Benedict Frankish
@bdwfrankish.bsky.social
Volunteering Officer at York Archaeology. Views all my own. Scunthonian in Ebor. He/Him.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Hey wait a minute these roads lead all kinds of places
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Hey wait a minute these roads lead all kinds of places
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…
October 8, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
NEW West African ancestry in #medieval England? 🏺 #Archaeology
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.
#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵
📷 Lilian Ladle
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.
#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵
📷 Lilian Ladle
August 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
NEW West African ancestry in #medieval England? 🏺 #Archaeology
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.
#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵
📷 Lilian Ladle
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.
#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵
📷 Lilian Ladle
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
If historians know something it is this: nothing is inevitable just because it is popular. AI is not an exception. Nor is fascism.
August 5, 2025 at 9:31 PM
If historians know something it is this: nothing is inevitable just because it is popular. AI is not an exception. Nor is fascism.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
I feel if you try and separate politics from anything you’re a bad historian.
July 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
I feel if you try and separate politics from anything you’re a bad historian.
Really pleased to see this clear and well-reasoned response from the MA that recommits to keeping museums inclusive and welcoming spaces for trans visitors, staff and volunteers.
The MA has responded to the EHRC Code of Practice consultation following the Supreme Court ruling on sex and gender.
We raised concerns that the Code of Practice focuses on exclusion rather than inclusion.
Read our response: www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/ad...
We raised concerns that the Code of Practice focuses on exclusion rather than inclusion.
Read our response: www.museumsassociation.org/campaigns/ad...
Our response to the EHRC Code of Practice consultation - Museums Association
The Museums Association has responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Code of practice for services, public functions and associations:
www.museumsassociation.org
July 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Really pleased to see this clear and well-reasoned response from the MA that recommits to keeping museums inclusive and welcoming spaces for trans visitors, staff and volunteers.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*
July 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*
Very well put and thoughtful 🧵 re: LLMs and archives
I refuse to give the NYT my eyeballs, so I can't speak to the specifics of this article. But any historians attempting to use AI for either writing or research should be run out of the field. AI is inherently unable to do anything we need it to do to understand and communicate history.
Lots of commentary on this piece already, all of which I agree with.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
For historians, research is a fundamental part of writing.
To farm it out to AI changes the nature of this intellectual process in fundamental ways.
And as Stacy Schiff points out, it also takes all the fun out of it.
June 17, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Very well put and thoughtful 🧵 re: LLMs and archives
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.
May 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
It can happen here in a few short years time. Just as easily and shamelessly as its happening in the US right now. British Conservatism is absolutely primed and ready to make it happen.
1/2 To “remove improper ideology”.
Does anyone still baulk at naming this fascism?
This is why it’s so important to resist History Reclaimed’s propaganda in The Telegraph, Mail, GB TV etc here too.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Does anyone still baulk at naming this fascism?
This is why it’s so important to resist History Reclaimed’s propaganda in The Telegraph, Mail, GB TV etc here too.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.
www.whitehouse.gov
March 28, 2025 at 8:01 AM
It can happen here in a few short years time. Just as easily and shamelessly as its happening in the US right now. British Conservatism is absolutely primed and ready to make it happen.
This whole thread is fascinating, but this in particular. I would love to see how different an answer you would get to this question in other countries.
One of my favorite experiments was to give people a range of dates, ranging from 100 AD to 1700 AD, and ask whether they thought that year was in the European Middle Ages or not.
A fair share of people didn't know, but I think the results are really revealing about popular conceptions:
A fair share of people didn't know, but I think the results are really revealing about popular conceptions:
March 27, 2025 at 7:24 AM
This whole thread is fascinating, but this in particular. I would love to see how different an answer you would get to this question in other countries.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Explore science and archaeology in 2025 through some exciting new video resources, created by researchers from the ChemArch Innovative Training Network. These videos are designed for anyone with a beginner's interest in archaeological sciences.
learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/chemarch-lea...
learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/chemarch-lea...
ChemArch Learning Resources - York Archaeology - Learning
Explore science and archaeology through fascinating video resources, created by researchers from the ChemArch Network.
learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Explore science and archaeology in 2025 through some exciting new video resources, created by researchers from the ChemArch Innovative Training Network. These videos are designed for anyone with a beginner's interest in archaeological sciences.
learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/chemarch-lea...
learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/chemarch-lea...
Go Birds.
funniest highlights of the philly police scanner, a thread
February 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Go Birds.
Terrible to hear about this latest from @sheffielduni.bsky.social, as someone who benefited from this excellence in East Asian history as an undergraduate. The interdisciplinary focus on global histories at Sheffield made me a much better historian - awful to narrow horizons for future students.
East Asian Studies at Sheffield is also home to historians who contribute to joint programmes and teach for colleagues in the History department.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
Sheffield's is one of the largest interdisciplinary groupings of East Asia specialists in the UK and one of the most important globally.
Students and staff are fighting to preserve language degrees in one of the UK’s largest East Asian studies departments, after university cuts put them at risk, reports @julietterowsell.bsky.social
January 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Terrible to hear about this latest from @sheffielduni.bsky.social, as someone who benefited from this excellence in East Asian history as an undergraduate. The interdisciplinary focus on global histories at Sheffield made me a much better historian - awful to narrow horizons for future students.
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
'Although Volunteer Scotland has warned that last year’s Scottish Household Survey results “point to a crisis in volunteering”, for those participating in culture and heritage the numbers remain constant, compared with an 18% drop elsewhere.' Interesting (and important, including for public health).
‘The hair stands up’: citizen archaeologists unearth ancient treasures in Scotland
Members of the public are helping to sustain digs across the country, even as volunteering declines
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2025 at 9:46 AM
'Although Volunteer Scotland has warned that last year’s Scottish Household Survey results “point to a crisis in volunteering”, for those participating in culture and heritage the numbers remain constant, compared with an 18% drop elsewhere.' Interesting (and important, including for public health).
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Tonight, the Cold Moon rises. ❄️
Known too as the Long Night Moon or The Moon Before Yule, it rises during the darkest nights of the year, heralding the onset of winter’s chill.
Its glow has guided ancient Yule traditions and marked the turning of the seasons.
Moonrise: 15:09*
Known too as the Long Night Moon or The Moon Before Yule, it rises during the darkest nights of the year, heralding the onset of winter’s chill.
Its glow has guided ancient Yule traditions and marked the turning of the seasons.
Moonrise: 15:09*
December 15, 2024 at 11:48 AM
Tonight, the Cold Moon rises. ❄️
Known too as the Long Night Moon or The Moon Before Yule, it rises during the darkest nights of the year, heralding the onset of winter’s chill.
Its glow has guided ancient Yule traditions and marked the turning of the seasons.
Moonrise: 15:09*
Known too as the Long Night Moon or The Moon Before Yule, it rises during the darkest nights of the year, heralding the onset of winter’s chill.
Its glow has guided ancient Yule traditions and marked the turning of the seasons.
Moonrise: 15:09*
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Alright *cracks knuckles* let's do this!
Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first:
What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects
Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first:
What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects
November 25, 2024 at 11:53 PM
Alright *cracks knuckles* let's do this!
Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first:
What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects
Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first:
What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects
Reposted by Benedict Frankish
Thanks for joining us...your virtual steed is speedy.
We start up at the Knavesmire and oh look! There's a race on at York Racecourse. Not clear who's winning but the stand is packed.
There's also something slightly more macabre we've just spotted on Tadcaster Road...
We start up at the Knavesmire and oh look! There's a race on at York Racecourse. Not clear who's winning but the stand is packed.
There's also something slightly more macabre we've just spotted on Tadcaster Road...
August 22, 2024 at 8:34 AM
Thanks for joining us...your virtual steed is speedy.
We start up at the Knavesmire and oh look! There's a race on at York Racecourse. Not clear who's winning but the stand is packed.
There's also something slightly more macabre we've just spotted on Tadcaster Road...
We start up at the Knavesmire and oh look! There's a race on at York Racecourse. Not clear who's winning but the stand is packed.
There's also something slightly more macabre we've just spotted on Tadcaster Road...