Helen Gittos
@helengittos.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Medieval History; parent involved in the Independent Inquiry into Maternity Services at East Kent.
(I'm no longer able to read private messages here.)
(I'm no longer able to read private messages here.)
Pinned
NEW EPISODE! Cerne Abbas: Secrets Beneath The Giant | TIME TEAM (Dorset) 2025
YouTube video by Time Team Official
www.youtube.com
... and, if you haven't seen it yet, what better time to catch up on the @timeteam.bsky.social special on @hugh-willmott.bsky.social's excvations at #cerneabbey:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
On another damp, fog-bound day here in the Pennines, I thought I’d share a few of the lustrous fragments of Saxon glass that I've just submitted for publication. Deposited in the early 8th century AD, they still sparkle with joy 1,300 years later 🏺✨
February 10, 2026 at 12:01 PM
On another damp, fog-bound day here in the Pennines, I thought I’d share a few of the lustrous fragments of Saxon glass that I've just submitted for publication. Deposited in the early 8th century AD, they still sparkle with joy 1,300 years later 🏺✨
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Hwær cwom diamond twill
hwær cwom cloisonne buckle
hwær cwom wād ond mædere
Eala beorht tabletweave! Eala wool-wiga!
Eala plant-dyed þrym! Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under beige cotton, swa heo no wære.
hwær cwom cloisonne buckle
hwær cwom wād ond mædere
Eala beorht tabletweave! Eala wool-wiga!
Eala plant-dyed þrym! Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under beige cotton, swa heo no wære.
February 10, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Hwær cwom diamond twill
hwær cwom cloisonne buckle
hwær cwom wād ond mædere
Eala beorht tabletweave! Eala wool-wiga!
Eala plant-dyed þrym! Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under beige cotton, swa heo no wære.
hwær cwom cloisonne buckle
hwær cwom wād ond mædere
Eala beorht tabletweave! Eala wool-wiga!
Eala plant-dyed þrym! Hu seo þrag gewat,
genap under beige cotton, swa heo no wære.
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Call me old fashioned but this is NOT how MOD should do business:
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
February 10, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Call me old fashioned but this is NOT how MOD should do business:
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
"Burghart said Palantir’s MoD contract “was granted by direct award”, without competition, and asked the cabinet secretary to check there were “no other such contracts, no other such undisclosed meetings”." apple.news/AV4gdfVtNSFi...
The next History of Liturgy Seminar is in London @ihr.bsky.social on Monday 16 Feb 17.30.
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
February 10, 2026 at 10:26 AM
The next History of Liturgy Seminar is in London @ihr.bsky.social on Monday 16 Feb 17.30.
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
The award-winning @drkrisztinailko.bsky.social on
The Augustinian Friars & their Liturgical Cult of Saint Augustine.
In-person (chat! drinks! people!) or online: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
#medievalsky
Novels rooted in early medieval spirituality seem to be a thing at the moment. I spotted this in @blackwells.bsky.social recently. Anyone read it?
Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation...
www.panmacmillan.com/authors/dani...
Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation...
www.panmacmillan.com/authors/dani...
February 10, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Novels rooted in early medieval spirituality seem to be a thing at the moment. I spotted this in @blackwells.bsky.social recently. Anyone read it?
Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation...
www.panmacmillan.com/authors/dani...
Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation...
www.panmacmillan.com/authors/dani...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
The Conservative opposition on Oxfordshire County Council has proposed funding flags on lamp-posts. An amendment to the OCC budget, to be debated tomorrow, would “introduce a £50,000 funding pot […] for the provision of flags or banners on highway street light columns through an approved supplier”.
February 9, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The Conservative opposition on Oxfordshire County Council has proposed funding flags on lamp-posts. An amendment to the OCC budget, to be debated tomorrow, would “introduce a £50,000 funding pot […] for the provision of flags or banners on highway street light columns through an approved supplier”.
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Calling all University students interested in learning more about #Radiocarbon dating & #Bayesian analysis. There are still free places available on this short course for #NERC & #AHRC students!
New Year's resolution to learn more about 14C? Our short course 16/03-18/03 covers project design to practical OxCal workshops. Registration closes 15/02. NERC/AHRC students come for free - please email. @isotopesuk.bsky.social @unioxarchaeology.bsky.social lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk/courses/shor...
Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Chronological Analysis
Developed by the NERC Radiocarbon Facility, this course is aimed at researchers using radiocarbon and other techniques, including Quaternary geologists, palaeobiologists, archaeologists and marine geo...
lifelong-learning.ox.ac.uk
February 9, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Calling all University students interested in learning more about #Radiocarbon dating & #Bayesian analysis. There are still free places available on this short course for #NERC & #AHRC students!
