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Sebastian Heath

@sebhth.bsky.social
1.7K followers 2.5K following 462 posts

Mediterranean & computational archaeologist. ISAW/NYU. Child of immigrants. Opinions/typos mine. Original work CC-By. gaerhf.org p-lod.org palp.art roman-amphitheaters.org isaw.nyu.edu/publications/isaw-pape…

PostsRepliesMedia
Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
New amphitheater in Austria: www.vienna.at/2000-years-h... . Shown north of town in 3d rendering. I estimate it at roughly long, lat: 14.5655 , 48.2220 .
vienna.at
2,000 Years Hidden: Researchers Discover Roman City in Lower Austria
Alle Nachrichten aus Wien und den Bezirken sowie aktuelle News aus Österreich und der Welt mit vielen Themen wie Sport, Politik, Stars, uvm.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
@isawnyu.bsky.social Open House for Prospective Students will be Nov. 5th. isaw.nyu.edu/events/open-.... I welcome any student using computational methods in their research. Beyond Rome OK. We can advise any area. In Roman archaeology, connecting specific phenomena to big picture is of interest.
screen shot of even registration page.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Gasoline-powered leaf blower doing its high-pitched thing next door while I'm trying to write. Oh well. And yes, that's my contribution to today's #AcademicChatter!
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
My CV needed work. Cruft and poor formatting had accumulated in an MS-Word doc of ancient origin. So yeah, "Update my CV in HeathCV.doc to refactor sections and convert to Markdown with command to generate" worked well as a prompt to Claude. YMMV. But helped me get to this. #AcademicChatter
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Younger Scott Bessent is both appalled and thrilled.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Electrified gloves are cruel and unusual.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Harrison Ford didn't sneak out of Air Force One.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Summer's penultimate writing task is 2000+/- word review of a digital resource. I want to be thoughtful. And I want to get it done. Add in a family gathering spanning this weekend and submitting a week from today is goal. No especial ambition in that schedule! Steady on will do it! #AcademicChatter
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Matt Damon turned out to be the Sea Peoples and the administration turned out to be its own Vandals. From the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity, we've got it all these days.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
The DOJ should be renamed the Department of Prosecutions. DOPs. Pronounced “Dopes”.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Great to see @isawnyu.bsky.social student Lylaah Bhalerao's article "Black Feminisms in Roman Archaeology? Approaches Beyond Critical Fabulation, from Pompeii to Hadrian’s Wall" now published in Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal (TRAJ). doi.org/10.16995/tra... Congrats!
doi.org
Black Feminisms in Roman Archaeology? Approaches Beyond Critical Fabulation, from Pompeii to Hadrian’s Wall
Is it possible to do Black feminist Roman archaeology? In this article, I reflect on how effectively Black feminist thought has been integrated into the study of the Roman material past, with some the...
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Seen in the news... "Italian conman jailed for building fake Roman amphitheatre": www.euronews.com/culture/2026...
euronews.com
Italian conman jailed for building fake Roman amphitheatre
In Italy, a structure promoted for years as an "ancient Roman amphitheatre" has turned out to be a fake, constructed recently using modern materials.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Trying to remember who was president when all this was going on.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Googling "Andrea LaFlamme". Found @andrealaflamme.bsky.social .
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Late to posting this job: "Research Software Engineer in Data Science and Cultural Heritage". apply.interfolio.com/188823 And while it's not @isawnyu.bsky.social specific, we do have a great DH/Digital Archaeology community here and I look forward to welcoming whomever takes this position to NYU.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
I'm in the district where @bradlander.bsky.social beat Dan Goldman in the Democratic Primary for the House. Many reasons for Lander's victory. There are policy/position discussions to have. I focus on the retail politics. Brad Lander has been here. In the community. He shows up with us. That worked.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
In other news... AirPods 3s can survive two consecutive cycles in a washing machine. But signal "weak" in "Find My" app and, no, "Play Sound" not hearable. That wasted a bunch o' my time.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
There is now a "Polygon Select" tool in GAERHF. Pic shows using timeline to show objects earlier than 2700 BCE and the polygon covering India, China, and Oceana. Other pic is clicking to see all figures in the gallery. gaerhf.org#yangshao-ves... . Early version of the UX/UI. An experiment.
