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Dr Simon Trafford

@simontrafford.bsky.social
1.5K followers 727 following 656 posts

Curriculum Leader of Classics at a state grammar school; IB examiner; author of a few Classics related bits. Swansea University, University of Oxford alumnus. Living in Kent; working in SE London. swansea.academia.edu/SimonTrafford

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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Awks - when Reform UK complain about the establishment but are also funded by the establishment Have a peek at this article by @adambienkov.bsky.social www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/reform-uk-...
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
A well-preserved Roman road is among the finds uncovered by archaeologists in a city centre. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Roman road discovered in Manchester city centre - BBC News
Archaeologists say the dig uncovered one of the best Roman finds in the city in more than 20 years.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Revised plans for an office block in the City of London have been approved, after a Roman basilica was found beneath the site. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Office plans amended after Roman basilica found in City of London - BBC News
The development will include an exhibition showcasing the 2,000-year-old basilica.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Archaeologists in South Moravia in the Czech Republic uncovered a rare Roman military discovery—a fragment of a bronze wrist purse that is the oldest such discovery ever made in the Czech Republic. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 archaeologymag.com/2025/06/roma...
archaeologymag.com
Rare 1,800-year-old Roman soldier’s wrist purse unearthed in Czech Republic reveals life on the empire’s frontier
Rare Roman wrist purse fragment found in Czech Republic reveals insights into soldiers' lives during the Marcomannic Wars.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Archaeologists announced that their nearly two decade-long excavations have produced concrete proof that the School of Homer at the site of Agios Athanasios was indeed a site where the Trojan War hero was worshipped. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/news.art...
news-artnet-com.cdn.ampproject.org
Lost Cult Site Dedicated to Odysseus Discovered on Ithaca
For more than a century, archeologists have looked for proof that a complex in Ithaca was related to Odysseus, now they have found it.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Archaeologists uncover significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun, in a recent excavation revealing the urban sophistication and strategic importance of the site in the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 arkeonews.net/archaeologis...
arkeonews.net
Archaeologists Uncover Large Roman-Era Complex Beneath Modern Melun - Arkeonews
Archaeologists have uncovered significant remnants of the ancient Roman city of Metlosedum, now modern-day Melun
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
I'm currently reading The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 #BookSky 📚💙
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
10 Wonders of Roman Britain. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.heritagedaily.com/2025/06/ten-...
heritagedaily.com
Ten Roman wonders of Britain
Discover the Roman Empire’s extraordinary legacy left on Britain through this selection of ten Roman wonders. - HeritageDaily - Archaeology News
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Excavations in the locality of Cupa, in southeastern Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient walls and numerous materials from the brutal siege the Romans inflicted on the city, which was an ally of Hannibal during the Second Punic War. #ClassicsBluesky🏺 www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/o...
labrujulaverde.com
Over 170 Meters of Wall and 450 Lead Projectiles from the Roman Siege Discovered in an Italian City Allied with Hannibal
Archaeological excavations in the locality of Cupa, in the municipality of Ugento in the southeastern tip of Italy, have uncovered remains of the ancient Messapian walls and numerous materials from th...
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
The Hellenic Society @hellenicsociety.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
'Greek inscription and mosaic floors uncovered at ancient city of Olympos' neoskosmos.com/en/2025/06/2... #ClassicsBluesky
neoskosmos.com
Greek inscription and mosaic floors uncovered at ancient city of Olympos - Neos Kosmos
Archaeologists have uncovered mosaic floors and Greek inscriptions at the ancient city of Olympos, located in the Antalya region of Turkey.
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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
A marble votive altar decorated with a row of women for #EpigraphyTuesday. A #Greek inscription from Delos, dedicated to Hestia (Vesta). Dating to the Hellenistic period, 100BC-100. 📷British Museum (1890,0113.1) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
A marble votive altar from the Hellenistic area. Found in Greece,Cyclades, Delos. It depicts a row of women. Two women at the front are holding hands and wearing drapery. Some damage to faces of the women and to the base of the altar. The inscription is above the two central women in Greek. 
