iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks spreading some much needed love in Glasgow last night.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A long journey home and it’s good to be back. Thinking of my friends & students in Kyiv who don’t have the privilege of having home as a safe space. Keeping my air alert app active for a while as a reminder of what they are living through. Here’s a snapshot from this Sunday afternoon. Slava Ukraini.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

In my element today at the National museum of history of Ukraine being shown the amazing results of a battlefield archaeology project. A 1630s showdown between Cossacks and Poles. And for that piece of armour look no further than the Polish Hussar kit in the csse.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A rough day for the people of Kyiv, but we still gathered for the third of my lectures. We had to fight for a room though, and then scrounge a projector & manage withought wifi (knocked out on one of the raids). Today we explored Waterloo and then went for pizza. Slava Ukraini!

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The timing might have been pretty much perfect, but having the musketry part of my lecture on Culloden momentarily interrupted by an air defence salvo is definitely going down as an unusually immersive teaching experience.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Day 3 in Kyiv. First of my short series of lectures at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy today. Delighted at the enthusiasm and engagement from students and look forward to our second session tomorrow. Thanks to my colleagues here for helping to make this happen.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Starting out on long train trip from Warsaw to Kyiv. Probably won’t be posting much over next week, but am keeping a video diary which may or may not see the light of day. My latest entry is on still being a nervous traveller after all these years of doing just that - “Not quite Alan Whicker am l.”

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Reposted by Tony Pollard

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Astonishing! He begins to name the books, to reassure himself that they are all still there, exactly, as he remembers. He’s an Alim, the highest level of Islamic scholar, he has, very likely, memorized *every* word in each text, and knows the order they’re placed. I’m not crying, you’re crying. 😭

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

If it’s Thursday it must be Warsaw! After leaving Glasgow this morning at 3.30am to fly from Edinburgh l’d thought of chilling in my hotel room this pm. Instead, l spent 3 hours in the amazing Warsaw Uprising Museum (Aug 1 - Oct 2 1944). So much to see that 3 hours wasn’t enough. Highly recommended.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Surprised to turn on Radio 4 to find dramatisation of ‘The Things They Carried’ by Tim O’Brien. Even as fiction it’s one of best books on the Vietnam War from the perspective of the ‘grunt’. Just last week l put it on a recommended reading list for clients on Vietnam tour l’m co-leading in Oct-Nov.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Day 2 Keynote at CIESCA III in Bilbao this morning by Alfredo González-Ruibal, one of the smartest thinkers working in conflict archaeology today. Looking forward to his book launch this evening.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

If it's Tuesday it must be Bilbao. Enjoyed some famous Basque hospitality and with Keynote at CIESCA III delivered it's time to practice some Spanish by listening to a wonderful array of papers over the next few days. I expect this to be like that scene from The 13th Warrior and be fluent by Friday.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

A wrap on 13th Fields of Conflict Conference at University of Glasgow. As someone said, one of my catch phrases is everyday’s a school day. And it was. I learned so much over last 3 days. Good to know the field is in safe and imaginative hands with next generation. Congratulations to organisers.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Big day yesterday. Panel on Waterloo Uncovered then delivering keynote at Fields of Conflict conference in Glasgow. Followed by retirement bash at the city chambers where it was wonderful to see so many ex students and colleagues gathered together. Love my pressie from my students.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

10,000 words delivered for the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Conflict Archaeology. I've made it as interesting as I can. Methods in Battlefield Archaeology: Metal Detector Survey and Projectile Analysis in the USA and Europe.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

You know there’s light at the end of the tunnel when you finally bother your arse to read the publisher’s guidelines for an academic paper.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Archaeologists love coming up with catchy phrases to label new areas of research. I hereby lay claim to Climate Exposed Heritage (just the phrase, not the research alas). www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/sub...

telegraph.co.uk

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

When a badly written shopping list brings to mind a certain other scribble you know it’s time to take a day off.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

OTD 1305 Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace was brutally executed in Smithfield, London. His story was epically mangled in 1995 movie Braveheart. I’ll be telling some eye watering stories about making of Mel Gibson’s epic in the blog pages of my forthcoming website. youtu.be/m9ekRf5-lC8?...

youtu.be

Braveheart 1995 - Freedom Scene Full - Full HD

YouTube video by FilmCooum

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

At last succumbed to having a website, but excited my niece is building it. Spent afternoon digging out photos that aren't just me being dorky next to a tank. Love this one. The day we demonstrated use of smoke to cover trench assaults during a weekend event at our amazing trenches in Pollok Park.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Delighted to report that 'The Wars Beneath Our Feet: Adventures in Conflict Archaeology' will be published by @barnthorn.bsky.social in Spring 2027. www.barnthornpublishing.co.uk/team/tony-po...

barnthornpublishing.co.uk

Tony Pollard | Barnthorn Publishing

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I’m talking unexploded ordnance on archaeological sites tomorrow. Any archaeologists out there with stories of unexpected discoveries of UXO on their excavations? Pictured is the 5.5” inch unexploded mortar shell we found at Culloden from 1746.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Listening to John Sayles on Radio 4’s ScreenShot talking about Brother From Another Planet. His movie Matewan is to my mind his best and l like to think the subject matter was the reason his people touched base on seeing the Two Men in a Trench episode on Culloden. Alas he didn’t give us his take.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

A question asked on Front Row just now. How do you make a child friendly exhibition about children at war? Guessing this is no longer the answer.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Action & Bullet, launched in Feb 1976. Bullet provided a rival to Lord Peter Flint with Fireball (though I think his backstory had him as ward of PF). These were cooler than Warlord & violence in Action closed it down before a tamer version was relaunched. It also had the best character - Hook Jaw!

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Remember Warlord? This weekly comic first hit newsagents 28 Sept 1974. I was 10. Gave us some iconic characters but also a bunch of secret agents. Marketing genius which launched with issue 20 on 8 Feb 1975. I ran a ring of agents which met in a furniture shop on a Saturday. Were you an agent?

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Just arrived! 3 minutes on a question not often asked. Please comment, like, subscribe etc. on the channel. Flodden 1513 - Did the Scots use handguns? youtu.be/Lro_ruOppzE

youtu.be

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

OTD in 1916 the Battle of Fromelles saw the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian military history. Just over 90 years later we went back for some of those who fell.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Latest Wars Beneath Our Feet outing has just arrived. Please like and subscribe (it's free) youtu.be/kvbl0TNuwZQ?...

youtu.be

Britain's Secret WW2 Defences

YouTube video by The Wars Beneath Our Feet

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Watched Project Hail Mary Last night. Loved it. Don’t think l’ve blubbed at a Sci-Fi movie since Silent Running. Highly recommended.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Next Wars Beneath Our Feet outing will be appearing on YouTube very soon. Once again it will feature Ralph, the History Hound! Music: Wildfire by Jessie Villa

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Contacted by Sky News this morning to comment on the Argentina/England match. Not being the world’s best football pundit l declined. But of course that wasn’t why they wanted to talk to me.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Nothing like a game of Pooh Sticks when on a battlefield study day. Good to revisit site of the 1526 Battle of Linlithgow Bridge and discuss the future of its heritage and public engagement during the year of its 500th anniversary.

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Reposted by Tony Pollard

J. Kelly Nestruck @nestruck.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

My favourite thing about Haaland is that he spent 1.3 million Norwegian kroner of his football money on a rare 1594 edition of Viking chronicles - a record book sale for Norway - and then donated it to his regional library. www.reuters.com/lifestyle/ha...

reuters.com

Haaland trades goals for sagas with record-breaking Viking book

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has donated a rare 16th-century manuscript of Viking sagas to his home municipality in ‌Norway.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

After delivering 9hrs of online lectures over the past 3 days, think I'll play at being retired today.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

What happened to the body of James IV after the battle of Flodden? A postscript to the Battle of Flodden video. As ever please like and subscribe. youtu.be/qlWrdU35890?...

youtu.be

James IV's body is missing!

YouTube video by The Wars Beneath Our Feet

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

OTD in 1513 Henry VIII landed in France to fight French. In Scotland, James IV considered request for support from French King. Result was Battle of Flodden, between English & Scots 9 Sept, 1513. Good time to drop latest The Wars Beneath Our Feet video. Please like & subscribe! youtu.be/c119d2VdEmM

youtu.be

Flodden: The Battle That Changed Britain

YouTube video by The Wars Beneath Our Feet

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

OTD 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. See how Robert Bruce and his Scottish army beat the English under Edward II here. Please like and subscribe. Here’s to a good another good result on the pitch tonight. youtu.be/GQza2pi-hK0?...

youtu.be

How the Scots Crushed England at Bannockburn | Professor Tony Pollard

YouTube video by The Wars Beneath Our Feet

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Now l’m ’retired’ there will be more time for other stuff, including my YouTube channel #TheWarsBeneathOurFeet. Here’s a little flavour of what’s up next.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Was so busy working on next Wars Beneath Our Feet feature today that forgot it was the anniversary of Waterloo. Here’s a clue to the cause of my distraction.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Ralph enjoyed exploring Chester Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall today and was excited to discover he wasn’t the first of his kind to roam the precincts. Hail Roman Ralph!

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Reposted by Tony Pollard

UofGNews @uofgnews.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The meteorite which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs also created an underground environment suited to supporting new life which lasted for at least eight million years, research from SUERC and @uofgges.bsky.social reveals. Read more here: www.gla.ac.uk/news/headlin...

Dr Annemarie Pickersgill of SUERC, who led the research

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Emeritus Professor Tony Pollard and Professor Andrew Mackillop marking a retirement.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Tonight will be the last time ever l experience that old Sunday night ‘school in the morning’ feeling, which in itself feels a bit weird. IYKYK. youtu.be/L2IuPjpAHnI?...

youtu.be

The Onedin Line 1971 - 1980 Opening and Closing Theme (With Snippets)

YouTube video by TeeVees Greatest

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Honoured to be presenting online at inaugural symposium hosted by NaUKMA Research Centre for Heritage Preservation and Recovery in Kyiv today. There is much to do & look forward to being there to do some teaching and project collaboration later this year.

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Tony Pollard @tonypollard.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

With everything telling me Loudon Hill should be next in line, once imminent retirement gifts me the time, here’s a 5 minute take on Bannockburn. youtu.be/SviVbsz7SuM?...

youtu.be

The Battle of Bannockburn in 5 Minutes

YouTube video by The Wars Beneath Our Feet

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