Becky Wallower
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bwallower.bsky.social
Becky Wallower
@bwallower.bsky.social
1.4K followers 560 following 1.5K posts
archaeology, history, environment, quirky stuff -- love London, arts, travel -- writer, organiser, modest activist/stirrer 🏺
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Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#TerracottaTuesday
Spotty crouching #Etruscan deer-shaped aryballoi C6 BC, vessels for perfumed oil.
Heads are formed to serve as stoppers, so can turn to appear look around.
In Fiesole museum, Tuscany, in hills above Florence.
Two terracotta animal figures with elongated bodies and legs tucked under their trunk with spotted decoration. Each has two long pointed cone-shaped ears (or horns).
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
drnwillburger.bsky.social
New discovery: During excavations in Cologne, archaeologists have unearthed a lararium, a household shrine, dating back to the 2nd century. This discovery is considered unique north of the Alps. Similar examples were found in Pompeii and Herculaneum.

www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft...

🏺
February 10, 2026 at 8:48 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
#TerracottaTuesday
Spotty crouching #Etruscan deer-shaped aryballoi C6 BC, vessels for perfumed oil.
Heads are formed to serve as stoppers, so can turn to appear look around.
In Fiesole museum, Tuscany, in hills above Florence.
Two terracotta animal figures with elongated bodies and legs tucked under their trunk with spotted decoration. Each has two long pointed cone-shaped ears (or horns).
February 10, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
deanwilson.bsky.social
Beach Finds
#Withernsea
February 10, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#MementoMoriMonday
Curious one this - in essence, stone plaque is memento mori for a church.
It commemorates 12th C St Olave Silver St "destroyed by the dreadful fire" in 1666.
Now a garden on London Wall where other plaques record 8 ft of space lost to 19th C roadworks, and a famous parishioner.
Stone slab placed in a brick wall, with a skull and crossbones and inscription reading "This was the parish church of St. Olave Silver Street, destroyed by the dreadfull fire in the year 1666." Behind is greenery/leaves. City of London official blue plaque placed in a brick wall, reading: William Shakespeare had lodgings near here in 1604, at the house of Christopher and Mary Mountjoy.
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
How wonderful to see you here again - and with a fabulous new batch of biscuits from the foreshore!
ellamchawk.bsky.social Dr Ella Hawkins @ellamchawk.bsky.social · 1d
Some mudlarking finds survived for centuries in the muddy banks of the River Thames. Others are freshly baked tasty snacks. 🍪

This biscuit (cookie) set recreates ten of the 350+ mudlarked objects in London Museum's Secrets of the Thames exhibition.

The exhibition closes on 1 March. Don’t miss it!
Laid out against a dark grey background are ten biscuits that resemble aged, chipped mudlarking finds. An oval biscuit in a rich, dark green looks like the seal of a glass bottle, and features a raised characterful face at its centre. Next to it is an unevenly shaped black biscuit with grey chips and the raised shape of a hare’s face, ears, and upper legs. There are two large biscuits with jagged edges, each decorated in blue and white to look like broken pieces of delftware plates. One features the shape of a small bird surrounded by swirling lines, the other has a series of concentric circles and curved shapes. A small biscuit with a multifaceted texture replicates a knapped flint arrowhead. Next to it are a tiny hammer-shaped biscuit in pewter with delicate cross markings, and a very small gold biscuit button etched with lines, circles, and a rough star shape. The smallest biscuit is made to look like a yellow glass cufflink with decorative circles in blue, white, and red. Another small biscuit has the appearance of an aged metal button edged with decorative white and turquoise dots. Finally, there is a small angular biscuit in a terracotta colour with raised lines roughly in the shape of two intwined figures.
February 9, 2026 at 5:31 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/i...
‘These are dirty funds’: Indigenous Brazilian leader slams Science Museum for oil sponsorship ahead of climate show
Ninawa Huni Kui has spoken out ahead of a show focused on the threatened Brazilian ecosystem of the Pantanal
www.theartnewspaper.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/09/c...
Cambridge University to return 100 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The objects’ return was delayed due confusion between the Nigerian state and the oba of Benin
www.theartnewspaper.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
And in other news, thanks to Storm Chandra, our colleagues from @bournemouthuni.bsky.social Maritime Archaeology have found a part of the Fame of Hoorn, an armed Dutch merchant ship that sank in 1631

