Ardent Archivist
@ardentarchivist.bsky.social
Nasty woman (and occasionally proud of it). Dog mom, citizen of the Earth, history & archaeology afficionada, all-around observer, faithful commentator on the ridiculous.
Warning: there will be puns.
Also at: @ArdentArchivist@archaeo.social
Warning: there will be puns.
Also at: @ArdentArchivist@archaeo.social
Pinned
Serious Q: anyone else detest BlueSky’s habit of automatically jumping to the most recent post instead of keeping your place in your timeline?
So either you miss everything or you have to scroll back to find your place - as more ppl join, that becomes ever more impractical.
Only thing I don’t like.
So either you miss everything or you have to scroll back to find your place - as more ppl join, that becomes ever more impractical.
Only thing I don’t like.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Three years after its announcement, @unesco.org has launched the "Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects", a digital project (funded by Saudi Arabia) presenting #looted objects as 3D models:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/30/u... via
@theartnewspaper.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/30/u... via
@theartnewspaper.bsky.social
Unesco’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects goes live
The digital project, which was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, presents looted objects in 3D form
www.theartnewspaper.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Three years after its announcement, @unesco.org has launched the "Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects", a digital project (funded by Saudi Arabia) presenting #looted objects as 3D models:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/30/u... via
@theartnewspaper.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/30/u... via
@theartnewspaper.bsky.social
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
I'm in this Irish Solar power group. I don't have solar as I can't afford the installation, but I like to learn the craic and see bills like this posted all the time.
Fossil fuel corporations own our governments.
Fossil fuel corporations own our governments.
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I'm in this Irish Solar power group. I don't have solar as I can't afford the installation, but I like to learn the craic and see bills like this posted all the time.
Fossil fuel corporations own our governments.
Fossil fuel corporations own our governments.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
For #EpigraphyTuesday
Roman pottery with Latin inscriptions, made for wine drinking! 🍷
‘Give us wine!’
‘Fill me up!’
‘Well be to you!’
Trier Region, Late 3rd-early 4th century AD. Landesmuseum Trier 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Roman pottery with Latin inscriptions, made for wine drinking! 🍷
‘Give us wine!’
‘Fill me up!’
‘Well be to you!’
Trier Region, Late 3rd-early 4th century AD. Landesmuseum Trier 📷 by me
#Archaeology
![My photo collage shows three Roman black-slipped pottery vessels with white painted Latin inscriptions and white vine-like flowing decoration set against a rich pinky-purple display case background.
These so-called ‘motto beakers’, decorated with wine-themed Latin inscriptions painted in white slip, were produced in the Trier region during the mid 3rd century. They proved very popular and were exported to Britain and the Danube
Top image: cylindrical cup with straight sides with narrower base. The dark, almost black surface is decorated with large white letters V M N. The inscription around the cup reads VINIVM NOBIIS DA/ Give us wine! There is a band of rope-like white ornamentation near the rim. Beneath the lettering is a vinemotif with cluster of threeroundish ‘grape’ shapes. There are visible cracks where the cup has been restored. From Trier or surroundings, 280-315 AD.
Bottom left: elegant dark jug with a narrow base, rounded body, and long neck that flares outward to a broad lip. A single curved handle connects the neck to the upper body. The decoration includes the large white letters R E P and swirling white scroll ornamentation. The full inscription encircling the jug reads REPLE ME - Fill me up! From Trier, St. Matthias, 280-315 AD.
Bottom right: A cylindrical beaker with a narrower base. White lettering near the top reads E N E T I B. The full inscription around the beaker reads B[ENIE T[BI S]|[T] - Well be to you! Beneath the text is a continuous vine-scroll design with stylised leaves or grapes. From Trier, Louis-Lintz-Straße, 260-270 AD.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:j56ydp325adovobhwpkzc6sp/bafkreidvgcm4meck4zsw7uiucznujg7fw5cdeu2lguukrglcw6t2gxmujq@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
For #EpigraphyTuesday
Roman pottery with Latin inscriptions, made for wine drinking! 🍷
‘Give us wine!’
‘Fill me up!’
‘Well be to you!’
Trier Region, Late 3rd-early 4th century AD. Landesmuseum Trier 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Roman pottery with Latin inscriptions, made for wine drinking! 🍷
‘Give us wine!’
‘Fill me up!’
‘Well be to you!’