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Here's a Friday thought for you. What if there was more than one Bayeux Tapestry made in the 11th century? Prof John Blair has a hunch about that open.substack.com/pub/historye...
What if there was one more than one Bayeux Tapestry?
Where's Wadard and what has he got to with an exciting new theory about the 11th-century embroidery?
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Here's a Friday thought for you. What if there was more than one Bayeux Tapestry made in the 11th century? Prof John Blair has a hunch about that open.substack.com/pub/historye...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
It’s been a busy time leading up to this! Our tour of the north east celebrating Amiatinus finally starts this Wednesday with an incredible sound and light show produced by The Projection Studio
The Department is back in the news again, with Rivers of Ink touring the North East for the rest of February!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ancient Bible light exhibition touring County Durham and Newcastle
The Codex Amiatinus was produced at the twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow in the 700s.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 11:09 AM
It’s been a busy time leading up to this! Our tour of the north east celebrating Amiatinus finally starts this Wednesday with an incredible sound and light show produced by The Projection Studio
Mummy, if human beings don't like writing essays, if human beings don't like reading essays: why essays?
February 8, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Mummy, if human beings don't like writing essays, if human beings don't like reading essays: why essays?
This is superb - & magic to be caught unawares by it - tuning in to R4 to ease the boredom of tidying up after dinner while my children were winding each other up - anxious as ever that I'm behind at work, & with family admin, that there's not enough time to see friends... #tobethegoodenoughmother
this saturday! I haven't heard it yet, but there's not only interviews with Carolyn Steedman and Miriam Stoppard, but also live audio of me attempting to get my kids out the door for school in the mornings www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Landscape For A Good Infant
How has the state shaped different generations’ experience of infancy?
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 8:57 PM
This is superb - & magic to be caught unawares by it - tuning in to R4 to ease the boredom of tidying up after dinner while my children were winding each other up - anxious as ever that I'm behind at work, & with family admin, that there's not enough time to see friends... #tobethegoodenoughmother
My god, the drabness of clothes for teenage boys!
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
My god, the drabness of clothes for teenage boys!
Reposted by Helen Gittos
On 2 May I'll be speaking about Edward I at the Medieval Canterbury Weekend. history-weekends.org/ticket-shop
Ticket Shop
Select a talk and book and pay for your tickets directly through our website.
history-weekends.org
February 6, 2026 at 6:36 PM
On 2 May I'll be speaking about Edward I at the Medieval Canterbury Weekend. history-weekends.org/ticket-shop
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Amplifying this again from way over in the UK where I'm wondering if Oxford Uni - which is part of the same OpenAI "NextGenAI" global reputation-washing scheme - is also being petitioned by its staff to cancel the contract
Our petition asking the CSU chancellor to “Cancel ChatGPT Edu. Invest in Humans” is very close to 2,000 signatures—many irate faculty, students, alums.
We‘ll be sending signatures and comments to the administration on *Monday.* Last call, & anyone can sign!
actionnetwork.org/petitions/ca...
We‘ll be sending signatures and comments to the administration on *Monday.* Last call, & anyone can sign!
actionnetwork.org/petitions/ca...
February 6, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Amplifying this again from way over in the UK where I'm wondering if Oxford Uni - which is part of the same OpenAI "NextGenAI" global reputation-washing scheme - is also being petitioned by its staff to cancel the contract
Reposted by Helen Gittos
I am sorry to report that George Speake, expert on Anglo-Saxon art, died on 15 January. His funeral will be this Friday, 6 February, in St Laurence's, Combe, Oxfordshire. I will miss his warm-heartedness & kindness, his curiousity, rigour, and willingness to take intellectual risks. I'll miss him.
February 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
I am sorry to report that George Speake, expert on Anglo-Saxon art, died on 15 January. His funeral will be this Friday, 6 February, in St Laurence's, Combe, Oxfordshire. I will miss his warm-heartedness & kindness, his curiousity, rigour, and willingness to take intellectual risks. I'll miss him.
... and, if you haven't seen it yet, what better time to catch up on the @timeteam.bsky.social special on @hugh-willmott.bsky.social's excvations at #cerneabbey:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
NEW EPISODE! Cerne Abbas: Secrets Beneath The Giant | TIME TEAM (Dorset) 2025
YouTube video by Time Team Official
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:19 PM
... and, if you haven't seen it yet, what better time to catch up on the @timeteam.bsky.social special on @hugh-willmott.bsky.social's excvations at #cerneabbey:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY68...
