Toby Martin
@tobyfmartin.bsky.social
Assistant Director at Oxford Lifelong Learning; early medieval archaeology, material culture, digital education.
Is there any object that has changed less in the last 4000 years than a gaming die? There's an astonishingly human and above all social story around that profound survival.
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
November 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Is there any object that has changed less in the last 4000 years than a gaming die? There's an astonishingly human and above all social story around that profound survival.
Reposted by Toby Martin
Come work with me! Research Assistant opportunity - Global Renaissance
history.web.ox.ac.uk/event/resear...
history.web.ox.ac.uk/event/resear...
Research Assistant in Global Renaissance Studies
history.web.ox.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Come work with me! Research Assistant opportunity - Global Renaissance
history.web.ox.ac.uk/event/resear...
history.web.ox.ac.uk/event/resear...
Reposted by Toby Martin
Tonight on #Hiddenwonders we visit the @uniofreading.bsky.social excavation at the site of Cookham Abbey.
More stories of powerful women, early Christianity and a place of healing for the sick. Oh and a lot of bone combs 🪮 9pm tonight More4 #Archaeology 🏺#newshow #cookham
More stories of powerful women, early Christianity and a place of healing for the sick. Oh and a lot of bone combs 🪮 9pm tonight More4 #Archaeology 🏺#newshow #cookham
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Tonight on #Hiddenwonders we visit the @uniofreading.bsky.social excavation at the site of Cookham Abbey.
More stories of powerful women, early Christianity and a place of healing for the sick. Oh and a lot of bone combs 🪮 9pm tonight More4 #Archaeology 🏺#newshow #cookham
More stories of powerful women, early Christianity and a place of healing for the sick. Oh and a lot of bone combs 🪮 9pm tonight More4 #Archaeology 🏺#newshow #cookham
Reposted by Toby Martin
New 📖 & stocking filler 🎁 from the FeedSax project team - Feeding Medieval England: A Long ‘Agricultural Revolution’, 700–1300
Congratulations to the FeedSax team!
You can get it in print from Nov 21st.
@archanchistleic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Congratulations to the FeedSax team!
You can get it in print from Nov 21st.
@archanchistleic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Feeding Medieval England: A Long ‘Agricultural Revolution’, 700–1300
Abstract. As in the rest of Europe, the population of medieval England grew steeply, especially between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. This volume inv
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New 📖 & stocking filler 🎁 from the FeedSax project team - Feeding Medieval England: A Long ‘Agricultural Revolution’, 700–1300
Congratulations to the FeedSax team!
You can get it in print from Nov 21st.
@archanchistleic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Congratulations to the FeedSax team!
You can get it in print from Nov 21st.
@archanchistleic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/book/61548?l...
Reposted by Toby Martin
My old job as Director of Oxford's largest portfolio of online courses with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social is being advertised. If you enjoy academic management and digital education as well as teaching and research, this could be the job for you!
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
Director of the Short Online Course Programme at University of Oxford
Browse professional service jobs like Director of the Short Online Course Programme at jobs.ac.uk. Apply and access additional details about the job today.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 8:29 AM
My old job as Director of Oxford's largest portfolio of online courses with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social is being advertised. If you enjoy academic management and digital education as well as teaching and research, this could be the job for you!
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
My old job as Director of Oxford's largest portfolio of online courses with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social is being advertised. If you enjoy academic management and digital education as well as teaching and research, this could be the job for you!
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
Director of the Short Online Course Programme at University of Oxford
Browse professional service jobs like Director of the Short Online Course Programme at jobs.ac.uk. Apply and access additional details about the job today.
www.jobs.ac.uk
October 24, 2025 at 8:29 AM
My old job as Director of Oxford's largest portfolio of online courses with @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social is being advertised. If you enjoy academic management and digital education as well as teaching and research, this could be the job for you!
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
F/t and permanent
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPE029/d...
Exciting new publication on warfare and weapon burial in Europe from the Iron Age through to the Roman period by Rasmus Birch Iversen. Not got hold of it yet, but it looks like it will be a really valuable and much-needed synthesis:
unipress.dk/udgivelser/w...
unipress.dk/udgivelser/w...
October 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Exciting new publication on warfare and weapon burial in Europe from the Iron Age through to the Roman period by Rasmus Birch Iversen. Not got hold of it yet, but it looks like it will be a really valuable and much-needed synthesis:
unipress.dk/udgivelser/w...
unipress.dk/udgivelser/w...
Isn't this great? A laser-scanned corpus of early medieval brooches from the Arctic Museum of Norway.
And, the renders also kind of look like ghost brooches, which is seasonally appropriate 👻
dataverse.azure.uit.no/dataset.xhtm...
#digitalcollections #opendata #archaeology
And, the renders also kind of look like ghost brooches, which is seasonally appropriate 👻
dataverse.azure.uit.no/dataset.xhtm...