Trier Region, Late 3rd-early 4th century AD. Landesmuseum Trier 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
#TombTuesday
Maen Y Bardd Burial Chamber stands high in the hills above the Conwy valley in #Wales. Maen y Bardd translates as “The Bard’s Stone” & legend has it that those brave enough to spend a night inside the chamber wake either as a poet or a madman!
3500BC
#Archaeology
Maen Y Bardd Burial Chamber stands high in the hills above the Conwy valley in #Wales. Maen y Bardd translates as “The Bard’s Stone” & legend has it that those brave enough to spend a night inside the chamber wake either as a poet or a madman!
3500BC
#Archaeology
November 18, 2025 at 12:41 PM
#TombTuesday
Maen Y Bardd Burial Chamber stands high in the hills above the Conwy valley in #Wales. Maen y Bardd translates as “The Bard’s Stone” & legend has it that those brave enough to spend a night inside the chamber wake either as a poet or a madman!
3500BC
#Archaeology
Maen Y Bardd Burial Chamber stands high in the hills above the Conwy valley in #Wales. Maen y Bardd translates as “The Bard’s Stone” & legend has it that those brave enough to spend a night inside the chamber wake either as a poet or a madman!
3500BC
#Archaeology
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
A late Neolithic dagger found in the pile dwelling site of the Roseninsel, Bavaria.The blade is made of flint from the Monti Lessini, upper Italy.
Dating 3500 - 2700 BC.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Dating 3500 - 2700 BC.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
November 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A late Neolithic dagger found in the pile dwelling site of the Roseninsel, Bavaria.The blade is made of flint from the Monti Lessini, upper Italy.
Dating 3500 - 2700 BC.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Dating 3500 - 2700 BC.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 555:
Don't use descriptions of weather as backdrop or set dressing. Write how it affects the way your characters interact with their world: how it changes their clothes, their behaviour, their mood, their perception of sounds, colours, light. Make it count.
Don't use descriptions of weather as backdrop or set dressing. Write how it affects the way your characters interact with their world: how it changes their clothes, their behaviour, their mood, their perception of sounds, colours, light. Make it count.
November 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 555:
Don't use descriptions of weather as backdrop or set dressing. Write how it affects the way your characters interact with their world: how it changes their clothes, their behaviour, their mood, their perception of sounds, colours, light. Make it count.
Don't use descriptions of weather as backdrop or set dressing. Write how it affects the way your characters interact with their world: how it changes their clothes, their behaviour, their mood, their perception of sounds, colours, light. Make it count.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
People who dismiss e-books or audiobooks as being somehow less worthy or less meaningful than physical books are missing the point of books. Books are not ink and paper, just as human beings are not defined by their physicality. Books are connections; emotions; ideas; just like their creators.
November 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
People who dismiss e-books or audiobooks as being somehow less worthy or less meaningful than physical books are missing the point of books. Books are not ink and paper, just as human beings are not defined by their physicality. Books are connections; emotions; ideas; just like their creators.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
And this morning the Shed is a spinning-wheel, turning light into darkness...
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
And this morning the Shed is a spinning-wheel, turning light into darkness...
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
"... it goes after those of us who look like we could be immigrants. We have talked a lot about illegal immigration sitting at the heart of this debate, but what we are not talking about so much is race"
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
November 17, 2025 at 8:01 AM
"... it goes after those of us who look like we could be immigrants. We have talked a lot about illegal immigration sitting at the heart of this debate, but what we are not talking about so much is race"
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
Shabana Mahmood condemning the hostile environment back in 2018
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
No way this whole #Neolithic research stuff will ever get boring. Just look at this fantastic little clay #figurine from Nahal Ein Gev II (modern Israel), conveying a 12,000 years old #Natufian story …
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-11...
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-11...
The woman and the goose: A 12,000-year-old glimpse into prehistoric belief
A 12,000-year-old clay figurine unearthed in northern Israel, depicting a woman and a goose, is the earliest known human-animal interaction figurine. Found at the Late Natufian site of Nahal Ein Gev I...
phys.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:23 PM
No way this whole #Neolithic research stuff will ever get boring. Just look at this fantastic little clay #figurine from Nahal Ein Gev II (modern Israel), conveying a 12,000 years old #Natufian story …
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-11...
🏺 phys.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
How exactly does she think promoting racist policies will help? Surely her experience of racism should guide her towards policies that bring people together and undermine rather than endorse the racism in our society and in our politics?
