Alison Foster
@alisonfoster.bsky.social
Zooarchaeologist based in Worcestershire. Malvern Buzzards Running Club. Cats (well, just the one cat). Power metal
A lovely parkrun this morning at Worcester Woods - the 5k graduation run for the Malvern Buzzards 'Take Flight' fledglings. Cold and muddy, but sunny, at last! #runningpunks #parkrun #couchto5k
February 14, 2026 at 12:34 PM
A lovely parkrun this morning at Worcester Woods - the 5k graduation run for the Malvern Buzzards 'Take Flight' fledglings. Cold and muddy, but sunny, at last! #runningpunks #parkrun #couchto5k
Lively discussion around the correct disposal of eggshells and the preservation of fishermen's lives. #folklore
If you’re cracking a raw egg and putting It on the pan or in a recipe, you must crush the eggshell fully in your fist before throwing it away, otherwise a fisherman will die. Crushing the eggshell is called: saving a fisherman’s life. (Icelandic superstition.)
February 14, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Lively discussion around the correct disposal of eggshells and the preservation of fishermen's lives. #folklore
Another great thread from Tom Cox. I love moths - their names are wonderful too, like little incantations.
This seems as good an excuse as any for a short thread introducing people to some single moths I've found in my area, looking for fun.
1. Here, for starters, is a Canary-Shouldered Thorn Moth (I didn't make this up).
1. Here, for starters, is a Canary-Shouldered Thorn Moth (I didn't make this up).
February 13, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Another great thread from Tom Cox. I love moths - their names are wonderful too, like little incantations.
Reposted by Alison Foster
🚨 We have heard that the County Archaeologist for Hampshire is being made redundant, with no plans to replace him. 🚨
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
February 13, 2026 at 12:33 PM
🚨 We have heard that the County Archaeologist for Hampshire is being made redundant, with no plans to replace him. 🚨
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
If you live in Hampshire please write to your MP and Councillors.
If you live elsewhere treasure and support your County Archaeologists, and stand by to protect them. 🏺
Reposted by Alison Foster
#FindsFriday The stunning head of the Capel Garmon firedog, dug up from a peat bog in north Wales in 1852
A masterpiece of Late Iron Age forging & smithing, with bull's horns & plaited equine mane representing a composite animal
More here: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/800314
📷 My own, NMW St Fagans
A masterpiece of Late Iron Age forging & smithing, with bull's horns & plaited equine mane representing a composite animal
More here: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/800314
📷 My own, NMW St Fagans
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM
#FindsFriday The stunning head of the Capel Garmon firedog, dug up from a peat bog in north Wales in 1852
A masterpiece of Late Iron Age forging & smithing, with bull's horns & plaited equine mane representing a composite animal
More here: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/800314
📷 My own, NMW St Fagans
A masterpiece of Late Iron Age forging & smithing, with bull's horns & plaited equine mane representing a composite animal
More here: coflein.gov.uk/en/site/800314
📷 My own, NMW St Fagans
Who's the most famous former pupil of my school?
Guy Martin, and if you knew the school you would not be remotely surprised.
Guy Martin, and if you knew the school you would not be remotely surprised.
February 12, 2026 at 7:06 AM
Who's the most famous former pupil of my school?
Guy Martin, and if you knew the school you would not be remotely surprised.
Guy Martin, and if you knew the school you would not be remotely surprised.
Very interesting new study on changes to sheep lower leg bones after relocation to a different environment. #zooarchaeology #GMM
‼️Published @royalsociety.org Open Science‼️ "From rugged isles to managed pastures: morphological changes in Soay sheep (Ovis aries) metacarpal bones following anthropogenic translocation" @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social 🐑🐏 doi.org/10.1098/rsos... @soaysheep.bsky.social
February 11, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Very interesting new study on changes to sheep lower leg bones after relocation to a different environment. #zooarchaeology #GMM
Watching the men's figure skating and pondering the evolution of the art form from the day someone first strapped a couple of horse bones to their boots to the #winterolympics
February 10, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Watching the men's figure skating and pondering the evolution of the art form from the day someone first strapped a couple of horse bones to their boots to the #winterolympics
Reposted by Alison Foster
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Reposted by Alison Foster
Roscoe is 14 next week. A decade ago, she was viciously attacked by a dog and only narrowly survived two life-threatening operations. Here she is now: a very healthy teenager. And here's what I wrote about that - and a few other things - in my book 21st-Century Yokel: www.tom-cox.com/black-dog/
February 7, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Roscoe is 14 next week. A decade ago, she was viciously attacked by a dog and only narrowly survived two life-threatening operations. Here she is now: a very healthy teenager. And here's what I wrote about that - and a few other things - in my book 21st-Century Yokel: www.tom-cox.com/black-dog/
#breastcancerawareness duckies, newly arrived and ready for adventures. They'll be happier about running in the seemingly perpetual rain than I am! #trailrunning #cancerawareness #cmducks
February 7, 2026 at 4:44 PM
#breastcancerawareness duckies, newly arrived and ready for adventures. They'll be happier about running in the seemingly perpetual rain than I am! #trailrunning #cancerawareness #cmducks
Reposted by Alison Foster
It doesn't matter how well my latest novel went down. My publisher has told me they don't want my new collection of short stories as they can't use short stories to bring my work to a broader audience. And you know what? Fuck sending them to another publisher. I'm putting them out myself.
The Publishing Industry: "Don't write short stories. They don't sell."