Screen shot showing polygon over India, China, and Oceana.Screenshot of gallery.Location of polygon widget at left of screen.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
An aspect of moving the Pompeii Artistic Landscape Project (PALP) website to client-side javascript was that caching results broke. Now re-implemented. Means that palp.art/browse/#pomp... will load quickly. The top-left "pane" especially. Image (bottom-right) may still be slow. Cache TTL is 2 hours.
palp.art
PALP Browser
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
TACOs are expensive. Especially when you get nothing in return. 🌮
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
There are now "thumbs" on GAERHF "Time Scale" to select date range. Option click on right one to enter -8000 for about 10000 BP/8000 BCE. That's map shown here. Click on "palette" near top right and then "Threshold Slider" to adjust colormap. Try at gaerhf.org Grid at lower left to see all figures.
Human figures up to 8000 BCE currently in GAERHF.Threshold slider location at top right.Thumbnails for all figures on map. Shown by clicking "grid" icon at lower left corner.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Dear SCOTUS, Really? www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/u... . I’m not shocked. We have a political court. There you have it. But still… Really? Can’t quite get past that reaction.
nytimes.com
Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Effort to Reinstate New Voting Map
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Small bit of news re: gaerhf.org . More soon...
gaerhf.org
Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Simple update that I should have done a while back: Selectable base layers on the GAERHF map. An upcoming step is to capture that state in a shareable URL. In the meantime: gaerhf.org#mohenjo-daro... lets you start selecting your own baseman via widget at top right.
Oman petroglyphs on terrain basemap.Harrapan dancers on satellite baseman.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
The Ekven cemetery, Russia is all but on the Bering Strait. Its burials produced a number of human figures, one now in GAERHF. The location demonstrates how the (developing!) 3D view is useful. Allows this part of the world to be a nexus, not split at each end of a map. gaerhf.org/3d/#ekven-ce...
Screenshot with location of Ekven cemetery in easternmost Russia and "Crouched Figure" info box showing.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
First go at a #3D globe for GAERHF. Various UI/UX details to iron out. But try it at gaerhf.org/3d/#eyrarlan... . There's also a link from main page.
Screen shot of 3D globe with GAERHF markers.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Serious question: Is everything the Virginia legislature has ever done after the start of any early voting now challengeable? Worth a shot to challenge? How fundamental is this new legal principle?
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
More PALP development. Images now have a dedicated display. Try palp.art/browse/#luna... . Current functionality: Move center "handle" to expand image. Click "Adjust" for filters. #IIIF Zoom/pan with mouse(pad). There's more info and links to display. Other improvements to come. But a start...
Basic Screenshot.Image expanded via handle.Color inverted with adjust widget.Zoom.
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Reposted by Sebastian Heath
Greta Hawes @gretahawes.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
That’s right! All the data you ever wanted about Greek myth now roaming wild, pouncing on unsuspecting passersby
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Reposted by Sebastian Heath
ewan coopey @euuanxcvi.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
MANTO data now released into the wild! www.manto-myth.org/blog/releasi...
manto-myth.org
Releasing MANTO data into the wild — MYTHLAB
Last month, MANTO’s data was made available for public access. Ewan describes the release, how it can be accessed, and what we hope to achieve by releasing it into the world.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Testing a Claude Skill for creating GAERHF records. github.com/gaerhf/gaerh... . Download the .skill file. After install try '/gaerhf Create records for three entries from Roman Gaul.'
Screenshot of Claude transcript.
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Reposted by Sebastian Heath
Global Approaches to Early Representations of the Human Figure @gaerhf-bot.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
I'm changing up the GAERHF map interface. Info for each figure in a floating (sub)window. Option clicking opens new window. Interactions are complex so working on those. Single image here is gaerhf.org#figurine-tem... . And paired with gaerhf.org#deposit-figu... . Multi-figure links coming...
Gallic figurine wit mapParing of Gallic figurine and dolls/puppets from El Salvador.
