Brenna Hassett
@brennawalks.bsky.social
Archaeologist, biological anthropologist, and 1/4 of Team TrowelBlazers. I also write intense footnotes.
I talked to Nature Methods about fieldwork and @trowelblazers.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... -- never say no to two many chandeliers, hey
When fieldwork calls your name - Nature Methods
These scientists prefer digging in the hot sun or hauling in ocean data in the sub-zero cold.
www.nature.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I talked to Nature Methods about fieldwork and @trowelblazers.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41... -- never say no to two many chandeliers, hey
I’m excited for #tag2025 because I plan on doing 100% more world building alongside my normal @trowelblazers.bsky.social screaming into the void 🤘
Look @clmorgan.bsky.social and @apolitopoulos.bsky.social, Brenna Hassett is coming prepared for our #TAG2025 session on worldbuilding in Archaeology!
Went to see this most beautiful collection of Ursula K LeGuins maps in the word for world exhibit. Wandering around thru ritualised imaginings of unreal worlds; it’s archaeology and anthropology (and turtles) all the way down. Massive ht to @kjkillackey.bsky.social Let’s go play world building ;p
October 30, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I’m excited for #tag2025 because I plan on doing 100% more world building alongside my normal @trowelblazers.bsky.social screaming into the void 🤘
Went to see this most beautiful collection of Ursula K LeGuins maps in the word for world exhibit. Wandering around thru ritualised imaginings of unreal worlds; it’s archaeology and anthropology (and turtles) all the way down. Massive ht to @kjkillackey.bsky.social Let’s go play world building ;p
October 29, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Went to see this most beautiful collection of Ursula K LeGuins maps in the word for world exhibit. Wandering around thru ritualised imaginings of unreal worlds; it’s archaeology and anthropology (and turtles) all the way down. Massive ht to @kjkillackey.bsky.social Let’s go play world building ;p
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Got kids aged 8+? Get them my latest book! It's a chaotic rollercoaster ride through the Stone Age -- it's tonnes of fun, full of the latest scientific discoveries, is cowritten with the expert archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social, and is illustrated by @rikinparekh.bsky.social. Cheers!
October 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Got kids aged 8+? Get them my latest book! It's a chaotic rollercoaster ride through the Stone Age -- it's tonnes of fun, full of the latest scientific discoveries, is cowritten with the expert archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social, and is illustrated by @rikinparekh.bsky.social. Cheers!
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
🏺🧪🦣 Was more than happy to speak to @killgrove.bsky.social for this: even if you ignored the horrendous, insurmountable ethical issues, what we'd learn would do almost nothing to advance our understanding of prehistoric #Neanderthal lives, nor our encounters with them.
There's zero justification.
There's zero justification.
Given all the hype about “de-extincting” animals, could Neanderthals be next? The technology doesn’t currently exist, researchers told me, but could one day. However, it would be an ethical minefield. 🏺🧪
Neanderthals could be brought back within 20 years — but is it a good idea?
With today's technology, we cannot bring back Neanderthals. But even if future advances allow it, should we?
www.livescience.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:06 PM
🏺🧪🦣 Was more than happy to speak to @killgrove.bsky.social for this: even if you ignored the horrendous, insurmountable ethical issues, what we'd learn would do almost nothing to advance our understanding of prehistoric #Neanderthal lives, nor our encounters with them.
There's zero justification.
There's zero justification.
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
And today I learned that in 1962 the BBC let Jaquetta Hawkes imagine the archaeology of apocalyptic Britain. As a short film 👀10/10 Will weird your day youtu.be/c8yEIe69M4k?...
1962: What Was Britain Like Before the Apocalypse? | Monitor: The Lonely Shore | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
October 26, 2025 at 8:34 AM
And today I learned that in 1962 the BBC let Jaquetta Hawkes imagine the archaeology of apocalyptic Britain. As a short film 👀10/10 Will weird your day youtu.be/c8yEIe69M4k?...
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
I wrote a human skeleton quiz -- filled with terrible puns -- for your Spooky Season enjoyment. 🧪🏺💀
Human skeleton quiz: What do you know about the bones in your body?
Do you have what it takes to be a bone-ified quiz champion?
www.livescience.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I wrote a human skeleton quiz -- filled with terrible puns -- for your Spooky Season enjoyment. 🧪🏺💀
I'm hiring! 4 year post doc on my Wellcome Trust grant -- come be inventive about isotopes in teeth with me in PPN Turkiye :) www.lancashire.ac.uk/jobs/post-do...
please share!
please share!
Post Doctoral Research Assistant - 1160-25
Thinking of the next step in your career? Take a look at our exciting new role, Post Doctoral Research Assistant based at our Other. Find out more and apply he…
www.lancashire.ac.uk
October 14, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I'm hiring! 4 year post doc on my Wellcome Trust grant -- come be inventive about isotopes in teeth with me in PPN Turkiye :) www.lancashire.ac.uk/jobs/post-do...
please share!
please share!
