Rob Hedge
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robhedge.bsky.social
Rob Hedge
@robhedge.bsky.social
1.5K followers 480 following 240 posts
Archaeologist. PhD research at University of Leicester: peasant perspectives and medieval settlement in the Severn Valley. Freelance artefact analysis, education & illustration. Scribbles a lot. MCIfA 🏺
https://incurablearchaeologist.wordpress.com/
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robhedge.bsky.social
#Parkrun at Worcester Woods this morning, with Millie’s customary post-run scamper through Nunnery Wood.
My journey up there probably follows the route once taken by medieval nuns of Worcester’s Whiston nunnery on the Tything, who farmed the land and after whom it’s named.
Selfie of a man in a blue coat and glasses, crouching next to a scruffy dog, on a woodland path
December 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
kiranmehta.bsky.social
A nice surprise this morning: my article on prison reform from below is out!

I believe it’s open access but let me know if you can’t get a copy and would like one.

academic.oup.com/histres/adva...
Prison reform from below: London, c.1780–1830*
Abstract. This article explores the history of the English prison reform movement from ‘below’ – that is, from the perspective of prison inmates. By highli
academic.oup.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:17 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
Cheers Tess. I’ve been remiss of late in advertising, but some of my illustrations are available on sustainable clothing and gifts. And if you’d like a design in a different colour/garment, give me a shout.
Tomorrow is last day for 1st class Christmas postage 👍 incurablearchaeologist.teemill.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
By strange coincidence, I’m wearing my Cirencester Roman Cockerel T-shirt today! I love Tess’s chocolate version. Any other representations out there? 🏺🏛️
Selfie of a man standing against a wooden wall and bookshelves, wearing a black T-shirt with the image of a Roman copper alloy statuette of a cockerel, with coloured enamel inlay on its wings and chest
December 16, 2025 at 12:21 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Completed my ECB Level 2 Core Coach qualification yesterday! 🎉
A great course: participants from current 1st class / England U19 pros all the way down to parent volunteers.
Pride slightly tempered by aches in muscles I’d forgotten I even had, after yesterday’s pace bowling session. 🏏😬🤕 #cricket
Selfie of a bespectacled man in sports kit in a sports hall, next to a black banner that reads ‘Worcestershire Cricket Foundation #CricketForAll
December 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
tcfairfax.bsky.social
I had a great time giving this talk yesterday! And it's already available to watch in YouTube! Huge thanks to @insuhi.bsky.social for having me!
November 28, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
graceowen.bsky.social
Just sharing this again - a piece in @uk.theconversation.com that Alex Brown and I wrote about peasants and the surprising amount of 'sick leave' they were given in the middle ages #medievalsky #history #medieval

