Tom Booth
@boothicus.bsky.social
Bioarchaeologist. Amateur Scarecrow.
Ancient DNA Lab @ The Francis Crick Institute
Associate Lecturer in Quantitative Archaeology and Later European Prehistory @ UCL Institute of Archaeology
Ancient DNA Lab @ The Francis Crick Institute
Associate Lecturer in Quantitative Archaeology and Later European Prehistory @ UCL Institute of Archaeology
Pinned
Tom Booth
@boothicus.bsky.social
· Sep 11
What Can Archaeology Tell Us About Prehistoric Migration in Scotland? - Dig It!
Migration has been a hot topic in archaeology since its beginnings. Antiquarians and archaeologists of the 19th and 20th centuries often interpreted changes in the archaeological record as representin...
www.digitscotland.com
I wrote something swift with Dig It! about ancient DNA, migration and genetic change in prehistoric Britain, and specifically how to interpret ‘population replacement.’ Hint: it is not synonymous with ‘invasion’.
www.digitscotland.com/what-can-arc...
www.digitscotland.com/what-can-arc...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Archaeologists are discussing the way the Norfolk boar’s head, found by PCA & featured in Digging, was used: would it have had a windsock attached, as a draco standard? And they are, of course, because @theduncanmackay.bsky.social is involved, modelling their hypotheses using playmobil!
I’m still going Draco, but I haven’t made the windsock tail yet 😏
January 15, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Archaeologists are discussing the way the Norfolk boar’s head, found by PCA & featured in Digging, was used: would it have had a windsock attached, as a draco standard? And they are, of course, because @theduncanmackay.bsky.social is involved, modelling their hypotheses using playmobil!
In this House you will find thousands of toys. Play with whatever you wish. But do not touch the Waluigi Hotwheels. It is precious to the Master of the House. Some say it holds his very soul.
January 16, 2026 at 10:28 PM
In this House you will find thousands of toys. Play with whatever you wish. But do not touch the Waluigi Hotwheels. It is precious to the Master of the House. Some say it holds his very soul.
Reposted by Tom Booth
Oh, thats a relief, only £3.5 million for our history!
The system needs to be overhauled, where do the £'s come from!
"Support will ensure that this unique and beautiful treasure is secured for the nation, so that it can be enjoyed by and inspire generations to come."
share.google/VQyjkBvihcB3...
The system needs to be overhauled, where do the £'s come from!
"Support will ensure that this unique and beautiful treasure is secured for the nation, so that it can be enjoyed by and inspire generations to come."
share.google/VQyjkBvihcB3...
British Museum £100k away from Henry VIII pendant target - BBC News
Efforts to raise £3.5m are under way to give the jewellery a public rather than private home.
share.google
January 16, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Spooky goings-on at Winchester Cathedral!
January 16, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Spooky goings-on at Winchester Cathedral!
Reposted by Tom Booth
A bit of a long shot, but does anyone know of any good (short) courses and/or reference books in/for zooarchaeology? I've had an interest in zooarch (esp microfauna) for a while, but have limited specialist knowledge/hands on experience to take it any further! TIA 😊
#archaeology #zooarchaeology
#archaeology #zooarchaeology
January 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
A bit of a long shot, but does anyone know of any good (short) courses and/or reference books in/for zooarchaeology? I've had an interest in zooarch (esp microfauna) for a while, but have limited specialist knowledge/hands on experience to take it any further! TIA 😊
#archaeology #zooarchaeology
#archaeology #zooarchaeology
Reposted by Tom Booth
The boar’s head standard found by @pcaarchaeology.bsky.social is just so fabulous. #drawingdiggingforbritain #diggingforbritain
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 PM
The boar’s head standard found by @pcaarchaeology.bsky.social is just so fabulous. #drawingdiggingforbritain #diggingforbritain
Reposted by Tom Booth
“They can be a great people, Igg-Don - they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way.
For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...”
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (probably), 1854
For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...”
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (probably), 1854
January 15, 2026 at 2:14 PM
“They can be a great people, Igg-Don - they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way.
For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...”
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (probably), 1854
For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...”
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (probably), 1854
Incredible. If you really want your voice to echo through the ages, make a complaint about the quality of your copper.
I am so so excited this fantastic article is out! Yay!
doi.org/10.1558/jca....
doi.org/10.1558/jca....
January 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Incredible. If you really want your voice to echo through the ages, make a complaint about the quality of your copper.
Reposted by Tom Booth
One Show tonight, 13 mins. All about treasure hunting.
...& what did the arch present have to say?
"Some objects you have to report by law, mostly gold & silver objects, but other objects [in] UK law you don't have to record"
I give up... 😔
#Archaeology
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002pvhm
...& what did the arch present have to say?
