Dr Jo Ball
@drjeball.bsky.social
#Roman & conflict archaeologist; Lecturer in Ancient History at Manchester Met University; University Teacher at the University of Liverpool; Early Career Research Fellow at the Centre for Integrative Research in Conflict Archaeology.
Pinned
Dr Jo Ball
@drjeball.bsky.social
· Jun 30
A lovely #Roman necklace, made of gold & small chunks of emerald - a delicate, beautiful, & timeless piece of jewellery, made more than 1800 years ago.
December 27, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A lovely #Roman necklace, made of gold & small chunks of emerald - a delicate, beautiful, & timeless piece of jewellery, made more than 1800 years ago.
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
One of my most favourite glass vessels: A marvellous Roman vessel in the form of a pig, made of blue glass. It was used to hold ointment or perfume.
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
December 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
One of my most favourite glass vessels: A marvellous Roman vessel in the form of a pig, made of blue glass. It was used to hold ointment or perfume.
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Found in a burial in Cologne. Dating late 2nd/early 3rd century AD
📷 Römisch-Germanisches Museum Köln
🏺 #archaeology
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
#FindsFriday A mystery stone head on display at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in Pembrokeshire, found locally in north Pembrokeshire
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
December 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
#FindsFriday A mystery stone head on display at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in Pembrokeshire, found locally in north Pembrokeshire
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
Not a typical 'Celtic' head but nonetheless possesses many features which could suggest an Iron Age date 🧐🤔
📷 My own, last week
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
This small bronze figurine of a naked Gaulish woman projects great vulnerability - which was certainly the point, but not in a good way. She's identified by her torc and represents the eroticization of a conquered people. 🏺
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
December 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
This small bronze figurine of a naked Gaulish woman projects great vulnerability - which was certainly the point, but not in a good way. She's identified by her torc and represents the eroticization of a conquered people. 🏺
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Found in the River Seine, Paris. Roman, 100-200 CE. #BritishMuseum
📸 me
A beautiful #Roman glass bowl, cobalt blue with an irregular white swirling pattern - it must have looked fantastic on an ancient table! (📷 Bonhams) 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
December 3, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A beautiful #Roman glass bowl, cobalt blue with an irregular white swirling pattern - it must have looked fantastic on an ancient table! (📷 Bonhams) 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
Fascinating glimpse into everyday Roman life: This samian ware bowl was repaired with lead rivets, clear evidence that it was valued enough to mend rather than discard.
The repair reflects either the practical mindset and economic realities of a Roman household, or it may have been a...🧵1/3
📷 me
🏺
The repair reflects either the practical mindset and economic realities of a Roman household, or it may have been a...🧵1/3
📷 me
🏺
December 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Fascinating glimpse into everyday Roman life: This samian ware bowl was repaired with lead rivets, clear evidence that it was valued enough to mend rather than discard.
The repair reflects either the practical mindset and economic realities of a Roman household, or it may have been a...🧵1/3
📷 me
🏺
The repair reflects either the practical mindset and economic realities of a Roman household, or it may have been a...🧵1/3
📷 me
🏺
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
Dedication stone from Roman Bath to the goddess Sulis which was set up by Priscus, a stonemason and tribesman of the Carnutes (a tribe in Gaul). Now part of the museum collections at The Roman Baths in Bath. 📸 My own. #EpigraphyTuesday #RomanBritain #Bath
December 2, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Dedication stone from Roman Bath to the goddess Sulis which was set up by Priscus, a stonemason and tribesman of the Carnutes (a tribe in Gaul). Now part of the museum collections at The Roman Baths in Bath. 📸 My own. #EpigraphyTuesday #RomanBritain #Bath
Loved recording this episode with @ancientblogger.bsky.social, all about the Northwest African bandit-turned-rebel Tacfarinas!
New episode out featuring @drjeball.bsky.social - time to talk about Tacfarinas! #ancientrome #tacfarinas
sites.libsyn.com/105935/tacfa...
sites.libsyn.com/105935/tacfa...
Ancient History Hound: Tacfarinas with Dr Jo Ball
Dr Jo Ball returns as a guest on the podcast to talk about Tacfarinas, the subject of her latest book. In the early 1st century AD Tacfarinas led a rebellion against Rome in north west Africa. Listen ...
sites.libsyn.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Loved recording this episode with @ancientblogger.bsky.social, all about the Northwest African bandit-turned-rebel Tacfarinas!
A #Roman necklace plaited gold set with sapphires & garnets, with a lovely butterfly pendant, also set with precious stones. Hard to believe this piece of jewellery is about 1800-2000 years old! 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
November 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
A #Roman necklace plaited gold set with sapphires & garnets, with a lovely butterfly pendant, also set with precious stones. Hard to believe this piece of jewellery is about 1800-2000 years old! 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
A #Roman glass bottle, made about 2000 years ago & probably used to store perfume or perfumed oil #AncientBlueSky
November 28, 2025 at 12:54 AM
A #Roman glass bottle, made about 2000 years ago & probably used to store perfume or perfumed oil #AncientBlueSky
The Nijmegen Helmet - a #Roman 'cavalry sports' helmet with a slightly chilling face mask attached. It is about 1900-2000 years old, & was found in the Waal river near Nijmegen (Netherlands) in 1915 #AncientBlueSky
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The Nijmegen Helmet - a #Roman 'cavalry sports' helmet with a slightly chilling face mask attached. It is about 1900-2000 years old, & was found in the Waal river near Nijmegen (Netherlands) in 1915 #AncientBlueSky
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
Another hilltop 360 for #HillfortsWednesday, this time from Mither Tap, Bennachie, Aberdeenshire, taken 2 weeks ago. I do declare that each Scottish hillfort I ascend is windier than the last, & this was definitely windier than Eildon Hill, which was pretty windy, tbf.