#digitalcollections #opendata #archaeology
October 17, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Isn't this great? A laser-scanned corpus of early medieval brooches from the Arctic Museum of Norway.
And, the renders also kind of look like ghost brooches, which is seasonally appropriate 👻
dataverse.azure.uit.no/dataset.xhtm...
#digitalcollections #opendata #archaeology
And, the renders also kind of look like ghost brooches, which is seasonally appropriate 👻
dataverse.azure.uit.no/dataset.xhtm...
#digitalcollections #opendata #archaeology
Reposted by Toby Martin
This looks good. Due out in December.
'It also provides the first full catalogues of a number of important but poorly understood hacksilver hoards from the UK: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).' www.scriptbooks.co.uk/archaeology/...
'It also provides the first full catalogues of a number of important but poorly understood hacksilver hoards from the UK: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).' www.scriptbooks.co.uk/archaeology/...
October 3, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This looks good. Due out in December.
'It also provides the first full catalogues of a number of important but poorly understood hacksilver hoards from the UK: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).' www.scriptbooks.co.uk/archaeology/...
'It also provides the first full catalogues of a number of important but poorly understood hacksilver hoards from the UK: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).' www.scriptbooks.co.uk/archaeology/...
Here's an opportunity to come and work for us at @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social as a tutor in archaeology on a part-time (0.6FTE) and permanent basis. We're looking for anyone with a background from late Prehistory to the medieval period. Deadline: 10 November 2025
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Job Details
my.corehr.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Here's an opportunity to come and work for us at @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social as a tutor in archaeology on a part-time (0.6FTE) and permanent basis. We're looking for anyone with a background from late Prehistory to the medieval period. Deadline: 10 November 2025
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...
Reposted by Toby Martin
We're delighted to be joined by fantastic colleagues, Jade Whitlam and @helengittos.bsky.social, for our upcoming lecture series for @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social. Don't miss this chance to explore this fascinating region & period!
🔗 bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorians #medievalsky #history
🔗 bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorians #medievalsky #history
October 2, 2025 at 11:18 AM
We're delighted to be joined by fantastic colleagues, Jade Whitlam and @helengittos.bsky.social, for our upcoming lecture series for @oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social. Don't miss this chance to explore this fascinating region & period!
🔗 bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorians #medievalsky #history
🔗 bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorians #medievalsky #history
Reposted by Toby Martin
Explore some of the themes and speakers featuring in our six-week hybrid lecture series 'Silk Roads: Empire and Everyday Voices in the Medieval Islamicate East'...
Starts Monday 13 October. For more information, and to book, visit bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorian #silkroads #studyatoxford
Starts Monday 13 October. For more information, and to book, visit bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorian #silkroads #studyatoxford
September 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Explore some of the themes and speakers featuring in our six-week hybrid lecture series 'Silk Roads: Empire and Everyday Voices in the Medieval Islamicate East'...
Starts Monday 13 October. For more information, and to book, visit bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorian #silkroads #studyatoxford
Starts Monday 13 October. For more information, and to book, visit bit.ly/SilkRoadslectures
#skystorian #silkroads #studyatoxford
A chill in the air and some blushing crabapples are telling me autumn has surely arrived now. Have a great week everyone.
September 22, 2025 at 7:20 AM
A chill in the air and some blushing crabapples are telling me autumn has surely arrived now. Have a great week everyone.
Reposted by Toby Martin
The @oxembi.bsky.social is hosting a special lecture, Long Distance Travel from Early Medieval Britain by Prof @francescatinti.bsky.social & a workshop on Global Britain with Jörg Drauschke, Maria Duggan, @caitlinrgreen.bsky.social, @jk-viking.bsky.social & others. 14 & 15 October. All welcome.
September 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The @oxembi.bsky.social is hosting a special lecture, Long Distance Travel from Early Medieval Britain by Prof @francescatinti.bsky.social & a workshop on Global Britain with Jörg Drauschke, Maria Duggan, @caitlinrgreen.bsky.social, @jk-viking.bsky.social & others. 14 & 15 October. All welcome.
This 5th-century quoit brooch from Rennes was a new one for me. A fascinating object with its best parallels in southern Britain: journals.openedition.org/archeopages/...
September 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This 5th-century quoit brooch from Rennes was a new one for me. A fascinating object with its best parallels in southern Britain: journals.openedition.org/archeopages/...
Reposted by Toby Martin
An early Anglo-Saxon sword bead is on my desk today, and a beautiful one at that.
September 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
An early Anglo-Saxon sword bead is on my desk today, and a beautiful one at that.
An early Anglo-Saxon sword bead is on my desk today, and a beautiful one at that.
