ArchaeoPlays
@archaeoplays.bsky.social
They/them. Disabled/chronically ill Minecraft YouTuber, & digital archaeologist (alias: Dr. Heather Christie). Also early medieval Scotland specialist and glass bead nerd. Lead Researcher for Carved in Stone. Business enquiries: [email protected]
Pinned
Carved in Stone is HERE!!! @archaeonado.bsky.social called it “the best book on the Picts ever written,” so you should definitely check it out over at www.stoutstoat.co.uk/carvedinstone
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
Also, for those of you who like archaeological animal art, this video has LOADS
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Also, for those of you who like archaeological animal art, this video has LOADS
NEW VIDEO IS OUT! This is Episode 2 in my Carved in Stone series in Minecraft, and all I was trying to do was get some cows... because cows are valuable in Pictland and... well, you'll see 😅
youtu.be/X2gDs_l_vuI
youtu.be/X2gDs_l_vuI
Getting RICH with Pictish Cattle! Sort of... (Carved in Stone Ep. 2)
YouTube video by ArchaeoPlays
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
NEW VIDEO IS OUT! This is Episode 2 in my Carved in Stone series in Minecraft, and all I was trying to do was get some cows... because cows are valuable in Pictland and... well, you'll see 😅
youtu.be/X2gDs_l_vuI
youtu.be/X2gDs_l_vuI
Okay, I am absolutely a sucker for ancient animal art; it's undeniable now.
Just LOOK at these little ducks!!!
Just LOOK at these little ducks!!!
#AllMetalMonday 🏺
Quack!
A bronze duck w flat body decorated in relief, long neck, open beak and sturdy legs.
Plus second duck w 2 little ones on its back.
From C6 BC hoard found in Ortanova near Foggia in Puglia, representing material culture of indigenous Daunian people.
MArTA Taranto
Quack!
A bronze duck w flat body decorated in relief, long neck, open beak and sturdy legs.
Plus second duck w 2 little ones on its back.
From C6 BC hoard found in Ortanova near Foggia in Puglia, representing material culture of indigenous Daunian people.
MArTA Taranto
November 14, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Okay, I am absolutely a sucker for ancient animal art; it's undeniable now.
Just LOOK at these little ducks!!!
Just LOOK at these little ducks!!!
One of my most treasured memories of this project is waking up to your "draft" of how penannular brooches are made. Another is showing your stone art to the folks who've been studying those stones for decades. And the proud goose showing off the Pictish goose art to their goslings is just priceless!
November 14, 2025 at 9:06 AM
One of my most treasured memories of this project is waking up to your "draft" of how penannular brooches are made. Another is showing your stone art to the folks who've been studying those stones for decades. And the proud goose showing off the Pictish goose art to their goslings is just priceless!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
Carved in Stone is a comprehensive setting guide for early medieval Pictish society, and as such my work on it was wide and varied and included illustrating real artifacts, speculative penannular brooch designs, and even the animals that would have inhabited their world.
November 13, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Carved in Stone is a comprehensive setting guide for early medieval Pictish society, and as such my work on it was wide and varied and included illustrating real artifacts, speculative penannular brooch designs, and even the animals that would have inhabited their world.
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
#FindsFriday bone comb from the #Pictish site of Buckquoy on the island of Orkney 🏴
Typical of later Iron Age settlements in Orkney, researchers radiocarbon dated the bone, shedding light on Pictish-Viking interaction in the Northern Isles.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Typical of later Iron Age settlements in Orkney, researchers radiocarbon dated the bone, shedding light on Pictish-Viking interaction in the Northern Isles.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
November 14, 2025 at 8:13 AM
#FindsFriday bone comb from the #Pictish site of Buckquoy on the island of Orkney 🏴
Typical of later Iron Age settlements in Orkney, researchers radiocarbon dated the bone, shedding light on Pictish-Viking interaction in the Northern Isles.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Typical of later Iron Age settlements in Orkney, researchers radiocarbon dated the bone, shedding light on Pictish-Viking interaction in the Northern Isles.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
Looking forward to reading this - from our Doctoral alumnus @archaeoplays.bsky.social - great to see it get so much media coverage!
Carved in Stone is HERE!!! @archaeonado.bsky.social called it “the best book on the Picts ever written,” so you should definitely check it out over at www.stoutstoat.co.uk/carvedinstone
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Looking forward to reading this - from our Doctoral alumnus @archaeoplays.bsky.social - great to see it get so much media coverage!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
🏺 Have had a proper look at this ahead of time and it’s such a gorgeous book and a fantastic approach to engaging with history!
