David Roberts
@davidrobertsarch.bsky.social
Archaeologist at Cardiff University, directs Teffont Archaeology. Views my own not my institution's.
Pinned
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
Reposted by David Roberts
Really proud to see this out. A fantastic achievement that rests heavily on the hard work, expertise and dedication of all those mentioned here, not least @davidrobertsarch.bsky.social ! An excellent summary of all our contributors and of the overall findings. Now go read the book!
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
January 14, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Really proud to see this out. A fantastic achievement that rests heavily on the hard work, expertise and dedication of all those mentioned here, not least @davidrobertsarch.bsky.social ! An excellent summary of all our contributors and of the overall findings. Now go read the book!
Reposted by David Roberts
Has anyone spotted any Heritage analysis around this yet? Another couple of months.
The consultation on the revised NPPF is open for 12 weeks, and we will be working intensively with the sector over that period to refine our proposals and make sure the final version delivers on our objectives. Have your say here 👇🏻
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system
We are seeking views on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system.
www.gov.uk
January 13, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Has anyone spotted any Heritage analysis around this yet? Another couple of months.
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
January 13, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Our @antiquaries.bsky.social Low Ham book (myself, Roger Leech and @thepostexcox.bsky.social ) is now available OA - library.oapen.org/handle/20.50... - the first synthetic publication of one of Britannia's largest villas, with reports on strat, finds, & enviro remains, & fully contextualised. 1/10
Reposted by David Roberts
Senior Research Technician post in our department at Exeter! Closing date 4 Jan - be quick! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV452/s...
Senior Research Technician at University of Exeter
Explore professional services job openings, including the Senior Research Technician position, on jobs.ac.uk. Apply today and discover more about this role.
www.jobs.ac.uk
December 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Senior Research Technician post in our department at Exeter! Closing date 4 Jan - be quick! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPV452/s...
Reposted by David Roberts
I will add that even after that time I was obviously statistically much more likely to get a permanent job and the reason for that is very clear: I’m a straight white male and the child of comfortably off baby boomers. I went to private school. These things insulate you to a great extent.
That academic hiring grievance article doing the rounds: look, there are simply very few jobs and lots of people, relatively speaking, who could be hired. I was precarious for nine (!) years. And now Britain, at least, is trying to solve the issue by having most universities go bankrupt.
December 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I will add that even after that time I was obviously statistically much more likely to get a permanent job and the reason for that is very clear: I’m a straight white male and the child of comfortably off baby boomers. I went to private school. These things insulate you to a great extent.
Reposted by David Roberts
Experience in #archaeological #proteomics?
Interested in #Roman economy / organic artefacts?
Background in data analysis for #ZooMS?
Then apply for a 3-year RA post working to join PELLIS project with the wonderful @gtaylortu.bsky.social to investigate Roman leather economy
Apply by 12/01/2026
Interested in #Roman economy / organic artefacts?
Background in data analysis for #ZooMS?
Then apply for a 3-year RA post working to join PELLIS project with the wonderful @gtaylortu.bsky.social to investigate Roman leather economy
Apply by 12/01/2026
T: 01642 342201
E: HRrecruitment@tees.ac.uk
tuwpapps.tees.ac.uk
December 16, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Experience in #archaeological #proteomics?
Interested in #Roman economy / organic artefacts?
Background in data analysis for #ZooMS?
Then apply for a 3-year RA post working to join PELLIS project with the wonderful @gtaylortu.bsky.social to investigate Roman leather economy
Apply by 12/01/2026
Interested in #Roman economy / organic artefacts?
Background in data analysis for #ZooMS?
Then apply for a 3-year RA post working to join PELLIS project with the wonderful @gtaylortu.bsky.social to investigate Roman leather economy
Apply by 12/01/2026
Reposted by David Roberts
When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
When will this crisis get any attention whatsoever!? A THOUSAND ACADEMIC STAFF AT ONE INSTITUTION SERVED REDUNDANCY RISK NOTICES! And that's not counting what's surely being visited on professional services staff too. This is an economic catastrophe, to say nothing of the intellectual catastrophe!
Reposted by David Roberts
Open access and hot off the presses for anyone interested in the end of Roman Britain.
Establishing a Chronology for Roman and Post-Roman Stanwick, Northamptonshire | Britannia | Cambridge Core
Establishing a Chronology for Roman and Post-Roman Stanwick, Northamptonshire
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Open access and hot off the presses for anyone interested in the end of Roman Britain.
