iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Really enjoyed #Scotland’sFirstWarriors at @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social a really engaging exhibition, I especially enjoyed the shield film which I watched more than once!

Beige wall with an image of a warrior and the text Scotland’s First Warriors in black raised letters.

An exhibition case with a light brown background and red base, displaying 3 large Bronze Age shields, swords and spear heads.

A close up of a Bronze Age shield, showing concentric rings of ridges and small bosses and a large central boss.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Thanks, a perfect excuse to treat myself for my birthday! 📕

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The only appropriate choice for Emerging Archaeologists today!

A box of Jaffa Cakes held up with the Museum of Liverpool in the background and a blue sky

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Prepping for our ceramics workshop next week. 6 days until #EmergingArchaeologists and it’s not too late to sign up for a week of skill building & exploring archaeology for 16-24yr olds! Click ‘book tickets’ to see the schedule for the week www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

Trays of colourful pottery and tile on white tissue paper.

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YAC @yac-cba.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Want to help shape the future of archaeology? We’re now recruiting 10 new members to join our Youth Advisory Board! This is an exciting opportunity to: 1️⃣make a real impact 2️⃣build valuable skills 3️⃣connect with like-minded young people More info👉http://tinyurl.com/JoinYABs

Image of young people sat around a large wooden table talk with one another. Ochre red walls in background with fireplace

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

So many great memories from Viccar St at 16 to Manchester in 2026 & all the moments in between 😢

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Rachel Pope @prehistorian.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

These men need found. This is the most socially important gold object in the Iron Age of western Europe.

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Dr Tess Machling @tessmachling.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

With today's theft of Vix torc, here's what has been taken... The torc was found as part of a burial & placed around neck of the interred. Despite its size, it weighs only 480g (less that half the weight of the Snettisham Great torc). It is STUNNING. #Archaeology #Gold #Torcs 🏺 1/2

The Vix torc - a sheet gold torc with expanded neck rock and hollow globular terminals

The winged horse on one of the terminals.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I’m lucky to have a tray of 20 trowels to choose from at work, both WHS & Marshalltown but I’ll always reach for my (almost) original WHS!

A worn down trowel on a mid and light blue squared tablecloth.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Great to spend day 1 of #FestivalofArchaeology at Altcar Rifle range with 22 Mersey & Dee Young archaeologists @yac-cba.bsky.social. Thanks to @coastsinmind.bsky.social for a fantastic session recording the Cold War anti-aircraft positions with scale drawings, photogrammetry & a drone #SkillBuilding

A young archaeologist in a yellow hi vis vest photo grates a wooden gate and sign within a concrete store.

Preserved wooden shelves with slots to hold animation within a concrete store, open at each end. Trees above in the background.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Finding some of my favourite objects, Irish Bronze Age axes @royalarmouries.bsky.social

Green pitted flat axe displayed against a black background.

A bronze socketed axe with a flared cutting edge and short body & side loop displayed against a black background.

A bronze palstave axe with a wide cutting edge and a lump at the stop gap. Displayed against a black background.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Enjoying the quiet of campus and quite a few rabbits at IMC Leeds as well as well as some great papers!

Red banner with an image of a medieval white horse and two people in the style of an image from a manuscript. Below the words Leeds International Medieval Congress are written in white text.

A rabbit on grass next to a tree. A red brick building and church can be seen in the background.

A large red brick building with lots of windows in the background. In the foreground two rabbits are eating the grass in front of a leafy tree.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Congratulations! Have enjoyed following along. Having spent my work experience as a teenager working on Viking bone combs with Margaret Gowan co I’m still waiting for a Viking dig to come along. Would love a busman’s holiday if you’re looking for future volunteers!

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Neil Jackman @neiljackman.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Viking traders or Viking raiders? Another tale from the trench as we end the third day of our research excavation at Woodstown Viking Site in County Waterford. #Ireland #Vikings #Archaeology 🏺

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Lovely evening wonder around UCD.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

A stop before the boat to see Trysor at Oriel Mon. Love the rams head terminal & large copper ingots. Lovely mounts for the Llangoed hoard too!

An exhibition space with purple walls and the word TRYSOR written in gold. Two display cases are visible in the background and three blue interpretation panels with white writing.

A display case with a rams head terminal, Iron Age rivets and mounts with a large copper ingot visible on the shelf below.

A green copper alloy ingot on a purple plinth.