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Oops...Ran out of space! This audiobook is published by the brilliant @wfhowes.bsky.social who are wonderfully collaborative in giving me choices about sound fx, music, and style. Massively enjoyable to work with them and @brennawalks.bsky.social www.audible.co.uk/pd/Totally-C...
October 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Oops...Ran out of space! This audiobook is published by the brilliant @wfhowes.bsky.social who are wonderfully collaborative in giving me choices about sound fx, music, and style. Massively enjoyable to work with them and @brennawalks.bsky.social www.audible.co.uk/pd/Totally-C...
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Thrilled to share a clip from our funny new children's audiobook about the Stone Age. I had such fun writing and narrating this with the brilliant archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social
In this clip, join Homo Erectus on a scavenging hunt... but they're in for a nasty, LOUD surprise! (Sound on!)
In this clip, join Homo Erectus on a scavenging hunt... but they're in for a nasty, LOUD surprise! (Sound on!)
October 9, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Thrilled to share a clip from our funny new children's audiobook about the Stone Age. I had such fun writing and narrating this with the brilliant archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social
In this clip, join Homo Erectus on a scavenging hunt... but they're in for a nasty, LOUD surprise! (Sound on!)
In this clip, join Homo Erectus on a scavenging hunt... but they're in for a nasty, LOUD surprise! (Sound on!)
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
1. Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
2. Natural selection and trait genetics
3. Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
4. Ancient pathogen genomics
5. Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
1. Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
2. Natural selection and trait genetics
3. Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
4. Ancient pathogen genomics
5. Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
Motivated graduates with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and/or computer science are invited to apply to our 4-year fully funded PhD programme.
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
PhD students
Our PhD programme attracts the brightest scientific minds and is an opportunity for talented people to embark on their career in biomedical research.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 10:11 AM
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
1. Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
2. Natural selection and trait genetics
3. Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
4. Ancient pathogen genomics
5. Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
1. Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
2. Natural selection and trait genetics
3. Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
4. Ancient pathogen genomics
5. Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
This was stupidly fun to record 😂🤘
Delighted to say my new children’s audiobook is out today!
Totally Chaotic History: The Stone Age Runs Wild is a wild, funny rampage through 34 million years of human evolution and global prehistory. Cowritten with archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social, it’s out now!
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
Totally Chaotic History: The Stone Age Runs Wild is a wild, funny rampage through 34 million years of human evolution and global prehistory. Cowritten with archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social, it’s out now!
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
Totally Chaotic History: The Stone Age Runs Wild! by Greg Jenner | Book Trailer
YouTube video by Walker Books
youtu.be
October 9, 2025 at 9:34 AM
This was stupidly fun to record 😂🤘
Right and also! Free talk tomorrow! www.lancashire.ac.uk/events/listi...
Growing Up Human
Join us for this free public talk about growing up human. We'll explore why it takes humans so much longer to grow up compared to our primate relatives.
www.lancashire.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Right and also! Free talk tomorrow! www.lancashire.ac.uk/events/listi...
See you there!
Ready for a career in ruins??? Come see us and hear about how we fit you for the future, from field work to forensics ;)
October 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
See you there!
See you there!
Ready for a career in ruins??? Come see us and hear about how we fit you for the future, from field work to forensics ;)
October 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
See you there!
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
**DONATIONS FOR BURSARIES**
TAG over the last few years has been trying to increase the accessibility of the conference by offering bursaries. We are now welcoming donations support these via our website.
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/
TAG over the last few years has been trying to increase the accessibility of the conference by offering bursaries. We are now welcoming donations support these via our website.
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/
TAG 2025 - York
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 10:47 AM
**DONATIONS FOR BURSARIES**
TAG over the last few years has been trying to increase the accessibility of the conference by offering bursaries. We are now welcoming donations support these via our website.
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/
TAG over the last few years has been trying to increase the accessibility of the conference by offering bursaries. We are now welcoming donations support these via our website.
tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/
so... the wellcome trust gave me a £1,000,000? and i didnt even have to hold the world to ransom.
i am super excited, going to be recruiting SOON for a phd and a postdoc, and could not do anything without my amazing collaborators <3
www.lancashire.ac.uk/news/grant-t...
i am super excited, going to be recruiting SOON for a phd and a postdoc, and could not do anything without my amazing collaborators <3
www.lancashire.ac.uk/news/grant-t...
Archaeology research project receives £1 million grant to better understand how people got sick
University of Lancashire’s Dr Brenna Hassett receives Wellcome funding to understand how the invention of farming, herding, and sedentism changed human disease.
www.lancashire.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 8:24 AM
so... the wellcome trust gave me a £1,000,000? and i didnt even have to hold the world to ransom.
i am super excited, going to be recruiting SOON for a phd and a postdoc, and could not do anything without my amazing collaborators <3
www.lancashire.ac.uk/news/grant-t...
i am super excited, going to be recruiting SOON for a phd and a postdoc, and could not do anything without my amazing collaborators <3
www.lancashire.ac.uk/news/grant-t...