theconversation.com/medieval-pea...
Medieval peasants enjoyed a surprising range of sick, annual and bereavement leave benefits
Some peasants were entitled to up to a year and a day of leave if they were sick.
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
uolsbc.bsky.social
📣Join us on 2 Dec, 5.30pm for our hybrid SBC lecture and reception with Neil Gregor @neilgregor.bsky.social on 'Writing Cultural Histories of Nazi Germany: Thoughts from the Concert Hall' - Please register for in-person or online attendance. Eventbrite links below
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
Ventured over to Worcester Woods for #Parkrun. Millie likes to bark encouragement on the home straight.
The woods seem eternal, but the undulations underfoot are what remains of medieval ridge and furrow created by ploughing: once upon a time, all this was open fields… 🏺🗃️
Photograph of a wiry-haired Irish terrier in a faded red harness, watching runners come up the hill at Worcester Woods Parkrun Selfie of a sweaty bespectacled fair-haired man in a blue coat next to the face of a scruffy dog enjoying herself in the woods Photograph of a path through woodland: the ground undulates slightly: the remains of medieval ridge and furrow ploughing, when Worcester Woods was open farmland owned by the nuns of the Whiteladies nunnery, Worcester.
November 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
Photograph of a sketchbook page with a pen and graphite illustration adapted from a medieval manuscript, showing a crane on the right, alert, holding a rock aloft. Facing her are four sleeping cranes. Text reads: A crane keeps careful watch over her flock while the rest sleep. She holds a rock aloft: if she drifts off, the stone will fall and the sound will wake her. This is a common theme in medieval bestiaries, which celebrated cranes' vigilance and fortitude. Sketch based on Gerald of Wales' Topographia Hibernica , c1200, Salisbury. BLMS Harley 4751,f.39r
November 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
I am currently reading 'Hild', a fabulous novel by @nicolaz.bsky.social that explores her early life, immersing the curious reader in the rhythms of 7th century life. Would heartily recommend it to anyone curious about Hild and her achievements.
nicolagriffith.com/2023/11/17/h...
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Spent the morning turning this into a tiny zine. Printing, cutting, folding - a tiny analogue act of resistance to the news we’ve had this week about cuts to History at Leicester.
I’ll bring them along to the @leicesterucu.bsky.social demo on Weds 12th November if you’d like your own copy.
November 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
raem30.bsky.social
Less than a month to go for submission of abstracts! Papers invited for the Life and Landscape Research Showcase at the University of Nottingham.
November 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Doing my ECB level 2 cricket coaching qualification. It’s great…
… but yesterday’s enthusiasm (“wicket keeping is great fun, why did I never do it… maybe it’s not too late?”) has been tempered by today’s bruises and aches. Newfound respect for all you ‘keepers.🫡
November 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve* Parkrun this weekend was an excellent opportunity to pay a Samhain visit to an old friend.