#Archaeology

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Timbers from 17th Century shipwreck appear on Dorset beach
Experts believe timbers found at Studland Beach form a missing piece of the Swash Channel wreck from 1631.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
#MementoMoriMonday
Curious one this - in essence, stone plaque is memento mori for a church.
It commemorates 12th C St Olave Silver St "destroyed by the dreadful fire" in 1666.
Now a garden on London Wall where other plaques record 8 ft of space lost to 19th C roadworks, and a famous parishioner.
Stone slab placed in a brick wall, with a skull and crossbones and inscription reading "This was the parish church of St. Olave Silver Street, destroyed by the dreadfull fire in the year 1666." Behind is greenery/leaves. City of London official blue plaque placed in a brick wall, reading: William Shakespeare had lodgings near here in 1604, at the house of Christopher and Mary Mountjoy.
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
deanwilson.bsky.social
Beach Finds
#Easington
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#StoneworkSunday
Cloister of #Medieval Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix-en-Provence (built over the #Roman forum) just has the most glorious array of 12th C #SundayStonework.

All time favourite has to be the twisty one at the corner topped with #lion of St Mark the Evangelist though (pls click).
One side of a cloister, with pairs of columns, all with individual, highly decorative capitals. Arches join the pairs of columns along the row - they have a multi-layered zig zag pattern facing the walkway alongside. There is a view through to the adjoining arcaded side of the cloister, also with columns. 4 Write your reply Becky Wallower ‪@bwallower.bsky.social‬ Home Explore Notifications 2 Chat Feeds Lists Saved Profile Settings New Post Search Following Discover Popular With Friends Mutuals Anthropology/Archaeology Latest From Follows More feeds Feedback ∙ Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Help Corner column of cloister, with column featuring four smaller columns springing the corner of a square base, then twisting round the central column to the adjacent corner to the left of the capital above. The smaller columns are headed with a leafy capital, with a square decorated top, on which sits lion of St Mark, with a curly mane and wings, holding a Bible in his paw Corner column of cloister, with column featuring four smaller columns springing the corner of a square base, then twisting round the central column to the adjacent corner to the left of the capital above. The smaller columns are headed with a leafy capital, with a square decorated top, on which sits lion of St Mark, with a curly mane and wings, holding a Bible in his paw. The view through the arcade shows a formally planted herb garden within.
February 8, 2026 at 2:29 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
#StoneworkSunday
Cloister of #Medieval Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix-en-Provence (built over the #Roman forum) just has the most glorious array of 12th C #SundayStonework.

All time favourite has to be the twisty one at the corner topped with #lion of St Mark the Evangelist though (pls click).
One side of a cloister, with pairs of columns, all with individual, highly decorative capitals. Arches join the pairs of columns along the row - they have a multi-layered zig zag pattern facing the walkway alongside. There is a view through to the adjoining arcaded side of the cloister, also with columns. 4 Write your reply Becky Wallower ‪@bwallower.bsky.social‬ Home Explore Notifications 2 Chat Feeds Lists Saved Profile Settings New Post Search Following Discover Popular With Friends Mutuals Anthropology/Archaeology Latest From Follows More feeds Feedback ∙ Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Help Corner column of cloister, with column featuring four smaller columns springing the corner of a square base, then twisting round the central column to the adjacent corner to the left of the capital above. The smaller columns are headed with a leafy capital, with a square decorated top, on which sits lion of St Mark, with a curly mane and wings, holding a Bible in his paw Corner column of cloister, with column featuring four smaller columns springing the corner of a square base, then twisting round the central column to the adjacent corner to the left of the capital above. The smaller columns are headed with a leafy capital, with a square decorated top, on which sits lion of St Mark, with a curly mane and wings, holding a Bible in his paw. The view through the arcade shows a formally planted herb garden within.
February 8, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
deanwilson.bsky.social
Beach Finds
#Withernsea
February 8, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
Urban #RomanSiteSaturday of Egnazia in #Puglia was key point on Trajan's new Via Appia branch 109-114 AD, a quicker route to Adriatic ports.
But Via Traiana bit wonky as ran through existing #Roman 2C BC town, itself built over Messapian site begun 6C BC.
Here Traiana passes marketplace on left. 🏺
A Roman road, constructed of large blocks of stone, is seen running to back of photo, with a twist to the left around a building that once stood on the right. This is Via Traiana, the route from Rome to Brindisi. On left are remains of buildings and columns that surrounded a large marketplace. Beyond marketplace is a hill - this is on the sea, and has remains from c. 13th C BC of Bronze Age/Messapian cultures. Further along Roman road can be seen a modern covering, which extends over former baths. The site is some 40 hectares and still being excavated.
February 7, 2026 at 1:13 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Urban #RomanSiteSaturday of Egnazia in #Puglia was key point on Trajan's new Via Appia branch 109-114 AD, a quicker route to Adriatic ports.
But Via Traiana bit wonky as ran through existing #Roman 2C BC town, itself built over Messapian site begun 6C BC.
Here Traiana passes marketplace on left. 🏺
A Roman road, constructed of large blocks of stone, is seen running to back of photo, with a twist to the left around a building that once stood on the right. This is Via Traiana, the route from Rome to Brindisi. On left are remains of buildings and columns that surrounded a large marketplace. Beyond marketplace is a hill - this is on the sea, and has remains from c. 13th C BC of Bronze Age/Messapian cultures. Further along Roman road can be seen a modern covering, which extends over former baths. The site is some 40 hectares and still being excavated.
February 7, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#FindsFriday
#Roman wild boar sculpture carved from local red sandstone, with local character I feel.
The boar was symbol of 20th Legion - Legio XX Valeria Victrix, instrumental in building Hadrian's Wall, Chester fort + much more; stationed in Britain till early 4th C.
@tulliecarlisle.bsky.social
A red coloured carving of a boar's head, with a long snout, prominent eyes sticking up a bit like a crocodile and rough hair at back of head.
February 6, 2026 at 11:33 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/02/d...
Dutch national photo collection opens in new Rotterdam home
Nederlands Fotomuseum has appointed a new director ahead of reopening in a former coffee warehouse on 7 February
www.theartnewspaper.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
Obviously the big headline of the week.....
www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/02/06/g...
Giorgia Meloni’s face removed from Rome fresco after complaints
An artist was asked by Vatican officials to paint over the image he had created during a restoration last year
www.theartnewspaper.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:15 PM
bwallower.bsky.social
#FindsFriday
#Roman wild boar sculpture carved from local red sandstone, with local character I feel.
The boar was symbol of 20th Legion - Legio XX Valeria Victrix, instrumental in building Hadrian's Wall, Chester fort + much more; stationed in Britain till early 4th C.
@tulliecarlisle.bsky.social
A red coloured carving of a boar's head, with a long snout, prominent eyes sticking up a bit like a crocodile and rough hair at back of head.
February 6, 2026 at 11:33 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
Rather ominous to be drinking from demon of death....
drnwillburger.bsky.social Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 4d
An Etruscan vessel in the shape of Charun, the demon of death.
Dating around 400 BC.