A hoard of gold Iron Age coins on black stick mounts of differing heights.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Emerging Archaeologists is back! If you are 16-24 and want hands-on experience of local archaeology through talks, workshops & a field trip book your place now. (Details of the weeks activity can be found when you click through to the booking page). www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Emerging Archaeologists

Museum of Liverpool Emerging Archaeologists (MoLEA) is an exciting new opportunity for young people aged 16-24 to gain direct hands-on experience of their local archaeology through talks, workshops an...

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Sailing on Sunday if you don’t want to wait 😆

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Neil Jackman @neiljackman.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

We are currently working with a collaborative team on a Conservation Management Plan for Glendalough. If you've visited the site in recent years, we would love to hear your thoughts: www.surveymonkey.com/r/3HSKHYR #Ireland #Glendalough #Wicklow @nationalmons.bsky.social @opwireland.bsky.social

A picture of St Kevin's Church at Glendalough with the overlaid text 'Glendalough Have Your Say!' with a QR code

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Not quite the Easter Bunny but a lovely ‘hare & hound’ Roman brooch from Halton 🐇

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Dr Susan Greaney @suegreaney.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

National Museums Liverpool is 40! The World Museum has a special exhibition, which opened today, of 40 objects from the stores, chosen by curators and staff to represent the collections. Well worth a visit! My faves included Fido the Lion, casts of the Formby footprints and a dazzleship ferry model.

Fido the Lion - a handmade toy lion looking up out of a packing crate. His mane is soft and fluffy and his feet are inturned. He has a 'help me' expression. He belonged to, and provided much comfort to, a young girl who in 1916 had to cross the Atlantic due to the war.

Two plaster casts of the Formby prehistoric footprints

A model of a ferry boat painted in multi-coloured patches with stripes and patterns - created to honour the wartime dazzleships. It is displayed inside a packing crate with labels and storage mounts still attached.

General view of the exhibition, where visitors are looking at objects displayed in or on packing crates.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

It’s the last day to see Treasure: History Unearthed at the Museum of Liverpool! I’ll miss caring for these amazing objects & hearing stories of how our visitors connect with the past through discovery & place.

A circular silver brooch on a black background. The brooch is openwork and decorated with zoomorphic designs. There is a central decorative boss and four more bosses around the edge.

The gold Mold cape on display with text and images in the background.

A display case of Viking silver. Maps are reflected in the back of the case and text to the right.

A series of 9 circular white cards with written responses from members of the public.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Thanks Ste, glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to squeezing in two more tours this week before we close on Sunday, it’s been lovely to care for so many favourites!

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it ☺️

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Really enjoyed a day of fascinating talks of at Musuem of Liverpool today exploring archaeology & objects, thanks to all our brilliant speakers! Just one week left to see Treasure: History Unearthed, which closes on 29th March! 📸 Malpas Bronze Age Armillae on loan from Manchester Museum.

A twisted armband of gold with a smooth terminal end on a black background.

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Clare Downham @downham.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Free public launch in Liverpool - new paperback edition - you just need to register to attend. Email downham@liverpool.ac.uk to sign up for the lectures that precede it including a plenary by Prof Howard Williams #medievalsky @archaeodeathprof.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-emb...

eventbrite.co.uk

Launch: ‘Embers of the Hands’ by Dr Eleanor Barraclough

Launch of the paperback edition of ‘Embers of the Hands - Hidden Histories of the Viking Age’ by Dr Eleanor Barraclough

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Looking forward to lots of fantastic talks on Saturday as we head towards the closing week of Treasure: History Unearthed!

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The Lower Ballam hoard of flat axes from Lancashire is the largest hoard of copper objects found in Britain. The axes are made of pure copper which came from Co.Kerry. On display in Treasure: History Unearthed, Museum of Liverpool until the 29th!

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Enjoyed finding this comment card today! Not long to go until Treasure: History Unearthed closes on the 29th March www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

A circular comment card held up between finger and thumb reads ‘The Mold-y Cape’ above an illustration of a stick person wearing the Mold cape and boots. Below the words ‘By Cait (Aged 30)’ are written. In the background is the gold Mold cape in a display case.

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ChesterArchSoc @chesterarchsoc.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

We shall have a stall at the Roman Finds Group conference at the Grosvenor Museum #Chester on 13-14 March. Lots of journals to buy at cut prices, so bring along your £5 and £10 notes (cash only, we're afraid - unless you can find a cheque book!). We look forward to seeing you!