#JustSaying
#JustSaying
"I am the one that is regularly called a fucking Paki and told to go back home" says Shabana Mahmood.
"I wish it were possible to say that there isn't a problem here and... it's just extremist right wing talking points. But this system is broken, and it is... creating the division that we all see"
"I wish it were possible to say that there isn't a problem here and... it's just extremist right wing talking points. But this system is broken, and it is... creating the division that we all see"
November 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
How exactly does she think promoting racist policies will help? Surely her experience of racism should guide her towards policies that bring people together and undermine rather than endorse the racism in our society and in our politics?
#JustSaying
#JustSaying
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Linda Ervine is a leader in the language revival in NI despite intimidation and threats. Here she and others from unionist and protestant backgrounds explain the importance of the Irish language. It wouldn't hurt the likes of Leahy and Linehan to listen.
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
What’s behind Belfast’s Irish language revival? | In The News
shows.acast.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Linda Ervine is a leader in the language revival in NI despite intimidation and threats. Here she and others from unionist and protestant backgrounds explain the importance of the Irish language. It wouldn't hurt the likes of Leahy and Linehan to listen.
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Brilliant stuff. @lindaervine.bsky.social speaks out clearly in defence of a language that belongs to us all.
If you're stuck for time listen from 26 minutes. It really does root us in the land. Get to a bunrang and find out for yourself!
(Back next year Linda!)
If you're stuck for time listen from 26 minutes. It really does root us in the land. Get to a bunrang and find out for yourself!
(Back next year Linda!)
Linda Ervine is a leader in the language revival in NI despite intimidation and threats. Here she and others from unionist and protestant backgrounds explain the importance of the Irish language. It wouldn't hurt the likes of Leahy and Linehan to listen.
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
shows.acast.com/in-the-news/... #gaeilge
What’s behind Belfast’s Irish language revival? | In The News
shows.acast.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Brilliant stuff. @lindaervine.bsky.social speaks out clearly in defence of a language that belongs to us all.
If you're stuck for time listen from 26 minutes. It really does root us in the land. Get to a bunrang and find out for yourself!
(Back next year Linda!)
If you're stuck for time listen from 26 minutes. It really does root us in the land. Get to a bunrang and find out for yourself!
(Back next year Linda!)
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Something lovely to start the week! 🐙🏺❤️
Ancient clay pots with octopus decoration, made by artisans from Bronze Age Crete some 3,500 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Ancient clay pots with octopus decoration, made by artisans from Bronze Age Crete some 3,500 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
November 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Something lovely to start the week! 🐙🏺❤️
Ancient clay pots with octopus decoration, made by artisans from Bronze Age Crete some 3,500 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Ancient clay pots with octopus decoration, made by artisans from Bronze Age Crete some 3,500 years ago!
Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Erm....I remember the concentration camps were full of jewellery and personal things stolen. This is one bloody awful look for Labour. Who's advising them? An ouija board of Goebbles?
This is a new low from a govt plumbing the depths of performative cruelty in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing this country
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
November 17, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Erm....I remember the concentration camps were full of jewellery and personal things stolen. This is one bloody awful look for Labour. Who's advising them? An ouija board of Goebbles?
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
This is a new low from a govt plumbing the depths of performative cruelty in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing this country
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
November 17, 2025 at 10:14 AM
This is a new low from a govt plumbing the depths of performative cruelty in hopes that the public won’t notice they have no answers to the real issues facing this country
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
A sensible, humane govt would focus on safe routes to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 42:
No one *needs* to work every day. But doing so - even for only a few minutes - ensures that you *think* about your work every day; solving problems away from your desk; keeping the plates spinning.
No one *needs* to work every day. But doing so - even for only a few minutes - ensures that you *think* about your work every day; solving problems away from your desk; keeping the plates spinning.
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 42:
No one *needs* to work every day. But doing so - even for only a few minutes - ensures that you *think* about your work every day; solving problems away from your desk; keeping the plates spinning.
No one *needs* to work every day. But doing so - even for only a few minutes - ensures that you *think* about your work every day; solving problems away from your desk; keeping the plates spinning.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Private Equity Curse.
PE firms taking millions in profits from care sector each yr, over a third are in tax havens
£256m profit in three England regions, £45m in dividends, £33.6m paid in interest mostly to affiliates in tax havens.