Me, holding a copy of Jhumpa Lahiri's debut short story collection, which went to number 1 on the New York Times bestseller list when she was 31 & barely known: "Yes, Publishing Industry, as usual, nothing you say is incorrect."
Me, holding a copy of Jhumpa Lahiri's debut short story collection, which went to number 1 on the New York Times bestseller list when she was 31 & barely known: "Yes, Publishing Industry, as usual, nothing you say is incorrect."
February 7, 2026 at 8:47 AM
It doesn't matter how well my latest novel went down. My publisher has told me they don't want my new collection of short stories as they can't use short stories to bring my work to a broader audience. And you know what? Fuck sending them to another publisher. I'm putting them out myself.
Reposted by Alison Foster
That confirms these mouflons as ferialized versions of early domestic sheep and they look very little like how we know sheep today, e.g. no wool 🧶 (3/8)
(Photo: Jonathan Hornung, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE)
(Photo: Jonathan Hornung, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE)
February 6, 2026 at 8:56 AM
That confirms these mouflons as ferialized versions of early domestic sheep and they look very little like how we know sheep today, e.g. no wool 🧶 (3/8)
(Photo: Jonathan Hornung, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE)
(Photo: Jonathan Hornung, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE)
Heidenfest at KK's Steel Mill last night, with the very excellent Korpiklaani and Finntroll. Heidenvolk were new to me - loved them. Proud to have been part of Trollfest's attempt at the world record for people doing the conga at a metal gig (probably short by some hundreds).
February 6, 2026 at 2:47 PM
Heidenfest at KK's Steel Mill last night, with the very excellent Korpiklaani and Finntroll. Heidenvolk were new to me - loved them. Proud to have been part of Trollfest's attempt at the world record for people doing the conga at a metal gig (probably short by some hundreds).
Reposted by Alison Foster
Now, here's a really interesting job.
We are looking for a research project manager for the upcoming FORAGER ERC Synergy Project. Based at the University of York, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a team of 37 researchers from the UK, the US, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia and Japan. Join us!
jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...
jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...
Jobs - The University of York
jobs.york.ac.uk
February 2, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Now, here's a really interesting job.
Reposted by Alison Foster
Another shout out to find people to take a short survey on stratigraphy if they have worked in UK archaeology. I am working on a research paper and would really love input! No identifying information is taken and it only takes 15 minutes to do
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Stratigraphic Literacy in UK Archaeology -
This survey, along with a previous one circulated in September 2025 will form the basis for a study of stratigraphic literacy in UK Archaeology, to hopefully be published in an academic journal such a...
docs.google.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Another shout out to find people to take a short survey on stratigraphy if they have worked in UK archaeology. I am working on a research paper and would really love input! No identifying information is taken and it only takes 15 minutes to do
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Alison Foster
A peacock opening its tail in slow motion.
January 31, 2026 at 11:22 PM
A peacock opening its tail in slow motion.
I've just taken a baked goats cheese out of the oven so Sophie is practising her most appealing expression #Caturday #tuxedocats
January 31, 2026 at 10:18 PM
I've just taken a baked goats cheese out of the oven so Sophie is practising her most appealing expression #Caturday #tuxedocats
Excellent night out last night: half of the Roving Crows playing Irish Folk at The Retired Soldier in Malvern. Go and see them if they're playing in your area, they're really good!
January 31, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Excellent night out last night: half of the Roving Crows playing Irish Folk at The Retired Soldier in Malvern. Go and see them if they're playing in your area, they're really good!
This reminded me of the time my dad found a pied wagtail nest, with eggs, in his tractor engine. He only had one tractor and really needed it. We carefully took the nest out and relocated it somewhere safe in the barn. The parent birds didn't desert, and the youngsters fledged successfully.
In a remarkable story from Slovenia, a breeding pair of White Wagtails travelled all over the country in a lorry last summer, successfully raising young:
Nesting on the go: incubating White Wagtail travels 2,000 km
A breeding pair of White Wagtails travelled all over Slovenia in a lorry in June 2025.
bit.ly
January 31, 2026 at 10:36 AM
This reminded me of the time my dad found a pied wagtail nest, with eggs, in his tractor engine. He only had one tractor and really needed it. We carefully took the nest out and relocated it somewhere safe in the barn. The parent birds didn't desert, and the youngsters fledged successfully.
Reposted by Alison Foster
I love everything about this story, not least the care and interest shown by the lorry driver.
In a remarkable story from Slovenia, a breeding pair of White Wagtails travelled all over the country in a lorry last summer, successfully raising young:
Nesting on the go: incubating White Wagtail travels 2,000 km
A breeding pair of White Wagtails travelled all over Slovenia in a lorry in June 2025.
bit.ly
January 31, 2026 at 10:01 AM
I love everything about this story, not least the care and interest shown by the lorry driver.
@godfreyyouth.bsky.social
Just found out that a band I'd heard a little of is actually AI generated. Seem to be designed to attract people who are into vikings, folk metal and national flags. Don't suppose this is a one-off. Trollvarg.
Just found out that a band I'd heard a little of is actually AI generated. Seem to be designed to attract people who are into vikings, folk metal and national flags. Don't suppose this is a one-off. Trollvarg.
January 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM
@godfreyyouth.bsky.social
Just found out that a band I'd heard a little of is actually AI generated. Seem to be designed to attract people who are into vikings, folk metal and national flags. Don't suppose this is a one-off. Trollvarg.
Just found out that a band I'd heard a little of is actually AI generated. Seem to be designed to attract people who are into vikings, folk metal and national flags. Don't suppose this is a one-off. Trollvarg.
