Naomi Sykes

@handle.invalid

Head of Department of Archaeology & History @UniofExeter

Naomi Sykes FSA is a zooarchaeologist and is currently the Lawrence Professor of Archaeology at the University of Exeter. Sykes researches human-animal relations in the past.

Source: Wikipedia

Environmental science 35%

Biology 21%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes @lemoustier.bsky.social · 3d

My extremely talented husband's first batch of knives to sell 🔪 ...
Get in touch for details inc sheath options: cefn_digoll_crafts on Insta
www.instagram.com/p/DUfpBDCDHO...
#artisan #craft

Photo showing a wooden bowl in wooden surface. The bowl contains 7 different short blade knives, all hafted using different materials.

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · 6d

This time last week we held a CBM (Ceramic Building Material) workshop, training keen students how to identify and record Roman tiles! This collection is from an important site in the centre of Exeter. They all know their imbrex from their tegula now! Huge thanks to Naomi Payne for leading the day.

Two students and Naomi smile for the camera while holding up tile fragments.

Students and a lecturer (Sue) talking about tiles

A group of students, all smiling, post while looking at tiles. In front of them are some callipers.

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · 7d

Research funding news! Our very own Prof Naomi Sykes will be spending the next three years working on a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship, providing important context on the value of archaeological archives. More details here: news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h...

New research fellowship seeking to address the UK’s ‘crisis’ of archaeological curation

A leading authority on the interaction between animals, humans and the environment through history has been awarded a prestigious national fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust, focusing on the crisis ...

news.exeter.ac.uk

Naomi Sykes @handle.invalid · 13d

Maybe I rehash my first ever public talk which was exclusively about #curatorRob or rather #Rob as he was known in 1992

Naomi Sykes @handle.invalid · 13d

Huh, thanks for the heads up - um, better get that in my diary! Have no idea what I’m going to talk about. Should it be Fishbourne and Roman stuff or something else?

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 13d

@naomisykes.bsky.social is a friend of the Palace and might well be sharing some amazing new insights into what was going on with our animals 2000 years ago.

Either way - this talk is guaranteed to be a banger. Plus, it looks like it might be FREE!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/animal-ans...

Animal Answers to Archaeological and Cultural Issues, a talk by Naomi Sykes

Naomi will show how biocultural heritage can not only answer questions about past societies but also modern issues.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Naomi Sykes @handle.invalid · 14d

Awh, thanks James! It was so fun filming that Bayeux Tapestry show! That reminds me, my Dept has the footage from quite a few scenes that never made the final cut - one on horses and another on Norman hunting and Forest Law. Must dig them out and make them available somewhere…

Reposted by Margot C. Finn, Catherine J. Frieman, Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · 27d

So pleased to announce that with our partners (Devon County Council, Tiverton Archaeology Group and Sampford Peverell Society) we've have been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to rescue a threatened and rare Roman villa site in Devon: news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-h...

New archaeology project awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to unearth and save a rare Roman villa in Devon

A new research and community project, funded by a £249,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will excavate a rare Roman villa in Devon containing archaeologically significant mosaics. The...

news.exeter.ac.uk

Reposted by Patricia Owens, Naomi Sykes

Leverhulme Trust @leverhulme.ac.uk · 29d

From the contribution of the Global South to the development of human rights to making history: writing Scotland’s post-reformation, the Trust Board awards twenty-seven fellowships for research in the humanities and social sciences. www.leverhulme.ac.uk/news/major-r...

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Exeter Cathedral @exetercathedral.bsky.social · Jan 8

Are you in Year 10-12? Interested in history?

We’re offering two students the chance to spend a week away from the classroom (29 June - 3 July) helping catalogue objects, curate displays + write blogs for our popular newsletter.

Apply by 20 January: www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/library-and-...

Reposted by David Underdown, Naomi Sykes, Nicole Guenther Discenza , and 1 more David Underdown, Naomi Sykes, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Anna McMullan

The Museum of English Rural Life @themerl.bsky.social · Jan 7

Are you a PhD student interested in using museum collections in your research?

Our next free doctoral training webinar takes place next Wednesday. Join us for guidance and examples of uncovering marginalised and minoritised stories in collections.

collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/doc...

Doctoral Training Programme: What's Not There? Absences in Collections | Museums and Collections

Explore techniques to research 'against the grain' and uncover marginalised stories.

collections.reading.ac.uk

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Matthew Collins @matthewcollins.bsky.social · Jan 7

Come work with us! 🧬 We're hiring a part-time Biomolecular Lab Tech @cam-archaeology.bsky.social .Join our team in the Henry Wellcome Building working on DNA & proteins.

Apply by Feb 2: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/biomole...

#ScienceJobs #Cambridge #Archaeology #STEM

Biomolecular Research Laboratory Technician (Part Time)

The Department of Archaeology seeks to appoint a part-time, permanent Biomolecular Research Laboratory Technician. The post holder will be based in the Department's laboratories, which are spread

www.cam.ac.uk

Naomi Sykes @handle.invalid · Jan 7

Thrilled to have been part of this Digging for Britain series, led by a great team. Met fun colleagues, chatted about their cool research, over-enthused at the cameras and did my first ever voice over work (talking slowly is hard!) Tune in tonight, and over the next few weeks, on BBC2 and iplayer!

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · Jan 6

We may regret it, but we're allowing #CuratorRob out in public. We've hosed him down and locked his cider shed, so it'll be fine, right?🙏😬

For ONE NIGHT ONLY (15 Jan, 8pm) he's giving an online talk about the recent discoveries at Palace. Huxley may feature.

