Donal Lucey
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dodoarchaeology.bsky.social
Donal Lucey
@dodoarchaeology.bsky.social
1.7K followers 2.8K following 180 posts
Archaeologist and nerd. Public engagement, social value and immersive approaches. Loves Early Medieval stuff! Member of award-winning Dig The Castle project & @archsengage.bsky.social
Mod of r/AskArchaeology
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dodoarchaeology.bsky.social
Donal Lucey @dodoarchaeology.bsky.social · Mar 29
Dig The Castle won the heritage award at the Northern Devon Flourishing Culture Awards! The community was at the heart of the planning and delivery, using archaeology to create a sense of purpose, build cross-generation connections, boost wellbeing and community pride.
🏺 #community #archaeology
A photograph of the stage during the awards ceremony. On the right is a large banner that reads "Northern Devon Flourishing Culture Awards 2025". In front of the banner is a table bearing six glass trophies. To the left of the banner, Emily Wapshott is speaking into a microphone giving an award acceptance speech.
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
New Kings Weston Roman Villa bookmarks, sold as a pair.

Designs are adapted from the fabulous surviving mosaics in Lawrence Weston, Bristol.
tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4457...

Printed on linen textured ivory card with red tassle.
#LawrenceWeston #kingsweston #romans #archaeology #romanbritain
Pair of bookmarks with red tassles and red and blue mosaic floral patterns and vase Detail of bookmark with mosaic style vase and floral pattern and the text kongs weston roman villa Detail of bookmark showing red and blue mosaic round floral pattern
February 14, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
dhaydenceltic.bsky.social
🎇Job Klaxon!!🎇 Assistant Lectureship in Medieval Irish and Celtic Studies at Maynooth University (12-month contract). Application deadline 22 March 2026. Come work with us in the Department of Early Irish @ceilteachomn.bsky.social!

my.corehr.com/pls/nuimrecr...
February 6, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
sarahmay1.bsky.social
I think we all need an amber bear today
alisonfisk.bsky.social Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 9d
A little bear figurine carved out of amber some 6,000 years ago 🐻❤️

A hole runs through the bear’s torso suggesting it was threaded on a cord, perhaps worn or carried as a protective charm.

Found in a peat bog near Słupsk, Poland, in 1887.

📷 National Museum in Szczecin

#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Photo by G. Solecki/A. Piętak of a small figurine of a bear carved out of amber between 9600 and 4100 BC. The amber is a deep translucent orange. The display lighting makes it glow in places. The bear's head is carved to show ears, mouth, nostrils and eyes. A hole runs through the bear’s torso, suggesting it was threaded onto a cord. Dimensions: Length 10.2 cm, Height 4.2 It was discovered in Słupsk during peat mining in 1887. According to the museum catalogue ‘’Shortly after its discovery, the figure underwent conservation work to restore its original appearance as it was covered with a layer of dull patina from the exposure to the minerals contained in the peat. Already at that time, at the end of the 19th century, it was assumed the restoration had gone too far. The figure was stripped entirely of patina, the anatomical features of the animal were emphasised, the eyes and nostrils were sharply drawn, and the amber was carefully polished”. In 2013, a competition was organised by the Education Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, for children to choose a name for the bear. The winning name was ‘Słupcio’,
February 6, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
askhistorians.bsky.social
Todays #AMA coming in hot #Skystorians! Dr. Edward Curtis, author of Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest & editor of Arab American Public History, is here to talk about the history of Arabs & Muslims in the United States!
www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
From the AskHistorians community on Reddit: AMA: Arab American and Muslim American History
Explore this post and more from the AskHistorians community
www.reddit.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
annelisebaer.bsky.social
Fellow archaeologists! Has anyone come across ceramics that match this sherd? Findspot was SW Afghanistan. Dating is potentially 1st cent CE. Any/all leads are appreciated!
February 4, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
Colouring books are back in stock, select between:
Egypt & Mesopotamia tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4419...
Multi-period archaeology with loads of animals, female representation & Medieval iconagraphy tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4414...

#archaeology #anthropology #egyptology #mesopotamia
Brown a4 booklet with text archaeology colouring book from egypt to mesopotamia and small squared images Brown a4 booklet with text archaeology colouring book and small squared images beside scale ruler
January 28, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
suegreaney.bsky.social
Our interns have been cataloguing our long-neglected drawers of artefact collections, and found these Stonehenge stone samples! Sent to the uni in 1956. Going to use these for teaching ASAP!
There chunks of grey-blue stone on a wooden table. They are labelled rhyolite, volcanic ash and simply 'bluestone' (spotted dolerite). Nearby are finds bags and a notebook.
January 26, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
helengittos.bsky.social
Richard Hodges' new take on The Origins of Anglo-Saxon Towns. 40+ years after his Dark Age Economics...

'Hodges focuses on the origins... of ... London, Ipswich, Southampton & York – & then the impact of the Viking Conquest in AD 866 on England's subsequent history.'
January 24, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
A Late Iron Age iron linch-pin with crescent-shape decorated copper alloy head inlaid with blue, red and green enamel 😍

Just under 11cm high, the pin would originally secured a spoked wheel onto a chariot axle

📷 Jan 2026 Verulamium Museum @stalbansmuseums.bsky.social

#FindsFriday #ChariotsofFire
Brown iron pin with green decorated copper crescentic head on a yellow fabric background
January 23, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
sandraduffy.bsky.social
This house thinks this is the best party political broadcast we've ever seen.
greenparty.org.uk The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 23d
Help us make hope normal again.