Stills from the most recent @timeteam.bsky.social on the princely burials at Cherrington (Glos.) which included a woman, relic-box hanging from her waist, beside a young boy with an adult's sword; eloquently presented by the ever-fabulous @helengeake.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiPm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiPm...
February 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Stills from the most recent @timeteam.bsky.social on the princely burials at Cherrington (Glos.) which included a woman, relic-box hanging from her waist, beside a young boy with an adult's sword; eloquently presented by the ever-fabulous @helengeake.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiPm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiPm...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Finally had a chance to go through some of our finds from last year's excavation at #CerneAbbey & thought I would share this gem. Book clasps are quite common finds on monastic sites but this little fella is the finest I've ever excavated & must have come from a pretty fancy prayer book or psalter
January 21, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Finally had a chance to go through some of our finds from last year's excavation at #CerneAbbey & thought I would share this gem. Book clasps are quite common finds on monastic sites but this little fella is the finest I've ever excavated & must have come from a pretty fancy prayer book or psalter
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Wind, what wind? Today, hardy sheffielduni.bsky.social archaeology students have been out demonstrating their Yorkshire mettle at #CerneAbbey in Dorset, despite Storm Chandra's best efforts
January 27, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Wind, what wind? Today, hardy sheffielduni.bsky.social archaeology students have been out demonstrating their Yorkshire mettle at #CerneAbbey in Dorset, despite Storm Chandra's best efforts
Reposted by Helen Gittos
Excited that my volume on the Early Bronze Age coffined burial from Tetney is now published open access by @antiquaries.bsky.social! Now everyone can read about this amazing find dated to 2032 BC and containing an amazing array of environmental and artefactual data.
library.oapen.org/viewer/web/v...
library.oapen.org/viewer/web/v...
February 5, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Excited that my volume on the Early Bronze Age coffined burial from Tetney is now published open access by @antiquaries.bsky.social! Now everyone can read about this amazing find dated to 2032 BC and containing an amazing array of environmental and artefactual data.
library.oapen.org/viewer/web/v...
library.oapen.org/viewer/web/v...
New!
The first comparative, international, cross-disciplinary study of silver in late antique Europe. And includes full catalogues of major UK hacksilver hoards: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).
www.sidestone.com/books/silver...
The first comparative, international, cross-disciplinary study of silver in late antique Europe. And includes full catalogues of major UK hacksilver hoards: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).
www.sidestone.com/books/silver...
February 5, 2026 at 6:49 PM
New!
The first comparative, international, cross-disciplinary study of silver in late antique Europe. And includes full catalogues of major UK hacksilver hoards: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).
www.sidestone.com/books/silver...
The first comparative, international, cross-disciplinary study of silver in late antique Europe. And includes full catalogues of major UK hacksilver hoards: Norrie’s Law (Fife), Gaulcross (Aberdeenshire), Tummel Bridge (Perthshire) and Patching (Sussex).
www.sidestone.com/books/silver...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
February 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A wonderfully warm and fitting tribute from @alixebovey.bsky.social to the medieval art historian John Lowden. What a long, hard winter this has been.
courtauld.ac.uk/news-blogs/2...
courtauld.ac.uk/news-blogs/2...
February 4, 2026 at 7:50 PM
A wonderfully warm and fitting tribute from @alixebovey.bsky.social to the medieval art historian John Lowden. What a long, hard winter this has been.
courtauld.ac.uk/news-blogs/2...
courtauld.ac.uk/news-blogs/2...
Reposted by Helen Gittos
‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery. On a quiz that covered concepts they’d used just a few minutes before, participants in the AI group scored 17% lower than those who coded by hand’
Blog on Anthropic’s site
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Blog on Anthropic’s site
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
How AI assistance impacts the formation of coding skills
Anthropic is an AI safety and research company that's working to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
www.anthropic.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:06 PM
‘We found that using AI assistance led to a statistically significant decrease in mastery. On a quiz that covered concepts they’d used just a few minutes before, participants in the AI group scored 17% lower than those who coded by hand’
Blog on Anthropic’s site
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
Blog on Anthropic’s site
www.anthropic.com/research/AI-...
I am sorry to report that George Speake, expert on Anglo-Saxon art, died on 15 January. His funeral will be this Friday, 6 February, in St Laurence's, Combe, Oxfordshire. I will miss his warm-heartedness & kindness, his curiousity, rigour, and willingness to take intellectual risks. I'll miss him.
February 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
I am sorry to report that George Speake, expert on Anglo-Saxon art, died on 15 January. His funeral will be this Friday, 6 February, in St Laurence's, Combe, Oxfordshire. I will miss his warm-heartedness & kindness, his curiousity, rigour, and willingness to take intellectual risks. I'll miss him.