iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Yep. It’s hard to think of York (Eboracum) as being at the centre of the Roman world, but for a few years it kind of was.

100

I was lucky to visit in the late 1960s when we were able to wander around at will, sit on the stones and so on. Looking at the (mostly recent) graffiti present on well-visited ancient sites (Colosseum etc) access restrictions seem justified. Why do people want to leave their mark?

That’s exactly my point. There isn’t as much damage as might be expected from large scale souvenir hunting.

If chiselling had been that common then the evidence would be apparent on the stones we see today.

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The Multangular Tower sits at the corner of the legionary fortress defences at York (Eboracum). Mostly early 4th cent CE, with medieval additions above. The adjoining fort wall almost stands to its original height. #RomanSiteSaturday More in my blog: visiting-roman-sites.blogspot.com/2026/09/york...

1135

Reposted by Roman Sites

Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Universal soldier Damaged fragment of a tombstone commemorating a #Roman auxiliary cavalryman from Whitcombe #Dorset in #DorsetMuseum The full image probably showed the horse trampling on a Briton / Durotrigian 😲 📷 Sept 2026 #RomanFortThursday

Damaged sculptural relief showing a Roman cavalryman with cape and helmet, holding a spear and riding an angry horse

316428

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's worth adding that the Yorkshire Museum is also hosting an exhibition of the stunning Iron Age Melsonby Hoard 'Chariots, Treasure & Power'. Well worth a visit (even if it's not Roman 😉). Runs to summer 2027. 📷 my own 2026 #Brigantes #IronAge #RomanAdjacent

The Block - a corroded mass of 88 Iron Age objects from the Melsonby Hoard, including spear heads, horse harnesses and decorative metalwork.

Copper alloy wine-mixing bowl from the Melsonby Hoard. (Iron Age)

0164

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A look at the Yorkshire Museum's excellent Roman collection: inscriptions, mosaics and more! Pics: dedication to Serapis and Four Seasons mosaic (winter) (📷 my own 2026) New blog at: visiting-roman-sites.blogspot.com/2026/09/york... #ReliefWednesday #MosaicMonday (late entry) #RomanBritain

0194

Reposted by Roman Sites

Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Statue base with a dedication to the spirit of the Emperor and the god Mercury which was discovered at Birrens Roman Fort (Blatobulgium) in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Now part of the collections at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. 📸 My own #EpigraphyTuesday

18416

Reposted by Roman Sites

Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · 29/09/2026

The Roman province of Hispania Baetica (modern southern Spain) was a major centre of olive oil production. Analysis of over 1000 potsherds from oil amphorae shed light on how olive oil shaped the Roman economy. 🔗 from 2023 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy... 🏺 #Archaeology

Fragment of an amphora rim with a sketch reconstructing the complete amphora.

1186

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There's a Roman tombstone in that church (St George's Fordington) as well. Memorial to Carinus (RIB 188), who died aged 50. #RomanBritain #EpigraphyTuesday

140

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Could be. It’s a very small rake. (Or a very big head.)

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Ah. But there’s plenty more archaeology up that way.

000

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Autumn (with his rake) from the Four Seasons mosaic at the excellent Yorkshire Museum in York seems seasonally appropriate today. The staff positively encouraged me to walk on this - although shoes aren't allowed. 3rd or 4th century CE. 📷 my own 2026 #MosaicModay #RomanBritain #RomanSites

111426

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

@nattrustarch.bsky.social (Apologies for not adding this link to the main post).

020

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The Fourth Crusade is a good call, but surely you can make a case for 1453? Or even 1461 at Trebizond.

300

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

There’s some great Roman stuff in the Winchester City Museum, and you can get a three-in-one ticket that also does the Norman Great Hall (+ Medieval Round Table) plus the small but interesting Westgate Museum. Agree about the cafes too.

120

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Why not? I like hares 🐰. But having said that, even if it was alive then its days may have been numbered. Apicius (Book VIII) contains thirteen hare recipes (in the list between milk-fed pig and stuffed dormouse!). Braised hare may be a meal signifying the winter months, I fear.

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Hadn’t considered that. Hares are pretty powerful animals that wouldn’t take kindly to being dangled. (Actually this one looks on the small side.) My guess is that the detail (ears, eye, legs) is to show what it is given the constraints of using tesserae. An accurate image would be more featureless.

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Figure symbolising Winter, with hood, cloak and dead hare, from a mosaic (part geometric, part figurative) in Chedworth villa's west range. The room was probably used for dining (triclinium), although too small for major functions. @nattrustarch.bsky.social 📷 my own 2026 #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain

1309

Reposted by Roman Sites

Following Hadrian @followinghadrian.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

#ArtefactSunday – Gilded bronze thunderbolt from the colossal gilded statue of Jupiter that crowned the Great Jupiter Column of Mogontiacum (Mainz), c. AD 59–67. Recovered fragments include a sandalled foot, a finger, body pieces, an eagle's claw, and a thunderbolt. lupa.at/32960

08513

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A short hop over the Channel, Lillebonne contains the largest and best preserved Roman theatre in northern France. But is it an amphitheatre? Or could it be ... both? New blog: visiting-roman-sites.blogspot.com/2026/09/lill... #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology #RomanSites

visiting-roman-sites.blogspot.com

Lillebonne (Juliobona) - Theatre

Containing the largest and best-preserved Roman theatre in northern France, the small town of Lillebonne ** , on the north side of the Sei...

090

Reposted by Roman Sites

ℌ𝔞𝔩𝔩𝔞𝔪 𝔚𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔟𝔯𝔬𝔠𝔨 🦡 @hallamwerebrock.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Just down the road from me! Well worth a visit!

051

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The warm room (tepidarium) and cold plunge pool (brr!) in the west range at Chedworth, Gloucestershire, UK. The villa reached its peak in the 4th century CE, and was occupied into the 5th century after Roman rule had ended. 📷 my photos 2026 #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain @nattrustarch.bsky.social

0529

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Excellent. The Black Down fortlet is my local #RomanSite. Good to see it getting a bit of attention. #RomanBritain

Mike Bennett @formerlytankiemike.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Reposted by Roman Sites

The Roman Fortlet/Signal Station above the Valley of Stones, Dorset. Recently cleared of bracken. Situated on Black Down, it has line of site to Durnovaria and north-west to the known Roman fort on Waddon Hill. #RomanSiteSaturday #Archaeology #ValleyofStones

3327

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Built in the 2nd century CE, the #Roman fort at South Shields (Arbeia) acted as a supply base for Hadrian’s Wall at the mouth of the River Tyne. Image shows reconstructed commander’s house behind the SE corner of the fort wall. 📷 my own 2026 #RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain

0124

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Do you mean this one? It does seem to have striped legs, although the head looks similar.

120

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Interesting. The colouring is wrong for a tiger, but the stripes look very deliberate, and unlike anything you’ll see on a lion (unless ribs if unfed?) Tiger stripes are often not continuous. It’s still described as a tiger by the museum. What do you make of the black marks behind the front legs?

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Tiger from the Orpheus Mosaic (Corinium Museum, Cirencester). 4th cent CE. Surprisingly, there was a subspecies of Tiger (Caspian Tiger ssp tigris) ranging from the Caucasus to what is now N Iran and W Turkey. Sadly now extinct. 📷 my own 2026 #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain

16014

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I've only seen a few earthworks when passing through, but will give it a bit more more attention.

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Wasn't aware that there was a Heritage Centre there - will make a visit.