Dr. James Dilley
@ancientcraftuk.bsky.social
Experimental Archaeologist; Media consultant; Specialist in Flintknapping & Bronze casting: see my work displayed at The British Museum & Stonehenge
Find me at: https://www.ancientcraft.co.uk/
Find me at: https://www.ancientcraft.co.uk/
@nasadler.bsky.social Nice to see you on the Prehistory Guys recording earlier. Hope you’re keeping well!
March 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
@nasadler.bsky.social Nice to see you on the Prehistory Guys recording earlier. Hope you’re keeping well!
@elliescerri.bsky.social Hey! Hope you’re keeping well! Would you mind if I dropped you a message about some sites to visit in Malta? (Finally getting the chance to visit!)
March 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM
@elliescerri.bsky.social Hey! Hope you’re keeping well! Would you mind if I dropped you a message about some sites to visit in Malta? (Finally getting the chance to visit!)
Agriculture, the technology that changed the world (and us)
A seasonal cycle of moving to different campsites to utilise food sources changed to working the land. Neolithic farmers appear to have genetically dominated the smaller hunter-gatherer groups within a short period of time. 🏺🦣🧪
A seasonal cycle of moving to different campsites to utilise food sources changed to working the land. Neolithic farmers appear to have genetically dominated the smaller hunter-gatherer groups within a short period of time. 🏺🦣🧪
February 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Agriculture, the technology that changed the world (and us)
A seasonal cycle of moving to different campsites to utilise food sources changed to working the land. Neolithic farmers appear to have genetically dominated the smaller hunter-gatherer groups within a short period of time. 🏺🦣🧪
A seasonal cycle of moving to different campsites to utilise food sources changed to working the land. Neolithic farmers appear to have genetically dominated the smaller hunter-gatherer groups within a short period of time. 🏺🦣🧪
How did people make arrowheads in the Stone Age?
A flake of stone would be trimmed, then have hundreds of tiny flakes detached using an antler point. The knapper would put pressure on the flaker tool from their abdomen while the flake was braced again a leg.
🎥 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
A flake of stone would be trimmed, then have hundreds of tiny flakes detached using an antler point. The knapper would put pressure on the flaker tool from their abdomen while the flake was braced again a leg.
🎥 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
January 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
How did people make arrowheads in the Stone Age?
A flake of stone would be trimmed, then have hundreds of tiny flakes detached using an antler point. The knapper would put pressure on the flaker tool from their abdomen while the flake was braced again a leg.
🎥 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
A flake of stone would be trimmed, then have hundreds of tiny flakes detached using an antler point. The knapper would put pressure on the flaker tool from their abdomen while the flake was braced again a leg.
🎥 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
My gorgeous Christmas present 💝 By the hands of lovely @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social
December 25, 2024 at 1:29 PM
My gorgeous Christmas present 💝 By the hands of lovely @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and @ancientcraftuk.bsky.social
Well, it’s finally happened, one for the bucket list.
This week I found a flint handaxe at Happisburgh while walking with friends. Their shared concern was due to my delighted dancing looking like I was having a funny turn!
This week I found a flint handaxe at Happisburgh while walking with friends. Their shared concern was due to my delighted dancing looking like I was having a funny turn!
December 13, 2024 at 6:38 PM
Well, it’s finally happened, one for the bucket list.
This week I found a flint handaxe at Happisburgh while walking with friends. Their shared concern was due to my delighted dancing looking like I was having a funny turn!
This week I found a flint handaxe at Happisburgh while walking with friends. Their shared concern was due to my delighted dancing looking like I was having a funny turn!
Handaxes on the move!
We’ve been busy making lots of replica prehistoric goodies for Christmas presents. But a couple found themselves on a plane with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social heading to Australia for her Cells to Civilisation tour!
Here’s one of Palaeolithic handaxes being made:
🏺 🦣 🧪
We’ve been busy making lots of replica prehistoric goodies for Christmas presents. But a couple found themselves on a plane with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social heading to Australia for her Cells to Civilisation tour!
