Welwyn Archaeological Society
@welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
570 followers 210 following 460 posts
The Society's Blue Sky feed run by the Director with an interest in all things archaeological especially archaeological method, geophysics and fieldwork. Have been known to publish a few things on coins and stats too. Always looking for speakers!
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johnevigar.bsky.social
An early start this morning brought me to Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire. Church open 9-1 weekdays
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
Very sad to hear that Mike Corbishley has died. I worked with Mike at Wroxeter from 1980 to 1984 and subsequently bumped into him during my career. The CBA are planning a celebration of Mike's life in an upcoming issue of British Archaeology.
A group photograph showing the team that dug at Wroxeter in 1984.  They are holding pieces of paper which spell out "Wroxeter 1984". They are standing in front of a large piece of Roman wall ("the Old Work").  Mike is in the front row, two to the right of the number 4.
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jowolff.bsky.social
The advice I give young people on choice of degree programme. Choose something you love. You’ve got the rest of your life to be frustrated and miserable.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves Day 10: urn

I took this photo one foggy morning in the Calton Hill cemetery, Edinburgh. For those that care, Pentax K-3iii, SMC Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7 lens.

#scotland #taphophilia #cemetery #graveyard #monument
Black and white photograph of a tall burial monument.  A tall urn with two handles stands on a tall plinth with a square cross-section.  In the background is a leafless winter tree and multiple other monuments including some obelisks.  It is a little bit foggy.
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johnevigar.bsky.social
This door at Eastwood church in Essex dates from about 1150, which is extremely rare. The hinge has an inscription which (more or less) says ‘blessings on those who come and go’.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
But are they baffled by these mysterious objects?
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nattrustarch.bsky.social
*NEWS* #AttinghamUnearthed🏺
Recent excavations have uncovered remarkable insights into life on the fringes of #Wroxeter: archaeologists worked alongside volunteers & members of the public revealing an Iron Age roundhouse, a #Roman industrial complex & a shrine.
#archaeology @nationaltrust.org.uk
A ring key, a clever combination of a piece of jewellery with a working key, often used to secure small boxes or personal items. (NT/ Jayne Gough)
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simoninsuffolk.bsky.social
Going up. A pointing finger on the churchyard memorial for Jonas Walpole, 1905, at Erpingham, Norfolk.

Erpingham: www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/erpingham/er...

#31DaysofGraves 9: hand
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classicalalan.bsky.social
Two photos taken in 1906 during the excavations of the Roman fort at Newstead in Scotland carried out by local solicitor and amateur archaeologist James Curle. In 1911, Curle published his finds in the groundbreaking book “A Roman Frontier Post and its People”. #RomanFortThursday
A black and white photo of an excavation with broken stones surrounding the base of a carved column. A piece of Roman masonry with a fancy herringbone pattern carved into it.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 9, hands. This photo was taken at Montparnasse, Paris, France. I've tried to find more details but a search turns-up a different monument at the cemetery of hands. For those that care, photo mine, Pentax MX, Fuji 200 colour print film.
#montparnasse #paris #cemetery #grave
This burial monument consists of two forearms and hands rising vertically out of the base.  The hands look to me like one male and one female, and they are touching two fingertips.  They are made of white stone (possibly marble).  They are surrounded by flowering plants.  In the background and out of focus is a mausoleum with a window.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
The first Welwyn Archaeological Society meeting of the 2025/6 season will take place on Friday 17th October 2025 at 7.45pm. The lecture is "The rise and fall of Wheathampstead Manor" by Mike Smith. The lecture is in the URC hall, Welwyn Garden City (opposite Sainsbury's). All welcome, visitors £3.
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drjeball.bsky.social
Wow, #Roman tombstones really do get around - this one was rediscovered in New Orleans, after being transported across the Atlantic by unknown persons in the chaotic aftermath of WW2...

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
New Orleans couple discovers ancient Roman grave marker in their yard
Discovery of 1,900-year-old headstone dedicated to Roman sailor sets off effort to repatriate item to Italy
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Welwyn Archaeological Society
mattpope.bsky.social
As archaeologists we bear witness to the destruction of the natural environment. Up close. In real time. We are entangled in that destruction and it impacts us. A callous and uncaring approach to planning behind Reeve's comments should be sickening to everyone involved in such grave undertakings. 🏺
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 8: glass. I had problems finding a suitable image for this one. I know I have a photo of some stained glass in a mausoleum somewhere on my hard disk, but where? Oh well, this one of Lucy Gallop in West Norwood cemetery, London, shows her photograph behind glass.
A monochrome photograph of a woman in a circular frame.  The glass protecting the photo is held in place by a copper alloy ring.  The photo is surrounded by a wreath carved in grey stone which is also within an omega shaped piece of carved stone with a key-pattern in gold around the edge,  The bottom of the photo shows the plinth of the monument also with a carved decoration.
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gravestones-ne.bsky.social
Gravestone of Benjamin Throop, 1750, at Trumbull Cemetery in Lebanon, Connecticut. Carved by Benjamin Collins.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
We had a phone like that, and I think it was even that colour!
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alexclifford.bsky.social
There comes a time in every historians life when they realise they aren't Indiana Jones, they're Marcus Brody
Indy teaching, looking cool Marcus, looking dishevelled
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
It is certainly quite a treasure trove. I shot several rolls of film there.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
It is an amazing cemetery, well worth a visit.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
It is in the Gwardian so I guess it's true... 🤣
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
Is this real or has someone been playing with Photoshop?
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 7, angel. I have so many photos of angels it was hard to choose. This one is from the grave of Tadeusz Sułowski (pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeusz...) in the Cmentarz Powązkowski, Warsaw. (Photo mine, for those that care, Pentax MZ-S Ilford SFX200 film).
A very large statue of an angel.  The head is back looking at the sky and the hands are on the angel's chest covering the breasts.  There is a faint hint of clothing. The wings behind have the feathers downwards and the ends on the ground.  The wings make a triangular shape leading the eye to the head. A small plaque on a plinth in front gives the details of the person buried.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 6: gender. This is the tomb of Lord Williams and his first wife Elizabeth in the church of St Mary the Virgin, Thame, Oxfordshire, UK. Lord Williams has a hunting dog under his feet, Elizabeth a unicorn. Photo: mine.
A view of the chest tomb with two effigies on top shot from effigy height.  The view is from the west, the "feet" end, and shows the two animals under the effigy.  The focus point is on the hands in a position of prayer making the animals in the foreground slightly out of focus and the high altar and altar rail in the background similarly out of focus.  The photograph was shot on black and white film.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 5: bird This is a detail of the tomb of Sir Thomas Bromley in St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, Shropshire. The church is maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust. I don't know why his effigy has this lovely bird next to his head.
Detail of a chest tomb. In front is a long-tailed bird facing left.  Behind is the effigy of Sir Thomas wearing a black cap, a red robe and his chain of office.  His hands are together praying.  His head rests on a pillow with gold tassels.