"Some objects you have to report by law, mostly gold & silver objects, but other objects [in] UK law you don't have to record"
I give up... 😔
#Archaeology
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002pvhm
BBC One - The One Show, 14/01/2026
Monty Don, Sophie Rundle and Jill Halfpenny join Angellica Bell and Vernon Kay.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 7:35 PM
One Show tonight, 13 mins. All about treasure hunting.
...& what did the arch present have to say?
"Some objects you have to report by law, mostly gold & silver objects, but other objects [in] UK law you don't have to record"
I give up... 😔
#Archaeology
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002pvhm
...& what did the arch present have to say?
"Some objects you have to report by law, mostly gold & silver objects, but other objects [in] UK law you don't have to record"
I give up... 😔
#Archaeology
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002pvhm
That’s right we’re onto meatomes.
M
M
Scientists managed to extract a high-coverage genome of an extinct woolly rhino from an undigested piece of its flesh found in the stomach of a permafrost-preserved 14kyo wolf pup. 🧪🏺
One of the last woolly rhinos to walk Earth was eaten by a wolf pup — and scientists have now sequenced its genome from the undigested meat
More than 14,000 years ago, a wolf pup ate a piece of woolly rhino. Scientists have analyzed the rhino's DNA to figure out why it went extinct.
www.livescience.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:16 AM
That’s right we’re onto meatomes.
M
M
Reposted by Tom Booth
The health of a mother during pregnancy has a profound effect on their child's health. By examining mother and infant skeletons from Iron Age & Roman Britain, Rebecca Pitt explores the long-term impact of Roman occupation on health #WaybackWednesday
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
January 14, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The health of a mother during pregnancy has a profound effect on their child's health. By examining mother and infant skeletons from Iron Age & Roman Britain, Rebecca Pitt explores the long-term impact of Roman occupation on health #WaybackWednesday
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
Reposted by Tom Booth
CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX
#DiggingForBritain tonight
#DiggingForBritain tonight
The new Norfolk Iron Age carnyx find featured on #DiggingForBritain with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social is beyond spectacular, dating to that crucial period for the Iceni between Caesar’s expeditions & Boudica’s rebellion. Already my find of the decade, today is a day to worship the carnyx…
1/…
1/…
January 14, 2026 at 4:07 PM
CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX CARNYX
#DiggingForBritain tonight
#DiggingForBritain tonight
Mystic morning in Morden.
January 14, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Mystic morning in Morden.
Reposted by Tom Booth
It's easy to forget that hillforts had a life after the Iron Age
Here's a fine recreation of significant later activity © Peter Dunn / Historic England
It's Aug 1086 and William I has has brought the landowners of England to Old Sarum #Wiltshire to swear allegiance to him
#HillfortsWednesday
Here's a fine recreation of significant later activity © Peter Dunn / Historic England
It's Aug 1086 and William I has has brought the landowners of England to Old Sarum #Wiltshire to swear allegiance to him
#HillfortsWednesday
January 14, 2026 at 5:52 AM
It's easy to forget that hillforts had a life after the Iron Age
Here's a fine recreation of significant later activity © Peter Dunn / Historic England
It's Aug 1086 and William I has has brought the landowners of England to Old Sarum #Wiltshire to swear allegiance to him
#HillfortsWednesday
Here's a fine recreation of significant later activity © Peter Dunn / Historic England
It's Aug 1086 and William I has has brought the landowners of England to Old Sarum #Wiltshire to swear allegiance to him
#HillfortsWednesday
Brace yourselves!
Doing final edits on the text of my forthcoming book, Urban Deep Time: the contemporary archaeology of prehistory. Hopefully it should be out by the end of the year, published by Bloomsbury. #UrbanPrehistory
January 13, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Brace yourselves!
Reposted by Tom Booth
Doing final edits on the text of my forthcoming book, Urban Deep Time: the contemporary archaeology of prehistory. Hopefully it should be out by the end of the year, published by Bloomsbury. #UrbanPrehistory
January 13, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Doing final edits on the text of my forthcoming book, Urban Deep Time: the contemporary archaeology of prehistory. Hopefully it should be out by the end of the year, published by Bloomsbury. #UrbanPrehistory
Reposted by Tom Booth
But there's more! The issue also sees the launch of the EME podcast. 🌟
In this inaugural episode, catch @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social in conversation with Marco Panato about his article in the issue 🤓
rss.com/podcasts/ear...
In this inaugural episode, catch @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social in conversation with Marco Panato about his article in the issue 🤓
rss.com/podcasts/ear...
January 13, 2026 at 9:59 AM
But there's more! The issue also sees the launch of the EME podcast. 🌟
In this inaugural episode, catch @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social in conversation with Marco Panato about his article in the issue 🤓
rss.com/podcasts/ear...
In this inaugural episode, catch @samottewillsoulsby.bsky.social in conversation with Marco Panato about his article in the issue 🤓
rss.com/podcasts/ear...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Tombstone of an unknown Roman woman at Vindolanda.