£5 plus booking fee. bit.ly/flaevents

It's a model of a classical Roman building (Fishbourne Roman Palace, unsurprisingly). The image makes it look like a view from real life with trees and landscape in the background.

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Dec 8

Join our PGTs for their annual conference!

📢 Researching the past
📅 Thursday 11 December 9.30-4.30
📍 Talks in Streatham Court LTC and posters displayed in Marchant Syndicate Room A in Building One

Do come along to support our students and socialise ❤️

Reposted by Joanna Brück, Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Dec 2

Great news! Our AHRC-funded Warhorse book has been nominated as Book of the Year in the 2026 Current Archaeology Awards. Prof Oliver Creighton's 'From Bayeux to Bosham' project is also up for Project of the Year! Voting is open at www.archaeology.co.uk/vote

Current Archaeology Awards, Nomainated 2026 Book of the Year: Medieval Warhorse: Equestrian Landscapes, Material Culture, and Zooarchaeology in Britain, AD 800-1550

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · Dec 2

A warning from the past: if there is anything you would like to preserve long-term in good condition, please don't stick tape on it!

As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.

Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻

A pile of discoloured tape strips on the right, next to a piece of paper on the left with an orange residue stain.

Reposted by Joanna Brück, Naomi Sykes

Greger Larson @gregerlarson.bsky.social · Nov 28

What's that? 5 ancient doggy papers in 10 days is too many dogs?

Can I interest you in some cats?

Perhaps a complete retelling of cat domestication, dispersal, and replacement across Eurasia?

As you wish!

Science
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Cell Genomics
www.cell.com/cell-genomic...

The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago

The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation to anthropogenic environments. Unc...

www.science.org

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Douglas Natusch @douglasnatusch.bsky.social · Nov 28

From artefacts and materials class, Exeter University Archaeology, sending kind regards for the weekend

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Naomi Sykes

National Trust Research @researchnt.bsky.social · Nov 28

🎉Exciting news! 🏆Together with our research partner the University of Exeter, we have won in the Strategic Partnership category at the #KnowledgeExchangeUK Awards! Read more about the work researchandinnovation.co.uk/creating-rea...

Exeter Blog Creating real-world impact: The University of Exeter and the National Trust

Creating real-world impact: The University of Exeter and the National Trust

researchandinnovation.co.uk

Reposted by Joanna Brück, Naomi Sykes, Ricardo Rocha

Science Magazine @science.org · Nov 27

The domestic cat may be a far more recent arrival to Europe than previously thought, a new Science study. finds. The results offer new insight into one of humanity’s most enigmatic animal companions and identify North Africa as the cradle of the modern housecat.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/44kov1S

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Nov 27

There was a great turnout yesterday to Prof Alex Pryor's (birthday) talk on 'Hunters of Giants: How to kill an Upper Palaeolithic mammoth, revealed by stable isotopes and DNA'. This was part of our Centre for Human-Animal-Environment Bioarchaeology (HumAnE) series of events, to which all welcome!

Classroom full of students listening to Alex talk. He is pointing at a slide with various images.

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · Nov 24

Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the walruses, for today is their special day!

To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.

📷 Reserve 590 BUF

#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Dr. Liz M. Quinlan @archaeoliz.bsky.social · Nov 12

Head on over to our project website to read all about the recent conference and data collection trip which had me zigzagging across northwestern Europe via train all the way from Copenhagen to Exeter! #researchupdate #archaeology #datacollection

sites.google.com/palaeome.org...

Beyond Stockfish - Blog

November 10, 2025

sites.google.com

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Oct 23

Our Masters students taking a module in Experimental Archaeology visited Stonehenge yesterday to learn about reconstructed Neolithic houses and a new project to build a large Neolithic education building, based on timber structure Durrington 68 😍 Also starring Ed's Late Neolithic decorated hard hat👷

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · Oct 22

We did a Telly! 🤩🎬

Four in a Bed....
www.channel4.com/programmes/f...

(had to take a photo of our computer because stupid Channel 4 wouldn't let us screen snip)

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Oct 20

Yesterday, Prof. Stephen Rippon was invited to London to be presented the prestigious British Academy Landscape Archaeology Medal, awarded for distinguished achievement in that field of archaeology. Many congratulations on this much deserved honour!

Photo of the medal - which reads British Academy John Coles Medal - Landscape Archaeology

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

University of Exeter Archaeology and History Department @uoearchhist.bsky.social · Oct 17

Are you considering a PhD? 🤔 Join our 'Masterclass - PhD proposal and funding 101'

📅Wednesday 3 December
🕰️ 10am or 4pm
📍ZOOM

All welcome!

🎫 Book your *free* ticket:

• 10am: fixr.co/event/master...
• 4pm: fixr.co/event/master...

Reposted by Naomi Sykes

UCL Archaeology South-East @archsoutheast.bsky.social · Oct 10

📢 Announcing three(!) new opportunities for aspiring archaeologists to join our Archaeological Fieldwork Technician apprenticeship program!

Apply now (closes Friday 24 October): www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/VAC1000345576

Two archaeologists on an excavation. One squats to trowel the ground, another leans over to watch

Add to Home Screen

Light up
your news

Add to Home Screen

Light upyour news

Sign in to Lightnews

Sign up to start reading

Connect Bluesky

Connect with Bluesky

Light up
your news