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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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.
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durotrigesdig.bsky.social
A short section of the late 3rd century AD stone wall encircling the #Roman Town of CORINIVM DOBVNNORVM (Cirencester) with projecting polygonal tower

Originally extending for 2 miles (3.2 km), enclosing an area of 240 acres (97 ha), this is the only bit exposed today

📷 Oct 2025

#RomanSiteSaturday
Lower courses of stone built wall with foundations of projecting tower on the right and internal square tower to the left. Surrounded by grass. Trees in the background Squared facing stones of a Roman wall with rubble core exposed. Grass in foreground, trees and sky behind Interpretation board set up to explain the Roman walls of Cirencester
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
(2/2) ... "with wasting pains death found me long oppres'd, Pitty'd my sighs and kindly gave me rest."
Detail of the inscription showing the poem in the main text.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 4, language
From the churchyard of St Leonard's, Flamstead.
"In memory of Elizabeth Burchmore, who departed this life 1st April in the year 1797. In the 33rd year of her age. A pale consumption gave the fatal blow, the stroke was certain but the effect was slow... (1/2)
A honey-coloured tombstone leaning slightly to one side with the inscription given in the main caption.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
The tomb-chest of Margaret Newport (d.1578) and her husband Sir Richard Newport (d.1570). Their children are depicted on two sides of the tomb, believed to have been made in the Royley workshop in Burton-on-Trent. St Andrews Church, Wroxeter. Photo: mine. #31DaysOfGraves
A side-on view of a chest tomb with two figures on the top.  On the facing side are six female figures holding shields representing the daughters of the deceased.  The two figures on top have their hands together in prayer.  The nearer female figure is wearing a red cloak.
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves

Day 2 is "nautical". This tombstone is from the Camperdown cemetery in Sydney, Australia. It is a monument to the victims of the shipwrecked ships Dunbar and Catherine Adamson. Camperdown cemetery, Sydney. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar_...
Black and white photograph of a monument to the victims of two shipwrecks.  In the foreground is a rusty anchor and chain.  Behind is a large rectangular box-like monument reminiscent of chest tombs with a long inscription on the front. In large letters is the date "A.D. 1857"
welwynarchsoc.bsky.social
I'm game for #31DaysOfGraves but can someone point me to the list of themes for this year?

Day 1 was "flower" (and yes, I know I'm a day late).

This is from Kimpton churchyard, Hertfordshire, UK.
Black and white detail of a tombstone.  In the middle is a roundel with three flowers. Around the roundel are the words "mother" (above) and "in loving memory" below.  In two lines below are the words "Fanny Smith" and "Died Dec 3 1935 aged 72". The lettering is in applied metal and some letters have dropped off (e.g., the I in "smith").  The latter is clear, however, as the holes to attach the letter mark it out.