing up. Far from the Mobile Infantry being a huge army of cannon-fodder as in Verhoeven’s vision, it is as selective as today’s SAS. In the book, Johnny Rico’s course starts with 2,009 recruits of whom just 187 pass out to become “cap troopers”, a pass rate fairly similar to UK special forces selection – and in the case of the MI, no fewer than 14 of the rejects are dead (mostly in training accidents but one executed on purpose) which even the SAS couldn’t get away with today.

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Jim Leary @jimleary.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It’s wonderful to see our research finally out. It shows that the amazing Devil’s Arrows in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire were transported 18km from Brimham Rocks (not Plumpton!) to the site. royalsocietypublishing.org/rspa/article/4…

Two tall tapering megaliths forming the Devil’s Arrows.

A massive grey megalith with blue sky behind.

One of the more squat megaliths with a sunburst behind it.

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The i Paper @theipaper.com · 08/09/2026

"A woman was viciously attacked and senior party figures found it funny. The message sent by Farage and Jenrick is clear: violence is an acceptable response to criticism," writes @mrjamesob.bsky.social Read more: trib.al/yNG6d5Y

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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

90 years ago, Parliament responded to the rise of Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts by passing the Public Order Act, which banned political uniforms, private militias and the threat of force for political objects. The debates make very resonant reading today. Here's the Liberal Robert Bernays. (Short 🧵)

You cannot conduct a fair match when one side is playing with a ball and the other with bombs and, if democracy is to survive, it must be conducted according to definite and recognised rule. One of them is that no political party should resort to any weapon other than reason and argument. The introduction of private armies, as I see it, strikes at the root of democracy. I know it is contended that the Blackshirts are not armed and, therefore, are not an army, but I do not think that argument can be upheld. … Uniformed men in military formation suggest, and are meant to suggest, the idea of force. It is no argument to reply that at this or that demonstration no force is intended. It is an inescapable fact that a uniform in politics symbolises force, to be used either now or in the future.

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David Connolly BAJR @bajr-badger.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

A Decaying Relationship? Stratigraphic Literacy in UK archaeology by Dr. Ellen Green is now published on BAJR. We would like to thank her for the work she did investigating the stratigraphic literacy of archaeologists within the UK. www.bajr.org/wp-content/u...

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Chris Addison @mrchrisaddison.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Somewhere in England, a tired man turns off Channel 4 news and wearily puts on a bin.

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Raksha Dave @rakshadigs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

More BIG NEWS! These past few days have been a bit 🤯 But but thanks to @gabemoshenska.bsky.social @mattpope.bsky.social and @archaeocobb.bsky.social for being such supportive humans!

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Mollie Goodfellow @hansmollman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Oh no how will the worst person you know make content

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Huge welcome back, and congratulations, to Professor @rakshadigs.bsky.social!

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This Friday (4th September) the CIfA Geoarchaeology & Palaeoenvironment Network will be holding an online lunchtime event focusing on the Palaeolithic in the planning system. Details of the event, how to register & the network can be found through here: 🏺🦣 www.archaeologists.net/groups/netwo...

archaeologists.net

Geoarchaeology and Palaeoenvironment Network

Set up in 2025, the Geoarchaeology and Palaeoenvironment Network is open to all CIfA members and aims to bring together specialists across all career stages, united by a shared commitment to good prac...

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Fredrik Høgaas @fredrhog.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Sad deflating noises 😢 Visiting the last palsa mounds near Neiden in Finnmark, 69.7°N. Mostly just thermokarst ponds left.

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UCL Archaeology South-East @archsoutheast.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Meet some of the ASE archaeologists who've been part of the dig team at Bodiam Castle! We've been excavating alongside @uclarchaeology.bsky.social staff/students and @nattrustarch.bsky.social staff/volunteers this summer, and the discoveries have been WILD #Bodiam100 youtube.com/shorts/xGlya...

youtube.com

Meet ASE's #Bodiam100 excavation team! #archaeology

YouTube video by UCL Archaeology South-East

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

We are still taking applications to join this October's cohort on the MSc in Palaeoanthropology and Palaeolithic archaeology. Come and study human evolution with us at @uclarchaeology.bsky.social 🏺🦣🧬🧪

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Seen in the wild, Cheryl Hutchins of Worthing Archaeological Society with an original @romanpalace.bsky.social excavation t-shirt. @curatorrob.bsky.social do many of these still exist? 🏺

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Kupala Brighton @kupalabrighton.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Wonderful evening up on Whitehawk Hill in Brighton yesterday with @mattpope.bsky.social, Ukrainians and friends learning how to see 5000+ years into the past below our feet. Another brilliant gig from Matt on archaeology and Vio on translation 🤩

Dr Matt Pope and Vio Korbina on Whitehawk Hill, Brighton, as the sun sets, 26.8.26. A Kupala Brighton event in which Matt talked about the prehistoric Whitehawk Camp site and how to see its traces on the surface today.

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Dr Susan Greaney @suegreaney.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

New book alert! Historic England have published a book version of a report I commissioned back in c2012 to help inform the Stonehenge visitor centre reconstructions and other parts of the interpretation scheme. 1/2

Front cover of a hardback book featuring an aerial photo of Stonehenge and its avenue. The title is The Stonehenge World: Living, landscape, food and design at the time of our greatest monument. Edited by Matthew Canti

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Trades Union Congress @tuc.org.uk · 26/08/2026

Reminder that Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 is a film about three women taking over an office and introducing free childcare, paid vacation, and flexible hours, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity.

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Jonathan Foyle @jonathanfoyle.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The world's roof is melting. And we're building energy-guzzling data centres and drilling for oil.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Could you bring heritage expertise (archaeology, history, curation more?), a passion for the past and commitment to an ethical, democratic and impactful future for a Sussex Archaeolgical Society @sussexpast.bsky.social? My DMs are open on this.... sussexpast.co.uk/news/new-tru...

sussexpast.co.uk

New Trustees and Committee Members Sought

content="Could you play an integral role in providing strategic oversight and governance to The Sussex Archaeological Society? If so, we would love to hear from you! The Sussex Archaeological Society ...

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