The Picts were always more than their blue-painted, bloodthirsty depictions. Carved in Stone, a new setting guide from @stoutstoat.co.uk and archaeologist Heather Christie, invites players to explore their incomplete but beautiful history.
Carved in Stone is both a history book and an eye-catching RPG
Publisher Brian Tyrrell and archeologist Heather Christie paint a pretty Pict-ure.
www.rascal.news
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
🏺 Have had a proper look at this ahead of time and it’s such a gorgeous book and a fantastic approach to engaging with history!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
Talking with Thomas was a real delight! Heather and I peel back the curtain on the process behind Carved in Stone (and we gush about how much we love all of our artists, too!)
The Picts were always more than their blue-painted, bloodthirsty depictions. Carved in Stone, a new setting guide from @stoutstoat.co.uk and archaeologist Heather Christie, invites players to explore their incomplete but beautiful history.
Carved in Stone is both a history book and an eye-catching RPG
Publisher Brian Tyrrell and archeologist Heather Christie paint a pretty Pict-ure.
www.rascal.news
November 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Talking with Thomas was a real delight! Heather and I peel back the curtain on the process behind Carved in Stone (and we gush about how much we love all of our artists, too!)
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
This is such a fab way of communicating #archaeology and allowing us to be creative with in the past - “leaning into uncertainty” as a positive thing, as @archaeoplays.bsky.social articulated so well at @scotarchforum.bsky.social a few weeks ago 🏺 #storytelling
"The Picts emerge from the shadows and step forward in technicolour" 🤩
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
This is such a fab way of communicating #archaeology and allowing us to be creative with in the past - “leaning into uncertainty” as a positive thing, as @archaeoplays.bsky.social articulated so well at @scotarchforum.bsky.social a few weeks ago 🏺 #storytelling
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
The Picts were always more than their blue-painted, bloodthirsty depictions. Carved in Stone, a new setting guide from @stoutstoat.co.uk and archaeologist Heather Christie, invites players to explore their incomplete but beautiful history.
Carved in Stone is both a history book and an eye-catching RPG
Publisher Brian Tyrrell and archeologist Heather Christie paint a pretty Pict-ure.
www.rascal.news
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The Picts were always more than their blue-painted, bloodthirsty depictions. Carved in Stone, a new setting guide from @stoutstoat.co.uk and archaeologist Heather Christie, invites players to explore their incomplete but beautiful history.
'A few' 😅 I've used SO many of your pieces in so many videos and conference presentations already! I love them all, but I seriously need the tea mug in the archaeology spread...
It was so lovely to work with you on this book, and I seriously hope we can do more in the future!
It was so lovely to work with you on this book, and I seriously hope we can do more in the future!
November 12, 2025 at 5:58 PM
'A few' 😅 I've used SO many of your pieces in so many videos and conference presentations already! I love them all, but I seriously need the tea mug in the archaeology spread...
It was so lovely to work with you on this book, and I seriously hope we can do more in the future!
It was so lovely to work with you on this book, and I seriously hope we can do more in the future!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
I drew a few pictures for @stoutstoat.co.uk's new book Carved in Stone (www.stoutstoat.co.uk/products/car...) it's probably the best-researched project I ever worked on, and also it looks beautiful. Lots of amazing artists worked on this! Anyway here are some pictish vignettes
November 12, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I drew a few pictures for @stoutstoat.co.uk's new book Carved in Stone (www.stoutstoat.co.uk/products/car...) it's probably the best-researched project I ever worked on, and also it looks beautiful. Lots of amazing artists worked on this! Anyway here are some pictish vignettes
We will definitely be shouting from the rooftops when folks in the US can get a physical copy!
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
We will definitely be shouting from the rooftops when folks in the US can get a physical copy!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
This game is absolutely gorgeous, I’ve been avidly watching the layout evolve and there are two page spreads in here that made me gasp aloud with delight. If you’re interested in playing games in settings that predate the medieval period by a good margin, run don’t walk to grab a copy
Carved in Stone is officially out!
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This game is absolutely gorgeous, I’ve been avidly watching the layout evolve and there are two page spreads in here that made me gasp aloud with delight. If you’re interested in playing games in settings that predate the medieval period by a good margin, run don’t walk to grab a copy
It was such a delight to work with you on this project. I feel so spoiled with all your wonderful art!
I kept looking at pieces you called drafts and thinking, "This is going to get even better? How is that even POSSIBLE?!?"
