Durham Archaeology
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arcdurham.bsky.social
Durham Archaeology
@arcdurham.bsky.social
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Archaeology at Durham University - News about our staff, students, partnerships and research from across archaeology.
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Durham Archaeology @arcdurham.bsky.social · Nov 19
📣 New senior academic job opening 📣

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to join us as Professor of Cultural and Natural Heritage!

Learn more and apply: durham.taleo.net/careersectio...

📅 Closes 31 Jan 2026, 11:59pm GMT
Photograph from the bottom up of Durham Cathedral, standing against a blue sky dappled with white clouds. There is bright yellow sunlight illuminating the sky in the lower left of the photo, from the sun that is just hidden by one of the cathedral's walls.
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
Our innovative and impactful research transforms lives and makes a difference, globally and locally.

Discover more in our Global Research Newsletter 👉 mailchi.mp/96a54d0bd591...

#DUresearch
A close up photograph of a mask-like human face decorating the shoulder of a lidded vessel or cauldron from the Melsonby hoard, shown upside down as found during excavation.
January 30, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
eamena.bsky.social
📣 📣 Our new paper on the discovery of a 'lost' Persian Garden in #Tabriz #Iran using aerial photographs taken during the Second World War has just been published #OpenAccess in @antiquity.ac.uk. Read it here👇🏻
doi.org/10.15184/aqy...

@unioxarchaeology.bsky.social
@arcdurham.bsky.social
A 1941 aerial photograph of the Persian Garden site. A schematic drawing of the visible features of the Persian Garden site.
January 30, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
deborahpriss.bsky.social
New paper out 🥳

In "#Urban #resilience in Ancient #Mesopotamia: insights into the socioeconomic system of the Bronze and Iron Age Khabur Valley", we are mapping network metrics of urban dynamics onto #Holling's adaptive cycle.

Full open-access paper here: doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
Urban resilience in Ancient Mesopotamia: insights into the socioeconomic system of the Bronze and Iron Age Khabur Valley | Antiquity | Cambridge Core
Urban resilience in Ancient Mesopotamia: insights into the socioeconomic system of the Bronze and Iron Age Khabur Valley
doi.org
January 28, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
elericousins.bsky.social
The project and discovery of the whetstones has been led by Gary Bankhead and the Vedra Hylton Community Association, with support from @arcdurham.bsky.social staff and students. We’re looking forward to seeing where they taking things next!
@durham.ac.uk
Hand holding two conjoined partially-finished Roman whetstones. The stones look a bit like a “KitKat”, with clear chisel grooves on both. In the background is a muddy river foreshore.
January 7, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
Cast your vote to make the Melsonby Hoard @currentarchaeology.bsky.social's Rescue Project of the Year 2026!

Unearthed by our archaeologists, the hoard is one of the UK’s largest and most important Iron Age finds 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

@proftommoore.bsky.social
Vote to make Melsonby Hoard Current Archaeology’s Rescue Project of the Year - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
December 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
arcdurham.bsky.social
New #Antiquity blog post co-authored by our Dept's Prof Dan Lawrence @dl-arch.bsky.social! 👇
antiquity.ac.uk Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · Dec 1
You may have seen the recent #ProjectGallery on Semiyarka: a Bronze Age permanent settlement on a scale previously unknown for the Eurasian steppe! 🏺
In our latest #AntiquityBlog, the authors discuss the first excavations there & next steps for the research:
www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...
Forging a Bronze Age City: The Next Chapter at Semiyarka
Recent excavations and analysis at Semiyarka uncover even more exciting information about this early urban centre of the Kazakh steppe
www.cambridge.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
arcdurham.bsky.social
📣 New senior academic job opening 📣

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to join us as Professor of Cultural and Natural Heritage!

Learn more and apply: durham.taleo.net/careersectio...

📅 Closes 31 Jan 2026, 11:59pm GMT
Photograph from the bottom up of Durham Cathedral, standing against a blue sky dappled with white clouds. There is bright yellow sunlight illuminating the sky in the lower left of the photo, from the sun that is just hidden by one of the cathedral's walls.
November 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
antiquity.ac.uk
The international investigation was led by Dr Viktor Merz and Dr Ilya Merz from Toraighyrov University (Kazakhstan), Dr Miljana Radivojević from
@uclarchaeology.bsky.social and Professor Dan Lawrence (@dl-arch.bsky.social) from @arcdurham.bsky.social 7/14
(Left to right) Dan, Miljana and Ilya sat on the back of the field vehicle on site (credit: Peter J. Brown).
November 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
antiquity.ac.uk
NEW In the heart of the Eurasian steppe, a #BronzeAge metropolis has been unearthed, showing that the settlements of nomadic steppe societies were just as sophisticated as contemporary, more traditionally 'urban' civilisations.

#AntiquityThread 1/14 🧵

🏺 #Archaeology
Drone photograph of the archaeological site of Semiyarka, looking from the south-east to the north-west, taken in July 2018. The outlines of several rectilinear buildings are visible running in a line across a flat grassland (credit: Peter J. Brown)
November 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
antiquity.ac.uk
Archaeologists have unearthed a Bronze Age metropolis in the heart of the Eurasian steppe: an early form of city as complex as those of contemporary, more traditionally 'urban' civilisations, showing how steppe polities were just as sophisticated.

🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...

🏺 #Archaeology
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
deborahpriss.bsky.social
New paper out! 🥳

We use MCMC-MLE Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (MTERGMs) to assess which network patterns and social processes explain the formation of the ancient hollow ways.