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Another hilltop 360 for #HillfortsWednesday, this time from Mither Tap, Bennachie, Aberdeenshire, taken 2 weeks ago. I do declare that each Scottish hillfort I ascend is windier than the last, & this was definitely windier than Eildon Hill, which was pretty windy, tbf.
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
🏺🗃️ Thinking back to my Italy trip a year ago, here are some of the most beautiful works I saw in the Naples museum: rare paintings on marble from Herculaneum & Pompeii, their colours faded, yet with a delicacy that recalls Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
November 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
🏺🗃️ Thinking back to my Italy trip a year ago, here are some of the most beautiful works I saw in the Naples museum: rare paintings on marble from Herculaneum & Pompeii, their colours faded, yet with a delicacy that recalls Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
A dog’s paw print on a Roman clay tile 🐾 🐕 😍
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A dog’s paw print on a Roman clay tile 🐾 🐕 😍
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
About 2,000 years-ago, a dog made its mark for ‘pawsterity’ when it wandered across the wet tile laid out to dry before firing.
From Richborough Roman fort
📷 by me
#TilesonTuesday
#Archaeology
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
I think I’m just going to keep posting pictures of decorative Roman cavalry horse chamfrons from @vindolandatrust.bsky.social and @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social until people start blocking me.
Have some.
1/
Have some.
1/
November 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I think I’m just going to keep posting pictures of decorative Roman cavalry horse chamfrons from @vindolandatrust.bsky.social and @trimontiumtrust.bsky.social until people start blocking me.
Have some.
1/
Have some.
1/
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
Fancy a #grasshoppers on a ring? The #Romans did.
Between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, grasshoppers seem to have been pretty fashionable amongst the subjects carved on #intaglios.
Between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, grasshoppers seem to have been pretty fashionable amongst the subjects carved on #intaglios.
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Fancy a #grasshoppers on a ring? The #Romans did.
Between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, grasshoppers seem to have been pretty fashionable amongst the subjects carved on #intaglios.
Between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, grasshoppers seem to have been pretty fashionable amongst the subjects carved on #intaglios.
A #Roman wooden ship, excavated from the bottom of the Rhine near Utrecht (Netherlands) in 2003. It sank about 1850-1800 years ago - probably very quickly, as a lot of artefacts were found inside, suggesting the crew were not able to salvage them in time 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A #Roman wooden ship, excavated from the bottom of the Rhine near Utrecht (Netherlands) in 2003. It sank about 1850-1800 years ago - probably very quickly, as a lot of artefacts were found inside, suggesting the crew were not able to salvage them in time 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
A mummy portrait from #Roman Egypt, depicting a bearded young man dressed in a white tunic with dark red stripes. We don't know his name, but he probably lived & died towards the end of the C2nd AD, & may well have been a soldier in life 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
November 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A mummy portrait from #Roman Egypt, depicting a bearded young man dressed in a white tunic with dark red stripes. We don't know his name, but he probably lived & died towards the end of the C2nd AD, & may well have been a soldier in life 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
A Roman glass funerary urn that was found during excavations in the Botchergate area of Carlisle. Dating to the 1st century AD, the urn can be viewed in Carlisle Cathedral’s treasury. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #RomanBritain #CarlisleCathedral
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 AM
A Roman glass funerary urn that was found during excavations in the Botchergate area of Carlisle. Dating to the 1st century AD, the urn can be viewed in Carlisle Cathedral’s treasury. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #RomanBritain #CarlisleCathedral
Reposted by Dr Jo Ball
The base of a 2,000 year old, Late Iron Age Durotrigian style Black Burnished Ware bowl from Winterborne Kingston #Dorset
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The base of a 2,000 year old, Late Iron Age Durotrigian style Black Burnished Ware bowl from Winterborne Kingston #Dorset
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
A series of squiggles were scored into the fabric prior to firing - decoration, doodle or pot-makers mark?
📷 during cleaning in June 2013
#FindsFriday
A fragment of #Roman pottery, into which a sketch of a rowing ship has been incised - I love the little details, like the oars coming down into the water, & the ram at the front of the ship. A lovely piece of everyday art, made nearly 2000 years ago 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A fragment of #Roman pottery, into which a sketch of a rowing ship has been incised - I love the little details, like the oars coming down into the water, & the ram at the front of the ship. A lovely piece of everyday art, made nearly 2000 years ago 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
A #Roman glass bottle, in blue, white, & green glass with gold gilt decoration. It was probably once used to hold perfume or perfumed oil, about 1800-2000 years ago.
November 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A #Roman glass bottle, in blue, white, & green glass with gold gilt decoration. It was probably once used to hold perfume or perfumed oil, about 1800-2000 years ago.
A selection of Roman glassware, mostly from the eastern provinces & made 1600-2000 years ago - and a clear demonstration of how much the Romans like a bit of colour in their homes!
November 16, 2025 at 11:15 AM
A selection of Roman glassware, mostly from the eastern provinces & made 1600-2000 years ago - and a clear demonstration of how much the Romans like a bit of colour in their homes!