Dr Matt Pope
@mattpope.bsky.social
8.2K followers 1K following 19K posts
Archaeologist & Associate Professor in Palaeolithic Archaeology at UCL, where we run the PaPa MSc programme. Researching Neanderthal archaeology in La Mancheland & Western Doggerland, from Boxgrove to La Cotte. Provide Geoarch expertise to ASE. He/Him 🏺
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mattpope.bsky.social
Our book, Repeopling La Manche, is available direct from Oxbow Books.
Sharing research the Neanderthal archaeology of #LaCotte and the Ice Age landscapes of Jersey and La Mancheland.
www.oxbowbooks.com/978178925152...
🏺🦣🇯🇪
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
darrigomelanie.bsky.social
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
mattpope.bsky.social
Such brilliant recognition for a really transformative scheme. @archsoutheast.bsky.social is thriving and the closer working relationship with the @uclarchaeology.bsky.social is reaping huge benefits in terms of teaching, fieldwork and professionalisation. 🏺
archsoutheast.bsky.social
We’re excited to share that our Placement Year has been shortlisted for the 2025 Archaeological Achievement Awards in the Learning, Training and Skills category!

We’ll be crossing our fingers when the winners are announced on 28 November!

@uclarchaeology.bsky.social @archaeologyuk.bsky.social
Four students in high visibility vest smile for a group photo on an archaeological site. Text on the image says Archaeological Achievement Awards, Learning, Training and Skills.
mattpope.bsky.social
Oh that's every, great colours
mattpope.bsky.social
If you are still awake, take a moment you look up at the moon. Currently untroubled by living humans. Still a place of ghosts, gods and 20th century wreckage.
A picture of the full moon
mattpope.bsky.social
I feel my narratives are too realistic and dull to compete with nationalist and pseudoarcg myths, she hyperbole is so exhausting. Im grateful to others who get it right
mattpope.bsky.social
That must have been hard to see and hard to take on as a conceptual challenge. Anything archaeologists did to challenge and continue to challenge that devasting perspective is to be lauded
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. 🏺
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
profbillmcguire.bsky.social
"Rachel Reeves unblocked a development of 20,000 homes that were being held up by a rare snail, after being approached by a developer with whom she said, 'we have a good relationship'

Not only stupid and ignorant, but crooked with it

Indefensible

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer
Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’
www.theguardian.com
mattpope.bsky.social
As a term frequently used in archaeological discourse ‘The Natural’ expresses ignorance of, or disinterest in, the archaeological record. 🏺
mattpope.bsky.social
I'm feeling certain they are on the case..
mattpope.bsky.social
I think, I'm the absence of any popular or DCMS support for anything different, the Green Book approach is pragmatic. But in media discourse and heritage comms we need to play down monetary value, eradicate the word treasure and focus on heritage, scientific and cultural value.
mattpope.bsky.social
We need to utterly transform how we protect our heritage: more funding for museums, more education and disrupting our equation of heritage with monetary value. This isn't a one off. From our fiekds to our museum cases, antiquities are seen as objects for personal acquisition and monetary gain.
🏺
mattpope.bsky.social
Awful news from Wales, the St Fagan's Museum has been broken into and prehistoric goldwork has been taken. Its painful to think what objects might now be at risk. Thoughts with the museum team who must be devastated, all speed to the police and a curse on the crooks.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
St Fagans: Bronze Age gold jewellery stolen from musuem
Police are investigating a burglary at St Fagans museum in the early hours of Monday morning.
www.bbc.co.uk
mattpope.bsky.social
Awful news from Wales, the St Fagan's Museum has been broken into and prehistoric goldwork has been taken. Its painful to think what objects might now be at risk. Thoughts with the museum team who must be devastated, all speed to the police and a curse on the crooks.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
St Fagans: Bronze Age gold jewellery stolen from musuem
Police are investigating a burglary at St Fagans museum in the early hours of Monday morning.
www.bbc.co.uk
mattpope.bsky.social
Thank you! I will enjoy reading this
mattpope.bsky.social
Quite. Its noticeable that the names of the writers arent mentioned by the 73 edition. I guess part of the collective civil service ethos
mattpope.bsky.social
The same cover illustration! We can now put so much more detail on that timeline, and we can pretty much double Iit!
mattpope.bsky.social
I will keep an eye out for these. The 1973 one is really very detailed, I'm not sure we'd call it a beginner's guide these days
mattpope.bsky.social
I was delighted to join other invited speakers to celebrate 150 years of the Société Jersiaise's commitment to science and culture. My lecture, on the history of their involvement in Palaeolithic research can be see via the link below. 🇯🇪🏺🦣
youtu.be/ZD_jKytjOv0?...
Paleolithic archaeology and the Société Jersiaise
YouTube video by Société Jersiaise
youtu.be
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
clmorgan.bsky.social
“Bronze is brilliant!” #archink #inktober - bronze & flint
youtu.be/nyu4u3VZYaQ
Drawing of a skeuomorphic spear head made of flint. It says, “bronze bronze bronze bronze…what’s wrong with stone?” And hashtags in the tweet.
mattpope.bsky.social
Thank you, I wish I knew more of this fundamental history. Glad you are still carrying on the good work!