September 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
An early Anglo-Saxon sword bead is on my desk today, and a beautiful one at that.
Interesting thoughts here on the status of Lifelong Learning in the UK: www.neilmosley.com/blog/are-uk-...
Are UK universities getting serious about lifelong learning? — Neil Mosley Consulting
Discover how lifelong learning is taking shape in UK higher education, with examples of university initiatives, policy drivers, and operational challenges.
www.neilmosley.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Interesting thoughts here on the status of Lifelong Learning in the UK: www.neilmosley.com/blog/are-uk-...
Reposted by Toby Martin
Conference Call!
Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record of the County.
Join @sussexpast.bsky.social for this important new conference on post-Roman Sussex this November
🏺
sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...
Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record of the County.
Join @sussexpast.bsky.social for this important new conference on post-Roman Sussex this November
🏺
sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...
The Sussex Archaeological Society Conference - Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record - Sussex Past
The Sussex Archaeological Society's Annual Conference: Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record on Saturday 8 November at University of Sussex.
sussexpast.co.uk
July 23, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Conference Call!
Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record of the County.
Join @sussexpast.bsky.social for this important new conference on post-Roman Sussex this November
🏺
sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...
Sūþseaxna: New Research from the Early Medieval Record of the County.
Join @sussexpast.bsky.social for this important new conference on post-Roman Sussex this November
🏺
sussexpast.co.uk/event/the-su...
Reposted by Toby Martin
The Gefrin Trust is now on Bluesky! Follow along as we head back to the field this September, uncovering new finds and charting old trowel-marked features at #Yeavering. #GefrinTrust #Northumberland #DurhamArchaeology
July 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Gefrin Trust is now on Bluesky! Follow along as we head back to the field this September, uncovering new finds and charting old trowel-marked features at #Yeavering. #GefrinTrust #Northumberland #DurhamArchaeology
Reposted by Toby Martin
Very exciting opportunity to work with me! Full time permanent post in art of the Global South, specialising in either early modern or modern art and material culture. Please share! #arthistory
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNI408/d...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNI408/d...
Departmental Lecturer at University of Oxford
Apply for the Departmental Lecturer role on jobs.ac.uk, the top job board for academic positions in higher education. View details and apply now.
www.jobs.ac.uk
June 3, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Very exciting opportunity to work with me! Full time permanent post in art of the Global South, specialising in either early modern or modern art and material culture. Please share! #arthistory
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNI408/d...
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNI408/d...
Reposted by Toby Martin
John Blair's long-awaited book on vampires has a cover! Due in November from @princetonupress.bsky.social.
'A riveting history of vampire panics across cultures and down through the millennia—and why killing the dead is better than killing the living.' press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
'A riveting history of vampire panics across cultures and down through the millennia—and why killing the dead is better than killing the living.' press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
June 2, 2025 at 9:12 AM
John Blair's long-awaited book on vampires has a cover! Due in November from @princetonupress.bsky.social.
'A riveting history of vampire panics across cultures and down through the millennia—and why killing the dead is better than killing the living.' press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
'A riveting history of vampire panics across cultures and down through the millennia—and why killing the dead is better than killing the living.' press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Nice new PAS find. A glass bead, probably earlier than the fancy 7th-century gold pendant into which it has been set, usually reserved for much more expensive stuff like garnet, but both likely to be women's possessions. A memento from friend or family? A keepsake from childhood?
May 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Nice new PAS find. A glass bead, probably earlier than the fancy 7th-century gold pendant into which it has been set, usually reserved for much more expensive stuff like garnet, but both likely to be women's possessions. A memento from friend or family? A keepsake from childhood?
Our article on 5th- to 7th-century Anglo-Saxon silver alloys is published in @archaeometry.bsky.social. Based on the first substantial dataset of non-surface samples for the period, we argue for the direct involvement of jewellery in a bullion economy in 6th-century Kent: doi.org/10.1111/arcm...
Quality from Kent: Preliminary results from the analysis of fifth‐ to seventh‐century silver alloys
This paper explores early results from the chemical and lead isotope analysis of 30 silver-alloy objects from southeast England dating between the fifth and seventh centuries CE, presenting limited a...
doi.org
May 6, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Our article on 5th- to 7th-century Anglo-Saxon silver alloys is published in @archaeometry.bsky.social. Based on the first substantial dataset of non-surface samples for the period, we argue for the direct involvement of jewellery in a bullion economy in 6th-century Kent: doi.org/10.1111/arcm...
Early medieval archaeologist here, working mostly in lifelong education. I expect I shall be mostly posting about early medieval artefacts, with a smattering of my second enthusiasm in digital education.
November 16, 2024 at 8:07 PM
Early medieval archaeologist here, working mostly in lifelong education. I expect I shall be mostly posting about early medieval artefacts, with a smattering of my second enthusiasm in digital education.