And then, of course, you would show me!
I kept looking at pieces you called drafts and thinking, "This is going to get even better? How is that even POSSIBLE?!?"
And then, of course, you would show me!
November 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It was such a delight to work with you on this project. I feel so spoiled with all your wonderful art!
I kept looking at pieces you called drafts and thinking, "This is going to get even better? How is that even POSSIBLE?!?"
And then, of course, you would show me!
I kept looking at pieces you called drafts and thinking, "This is going to get even better? How is that even POSSIBLE?!?"
And then, of course, you would show me!
My goodness this MASTERPIECE!!! The ogham graffiti, the grindstone in the doorway, the child-sized quern, the kids playing hide and seek with their grandfather, the kid riding the cow, the teens in the loft...
I cannot begin to describe what a delight it was to wake up to art like this in my inbox!
I cannot begin to describe what a delight it was to wake up to art like this in my inbox!
November 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
My goodness this MASTERPIECE!!! The ogham graffiti, the grindstone in the doorway, the child-sized quern, the kids playing hide and seek with their grandfather, the kid riding the cow, the teens in the loft...
I cannot begin to describe what a delight it was to wake up to art like this in my inbox!
I cannot begin to describe what a delight it was to wake up to art like this in my inbox!
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
Carved in Stone is officially out!
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
November 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Carved in Stone is officially out!
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
In this comprehensive setting guide you'll be able to see, touch, taste, hear and smell your way through everything that modern-day scholars currently know of the enigmatic culture of the Picts, from the perspective of someone living in the late 7th Century.
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
"The Picts emerge from the shadows and step forward in technicolour" 🤩
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
"The Picts emerge from the shadows and step forward in technicolour" 🤩
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
'Carved in Stone', an illustrated guide to 7th-century Scotland packed with information on languages, settlements, cuisine, fashion, medicine, skills and more, is now available for purchase: www.digitscotland.com/archaeologis...
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
And if you’d like a run-down on what the book is, check out my video over on YouTube!
youtu.be/u7nR9rI7-xc
youtu.be/u7nR9rI7-xc
Discover Scotland's Ancient Past with CARVED IN STONE (out now!)
YouTube video by ArchaeoPlays
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
And if you’d like a run-down on what the book is, check out my video over on YouTube!
youtu.be/u7nR9rI7-xc
youtu.be/u7nR9rI7-xc
Carved in Stone is HERE!!! @archaeonado.bsky.social called it “the best book on the Picts ever written,” so you should definitely check it out over at www.stoutstoat.co.uk/carvedinstone
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Carved in Stone is HERE!!! @archaeonado.bsky.social called it “the best book on the Picts ever written,” so you should definitely check it out over at www.stoutstoat.co.uk/carvedinstone
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
🏺 #picts #archaeologysky #rpg #ttrpg #indiettrpg #dnd #pathfinder
Ahhhh!!! Just LOOK at these little guys!!! Which one's your favourite? Is it even possible to choose???
Adding 🏺for more archaeology peeps 🦛🦛🦛🦛
Adding 🏺for more archaeology peeps 🦛🦛🦛🦛
Happy Sunday! 🦛 💙
Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!
📷 by me
#Archaeology
November 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Ahhhh!!! Just LOOK at these little guys!!! Which one's your favourite? Is it even possible to choose???
Adding 🏺for more archaeology peeps 🦛🦛🦛🦛
Adding 🏺for more archaeology peeps 🦛🦛🦛🦛
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
Like a time capsule: a #Roman tile marked with #finger lines, hobnail #shoe prints, #dog's paw prints, and a #stamp of the LEG(io) XIIII G(emina). Tiles with imprints are very common, since tiles were laid out to dry in the open air ahead of firing, where...🧵1/2
#TilesOnTuesday 🏺
#TilesOnTuesday 🏺
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by ArchaeoPlays
NEW Excavation at Benin City's historic palace, looted and destroyed by the British in 1897, provides an unprecedented glimpse into pre-colonial West African urban development and artisanal crafts, including the famous Benin Bronzes.
#AntiquityThread 1/16 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology
#AntiquityThread 1/16 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology
October 30, 2025 at 8:45 AM
NEW Excavation at Benin City's historic palace, looted and destroyed by the British in 1897, provides an unprecedented glimpse into pre-colonial West African urban development and artisanal crafts, including the famous Benin Bronzes.
#AntiquityThread 1/16 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology
#AntiquityThread 1/16 🧵
🏺 #Archaeology