Reposted by David Roberts
I’ve written the @resprofnews.bsky.social Sunday Read this week. I’ve looked at the value and importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences and what policymakers might do to support them at a time we are seeing major cutbacks in universities www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
December 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I’ve written the @resprofnews.bsky.social Sunday Read this week. I’ve looked at the value and importance of the arts, humanities and social sciences and what policymakers might do to support them at a time we are seeing major cutbacks in universities www.researchprofessional.com/news-article...
Reposted by David Roberts
The recent White Paper called for more specialisation in HEIs. But let’s avoid a one size fits all mindset here for research - social science, humanities & arts (SHAPE) don’t tend to have the high capital costs of some STEM disciplines & so you can have excellent departments in many institutions
December 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The recent White Paper called for more specialisation in HEIs. But let’s avoid a one size fits all mindset here for research - social science, humanities & arts (SHAPE) don’t tend to have the high capital costs of some STEM disciplines & so you can have excellent departments in many institutions
Reposted by David Roberts
In the meantime, we are seeing big changes in universities. I suggest that in England the Office for Students should take on the mantle that HEFCE used to have to monitor the health of disciplines and to watch for ‘cold spots’ of provision
December 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In the meantime, we are seeing big changes in universities. I suggest that in England the Office for Students should take on the mantle that HEFCE used to have to monitor the health of disciplines and to watch for ‘cold spots’ of provision
Phwoar. What a job..
Principal Curator of Collection Development (Archaeology)
National Museum of Wales
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00
Closing Date: December 23, 2025
Based in Cardiff
www.bajr.org/job-ad/princ...
National Museum of Wales
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00
Closing Date: December 23, 2025
Based in Cardiff
www.bajr.org/job-ad/princ...
Principal Curator of Collection Development (Archaeology) - BAJR - British Archaeology Jobs and Resources
Salary: Grade F £44,793.83 - £47,360.00Closing Date: 23/12/25Location:
www.bajr.org
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Phwoar. What a job..
Reposted by David Roberts
Terrific find
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
December 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Terrific find
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
"It was initially believed the mosaic depicted a scene from Homer's Iliad. But new research has determined the piece presented an alternative version of the Trojan War story, first popularised by the Greek playwright Aeschylus"
As you might have read in British Archaeology in Dec 2021
Reposted by David Roberts
A new report on dietary findings in a select area of Pompeii likely inhabited by enslaved people came out in Scavi di Pompei. Many newspapers are now running w/a headline about Roman slaves “eating better” than free Romans. pompeiisites.org/e-journal-de... Let’s discuss why this is problematic
December 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A new report on dietary findings in a select area of Pompeii likely inhabited by enslaved people came out in Scavi di Pompei. Many newspapers are now running w/a headline about Roman slaves “eating better” than free Romans. pompeiisites.org/e-journal-de... Let’s discuss why this is problematic
Reposted by David Roberts
This article suggests the possibility of training AI on pre-existing proposals and their review reports, scores and related decisions. I.e. training them on a system which is known to preferentially award larger amounts of money to white men. What could possibly go wrong?
UKRI exploring use of AI in grant review - this will prompt debate but interested to know if people think it’d encourage novelty or the opposite? www.chemistryworld.com/news/ukri-op...
UKRI opens up grant proposal data to explore using AI to smooth peer review
Surging applications has led the UK's main funder to look at ways to reduce the burden on reviewers
www.chemistryworld.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This article suggests the possibility of training AI on pre-existing proposals and their review reports, scores and related decisions. I.e. training them on a system which is known to preferentially award larger amounts of money to white men. What could possibly go wrong?
Reposted by David Roberts
Very much looking forward to next week’s @royalarchinst.bsky.social lecture @antiquaries.bsky.social by Dr Al Oswald - ALL WELCOME!
#Neolithic
#Neolithic
December 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Very much looking forward to next week’s @royalarchinst.bsky.social lecture @antiquaries.bsky.social by Dr Al Oswald - ALL WELCOME!
#Neolithic
#Neolithic
Lots of good stuff in this new Wessex Arch book, including (briefly) a nice little Roman building.. but I'm mainly there for a nostalgic return to / interesting new evidence in the landscape of, my earlier work on Neolithic pits with the excellent AVT, Pete M, Ruth P, et al!
My dear hubby and @leivers.bsky.social have just published this book, which I'm sure is of interest to many of you. Also, free to download! Happy Christmas! ☺️
The Archaeology of the Stonehenge Visitor Centre
wessexarchaeologylibrary.org
December 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Lots of good stuff in this new Wessex Arch book, including (briefly) a nice little Roman building.. but I'm mainly there for a nostalgic return to / interesting new evidence in the landscape of, my earlier work on Neolithic pits with the excellent AVT, Pete M, Ruth P, et al!
Reposted by David Roberts
Please share!
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814) | University of Bergen
Job title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Study of Religion (289814), Employer: University of Bergen, Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
www.jobbnorge.no
December 2, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Please share!
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Two new postdoc positions have opened in the RADHEART project at the University of Bergen.
The first is on ancient Rabbinic literature from the 2nd – 7th century CE.
#AcRel #sblaar #AncientBlueSky
www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
Reposted by David Roberts
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What a wonderful story - and a beautiful illustration of the power of the arts.
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Great writing expands our imagination. It helps us to see the world in new ways.
And that has consequences that can never be measured by "average starting salaries" or "contribution to GDP".
Reposted by David Roberts
Labour lied to voters when they said they would protect peatland in their manifesto. For over a year Labour has actively harmed peatland by delaying the ban on peat compost, which was good to go.
In the Environmental Improvement Plan, Gov. has sidestepped its obligations and flunked defining a firm plan to deliver legislation to end peat sales.
Our full response:
peatfreepartnership.org.uk/peat-free-pa...
@marycreagh.bsky.social #climate #nature #peatfree #environment
Our full response:
peatfreepartnership.org.uk/peat-free-pa...
@marycreagh.bsky.social #climate #nature #peatfree #environment
Peat-free Partnership response to the Environmental Improvement Plan - Peat Free Partnership
Today the UK Government published their revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The Government has sidestepped its obligations and flunked defining a firm plan to deliver legislation to end peat...
peatfreepartnership.org.uk
December 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Labour lied to voters when they said they would protect peatland in their manifesto. For over a year Labour has actively harmed peatland by delaying the ban on peat compost, which was good to go.
Reposted by David Roberts
This Roman kiln is one of many incredible finds the #OCAArchTeam are discovering on site @sizewellc.bsky.social that build up the story of Suffolk's past - want to learn more? Dig in here: oxfordcotswoldarchaeology.org.uk/project/sizewell/
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
November 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This Roman kiln is one of many incredible finds the #OCAArchTeam are discovering on site @sizewellc.bsky.social that build up the story of Suffolk's past - want to learn more? Dig in here: oxfordcotswoldarchaeology.org.uk/project/sizewell/
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
@cotswoldarch.bsky.social #suffolk #heritage #archaeology
Reposted by David Roberts
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Bridging the Species Divide: Animal minds and the human-animal relationship (Ref: RDF26/HW/PSY/RENNER) at Northumbria University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Are you interested in doing a PhD about what humans infer about animal minds?
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Check out this opportunity @northumbriapsy.bsky.social with me, @mdconstable.bsky.social and Lee Shepherd!
Deadline 23 Jan 2026
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Just a reminder to the museums sector, UK national minimum wage for over 21 years old is £12.21 per hour, or at 40hrs per week, £25396...
December 1, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Just reposting this, as I've got the CIfA bulletin and seen a Community Collections officer at £24462, and an EH assistant interpretation curator at £25906. Both fractionally fewer hours than the 40 used to calculate MW rate below, but still. Dire pay for roles requiring complex specialist work.
Reposted by David Roberts
'In a survey of almost 400 academics and professional services staff conducted as part of the study, the majority of respondents strongly disagreed with all aspects of using AI in the REF.'
Access report here, 2/3
Access report here, 2/3
Research: REF-AI project | Centre for Higher Education Transformations
chet.bristol.ac.uk
December 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
'In a survey of almost 400 academics and professional services staff conducted as part of the study, the majority of respondents strongly disagreed with all aspects of using AI in the REF.'
Access report here, 2/3
Access report here, 2/3
Reposted by David Roberts
🎉 EXCELLENT NEWS!
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
Greek and Roman Studies | Faculty of Arts
Discover all the good reasons to choose uOttawa. From programs made for you, co-op opportunities and more.
buff.ly
November 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
🎉 EXCELLENT NEWS!
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory
The University of Ottawa has lifted the suspension of admissions to Greek & Roman Studies.
Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, wrote letters, and raised their voice. Apply now for next year's cohort: buff.ly/1i2Iw0B #SaveTheHumanities #SOSClassicsUO #AncientHistory