Read the full open access paper here:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#Archaeology #NetworkScience
The social behind the physical - Assessing tie formation processes of ancient route systems
Analysing and understanding connectivity of human social networks of (ancient) societies offers new perspectives on their functioning. However, social…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
Fascinating new #research by @nikulinaav.bsky.social, who has recently joined @arcdurham.bsky.social. She used an innovative #AI approach to reveal how #Neanderthals shaped Europe's #landscapes. Read her @plosone.org paper:
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
#archaeology @unileiden.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
eamena.bsky.social
Our team @arcdurham.bsky.social in Erbil with colleagues from the General Directorate of Heritage & Museums, developing a national heritage database to support the protection & sustainable management of the KRI's rich cultural heritage -they also tested the Amal in Heritage app for site assessment.
November 4, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
dulib.bsky.social
To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we're shining a spotlight on our wonderful range of curated resources. From eBooks to films, there’s plenty to explore 📚💜

Through our Liberate My Library reading list, you can access a selection of books and eBooks suggested by staff and students 🌈
Liberate My Library reading list screenshot Libby reading list screenshot
October 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
arcdurham.bsky.social
🔔🧠 New research alert! 🧠🔔

Our Dr Eva Fernandez-Dominguez (senior author), Dr Kelly Blevins and Prof Janet Montgomery are part of a worldwide team that analysed patterns of mobility of the first farmer societies of Southwest Asia.

Learn more below! 👇
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

#Archaeology
Ancient teeth provide new insight into the lives of the world’s first farming villagers  - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
We are The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026 and ranked third overall in its Good University Guide. Congratulations to our global university community on this success. 🎉

Read more: brnw.ch/21wVU4Q
September 19, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
Bronze and Iron Age farmers in the Middle East prioritised wine production over olive growing in times of climatic change. Researchers in our Department of Archaeology and @durhamearthsci.bsky.social analysed charred seeds and wood samples 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...
Middle East Bronze and Iron Age cultures wine production - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
September 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
davidpetts1.bsky.social
Three early medieval namestones in one morning in the @digventures.bsky.social @arcdurham.bsky.social excavations at #Lindisfarne
Early medieval namestone.- 8th century AD - from Lindisfarne Early medieval namestone.- 8th century AD - from Lindisfarne Early medieval namestone.- 8th century AD - from Lindisfarne
September 18, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
eamena.bsky.social
📣📣 Our Bill Finlayson & fellow archaeologists help to uncover the mystery of the hundreds of 'desert kites' stretching across the Arabian desert. Find out who built these megastructures, the purpose they served & the ingenious discovery that was unearthed...👇🏻
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
September 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
arcdurham.bsky.social
Delighted to announce that our own Dr Rob Witcher forms part of the #REF2029 #Archaeology sub-panel!

Learn more in the news story linked in the post below 👇
durham.ac.uk Durham University @durham.ac.uk · Sep 4
Congratulations to all 20 of our researchers who will be part of expert sub-panels for #REF2029.

The number and breadth of expertise demonstrates the excellence in research here at Durham.

www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/...

@ref2029.bsky.social #research #excellence
September 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
ducollections.bsky.social
Hi! We’re Poppy & Izzy from Archaeology. Over 3 weeks on placement at the #DUMuseumofArchaeology, we explored collections care & curation. We repacked & updated records for the Greek collection and helped design a coin map showing ancient city-states through mythology & trade #DUCollections
An image of Greek collection before the repacking project surrounded by tissue paper A display of one of our student placements preparing to create new storage for the Greek collection. Our Greek collection after the repacking project in their now homes. Our Greek collection after the repacking project in their now homes.
August 27, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
dl-arch.bsky.social
Postdoc Job! Come and work with me in Durham, and a bunch of @sse1k.bsky.social heroes in Venice and Basel, doing agent-based modelling of socio-environmental systems in the Ancient Mediterranean...
durham.taleo.net/careersectio...
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Archaeology and Agent-Based Modelling
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
durham.taleo.net
August 19, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
durham.ac.uk
In this article, our Honorary Fellow in Archaeology @peterjbrown.bsky.social sheds new light on the story of the Zanj rebellion – a slave revolt that took place in the late 9th century in southern Iraq. Peter and his team have unearthed the timelines. Read more 👉 www.durham.ac.uk/research/cur...
August 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
arcdurham.bsky.social
Congratulations to Dr Riley Snyder, awarded Best Article of the Year by 'Studies in Late Antiquity'!

Titled: 'Beyond Urban Planning: Challenges of Resource Management in the Construction of Late Antique Capital Cities'

Learn more: www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...

#archaeology #research #DurhamUni
Riley Snyder Best Article of the Year - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Durham Archaeology
elericousins.bsky.social
I still can’t get over how good this photo of Roman lead bullets taken by @arcdurham.bsky.social students Rowan Colley and Isla Mustin is 🥰.
They did amazing work on the trail I describe in this thread - please do check it out!

www.armittdigitaltrail.co.uk/roman-ambles...
#RomanFortThursday
elericousins.bsky.social Dr Eleri Cousins @elericousins.bsky.social · Aug 7
And here is the final photo for the trail itself 😱 Recent work by Edinburgh Uni and @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social suggests the sling bullets, all found scattered extramurally, are evidence for at least one battle outside the fort between the Roman army and the local population.
#RomanFortThursday
Professional photograph of lead sling bullets from Roman Ambleside, taken by Durham archaeology students Rowan Colley and Isla Mustin. The bullets are cream coloured. Some are lemon-shaped, and others are more hastily formed blobs.
August 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM