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maggietrainor23.bsky.social
maggietrainor23
@maggietrainor23.bsky.social
530 followers 820 following 1 posts
Archaeology Field Surveyor. Digger of the past. Trail walker.
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Reposted by maggietrainor23
jillwhitelock.bsky.social
A Cambridge #TheWinter10. Feverfew, Red dead nettle, Yellow corydalis, Smooth sowthistle, Green alkanet, Daisy, Petty spurge, Feverfew, White dead nettle, Thyme-leaved speedwell and Yarrow. #WildflowerHour
Montage showing Feverfew, Red dead nettle, Yellow corydalis, Smooth sowthistle, Green alkanet, Daisy, Petty spurge, Feverfew, White dead nettle, Thyme-leaved speedwell and Yarrow. #WildflowerHour
December 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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malcolmstoneman.bsky.social
🚶‍♀️ 🚶🏻‍♂️ #Binham #Norfolk

Yarrow against the backdrop of the 13th Century nave of Binham Priory.

#WildflowerHour
Yarrow
December 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
kateullman.bsky.social
A photo of the Hurlers from last Christmas. They're often hidden by fog but that day the sun was trying really hard to make an appearance. #StandingStoneSunday
Stone forming part of one of the Hurlers circles on Bodmin Moor. It's a foggy day, but the sun is lighting the sky behind the clouds.
December 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
drtobydriver.bsky.social
Who needs BlueSky politics when you have #StandingStoneSunday? 🥰🥳

Back to winter 2022 for this chilly view of the Buwch a'r Llo standing stone pair on moorland near Pendant, Aberystwyth, Wales - a truly ancient locale

📷 My own, Feb 2022
A pair of standing stones in rushy moorland grass by a country road, with a dusting of snow across the hills
December 14, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
stonelands.bsky.social
Last week I visited Duddo Five Stones, aka the Singing Stones, for the first time - wow! Beautiful weathered megaliths crowning the hill, with Northumberland spreading far and wide, and the Cheviots on the horizon. The stones even whistled for us! Very nice indeed #StandingStoneSunday
December 14, 2025 at 8:34 AM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
On the Third Sunday of Advent, we light three candles - perfect occasion to share the oldest preserved candles found north of the Alps.
The candles were made from beeswax around 1,400 years ago. They were found in the early #medieval burial site in Oberflacht. The damp...🧵1/2

📷 me
Three candles displayed upright in a museum case. The candles are long, dark brown, and unevenly shaped, with rough surfaces and visible age. Each has a small, twisted wick at the top and is supported at the base by clear mounts. Other wooden artifacts are partially visible around them against a dark background
December 14, 2025 at 8:37 AM
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ullamr.bsky.social
The Mudumal megalithic menhirs in India have been added to UNESCO’s tentative list for World Heritage Sites in 2025. Mudumal’s menhirs are India's oldest menhirs, dating back 3,500–4,000 BP, and are located near the banks of the Krishna River. #StandingStoneSunday
Menhirs
December 14, 2025 at 5:40 AM
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kpw1453.bsky.social
The remains of the foundations of Piercebridge Roman Bridge in County Durham that once carried Dere Street across the River Tees, linking York with Corbridge. 📸 My own. #RomanSiteSaturday #Piercebridge #RomanBritain
December 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
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bwallower.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday
Egnazia in Puglia became #Roman after centuries of Bronze Age, Japigian + Messapian habitation, w existing structures reused.
Labelled 'amphitheatre', once construed as market, this is now seen as part of oriental cult sector for Great Mother Cybele +Attis et al, on Via Traiana. 🏺
An oval stone structure with a more pointed end at nearest side. Stonework remains of the city of Egnazia and features can be seen all around this structure, and there is a platform of large rectangular stones in the centre.
December 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
ullamr.bsky.social
Sbeitla, ancient Sufetula, is a Roman town in Tunisia in its northen inland. It is perhaps best-known for the three temples of its forum. There is also the triumphal arch of Antoninus. Founded in 67 AD and abandoned in 647 AD, it was excavated in 1906-1921. #RomanSiteSaturday
The 3 temples by the forum
December 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
archaeohawke.bsky.social
#RomanBritain

In the #Roman period #Chester was known as Castra Deva (prounced Dewa), meaning "the military camp on the River Dee" Chester began life as a fort occupied by the 20th Legion (Valeria Victrix).

#RomanSiteSaturday #History
#Archaeology
The history of Chester extends back nearly two millennia, covering all periods of British history in between then and the present day. The city of Chester was founded as a fort, known as Deva Vitrix, by the Romans in AD 70s, as early as AD 74 based on discovered lead pipes. The city was the scene of battles between warring Welsh and Saxon kingdoms throughout the post-Roman years until the Saxons strengthened the fort against raiding Danes. Chester Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in Chester, Cheshire. The site is managed by English Heritage; it is designated as a Grade I listed building, and a scheduled monument. The ruins currently exposed are those of a large stone amphitheatre, similar to those found in Continental Europe, and although it was long believed that a smaller wooden amphitheatre existed on the site beforehand, excavations since 1999 have shown that the wooden grillage is the base of the seating. Today, only the northern half of the structure is exposed; the southern half is covered by buildings, some of which are themselves listed. Several original Roman column bases and reconstructed displays can be found across Chester (Deva Victrix), primarily originating from the fortress's headquarters and public buildings. Key Locations to View Column Bases The Roman Gardens: Located near the Newgate, this public park displays several column bases and shafts discovered throughout the city. Notable pieces include: Columns from the exercise hall (palaestra) of the Roman bath house (thermae), which originally stood about 6 meters tall. The largest column currently in the gardens, which originated from the assembly hall of the headquarters building (principia). Northgate Street: Several bases are visible in situ or nearby: 21-23 Northgate Street: Column bases from the headquarters building are preserved in the basement. Pret a Manger (No. 40-42): Two large Roman pillar bases are visible beneath a glass section of the floor. Outside the Coach House Inn: Relocated Roman column bases are displayed on the pavement just north of the Town Hall. Romans built earthen ramparts with wooden palisades for their fortress, Deva Victrix. Stone Reconstruction: From about 100 AD, these were reconstructed with local sandstone, a process that took over a century. Roman stones, including tombstones, were sometimes reused in later repairs Model of how Deva Victrix would probably have looked The Romans founded Chester as Deva Victrix in AD 70s in the land of the Celtic Cornovii, according to ancient cartographer Ptolemy,[1] as a fortress during the Roman expansion north. It was named Deva either after the goddess of the Dee, or directly from the British name for the river. The 'victrix' part of the name was taken from the title of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix who were based at Deva. A civilian settlement grew around the settlement, probably starting as a group of traders and their families who were profiting from trade with the fortress. The fortress was 20% larger than other fortresses in Britannia built around the same time at York (Eboracum) and Caerleon (Isca Augusta); this has led to the suggestion that the fortress may have been intended to become the capital of the Roman province rather than London (Londinium). A perhaps likelier explanation is that there was more tribal unrest in what is now northern England, and so a larger garrison was needed.
December 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
malcolmstoneman.bsky.social
Roman hairpin
150-400 CE

Hairpins were need to keep hair fashions in place. But, the pins could be used for “other functions too, such as for extracting perfume from a tiny bottle, scratching heads or as a weapon.”

“Secrets of the Thames” exhibition.
#London Museum - Docklands

#RomanSiteSaturday
Along the banks of the River Thames in London have been found a large range of Roman artifacts. This area has become known as the “Roman hole”. Hundreds of bone hairpins have been found there. This fragment of a pin has a finely carved end, like that of a pine cone. The pins were used for other functions, like extracting perfume. To me it is like a carved stick for extracting honey. 🍯
December 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
trimontiumtrust.bsky.social
Io Saturnalia!! Like most celebrations, food played a major part in festivities, some of which are similar to our modern day Christmas traditions. Pork, nuts, dates, fruit, honey cakes & mulled wine were all enjoyed during Saturnalia. Come to the museum & try some of the delicacies! zurl.co/nyoxW
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
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theduncanmackay.bsky.social
This little Iron Age piggy from Hounslow, Middlesex, would love to wish you a happy #FindsFriday, but is concentrating far too hard on sniffing out a truffle hidden beneath the baize.
2nd-1st century BC. British Museum.
Small bronze, very stylised pig or wild boar with huge ears, long snout and spiky back.
December 12, 2025 at 9:09 AM
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followinghadrian.bsky.social
#FrescoFriday - Fresco from Herculaneum showing a wine advertisement with four jars (cucumae) of various colours and prices, ranging from cheap wine to premium quality. The advertisement was painted at the entrance of a wine shop called "Ad Cucumas" ('At the Jugs').
December 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
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bwallower.bsky.social
#FrescoFriday
#FishFriday from Villa Arianna, Campania. 🏺
One of the beautifully conserved C1 AD details in Archaeological Museum of Castellammare di Stabia opened 2022, concentrating on items locally excavated but not previously on display.
Villa overlooks Bay of Naples/Vesuvius: see /2
A golden brown fish breaking the surface of blue water with white froth along the streams. Two other features below may be ?shellfish and ?crab. It forms the upper part of a wall, with a lower section shown below horizontal bands in reddish brown, white and silvery greyj. Below these is a bit of a white panel, a vertical red band and a bit of panel to the right with drop/leaf shaped patterns closely painted on a dark grey background.
December 12, 2025 at 9:52 AM
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #FrescoFriday a #Roman wall painting from the Casa dei Cervi, Herculaneum, depicting Cupids playing hide and seek. I especially like the one who covers his eyes - some things haven't changed since Roman times! In Roman wall painting of the 1st c. AD, scenes depicting...🧵 1/2

🏺 #archaeology
A fresco depicting three small winged figures in a dimly lit room playinghide and seek. One figure stands in a doorway on the left, partially in shadow. The central figure is running to the right, with a surprised expression and greenish wings. The third figure, also winged, stands at the far right covering their face with both hands. The background features muted earth tones and architectural elements like a door and wall panels, with visible cracks in the painting.
December 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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kpw1453.bsky.social
A wintery view of the remains of the Roman fort at Barr Hill on the Antonine Wall, near Twechar in East Dunbartonshire. The fort is the highest of the 16 known forts along the Antonine Wall. 📸 My own. #RomanFortThursday #RomanScotland
December 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
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theduncanmackay.bsky.social
I’ve posted this before but the light was perfect today- a little Victorian cat paw in a brick at the front of the old Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. As this is on the front-facing corner of the main gates, the bricklayer quite clearly put it there on purpose, at a height where children would spot it.
Cat paw print in a red brick wall.
December 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
museumsassociation.org
News | British Museum-led team finds earliest known proof of human fire-making

Artefacts from Barnham Paleolithic site in Suffolk to be accessioned into museum’s collection
British Museum-led team finds earliest known proof of human fire-making - Museums Association
Artefacts from Barnham Paleolithic site in Suffolk to be accessioned into museum’s collection
www.museumsassociation.org
December 10, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
rogueclassicist.bsky.social
A 2,000-year-old building site reveals the raw ingredients for ancient Roman self-healing concrete
theconversation.com/a-2-000-year...
A 2,000-year-old building site reveals the raw ingredients for ancient Roman self-healing concrete
This has re-written our understanding of how Romans manufactured concrete.
theconversation.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by maggietrainor23
anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social
For #ReliefWednesday, a detail or two from an enormous fluted marble basin from a #fountain in the #Horti #Mæcenatiani on the Oppian hill in #Rome, from c. 10 BCE. G. Cilnius #Mæcenas was the last important #Etruscan, a close friend of #Augustus to whom he left his gardens. #AncientBluesky 🏺
FLUTED BASIN WITH SNAKE-SHAPED HANDLES, C. 10 BCE - 20 CE. CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS The Gardens of Mæcenas were not only gardens, but really a large villa that not only crossed the Republican city walls but actually demolished them and reused their tufo blocks in buildings in the gardens. Mæcenas had a tall structure there known as a tower, which was later said to be the place from which the emperor Nero watched Rome burn in the great fire of 64 CE, as he played his lyre and sang of the fall of Troy, in between efforts to coordinate extinguishing the fire. After the death of Mæcenas in 8 BCE the gardens entered the imperial demesne. This good and faithful serpent in Pentelic marble decorates a huge fluted fountain basin found in 1875. Far from being a threat, it probably represents a protective snake that guarded the shrine of the household gods.
December 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
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mumblerjamie.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday with the Tomb of the Haterii relief!

The relief of the tomb of the Haterii, depicts architecture including the entrance arch to the Temple of Isis, the Colosseum, an arch with quadriga on the attic storey, the arch of Titus,, as well as a hexastyle temple.

#AncientBlueSky🏺
December 10, 2025 at 9:51 AM
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bwallower.bsky.social
#TerracottaTuesday
Founded by Spartans 706 BC, Taranto is awash w funeral culture as part of Magna Graecia: lots of well filled tombs have been discovered in central area.
One excavated in 1916 provided these little charmers: unguentaria in form of hedgehog, panther and ram, from a c. 550 BC tomb. 🏺
Three whitish ceramic unguentaria for perfumes or ointments. Hedgehog has a spout on top, pointy nose and little eyes under little ears, with its body dotted with darker colouring. Next is a panther crouching and looking to its side with wide eyes. Finally a resting ram with curly horn and elongated snout has dots in darker colour over its body. The three figures are in a museum case, with redware ceramics behind.
December 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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orkat3.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
The northeast cairn at the Cairns of Balnuaran of Clava. The entrance is aligned with the midwinter sunset which illuminates the interior of the burial chamber. It also contains several cup marked stones.
#BronzeAge #Wcotland #Archaeology #Solstice
December 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM