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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 1h

#31DaysOfGraves day 13 skeleton. Lots to choose from for this theme but settled on this tombstone from St John the Devine, Elmswell, Suffolk. The gravestone is for Matthew Marsh who died in 169[5]. The two skeletons are standing on hour glasses which are on top of cherubs and are holding shovels.

Detail on one edge of the tombstone showing a skeleton carving. The proportions are all wrong with the lower half of the body much smaller than the upper. The skull looks like it it is grinning. The skeleton is holding a spade or shovel in its left hand. A description of the rest of the tombstone is given with the second photograph.

$A face-on view of the tombstone. On either edge is a standing skeleton holding a spade in its inside hand. Each skeleton is standing on an hourglass which in turn is on the top of the head of a chubby cherub. At the centre-top of the tombstone is a third cherub head with two outstretched wings either side. Below that is a framed panel with the text. The text reads Memento Mori \ Here lyeth the body of \ Mr Matthew \ Marsh who \ dyed ye 18th of \ Aprill 1695 [the last digit is unclear] \ [in Italics] aetatis suae 52 \ [last line unclear] C...$

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Gravestones of New England @gravestones-ne.bsky.social · 18h

#31daysofgraves Day 12: Notable Women. Elizabeth Freeman (c.1744-1829), an enslaved woman who successfully sued for her freedom in 1781. It was one of several cases that led Massachusetts to become the first state state to abolish slavery. Stockbridge Cemetery, Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

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Simon Knott @simoninsuffolk.bsky.social · 19h

Edith Cavell, English nurse, was shot dead by a German firing squad #OTD 12 October 1915. Her death was a cause of national outrage and mourning. After the War, her body was returned home to England and buried in the cathedral close at Norwich.

#31DaysofGraves 12: notable woman

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20h

'Our University would do well to stop neglecting the threats to humanities education, and start publicly taking up the banner of the humanities.'

Could (and should) be said of so many universities, across the globe.

Harvard Can’t Afford to Neglect the Humanities | Opinion | The Harvard Crimson

Harvard exists to promote the highest intellectual pursuit in every discipline — it can’t leave the humanities behind.

www.thecrimson.com

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John Vigar @johnevigar.bsky.social · 1d

Continuing my study tour of Hampshire churches my guests enjoyed the iconography of the Tournai Marble Font at East Meon. Here Eve takes the apple.

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 1d

Join us in four weeks, on the 8th November at Sussex University, for a day of talks from leading archaeologists and historians on the origins of the Kingdom of the South Saxons. 1/4

sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...

Poster advertising
The Sussex Archaeological Society Conference – Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record. 8th Nov Sussex University

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codycoyote1959.bsky.social @codycoyote1959.bsky.social · 1d

bsky.app/profile/patt...

What you should do if your a billionaire. Build up instead of tear down.

Patti Olivier EPSTEIN FILES NEVER FORGET @patti3333.bsky.social · 1d

fortune.com/2025/10/10/b...

A little good news this Saturday Morning
Without fanfare the former Mrs Bezos always delivers
I admire her so much
DIVERSITY,EQUITY, and INCLUSION
This will help so many students
Billionaires with a heart
Thank you MacKenzie
Why doesn't the media report on this?

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott doubles down on DEI with $42 million donation | Fortune

In a signal to nonprofits and boardrooms, the Yield Giving philanthropist is backing diversity and equity with no‑strings grants—building on more than $19 billion she’s distributed in five years.

fortune.com

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Gravestones of New England @gravestones-ne.bsky.social · 1d

“In Peace Amidst the Rage of Noise and War”

Gravestone of Jacob Tilton, 1776, at North Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Not sure who the carver was, but probably someone from Boston.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 23h

#31DaysOfGraves day 12, Notable woman. This is the grave of Pauline Payne #Whitney Paget. She founded the Almeric Paget Military Massage Corps which helped wounded soldiers in WW1. Her story can be found here: www.schoolfieldcountryhouse.com/journal/2017...
She is buried in #Hertingfordbury

A view of the tomb. There is a statue of a seating female figure with two children either side looking up at her. The statue is in an architectural frame with two columns, one either side holding up an entablature with "Pro Patria" inscribed on it. Either side of the frame are two lower wings which curve forwards. The whole is set at the back of an enclosure with low brick walls. The area in front of the statue is paved, probably over the vault, and partly covered in wet autumn leaves.

Detail of the female statue. She is looking down and to the left. She is wearing a cloak over her head which is tied in front.

One of the panels from the paved area in front of the statue. It shows an engraving of a man from the side sitting on a ?box. He is smoking. It probably represents one of the soldiers her charity helped.

Detail of the statue. The female figure is seated and the two children are either side. One is sitting on the step at her feet looking up at her, the other is standing with one elbow on her knee looking out. The female's cloak is wrapped around the shoulders of the second child.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 1d

#31DaysOfGraves day 11: military Rather than post a grand tomb of a eminent military person, I thought I'd highlight some graves from some of more modest rank. These are in the wonderful Bonaventure cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. For those that care, #Pentax K10D, SMC Pentax-DA* 50-135mm lens.

A line of three white tombstones, one behind the other in a raking light show the text. They are to Jack B. Williamson, Walter Benedict Johnson and Wallace Eugene Thonness.