Here’s one of Palaeolithic handaxes being made:
🏺 🦣 🧪
December 5, 2024 at 10:55 AM
Handaxes on the move!
We’ve been busy making lots of replica prehistoric goodies for Christmas presents. But a couple found themselves on a plane with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social heading to Australia for her Cells to Civilisation tour!
Here’s one of Palaeolithic handaxes being made:
🏺 🦣 🧪
We’ve been busy making lots of replica prehistoric goodies for Christmas presents. But a couple found themselves on a plane with @profaliceroberts.bsky.social heading to Australia for her Cells to Civilisation tour!
Here’s one of Palaeolithic handaxes being made:
🏺 🦣 🧪
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
I have many new followers since I last introduced myself. I'm an #archaeologist at Yale, and one of my specialties is identifying the geological origins of obsidian artifacts using nondestructive chemical tests. This carved obsidian bowl, for example, originated from a source in northeastern Turkey.
November 30, 2024 at 4:13 PM
I have many new followers since I last introduced myself. I'm an #archaeologist at Yale, and one of my specialties is identifying the geological origins of obsidian artifacts using nondestructive chemical tests. This carved obsidian bowl, for example, originated from a source in northeastern Turkey.
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
In honor of #FlintFriday, get a load of this chonky beauty from the Collection Smith at UdeM: a textbook amygdaloid Acheulean handaxe on tan flint. I especially dig the differential patination shown by color differences that suggests one of two possible trajectories in this tool's use-life... 1/3
November 29, 2024 at 1:36 PM
In honor of #FlintFriday, get a load of this chonky beauty from the Collection Smith at UdeM: a textbook amygdaloid Acheulean handaxe on tan flint. I especially dig the differential patination shown by color differences that suggests one of two possible trajectories in this tool's use-life... 1/3
I am often asked what I do with the flakes from flintknapping when making a large tool (and am occasionally accused of being wasteful). But many are saved for arrowheads or other tools, while others are saved for workshops so students can practice making scrapers and flake tools.
November 28, 2024 at 5:40 PM
I am often asked what I do with the flakes from flintknapping when making a large tool (and am occasionally accused of being wasteful). But many are saved for arrowheads or other tools, while others are saved for workshops so students can practice making scrapers and flake tools.
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
The Ossuary, Jersey, with extra lens flare.
A small Cist-in-Circle tomb
The remains of 20 people were interred in this little chamber of pink & grey granite during the Chalcolithic. Built amidst coastal woodland before sand dunes inundated it.
@jerseyheritage.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
#AncientSky 🏺
A small Cist-in-Circle tomb
The remains of 20 people were interred in this little chamber of pink & grey granite during the Chalcolithic. Built amidst coastal woodland before sand dunes inundated it.
@jerseyheritage.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
#AncientSky 🏺
November 26, 2024 at 8:27 AM
The Ossuary, Jersey, with extra lens flare.
A small Cist-in-Circle tomb
The remains of 20 people were interred in this little chamber of pink & grey granite during the Chalcolithic. Built amidst coastal woodland before sand dunes inundated it.
@jerseyheritage.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
#AncientSky 🏺
A small Cist-in-Circle tomb
The remains of 20 people were interred in this little chamber of pink & grey granite during the Chalcolithic. Built amidst coastal woodland before sand dunes inundated it.
@jerseyheritage.bsky.social
#TombTuesday
#AncientSky 🏺
Weirdest material I've knapped?
There are a few, but can you guess what this is?
Art group Troika asked me to make flint handaxes which would be fitted to silicon wafer boards as part of several art installations including "Pink Noise" at the Langen Foundation...
📷 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
There are a few, but can you guess what this is?
Art group Troika asked me to make flint handaxes which would be fitted to silicon wafer boards as part of several art installations including "Pink Noise" at the Langen Foundation...