*yes, it is lovely. But yes, the hill at the end is every bit as horrible as they warn you.
Photograph of a sign on a bench saying “Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve Parkrun”, with the nature reserve in the background Photograph of Pentre Ifan, a Neolithic dolmen. It is taken on 1st November. Someone has lain a wreath hanging from the northern stone, presumably to mark Samhain. Photograph of Pentre Ifan from the west.
November 2, 2025 at 9:32 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
I recently went back to @maacambridge.bsky.social for the first time in years. I love the direction the museum is taking, but was delighted to see this familiar old friend!
My illustration of it is available on T-shirts etc in my Teemill shop: incurablearchaeologist.teemill.com/search/?sear... 🏺
October 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
Both in our collections. A researcher from Paris said that they didn't think the arrowhead was French, but made by someone very skilled who had seen French arrowheads.
robhedge.bsky.social Rob Hedge @robhedge.bsky.social · Oct 11
#ArchInk 4: bronze; 5: flint; 9: ivory
#archaeology #illustration 🏺🏛️🗃️
Combining three prompts to look at early-19th century views of early Bronze Age artefacts.
Ink and graphite sketch of a dagger and arrowhead. Text reads: #ArchInk The early Bronze Age was a time of remarkable transformation in material and social lives. People and materials came together in new ways. I’m interested in how early observers interpreted these changes. The early-19th century excavators of these artefacts, Colt Hoare and Cunnington, were not afraid to draw parallels with continental Europe. “Some may think it derogates from the dignity of our country to allow a Gaulish (i.e. foreign) original; but, be the consequences what they will, whenever we are in search of truth, although we discover her in ruins and rubbish, we must acknowledge and revere her.” Richard Colt Hoare, 1812 *Colt Hoare and Cunnington were, by the standards of the day, pretty good at recording. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussion of barrows in the severely area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits that he’s not sure which of the barrows this dagger came from! #5 flint One of four arrowheads within a burial in a bowl barrow: Which Show affinity with those from Armorica, NW France. FLINT ARROWHEAD, WIMBORNE ST GILES. 4: Bronze BRONZE DAGGER, SILK HILL MILSTON* 9: ivory The pommel is ivory from a marine mannal, possibly a walrus. It is very worn, suggesting it might have adorned other artefacts before this dagger The wooden handle was re-constructed based onCunnington's dig notes. * Or is it ? Colt Hoare and Cunnington - and their illustrator /surveyor Philip Crocker- were pretty good at recording their f, by the standards of the day. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussions of barrow-digging in the Everley area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits the dagger was "in one of these, but I cannot specify which!'
October 12, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
Researchers from Athens say that the ones like the gold-studded Bush Barrow dagger (a later version of the one in this drawing) inspired Mycenaean gold-workers. Lots of European links in the Bronze Age - Cunnington and Colt Hoare were right!
robhedge.bsky.social Rob Hedge @robhedge.bsky.social · Oct 11
#ArchInk 4: bronze; 5: flint; 9: ivory
#archaeology #illustration 🏺🏛️🗃️
Combining three prompts to look at early-19th century views of early Bronze Age artefacts.
Ink and graphite sketch of a dagger and arrowhead. Text reads: #ArchInk The early Bronze Age was a time of remarkable transformation in material and social lives. People and materials came together in new ways. I’m interested in how early observers interpreted these changes. The early-19th century excavators of these artefacts, Colt Hoare and Cunnington, were not afraid to draw parallels with continental Europe. “Some may think it derogates from the dignity of our country to allow a Gaulish (i.e. foreign) original; but, be the consequences what they will, whenever we are in search of truth, although we discover her in ruins and rubbish, we must acknowledge and revere her.” Richard Colt Hoare, 1812 *Colt Hoare and Cunnington were, by the standards of the day, pretty good at recording. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussion of barrows in the severely area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits that he’s not sure which of the barrows this dagger came from! #5 flint One of four arrowheads within a burial in a bowl barrow: Which Show affinity with those from Armorica, NW France. FLINT ARROWHEAD, WIMBORNE ST GILES. 4: Bronze BRONZE DAGGER, SILK HILL MILSTON* 9: ivory The pommel is ivory from a marine mannal, possibly a walrus. It is very worn, suggesting it might have adorned other artefacts before this dagger The wooden handle was re-constructed based onCunnington's dig notes. * Or is it ? Colt Hoare and Cunnington - and their illustrator /surveyor Philip Crocker- were pretty good at recording their f, by the standards of the day. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussions of barrow-digging in the Everley area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits the dagger was "in one of these, but I cannot specify which!'
October 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
#ArchInk 4: bronze; 5: flint; 9: ivory
#archaeology #illustration 🏺🏛️🗃️
Combining three prompts to look at early-19th century views of early Bronze Age artefacts.
Ink and graphite sketch of a dagger and arrowhead. Text reads: #ArchInk The early Bronze Age was a time of remarkable transformation in material and social lives. People and materials came together in new ways. I’m interested in how early observers interpreted these changes. The early-19th century excavators of these artefacts, Colt Hoare and Cunnington, were not afraid to draw parallels with continental Europe. “Some may think it derogates from the dignity of our country to allow a Gaulish (i.e. foreign) original; but, be the consequences what they will, whenever we are in search of truth, although we discover her in ruins and rubbish, we must acknowledge and revere her.” Richard Colt Hoare, 1812 *Colt Hoare and Cunnington were, by the standards of the day, pretty good at recording. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussion of barrows in the severely area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits that he’s not sure which of the barrows this dagger came from! #5 flint One of four arrowheads within a burial in a bowl barrow: Which Show affinity with those from Armorica, NW France. FLINT ARROWHEAD, WIMBORNE ST GILES. 4: Bronze BRONZE DAGGER, SILK HILL MILSTON* 9: ivory The pommel is ivory from a marine mannal, possibly a walrus. It is very worn, suggesting it might have adorned other artefacts before this dagger The wooden handle was re-constructed based onCunnington's dig notes. * Or is it ? Colt Hoare and Cunnington - and their illustrator /surveyor Philip Crocker- were pretty good at recording their f, by the standards of the day. But in a sheepish footnote in their discussions of barrow-digging in the Everley area of Wiltshire, Colt Hoare admits the dagger was "in one of these, but I cannot specify which!'
October 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
#ArchInk 2: shell; 3: residue; 6: horn; 7: textile; 8: stratigraphy
#inktober #medievalsky #skystorians 🏺🏛️🗃️
Combining a few prompts to tell the story of Worcester Cathedral’s Cockleshell Pilgrim.
#ArchInk Ink and graphite sketch of a grave. Accompanying text labels read: The Cockleshell Pilgrim In 1986-7, Excavations within Worcester Cathedral uncovered the body of a man wearing woollen clothing and leather boots, and artefacts suggesting an association with pilgrimage. Research by Katherine lack points to his identity: Robert Sutton, c15th Worcester dyer 6: horn Decayed remnants of a horn tip were found at the top of a 1.55m wooden staff buried next to the body. 8:stratigraphy The burial post-dates construction of the choir wall in 1374. The head and neck were missing: cut by a brick wall that truncated the west end of the grave. 3: residue Remnants of soft tissue, skin, spinal cord, ligaments and muscle were found on the spine and pelvis. 2: Shell Next to the Staff, and a bronze lace end, was a 5cm cockle shell, pierced at the top. Shells were a common Symbol of pilgrimage, but usually Scallop Shells associated with St James'Shrine at Santago de Compostela. The cockle is therefore odd - it may have been intended as a general SymboLof pilgrimage 7: textile He was buried wearing an undershirt and a fine cloak made from a type of woollen cloth called 'worsted' They were of good quality, but plain and undyed -Befitting a pilgrim. Sutton's 1454 will contained a wish to be buried “before the image of StJames in the cathedral.” The man was in his sixties, at least - but had been fit and active before arthritis set in. After anillustration by Helen Lubin, 1990
October 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
#ArchInk 1: pigment
#inktober #medievalsky #skystorians 🏺🏛️🗃️