Inscription: Zopyros, son of Zopyros (dedicates) the house to Hestia and the people.
Dimensions: Diameter: 73.66 centimetres
Height: Height: 73.66 centimetres.
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The Roman Society @theromansoc.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Starts 9th July!! New online course: Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts. Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available Information and booking at: www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event... #ClassicsBluesky 🏺
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense expression. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/06/l...
labrujulaverde.com
Large Marble Head from the Impressive Porticus Trisigmentata Discovered in Trajan’s Forum
Archaeological excavations on Via Alessandrina, just a few meters from Trajan’s Forum, uncovered an imposing marble head depicting a male face with pronounced features, abundant hair, and an intense e...
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
I have been teaching Suburani for 3 years now and I didn't know until reading this introduction to Seneca's Letters to Lucilius in Book 3 that Seneca's Lucilius is the father of our Suburani Lucilius from Books 1&2! Mind blown. 🤯 #ClassicsBluesky 🏺
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Working Classicists @workingclassicists.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Got a few minutes to lament those extra seasons of Rome we never got? You'll weep like Tiro as Pullo wields the blade on Cicero. youtu.be/1cIVJD1cmbk?...
youtu.be
Rome (2004): HBO's Untold 5 Season Story
YouTube video by Little Wars TV
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
16 Must-Read Books About Greek Mythology and Other Folklore: From feminist retellings of classic tales to modernized takes. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.marieclaire.com/culture/book...
marieclaire.com
16 Books That Put a Modern Day Twist on Ancient Mythology
All the gods and goddesses you know and love, but with a scandalous or feminist twist.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Archaeologists have pieced together thousands of fragments of 2,000-year-old wall plaster to reveal remarkable frescoes that decorated a luxurious Roman villa. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Huge archaeological puzzle reveals Roman London frescoes - BBC News
Thousands of fragments of plaster are pieced together to reveal frescos from a Roman London villa.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
The Pompeii Archaeological Park has recreated an ancient perfume garden—right down to its antique roses. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 news.artnet.com/art-world/po...
news.artnet.com
A 2,000-Year-Old Pompeii Garden Springs Back to Life
Pompeii Archaeological Park has unveiled the restored Garden of Hercules , freshly planted with violets, ruscus plants, and antique roses.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
#ClassicsBluesky, where am I now?
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
OK #ClassicsBluesky, where am I today?
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 17/06/2025
For the first time this year, Labour is making up some ground in the polling average - now back to where they were before the locals. Reform lead by 4.7%, down from a 7.7% peak. RFM: 28.7% (+14.0) LAB: 24.0% (-10.7) CON: 17.8% (-6.5) LDM: 13.8% (+1.3) electionmaps.uk/polling
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
A hoard of 13 silver coins found in a field was probably lost in the wake of the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43, according to a historian. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Downham Market coin hoard 'probably lost by a Roman invader' - BBC News
The discovery is "a drum roll of Roman coins from the late republic through to the early empire".
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
The Roman Society @theromansoc.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
New online course!! Ancient Rome in 50 Monuments, by Dr Paul Roberts. Each Wednesday from 9th July to 6th August 2025, 6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available Information and booking at: www.hellenicandromanlibrary.org/Events/Event... #ClassicsBluesky #AncientBluesky #Romans🏺
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Bristol IGRCT @igrct.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
This Thursday's #imageoftheweek is this fascinating Pompeiian fresco depicting Narcissus gazing at his own reflection - which only appears as a disembodied head. #classicssky #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky
An ancient Roman wall painting showing a young man, mostly naked, looking at his reflection in a pool. All we can see of the reflection is the head.
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Jon Hawke @archaeohawke.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
#FrescoFriday The Tomb of the Diver can be found in what was the ancient Greek city of Poseidonia (Paestum to the Romans). Discovered in June 1968, the tomb contains five different frescoes. Thought to date to roughly 500-470BC. #Archaeology #History #Art. #AncientBlueSky🏺
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Elizabeth Saint C @esaintc.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
#FrescoFriday Detail of a Roman fresco showing scene of dressing a priestess or bride. Found in the palaestra of the Forum Baths at Herculaneum. Dated back to 1st century CE. 📷https://feminaeromanae.org #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
#FrescoFriday of Venus Pompeiana with a statue of Eros, with flying cupids surrounding them. On the facade of the House of Venus and the Four Gods (IX. 7. 1). 1st century CE. 📷Sergey Sosnovskiy/ ancientrome.ru #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Pompeii
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
One of my Y11 form leavers has just given me this lovely card. Honestly, I am completely overwhelmed. I'm so pleased I have played a positive role in their school life (I genuinely had no idea!). It is moments like this that make being a teacher so worthwhile. #Edusky
The text of a card given to me by a student which reads, 'Thank you for always helping us be our best, always ensuring we are happy and focused. I'll miss seeing you every day.'
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
School funding and capital cash rise (a bit), Ofsted budget boost, school library scheme and a schools white paper to come in the autumn Here's what schools need to know about today's spending review schoolsweek.co.uk/spending-rev...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Spending review 2025: What's in it for schools?
School funding and capital cash rise (a bit), Ofsted boost, library funding and a schools white paper
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
rogueclassicist ~ david meadows @rogueclassicist.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Pompeii, Hercules' Garden House inaugurated. Philologically reconstructed garden www.finestresullarte.info/en/museums/p...
finestresullarte.info
Pompeii, Hercules' Garden House inaugurated. Philologically reconstructed garden
In the Pompeii Archaeological Park, the House of Hercules' Garden, also known as the perfumer's house because of the probable production and marketing of perfumes that took place there, has been inaug...
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 11/06/2025
Labour promised people we would rebuild Britain – and that’s what we’re doing | Keir Starmer
theguardian.com
Labour promised people we would rebuild Britain – and that’s what we’re doing | Keir Starmer
This week’s spending review marks a new stage in the mission of national renewal, built on the foundations laid last year
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The ‘Millionaire Exodus’ the UK Media Told You About Never Actually Happened The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was "non existent" bylinetimes.com/2025/06/10/t...
bylinetimes.com
The 'Millionaire Exodus' the UK Media Told You About Never Actually Happened
The equivalent of 30 stories a day were published about an exodus of wealthy people that a new study finds was "non existent"
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
10 June 1540: Arriving late to a Privy Council meeting Thomas Cromwell is arrested for high treason #otd (NPG)
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Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes @lemoustier.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
🏺🦣 🐈 The mousers of Le Moustier... ou les chats du Châtelperronian ?! (the one on the ladder nearly upstaged me by hanging around for 40 minutes while I talked, demanding strokes and ostentatiously hunting for insects in the bushes)
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Lindsay Powell FRHistS @lindsaypowell.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
“To the astonishment of archaeologists and volunteers, the Magna shoe measures 32cm long, which is the equivalent of UK men’s size 12-14 in modern footwear.” #AncientBluesky www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
chroniclelive.co.uk
Massive shoe found at Northumberland Roman site astounds archaeologists
Explorations are taking place of the little-known Magna site near Vindolanda
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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
A Dido and Aeneas #MosaicMonday. The Low Ham #Roman mosaic shows the tragic love story. A 4th century AD piece found in the bath block, the oldest object in Britiain that tells a complete story. shorturl.at/3QrPK 📷 The Museum of Somerset #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology
4.3 metres square; can be seen in the Great Hall of Taunton. The story is told in a cartoon like way in a series of 5 panels, comprised of 120,000 tesserae.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
Rome's new-look Piazza Augusto Imperatore, the public square around the Mausoleum of Augustus in the heart of the city centre, is inaugurated. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-op...
wantedinrome.com
Rome unveils new piazza around the ancient Mausoleum of Augustus
Rome's new-look Piazza Augusto Imperatore, the public square around the ancient Mausoleum of Augustus, was inaugurated on Friday by mayor Roberto Gualtieri.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
3,300-Year-Old War Helmet Reveals the Power, Beliefs, and Craftsmanship of the Hittite Civilization. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 arkeonews.net/ancient-hitt...
arkeonews.net
Ancient Hittite Bronze Helmet Unearthed: A Rare Glimpse into the Warrior Culture of a Forgotten Empire - Arkeonews
A 3,300-year-old bronze helmet unearthed in Şapinuva reveals the Hittite Empire’s advanced military technology and deep religious rituals.
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Rosa @rosalindanne.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Deya bay. Rock & café on the rh side.
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Matthew Pennycook MP @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Labour is introducing future standards to set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes. This will mean the vast majority of new-build houses will come with solar panels as standard. Kickstarting a solar rooftop revolution. www.ft.com/content/faeb...
ft.com
Most new build homes in England to be required to have solar panels
Ministers want to amend building regulations to promote renewable power
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Janh1 @janh1.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Morning from soggy Swansea 😊 ☕️. Here are the striped greens and blues from the Bay yesterday 😎
Snapshot looking out over the roadside smooth mown grass towards an empty wooden seat on the Swansea promenade with a cyclist travelling from right to left. The tide is in and the sea is palest green blue in the shallows turning to mid blue over by the pale blue mountains behind Port Talbot across the bay. The scene is framed at the top by the foliage of trees.
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Ian Ebbage @ianebbage.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
The Castellania (early 16c) was a Court in Rhodes, either of the Knights of St John or of the Merchants #staircasesaturday
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
My current reading. I'm looking forward to making good progress with it this weekend. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 #BookSky 📚💙
The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Good. Not before time either. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Bosses' bonuses banned at six water companies - BBC News
Firms including Thames Water have been stopped for paying rewards to executives under new rules.
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
A major rescue excavation in Kaiseraugst, northern Switzerland, has revealed a substantial Roman road complete with porticoes. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 arkeonews.net/ancient-roma...
arkeonews.net
Ancient Roman Road with Porticoes and Rare Artifacts Discovered in Switzerland - Arkeonews
A major rescue excavation in Kaiseraugst, northern Switzerland, has revealed a substantial Roman road complete with porticoes, alongside poignant infant burials and a collection of intriguing artifact...
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Working Classicists @workingclassicists.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
It's really cool when people are nice to each other, and by PURE COINCIDENCE there's a quick and easy way to do something amazingly positive right here. Nominate someone for our annual awards, and feel the satisfaction of doing something lovely. docs.google.com/form...
Working Classicists Awards 2025
Vaporwave-style poster
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Reposted by Dr Simon Trafford
Local Authority @localauthority.news · 05/06/2025
Our columnist Zahra Barri spends the week getting stuck in at Medway's community theatre.
localauthority.news
Volunteer Medway at the Medway Little Theatre
Zahra Barri gets stuck in at Medway's community theatre, and gets involved with more community events in one very busy week
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Schools Week @schoolsweek.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The number of pupils in England’s schools has fallen for the first time in over a decade as the system passes a demographic tipping point Here's what we learned from a key DfE data release this morning schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-number...
schoolsweek.co.uk
Pupil numbers start to fall in demographic tipping point
Data also shows fall in number of private school pupils, but an increase in the number of schools
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Many of the manuscripts known as the Dead Sea Scrolls may be much older than previously thought, according to a new study that could transform our understanding of their Jewish and Christian origins. #ClassicsBluesky 🏺 www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
independent.co.uk
Dead Sea Scrolls could be much older than thought, AI finds
Findings also impact our understanding of ancient political developments in Eastern Mediterranean
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Dr Simon Trafford @simontrafford.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
This is very welcome news. #Edusky www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Free school meal rule change to make 500,000 more pupils eligible - BBC News
Charities have broadly welcomed the plans, saying they hope it is a sign of more to come.
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