Join the Green Party now.
January 23, 2026 at 8:24 AM
dodoarchaeology.bsky.social
I'm traumatised from digging up these bloody things. There are SO MANY in Ireland it's actually ridiculous.
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
New card design based on Minoan archaeology 🏺🌷

Link: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4445...
Vases are adapted from real archaeological objects from the Late Minoan (I & II) period. Flowers adapted from paintings on vases & frescoes found at Minoan palaces.
#minoan #archaeology
Five blue vases with intricate patterns and orange blossomed stems, white greetings card on tan background
January 22, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
tessmachling.bsky.social
Brilliant!! 🤣🤣🤣
irishashyt.bsky.social Dr Aisling Tierney @irishashyt.bsky.social · 29d
Feeling horny? Share your love of the recent Carynx archaeological discovery with this romantic card 🩷📯
Link: tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4442...
#carnyx #archaeology #celtic #history #britisharchaeology
White greetinhs card with drawing of archaeological carnyx and the word horny in red letters
January 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
tessmachling.bsky.social
This is such a shame. What's been happening in EAA over the last six months or so is awful and is certainly putting off many of us from joining or attending.

Archaeology will never not be political and I am so proud of all those who have taken a stand against the bullying.

#Archaeology 🏺
kayth.bsky.social Kayt Hawkins @kayth.bsky.social · Jan 16
Yesterday I resigned from the EAA Appeals & Anti-Harassment Committee (AAHC) after I was targetted in what I believe was an attempt to disprupt & undermine the AAHC. Be assured, AAHC are v much committed to making EAA a safe space, despite the restrictions imposed on them by the existing statutes. 🏺
January 16, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
henebtwa.bsky.social
Heneb's on Digging for Britain!

Airing on 5th Feb or available now via iPLAYER - Excavations at Buckspool Promontory Fort 🌊

📽️ Watch here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
January 16, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
robinince.bsky.social
Come see me in BELFAST PLEEEASE

cqaf.com/robin-ince-t...
Robin Ince: The Universe and the Neurodiverse - CQAF
A journey through the minds that populate the planet and may populate the universe beyond. An hour of joy and […]
cqaf.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
askhistorians.bsky.social
The AskHistorians Best of 2025 Awards have been announced!

Whether it's the Beast's books, Bond's booze or Blackfoot butts, come celebrate and enjoy some outstanding public history work!

www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...
From the AskHistorians community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the AskHistorians community
www.reddit.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
suegreaney.bsky.social
Apparently today is St Mungo's Day. Appropriate then to share one of the charities I support for their work tackling homelessness in my home city: action.mungos.org/donate?_gl=1...
St Mungo’s
action.mungos.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:22 PM
dodoarchaeology.bsky.social
Annelise is awesome!
irishashyt.bsky.social Dr Aisling Tierney @irishashyt.bsky.social · Jan 12
👋 Archaeology community, we have some fun news!

Archaeologists Engage is pleased to welcome leading social media expert Annelise Baer for our inaugural public talk covering the benefits and pitfalls of public engagement on social media.

Free tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/archaeolog...
#archaeology
text on left side says archaeologists engage in conversation with annelise baer and on right shows brown hair woman stood leaning against a wall
January 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
👋 Archaeology community, we have some fun news!

Archaeologists Engage is pleased to welcome leading social media expert Annelise Baer for our inaugural public talk covering the benefits and pitfalls of public engagement on social media.

Free tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/archaeolog...
#archaeology
text on left side says archaeologists engage in conversation with annelise baer and on right shows brown hair woman stood leaning against a wall
January 12, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
suegreaney.bsky.social
Thanks for sharing my research!
nattrustarch.bsky.social National Trust Archaeology @nattrustarch.bsky.social · Jan 9
Continuing with our round up of discoveries and projects in 2025, we're heading back to March, and the announcement that Flagstones in Dorset was found to be older than Stonehenge. 🧵
Archaeological reconstruction drawing of what the site at Flagstone would have looked like in the Neolithic period (Jennie Anderson)
January 9, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
tessmachling.bsky.social
Ok folks, I've got a task I need help with.

I need to know about high money value detector finds found since 2019 (not including tudor heart or Chew Valley hoard) from news reports, social media posts etc.

England & Wales only.

Please share, thank you 😊

#Archaeology 🏺 #Treasure #Detecting
November 30, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
Hot drop: set of 12 large medieval cat stickers 😻
🛍️ tephraarts.etsy.com/listing/4404...
Adapted from authentic illuminated manuscripts, designed and made by me!
⚜️ #skystorians #history #archaeology #cats #medieval
Hand holds green circule cat sticker while background shows blurry scene of other medieval cat style stickers on black background
November 13, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Reposted by Donal Lucey
irishashyt.bsky.social
🧵 This is what I’ve been using my annual leave for recently, travelling to Devon to explore the rich archaeological heritage of Great Torrington.

I volunteer with Dig the Castle, a project started by Dig Director Emily Wapshott MCIfA.
@archsengage.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 2:32 PM