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John Vigar @johnevigar.bsky.social · 3d

An early start this morning brought me to Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire. Church open 9-1 weekdays

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 2d

Very sad to hear that Mike Corbishley has died. I worked with Mike at Wroxeter from 1980 to 1984 and subsequently bumped into him during my career. The CBA are planning a celebration of Mike's life in an upcoming issue of British Archaeology.

A group photograph showing the team that dug at Wroxeter in 1984. They are holding pieces of paper which spell out "Wroxeter 1984". They are standing in front of a large piece of Roman wall ("the Old Work"). Mike is in the front row, two to the right of the number 4.

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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 3d

The advice I give young people on choice of degree programme. Choose something you love. You’ve got the rest of your life to be frustrated and miserable.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 2d

#31DaysOfGraves Day 10: urn

I took this photo one foggy morning in the Calton Hill cemetery, Edinburgh. For those that care, Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7 lens.

#scotland #taphophilia #cemetery #graveyard #monument

Black and white photograph of a tall burial monument. A tall urn with two handles stands on a tall plinth with a square cross-section. In the background is a leafless winter tree and multiple other monuments including some obelisks. It is a little bit foggy.

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John Vigar @johnevigar.bsky.social · 4d

This door at Eastwood church in Essex dates from about 1150, which is extremely rare. The hinge has an inscription which (more or less) says ‘blessings on those who come and go’.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 3d

But are they baffled by these mysterious objects?

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National Trust Archaeology @nattrustarch.bsky.social · 3d

*NEWS* #AttinghamUnearthed🏺
Recent excavations have uncovered remarkable insights into life on the fringes of #Wroxeter: archaeologists worked alongside volunteers & members of the public revealing an Iron Age roundhouse, a #Roman industrial complex & a shrine.
#archaeology @nationaltrust.org.uk

A ring key, a clever combination of a piece of jewellery with a working key, often used to secure small boxes or personal items. (NT/ Jayne Gough)

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Simon Knott @simoninsuffolk.bsky.social · 3d

Going up. A pointing finger on the churchyard memorial for Jonas Walpole, 1905, at Erpingham, Norfolk.

Erpingham: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/erpingham/er...

#31DaysofGraves 9: hand

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Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · 3d

Two photos taken in 1906 during the excavations of the Roman fort at Newstead in Scotland carried out by local solicitor and amateur archaeologist James Curle. In 1911, Curle published his finds in the groundbreaking book “A Roman Frontier Post and its People”. #RomanFortThursday

A black and white photo of an excavation with broken stones surrounding the base of a carved column.

A piece of Roman masonry with a fancy herringbone pattern carved into it.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 3d

#31DaysOfGraves day 9, hands. This photo was taken at Montparnasse, Paris, France. I've tried to find more details but a search turns-up a different monument at the cemetery of hands. For those that care, photo mine, Pentax MX, Fuji 200 colour print film.
#montparnasse #paris #cemetery #grave

This burial monument consists of two forearms and hands rising vertically out of the base. The hands look to me like one male and one female, and they are touching two fingertips. They are made of white stone (possibly marble). They are surrounded by flowering plants. In the background and out of focus is a mausoleum with a window.

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 4d

The first Welwyn Archaeological Society meeting of the 2025/6 season will take place on Friday 17th October 2025 at 7.45pm. The lecture is "The rise and fall of Wheathampstead Manor" by Mike Smith. The lecture is in the URC hall, Welwyn Garden City (opposite Sainsbury's). All welcome, visitors £3.

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Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 5d

Wow, #Roman tombstones really do get around - this one was rediscovered in New Orleans, after being transported across the Atlantic by unknown persons in the chaotic aftermath of WW2...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

New Orleans couple discovers ancient Roman grave marker in their yard

Discovery of 1,900-year-old headstone dedicated to Roman sailor sets off effort to repatriate item to Italy

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 5d

Next week I'm really looking forward to hosting a real-life heritage crime fighter, Daryl Holter, for the 1st of the online @sussexpast.bsky.social winter lectures. Book now, via the link, join us from the comfort of your home to hear how we can fight threats to our archaeology.
tinyurl.com/3h2jac86

Book Autumn Talk: Daryl Holter - Heritage Crime, the threats to our shared heritage - Sussex Past

Join us for our first Autumn Talk of the season, as we welcome Daryl Holter, Heritage Crime Officer for Sussex Police We are all custodians of our heritage – past, present and future. Too often we tak...

tinyurl.com

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Dr Matt Pope @mattpope.bsky.social · 5d

As archaeologists we bear witness to the destruction of the natural environment. Up close. In real time. We are entangled in that destruction and it impacts us. A callous and uncaring approach to planning behind Reeve's comments should be sickening to everyone involved in such grave undertakings. 🏺

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Welwyn Archaeological Society @welwynarchsoc.bsky.social · 4d

#31DaysOfGraves day 8: glass. I had problems finding a suitable image for this one. I know I have a photo of some stained glass in a mausoleum somewhere on my hard disk, but where? Oh well, this one of Lucy Gallop in West Norwood cemetery, London, shows her photograph behind glass.

A monochrome photograph of a woman in a circular frame. The glass protecting the photo is held in place by a copper alloy ring. The photo is surrounded by a wreath carved in grey stone which is also within an omega shaped piece of carved stone with a key-pattern in gold around the edge, The bottom of the photo shows the plinth of the monument also with a carved decoration.

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