📷 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
November 25, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Weirdest material I've knapped?
There are a few, but can you guess what this is?
Art group Troika asked me to make flint handaxes which would be fitted to silicon wafer boards as part of several art installations including "Pink Noise" at the Langen Foundation...
📷 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
There are a few, but can you guess what this is?
Art group Troika asked me to make flint handaxes which would be fitted to silicon wafer boards as part of several art installations including "Pink Noise" at the Langen Foundation...
📷 @emlouwynjones.bsky.social
Sadly the AncientCraft Facebook page is becoming overrun with comments like this on almost every post/video. Frightening stuff… *blocks user*
November 25, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Sadly the AncientCraft Facebook page is becoming overrun with comments like this on almost every post/video. Frightening stuff… *blocks user*
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
Prehistorians starter pack:
go.bsky.app/R1ejt58
go.bsky.app/R1ejt58
November 24, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Prehistorians starter pack:
go.bsky.app/R1ejt58
go.bsky.app/R1ejt58
Making a Bronze Age axe…
A few years ago @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and I made a film for Kings Lynn museum showing the heating, casting and finishing involved in making the kind of axes used to make Seahenge.
Here is a shortened version:
A few years ago @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and I made a film for Kings Lynn museum showing the heating, casting and finishing involved in making the kind of axes used to make Seahenge.
Here is a shortened version:
November 21, 2024 at 6:27 PM
Making a Bronze Age axe…
A few years ago @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and I made a film for Kings Lynn museum showing the heating, casting and finishing involved in making the kind of axes used to make Seahenge.
Here is a shortened version:
A few years ago @emlouwynjones.bsky.social and I made a film for Kings Lynn museum showing the heating, casting and finishing involved in making the kind of axes used to make Seahenge.
Here is a shortened version:
Technology that seemingly started with working silicon is now mostly driven by it.
One of the weirder materials I’ve knapped was refined silicon from an ingot that are typically used for microchips. Though it flakes, it’s quite unlike flint or glass, but can be used to make a Palaeolithic handaxe!
One of the weirder materials I’ve knapped was refined silicon from an ingot that are typically used for microchips. Though it flakes, it’s quite unlike flint or glass, but can be used to make a Palaeolithic handaxe!
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Technology that seemingly started with working silicon is now mostly driven by it.
One of the weirder materials I’ve knapped was refined silicon from an ingot that are typically used for microchips. Though it flakes, it’s quite unlike flint or glass, but can be used to make a Palaeolithic handaxe!
One of the weirder materials I’ve knapped was refined silicon from an ingot that are typically used for microchips. Though it flakes, it’s quite unlike flint or glass, but can be used to make a Palaeolithic handaxe!
What’s under this flake?
While I was working on this flint I discovered this little fellow who had been trapped in flint for 90 million years. Fossils like this can make flintknapping tricky as they can divert or stop the plane of fracture which forms a flake. But what did I make in the end?
While I was working on this flint I discovered this little fellow who had been trapped in flint for 90 million years. Fossils like this can make flintknapping tricky as they can divert or stop the plane of fracture which forms a flake. But what did I make in the end?
November 18, 2024 at 5:59 PM
What’s under this flake?
While I was working on this flint I discovered this little fellow who had been trapped in flint for 90 million years. Fossils like this can make flintknapping tricky as they can divert or stop the plane of fracture which forms a flake. But what did I make in the end?
While I was working on this flint I discovered this little fellow who had been trapped in flint for 90 million years. Fossils like this can make flintknapping tricky as they can divert or stop the plane of fracture which forms a flake. But what did I make in the end?
Oh. My. Goodness.
There’s something extraordinary about this otherwise pretty standard Late Bronze Age axehead:
A human fingerprint. A real, visible and tangible connection to someone from 3000 years ago. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, idk what will. 🥹
#FindsFriday
Link to record: finds.org.uk/database/art...