Not sure how much I’ll be able to contribute this year, but I’ll try to chip in when I can.
Ink and graphite sketch showing a woman in medieval dress, holding writing implements in each hand and an expression of intense focus, sat in front of a writing desk with an open manuscript. Text reads: # archink I: pigment Medieval writers and artists used a huge range of compounds & colours - you can find out more abort their techniques at fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/illuminated. The staple of the medieval manuscript was the deep purple-black of iron gall ink, made by mixing iron sulfate with tannic acid, usually sourced from fermented oak galls. MARIE DE FRANCE, LATE CI2th WRITER After a late c13th illustration of her from BnF Arsenal Library, MS 3142 fol 256
October 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Had a grand time this afternoon chatting to students in Orlando, Florida about the advantages and limitations of tech in #archaeology. Give ‘em a few years and I’m sure one of them will crack my request for a portable C14 robot…
Enthusiastic kids & doesn’t take too much of your time… get involved! 🏺
sarahmackattack.bsky.social Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · Sep 22
Welp here we are again, fresh out of Archaeologists for Skype a Scientist matches.

This fall, we have matched 248 groups with Archaeologists for online Q&As. I have 38 more groups who need a match, but I'm out of Archaeologists!

Archaeologists! Please volunteer
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
a woman is smiling and holding a cup that says help me .
Alt: a woman is smiling and holding a cup that says help me .
media.tenor.com
October 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
A new comic: A brief history of History at the University of Leicester.
You can download the originals and find links to further reading on my blog: incurablearchaeologist.wordpress.com/2025/10/02/l... #skystorians 🏛️🏺🗃️
Individual panels are threaded below:
An 8-panel comic illustrating the history of teaching and research in History at the University of Leicester since the university's foundation in 1921
October 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
Brian Patten has died. Thawing Frozen Frogs was given to me as a small child: the first poetry I really *got*. The fact that I had to fish this dog-eared volume out of my son’s bedroom is testament to his gift: surreal, silly, funny, and moving. Sometimes all at once.
Photograph of a tattered Puffin paperback edition of Brian Patten’s ‘thawing frozen frogs’.
October 1, 2025 at 9:44 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
Family walk around NT Croome yesterday. “What are those birds, daddy?” Glossy ibis, right in front of us! Inevitably, I’d left my camera at home… #worcsbirds
Photograph showing back of head of small child standing on a path at bottom right. In centre left of image are two glossy ibis feeding in the shallow margins of a lake. One is just taking off.
September 29, 2025 at 9:07 AM