On display at Antikensammlung München

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
A pottery vessel in the shape of a human head, displayed on a clear pedestal. The vessel has a detailed face with arched eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a prominent nose, and a black-painted beard with geometric patterns. The ears are adorned with large hoop earrings, and a gold-colored nose ring with a red pendant hangs from the septum. The top of the vessel flares into a black-painted cylindrical opening with decorative patterns.
February 6, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
deanwilson.bsky.social
Beach Finds
#OutNewton
February 6, 2026 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#AdoorableThursday
Door to the Deanery at Westminster Abbey by Cheneygates, w its lovely ogee arch + light.
Note remnant of earlier arch/doorway to left of door. With two accompanying boot scrapers and a not-so-#tinylion doorknocker for #IronworkThursday.
A doorway set into a medieval stone wall has a decorative ogee arch and light at the top, with multi-part columns either side and decorative three-stage finials on top. These are all painted white, and the door within is a teal blue-green colour. A boot-scraper is positioned either side of the doorway. Above, arches of medieval building are seen, and remnants of an earlier arch or doorway are evident to top right.
February 5, 2026 at 11:27 AM
bwallower.bsky.social
#AdoorableThursday
Door to the Deanery at Westminster Abbey by Cheneygates, w its lovely ogee arch + light.
Note remnant of earlier arch/doorway to left of door. With two accompanying boot scrapers and a not-so-#tinylion doorknocker for #IronworkThursday.
A doorway set into a medieval stone wall has a decorative ogee arch and light at the top, with multi-part columns either side and decorative three-stage finials on top. These are all painted white, and the door within is a teal blue-green colour. A boot-scraper is positioned either side of the doorway. Above, arches of medieval building are seen, and remnants of an earlier arch or doorway are evident to top right.
February 5, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by Becky Wallower
bwallower.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday
Tuscan labours of the month differ from many others: much attention to fruitful wine harvest year round, but in February you might as well just go fishing.

13th C relief, Lucca's #Romanesque Cattedrale di San Martino, w zodiac signs of Aries + appropriately Pisces along the top.
A panel in the Labours of the Month series either side of main west doors of Lucca's cathedral. For February a bearded man wearing a cap is shown stepping into wavy water. He's holding a fishing rod and has caught a fish. Over his shoulder is a basket - perhaps with earlier catches? The scene is shown between green marble columns with corinthian capitals supporting an arch above. In space between this and arches to left and right are zodiac symbols for Aries (a ram) and Pisces (a fish). Below the row of monthly labours the months are named, here 'Februarius'.
February 4, 2026 at 5:27 PM