I should also perhaps mention, in the context of h longi or is it really, that I’ve just reviewed a book about denisovans for science, and am in fact entirely academically serious about can we just call everything erectus and that includes us because i just really CANT
September 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I should also perhaps mention, in the context of h longi or is it really, that I’ve just reviewed a book about denisovans for science, and am in fact entirely academically serious about can we just call everything erectus and that includes us because i just really CANT
I think I could have done us all a favour and called everything erectus and walked away ;)
(I am still not team Longi, with apologies to chris who I generally believe on everything 😂
(I am still not team Longi, with apologies to chris who I generally believe on everything 😂
In our new kids’ book about the Stone Age, my fab coauthor @brennawalks.bsky.social and I joke that — due to constant discoveries — it’s already out of date. We had to rewrite it 5 times, then add 2 more updates in the audiobook (out soon)
…NOW THAT IS OUT OF DATE TOO!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
…NOW THAT IS OUT OF DATE TOO!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Million-year-old skull rewrites human evolution, say scientists
New analysis suggests our species began to emerge at least half a million years earlier than we thought
www.bbc.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I think I could have done us all a favour and called everything erectus and walked away ;)
(I am still not team Longi, with apologies to chris who I generally believe on everything 😂
(I am still not team Longi, with apologies to chris who I generally believe on everything 😂
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
We’re celebrating, and you’re invited! October 4th we’re hosting a 20th Anniversary party for… ourselves! Free event with talks and lots of alumni, register on the eventbrite and we’ll see you there 🎉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebratin...
Celebrating 20 Years of Archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire
Come celebrate two decades of digging up the past with us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
We’re celebrating, and you’re invited! October 4th we’re hosting a 20th Anniversary party for… ourselves! Free event with talks and lots of alumni, register on the eventbrite and we’ll see you there 🎉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebratin...
If you’re in the Preston area and fancy talking palaeo-parenting or primate placenta, well aren’t you in luck ;) come to this totally free talk at the University of Lancashire, kick off at 17:40 on October 8th www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-up...
Growing Up Human
This talk will look at the incredible evolutionary story of how humans came to spend quite so much of our time playing around.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
If you’re in the Preston area and fancy talking palaeo-parenting or primate placenta, well aren’t you in luck ;) come to this totally free talk at the University of Lancashire, kick off at 17:40 on October 8th www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growing-up...
I will be talking to my new home crowd on October 8th about all things odd and evolutionary about our very funny little human children! come say hi, its free :) www.lep.co.uk/community/fr...
Free talk to discuss history of human growth
A free talk at the University of Lancashire will discuss how our species spends more time growing up than almost any other creature.
www.lep.co.uk
September 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I will be talking to my new home crowd on October 8th about all things odd and evolutionary about our very funny little human children! come say hi, its free :) www.lep.co.uk/community/fr...
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Thanks! This book was co-written by the fab archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social and, as ever, illustrated by the hilarious @rikinparekh.bsky.social
And the previous books are cowritten with Roman historian @emmasouthon.bsky.social and Egyptologist and curator Dr Campbell Price
And the previous books are cowritten with Roman historian @emmasouthon.bsky.social and Egyptologist and curator Dr Campbell Price
August 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Thanks! This book was co-written by the fab archaeologist @brennawalks.bsky.social and, as ever, illustrated by the hilarious @rikinparekh.bsky.social
And the previous books are cowritten with Roman historian @emmasouthon.bsky.social and Egyptologist and curator Dr Campbell Price
And the previous books are cowritten with Roman historian @emmasouthon.bsky.social and Egyptologist and curator Dr Campbell Price
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Looking for some fab kids' books ahead of the new school year? Check out @gregjenner.bsky.social's riotous Totally Chaotic History series! The latest book, The Stone Age Runs Wild!, is out now 💥
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
Totally Chaotic History: The Stone Age Runs Wild! by Greg Jenner | Book Trailer
YouTube video by Walker Books
youtu.be
August 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Looking for some fab kids' books ahead of the new school year? Check out @gregjenner.bsky.social's riotous Totally Chaotic History series! The latest book, The Stone Age Runs Wild!, is out now 💥
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
youtu.be/OULXpXL6Tek?...
Reposted by Brenna Hassett
Great write up of research we can finally share: two unrelated individuals with west African ancestry have been identified in early medieval sites excavated by Duncan Sayer and our team www.newscientist.com/article/2492...
DNA analysis reveals West African ancestry in early medieval England
An unrelated pair of people buried in cemeteries in 7th-century Britain probably had grandparents from West Africa
www.newscientist.com
August 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Great write up of research we can finally share: two unrelated individuals with west African ancestry have been identified in early medieval sites excavated by Duncan Sayer and our team www.newscientist.com/article/2492...