Found used in 4th century wall repairs, the local buff sandstone was quarried in the 3rd century, so the tomb may date to that period.
@vindolandatrust.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
Found used in 4th century wall repairs, the local buff sandstone was quarried in the 3rd century, so the tomb may date to that period.
@vindolandatrust.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
January 13, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Tombstone of an unknown Roman woman at Vindolanda.
Found used in 4th century wall repairs, the local buff sandstone was quarried in the 3rd century, so the tomb may date to that period.
@vindolandatrust.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
Found used in 4th century wall repairs, the local buff sandstone was quarried in the 3rd century, so the tomb may date to that period.
@vindolandatrust.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
First lecture on the 'Age of Stonehenge' Module done! Wrong-footing everyone, perhaps even myself, by starting with a deep dive into Mesolithic Britain...
January 13, 2026 at 6:34 PM
First lecture on the 'Age of Stonehenge' Module done! Wrong-footing everyone, perhaps even myself, by starting with a deep dive into Mesolithic Britain...
Reposted by Tom Booth
📢 Hello!
Slightly unusual request from me, buttt we're likely to need a freelance writer to produce some content in Feb & Mar for the NHM's 'Find Your Climate Action' tool.
If you've experience writing about the climate and inspiring action, please send me a message!
www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/fi...
Slightly unusual request from me, buttt we're likely to need a freelance writer to produce some content in Feb & Mar for the NHM's 'Find Your Climate Action' tool.
If you've experience writing about the climate and inspiring action, please send me a message!
www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/fi...
Find Your Climate Action | Natural History Museum
Discover actions that are good for you and good for the planet.
www.nhm.ac.uk
January 13, 2026 at 2:49 PM
📢 Hello!
Slightly unusual request from me, buttt we're likely to need a freelance writer to produce some content in Feb & Mar for the NHM's 'Find Your Climate Action' tool.
If you've experience writing about the climate and inspiring action, please send me a message!
www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/fi...
Slightly unusual request from me, buttt we're likely to need a freelance writer to produce some content in Feb & Mar for the NHM's 'Find Your Climate Action' tool.
If you've experience writing about the climate and inspiring action, please send me a message!
www.nhm.ac.uk/take-part/fi...
Reposted by Tom Booth
"Doubtless, there is a case for making social class a legally protected characteristic, forcing institutions to confront discrimination more directly." #highered #academicsky
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
No, private schools aren’t victims of ‘reverse discrimination’ – and Cambridge should know better | Lee Elliot Major
Trinity Hall’s plan to target elite schools sends the message that privilege equals talent, when the reality is that poorer students are already on the back foot, says professor of social mobility at ...
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:41 AM
"Doubtless, there is a case for making social class a legally protected characteristic, forcing institutions to confront discrimination more directly." #highered #academicsky
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Tom Booth
I created a set of three prints that go together really well with simplified “stone age”, “bronze age” and “iron age” captions (sold individually), each with a different aged tonal shade #archaeology
Stone Age: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4438...
Stone Age: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4438...
January 12, 2026 at 9:04 AM
I created a set of three prints that go together really well with simplified “stone age”, “bronze age” and “iron age” captions (sold individually), each with a different aged tonal shade #archaeology
Stone Age: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4438...
Stone Age: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4438...
Reposted by Tom Booth
✨I have a vacant 3-yr postdoc position in biogeochemical Earth system model development. If you're interested in geochemical isotopes and their use as paleoceanographic proxies, please consider applying. For any questions on the position, just get in touch✨
ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
Uni Bern: Postdoc position: Earth system model development
(3 years)
ohws.prospective.ch
January 12, 2026 at 8:53 AM
✨I have a vacant 3-yr postdoc position in biogeochemical Earth system model development. If you're interested in geochemical isotopes and their use as paleoceanographic proxies, please consider applying. For any questions on the position, just get in touch✨
ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
ohws.prospective.ch/public/v1/jo...
With a lag, the total inverse of this graph. Cheaper sequencing = more ancient genomes, not just because you can get a certain standard of data from more individuals absolutely but also because the economic threshold for ‘failure’ die to preservation drops.
January 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
With a lag, the total inverse of this graph. Cheaper sequencing = more ancient genomes, not just because you can get a certain standard of data from more individuals absolutely but also because the economic threshold for ‘failure’ die to preservation drops.
Reposted by Tom Booth
Famed pseudoarchaeological content creator Erich von Däniken, best known for his popularization and promotion of ancient aliens claims, has died at age 90.
Erich von Däniken, Swiss writer who spawned alien archaeology, dies at 90
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose bestselling books about the extraterrestrial origins of ancient civilizations brought him fame among paranormal enthusiasts and scorn from the scientific comm...
www.ctvnews.ca
January 11, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Famed pseudoarchaeological content creator Erich von Däniken, best known for his popularization and promotion of ancient aliens claims, has died at age 90.