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Irish Studies@LivUni @irishinstitute.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

🚨1 week to go🚨 The Irish Language in Liverpool / An Ghaeilge cois Setei Experts from Ireland, Canada + US discuss Liverpool’s contribution to Irish English with 'cúpla focail' 📅6:30pm, 4 March 🧭Rathbone Theatre @liverpooluni.bsky.social FREE registration: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981144632...

eventbrite.co.uk

The Irish Language in Liverpool / An Ghaeilge cois Seteia

This event brings together world-leading experts from Ireland, Canada and the US to discuss Liverpool’s contribution to the Irish language.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Lovely to have @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social & @emlouwynjones.bsky.social sharing their skills with visitors at Museum of Liverpool this weekend! #BronzeAge #LivingHistory #ExperimentalArchaeology www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

A display of replica Bronze Age axes surrounding spearheads on black cloth. To the left necklaces and pots of raw materials laid out on skins of various shades of brown. In the background a replica of the Nebra sky disc leans against a white wall.

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ChesterArchSoc @chesterarchsoc.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Roman Finds Group Spring Conference 2026 – Recent Roman Finds and Research from Wales and the West. Friday 13th - Saturday 14th March at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester. Open to non-members. See romanfindsgroup.org.uk/event/rfg-sp... for the programme and booking.

romanfindsgroup.org.uk

RFG Spring Conference 2026 – Recent Roman Finds and Research from Wales and the West. – Roman Finds Group

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Gorgeous day to deliver at two YAC sessions & two curator tours of Treasure: History Unearthed ☀️

A view over the River Mersey towards the Wirral with dark water in the foreground, blue sky with patches of light cloud above and the dock wall in shadow on the left of the image

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Visited a fantastic exhibition Sardinia The Island of Megaliths at Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya. Lovely lit images surrounding display cases gave a great sense of scale, atmosphere & impact, will have to visit Sardenya now! #StandingStoneSunday

A raised yellow map of Sardinia on a circular blue base with the words Sardenya L’illa Megalitica to the left. Above a circular lit image of corbelled stones with open sky in the centre. Display cases in the background.

Four large images which are lit from behind depicting prehistoric sites and monuments from Sardenya. Display cases containing pottery and other objects are embedded in the nearest two images. A black floor and roof in the centre of the photo.

A back lit image of a light brown corbelled stone beehive shaped roof. In the right of the image a display case is embedded. The case has a black background and contains light brown coloured weights of different shapes.

A tall sandstone standing stone with four circular bosses, two at the top and two just below the centre. In the background a black floor and lit images are visible.

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Irish Studies@LivUni @irishinstitute.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Is this the point where we mention the "The Viking Age in the North West - Merseyside Tour"? 28 March 2026, just £5, incl entry to National Museums Liverpool for the Treasure: History Unearthed exhibition: payments.liv.ac.uk/conferences-... PS: More ℹ️ on the app www.liverpool.ac.uk/irish-studie...

payments.liv.ac.uk

The Viking Age in the North West - Merseyside Tour | University of Liverpool

We are thrilled to welcome you on a guided tour of some of Merseyside’s ancient Viking settlements. Along this journey, we will visit some of the sit

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Exploring Barcino founded by Augustus around 10 BC, lovely stratigraphy! #Barcelona

An archaeological site showing two very large ceramic pots embedded in the ground with a pillar behind.

A light brown pillar on a worked block sitting on a mound of light brown Earth, a walkway is shown on the right of the image and more pillars in the background.

A wall with larger blocks of stone at the top, which are less compact towards the base of the wall. A tall rectangular pillar is in the centre used as building material.

A series of Roman walls and pillars enclosed under a modern roof with a modern walk way and railing running through the site.

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Pinched the best cracker gift!

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Enjoyed doing ‘bookey-dip’ again this year, regifting books I’ve enjoyed over the year instead of Christmas cards. 📚

A pile of 6 books wrapped in blue and white floral wrapping paper sitting on a white surface. The roll of wrapping paper is to the left of the books. A red kettle sits on the hob in the background .

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Irish Studies@LivUni @irishinstitute.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Looking for a Christmas present for the historian in your life (or yourself)? How about a guided tour of some of Merseyside’s Viking sites and EARTH (Experimental Archaeology Research + Teaching Hub) Just £5 including entrance to "Treasure: History Unearthed": payments.liv.ac.uk/conferences-...

payments.liv.ac.uk

School of Histories, Languages and Cultures | University of Liverpool

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Vanessa Oakden @voakden.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Lovely to see Treasure: History Unearthed celebrated as winner of the @socmusarch.bsky.social annual award for excellence in the exhibition project category. It has great to work with a fantastic team & special objects! Book your tickets here👇 www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Treasure: History Unearthed

From Bronze Age gold and Viking silver to hoards of coins, discover Treasure unearthed in this new exhibition.Revealing personal stories and global connections, Treasure: History Unearthed features th...

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