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Pompeii Linked Open Data @p-lod-bot.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
New Pompeii Artistic Landscape Project (PALP) website is live. Try "Mythological Figure": palp.art/browse/#myth... . There's work to do. Exploring what the interface can and should be is absolutely part of the ongoing project...
Screenshot for "mythological_figure"
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Trump (plainly incompetent) took some welcome ideas - if NATO is to work, Europe needs to take responsibility for its own defense + global free trade/low tariffs hurt workers and benefit the global rich - and turned them into actually damaging “policies”. Can anyone run with them and benefit all?
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Hey, @bradlander.bsky.social , did you really drop this sign in our mailbox? Thanks if yes. And either way, superb retail politics. Sign in window! But no extra votes in this household ‘cause we were already on board! (P.s. Thx for joining NYU faculty picket line a few weeks back.)
Note. Possibly from candidate. SignSign in window.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Testing new UI for Pompeii Artistic Landscape (PALP). Try p-lod.github.io/palp-client-... . Earliest stages! Slow! Barest functionality! But "Type Ahead" beginning to work. Try 'ar...' or 'ha..." in input in header. You might have to hit return even after choosing word. cc @epoehler.bsky.social
House of Menander in PALPScreen shot of Ariadne in PALPShowing type ahead.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Bombing just doesn’t get you that much. There you have it. #tldr
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I’m on a roll. There’s definitely some pun here about him being part of the asymmetric warfare. #winning
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
He’s such an idiot. Yeah, tell the whole world that your fancy planes can be shot down by a glorified bazooka.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
I think it probably matters that Trump thinks SCOTUS has said he’s immune from prosecution for war crimes. But is he? Not overseas, right? And SCOTUS may not have intended that? Terrible opinion. Poorly reasoned. So who knows?? And subordinates not at all immune? Again, terrible judicial opinion.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Keeping talking. Just keep talking...
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
"“We wanted to install very large flags in response..." As a BU (School of Music) parent, this, in turn, makes me proud to have a child there: dailyfreepress.com/04/01/22/219... (h/t my co-parent @sarahburnes.bsky.social [Hi!])
dailyfreepress.com
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Reposted by Sebastian Heath
Brad Lander @bradlander.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
This is a five-alarm fire for our democracy and our future. Democrats have to step up and meet the moment. Our current congressmember isn't getting the job done.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Strike over. Or rather, "paused". An effective labor action. You can see the Tentative Agreement at docs.google.com/spreadsheets... . More than money was involved but the "Compensation" article was one of the last documents to reach its final (tentative, needs a vote) form. That was to be expected.
docs.google.com
CFU-UAW Bargaining Tracker [PUBLIC]
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
As of 11:00AM, I am on strike. Along with my colleagues in the NYU Contract Faculty Union. We've been pretty transparent about issues being negotiated. See docs.google.com/spreadsheets... . Interesting set of documents. I happen to be out of city but will be on a picket line tomorrow. 🪧✊ #Solidarity
docs.google.com
CFU-UAW Bargaining Tracker [PUBLIC]
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Now a 7th century mosaic. In situ. The chapel of Ss. Primus and Felicianus in Santo Stefano Rotondo. A small semi-dome. Then I turn around and take a photo across the round nave. It’s a lovely spot.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Each time I come to see it, I am pleasantly surprised that there is an 8th century mosaic framed on the wall of the bookshop of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Adoration of the Magi. From Old Saint Peter’s
Overall shot of mosaic on wallSelfie closer.
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Young boxer in BNL collection on display in Palazzo Altemps.
Detail of “gloves”Overall shot. Label text
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Trying to capture a bit of the aesthetics of the display of the Gorga Collection in Palazzo Altemps. Itself trying to present the sense of the original.
Label text Label text in contextWall painting fragments. Pottery
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Sebastian Heath @sebhth.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Phone going to die soon. But here’s the inscription on abdomen of the “Hellenistic Ruler”. Possibly indexed to a registry of public sculpture? See label text. Anybody strongly disagree?
Detail of abdomen. With inscription.Overall shotPortion of label text.
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