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Dr. James Dilley

@ancientcraftuk.bsky.social

2.9K followers 470 following 72 posts

Experimental Archaeologist; Media consultant; Specialist in Flintknapping & Bronze casting: see my work displayed at The British Museum & Stonehenge Find me at: https://www.ancientcraft.co.uk/

www.ancientcraft.co.uk

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · May 22

No idea sadly, I know there is an axe from Wales that has textile remains. Almost definitely not the same one though.

Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Mar 28

I did! I’ll grab it from the collection of flaked axes and take a picture. Need to grind and polish it someday soon. That was a long walk with all that flint!

Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Mar 27

@nasadler.bsky.social Nice to see you on the Prehistory Guys recording earlier. Hope you’re keeping well!

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Mar 17

Might have to ask for a follow, can’t seem to message you (you can unfollow after 😉)

Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Mar 16

@elliescerri.bsky.social Hey! Hope you’re keeping well! Would you mind if I dropped you a message about some sites to visit in Malta? (Finally getting the chance to visit!)

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 9

It must be a recent change (I would guess dictated by the channel). It was originally just “Ice Age”, then “Ice Age: A frozen world”, now this. It’s also had a long delay since filmed ended in 2022.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

This was probably due to defence/offence and an opportunity to show status through martial prowess. You can imagine cattle raiding was common at this time and while herders wanted to protect their livestock from other Neolithic groups, the last Mesolithic groups must have also seen an opportunity.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

Raids on enclosures saw the use of hundreds of flint-tipped arrows that would have rained down on the occupants at places like Crickley Hill.

Noticeably, the faunal remains at Neolithic sites shows a shift away from wild hunted game, and yet archery equipment remains common.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

With this new way of life and larger populations came a noticeable increase in violence towards people of all ages and sexes. Significant proportions of skeletal remains in Neolithic tombs show blunt force trauma that would have been fatal.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

But the downsides are the hard work involved that left its mark on peoples bones and shortened their average lifespan. Grinding large quantities of grain, breaking ground with antlers and felling trees all took its toll. Then there is the violence.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

This new method of producing food might mean you don't have to move as much on a seasonal basis, and offer the opportunity for population growth. We think of bread when talking about grain, but it can also be used for brewing, and Neolithic people didn't miss the opportunity!

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

Further evidence from Denmark shows that an individual of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer ancestry lived with the new agriculturalists before they were brutally killed. Are we seeing a violent takeover? New ideas & technology spreading? Colonisation? Or a combination?

📸 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Feb 3

Agriculture, the technology that changed the world (and us)

A seasonal cycle of moving to different campsites to utilise food sources changed to working the land. Neolithic farmers appear to have genetically dominated the smaller hunter-gatherer groups within a short period of time. 🏺🦣🧪

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Jan 19

Just got to the druids and now UFO landing strips. How disappointing

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Jan 19

Yeah….its going downhill again…

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Jan 19

Definitely better now Alison, Mike, Jennifer and others have appeared

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Jan 19

We’re about 5 mins in, not great 😬

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Jan 15

How did people make arrowheads in the Stone Age?

A flake of stone would be trimmed, then have hundreds of tiny flakes detached using an antler point. The knapper would put pressure on the flaker tool from their abdomen while the flake was braced again a leg.

🎥 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 28

Not made the Towie ball yet, but have made several others. Drop me a message!

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Reposted by Dr. James Dilley

Joana Valdez-Tullett @joanavaldez.bsky.social · Dec 25

My gorgeous Christmas present 💝 By the hands of lovely @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 15

It’s being recorded with Portable Antiquities soon hopefully, but their aim is just to record rather than keep.

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 13

I have good days and bad (the bad days I go back to bronze casting 🙄)

Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 13

Well, it’s finally happened, one for the bucket list.

This week I found a flint handaxe at Happisburgh while walking with friends. Their shared concern was due to my delighted dancing looking like I was having a funny turn!

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 5

Handaxes on the move!

We’ve been busy making lots of replica prehistoric goodies for Christmas presents. But a couple found themselves on a plane with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social heading to Australia for her Cells to Civilisation tour!

Here’s one of Palaeolithic handaxes being made:
🏺 🦣 🧪

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Dr. James Dilley @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social · Dec 2

We’re thinking of you all!

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