Less spent on care. Yet govts handing NHS to PE.
PE firms taking millions in profits from care sector each yr, over a third are in tax havens
£256m profit in three England regions, £45m in dividends, £33.6m paid in interest mostly to affiliates in tax havens.
Less spent on care. Yet govts handing NHS to PE.
Private equity firms taking millions in profits from care sector each year, new analysis reveals
Analysis finds private companies running care services took more than £250m in profits in just three English regions over the course of three years
neweconomics.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Private Equity Curse.
PE firms taking millions in profits from care sector each yr, over a third are in tax havens
£256m profit in three England regions, £45m in dividends, £33.6m paid in interest mostly to affiliates in tax havens.
Less spent on care. Yet govts handing NHS to PE.
PE firms taking millions in profits from care sector each yr, over a third are in tax havens
£256m profit in three England regions, £45m in dividends, £33.6m paid in interest mostly to affiliates in tax havens.
Less spent on care. Yet govts handing NHS to PE.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Another chilling aspect... The Tories simply passed a law declaring Rwanda "safe".
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
November 16, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Another chilling aspect... The Tories simply passed a law declaring Rwanda "safe".
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Do we really trust that this govt or the next won't resort to similar tactics if this finds them politically convenient?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Surrey Metal Detecting Club sees membership leap in six years
Founded with 60 members in 2019, the Surrey club now has more than 3,000 members across the county.
www.bbc.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"I've never sold a single item & I've found thousands of coins."
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'he keeps his finds carefully arranged in a display cabinet at his home.'
...that's just one #detectorist.
Multiply that by perhaps 40,000 people - that's an awful lot of artefacts.
#Archaeology 🏺
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
And this morning the Shed is heading north, through the storm, on stilts of lightning.
November 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
And this morning the Shed is heading north, through the storm, on stilts of lightning.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
A complete pottery vessel, featuring repairs mid-body and a cord tied around its neck.
Found in a Neolithic well in Altscherbitz, Saxony, dating 5100-5000 BC.
Multiple complete vessels have been discovered within the well. They may have been intentionally...🧵 1/2
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a Neolithic well in Altscherbitz, Saxony, dating 5100-5000 BC.
Multiple complete vessels have been discovered within the well. They may have been intentionally...🧵 1/2
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
November 17, 2025 at 6:47 AM
A complete pottery vessel, featuring repairs mid-body and a cord tied around its neck.
Found in a Neolithic well in Altscherbitz, Saxony, dating 5100-5000 BC.
Multiple complete vessels have been discovered within the well. They may have been intentionally...🧵 1/2
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a Neolithic well in Altscherbitz, Saxony, dating 5100-5000 BC.
Multiple complete vessels have been discovered within the well. They may have been intentionally...🧵 1/2
📷 me
🏺 #archaeology
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
At this point it is an axiomatic truth that continuing to support the Labour Party while proclaiming to be left-of-centre or progressive requires completely ignoring both their explicit words and actions. Assess those who continue to do so and their conception of politics accordingly.
November 16, 2025 at 9:47 PM
At this point it is an axiomatic truth that continuing to support the Labour Party while proclaiming to be left-of-centre or progressive requires completely ignoring both their explicit words and actions. Assess those who continue to do so and their conception of politics accordingly.
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Also as a friend just pointed out, how does it make sense to send people home at a time they are most likely to have started paying tax or contributing in many other ways to their local communities?
Just another of those days when I hate this government
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Also as a friend just pointed out, how does it make sense to send people home at a time they are most likely to have started paying tax or contributing in many other ways to their local communities?
Reposted by Ardent Archivist
Regardless of all else, why would you support a party that is chasing the racist vote?
Seriously, chasing the racist vote, endorsing genocide and undermining human rights.
Tell me what they've achieved that means they deserve my vote despite that. I fucking dare you.
Seriously, chasing the racist vote, endorsing genocide and undermining human rights.
Tell me what they've achieved that means they deserve my vote despite that. I fucking dare you.
November 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Regardless of all else, why would you support a party that is chasing the racist vote?
Seriously, chasing the racist vote, endorsing genocide and undermining human rights.
Tell me what they've achieved that means they deserve my vote despite that. I fucking dare you.
Seriously, chasing the racist vote, endorsing genocide and undermining human rights.
Tell me what they've achieved that means they deserve my vote despite that. I fucking dare you.