A human fingerprint. A real, visible and tangible connection to someone from 3000 years ago. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, idk what will. 🥹
#FindsFriday
Link to record: finds.org.uk/database/art...
November 15, 2024 at 10:16 PM
Oh. My. Goodness.
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
Just a dose of #Archaeology Zen. Sealed agricultural layers by the coast of Southwestern Norway. Black and brown layers are the old agricultural fields. The bottom one is both field and the initial forrest clearance in the Bronze Age. Fields were regularly covered by sand over time.
November 14, 2024 at 5:48 AM
Just a dose of #Archaeology Zen. Sealed agricultural layers by the coast of Southwestern Norway. Black and brown layers are the old agricultural fields. The bottom one is both field and the initial forrest clearance in the Bronze Age. Fields were regularly covered by sand over time.
How were handaxes made in the Stone Age?
They were made & used by several different hominin species in the Palaeolithic from just under 2 million years ago up until the last Neanderthal ~ 40,000 yrs ago.
I make these for our prehistoric replicas shop (link in bio)
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
They were made & used by several different hominin species in the Palaeolithic from just under 2 million years ago up until the last Neanderthal ~ 40,000 yrs ago.
I make these for our prehistoric replicas shop (link in bio)
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
November 14, 2024 at 6:34 PM
How were handaxes made in the Stone Age?
They were made & used by several different hominin species in the Palaeolithic from just under 2 million years ago up until the last Neanderthal ~ 40,000 yrs ago.
I make these for our prehistoric replicas shop (link in bio)
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
They were made & used by several different hominin species in the Palaeolithic from just under 2 million years ago up until the last Neanderthal ~ 40,000 yrs ago.
I make these for our prehistoric replicas shop (link in bio)
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
My replica of the Iron Age armlet fragment from Dunadd is off to @kilmartinmuseum. A great opportunity to work with one of the cannel coal samples I collected from the Fife coastline earlier in the year. I think it's safe to say this Scottish 'jet' lookalike stood up to the test!
November 13, 2024 at 12:31 PM
My replica of the Iron Age armlet fragment from Dunadd is off to @kilmartinmuseum. A great opportunity to work with one of the cannel coal samples I collected from the Fife coastline earlier in the year. I think it's safe to say this Scottish 'jet' lookalike stood up to the test!
Our replica Bronze Age Basal looped spears are back in stock!
3300-3125 years ago, these spears would have been the primary weapon of a warrior while swords were still developing. They were effective for slashing & thrusting.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
3300-3125 years ago, these spears would have been the primary weapon of a warrior while swords were still developing. They were effective for slashing & thrusting.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
November 13, 2024 at 6:36 PM
Our replica Bronze Age Basal looped spears are back in stock!
3300-3125 years ago, these spears would have been the primary weapon of a warrior while swords were still developing. They were effective for slashing & thrusting.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
3300-3125 years ago, these spears would have been the primary weapon of a warrior while swords were still developing. They were effective for slashing & thrusting.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
🎥 @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr. James Dilley
Our online shop potted-history.co.uk is definitely worth a look.
November 11, 2024 at 5:42 PM
Our online shop potted-history.co.uk is definitely worth a look.
Made in their hundreds to fell thousands...
A tool that changed the British landscape above and below ground was the Neolithic axe. From around 6000 years ago they were produced in huge to fell the Mesolithic forest.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
📸: @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
A tool that changed the British landscape above and below ground was the Neolithic axe. From around 6000 years ago they were produced in huge to fell the Mesolithic forest.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
📸: @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
November 23, 2023 at 5:44 PM
Made in their hundreds to fell thousands...
A tool that changed the British landscape above and below ground was the Neolithic axe. From around 6000 years ago they were produced in huge to fell the Mesolithic forest.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
📸: @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social
A tool that changed the British landscape above and below ground was the Neolithic axe. From around 6000 years ago they were produced in huge to fell the Mesolithic forest.
www.ancientcraft.co.uk/product-page...
📸: @emmalouwynjones.bsky.social