Rob Hedge
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robhedge.bsky.social
Rob Hedge
@robhedge.bsky.social
1.5K followers 470 following 230 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
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
robhedge.bsky.social
Photograph of a cast of the skull of Ninjemys oweni, a giant horned turtle that would have weighed circa 200kg. One of many impressively oddball megafauna species that roamed Pleistocene Australia. And yes, it is named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
September 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Still buzzing from Worcestershire’s #OneDayCup triumph last night. Took the boy to Trent Bridge, spent the day dodging the rain. Skies cleared for just long enough to witness an all-time classic. Stands full of friends, family and the grassroots #cricket community 🏏
Two small girls in Worcestershire cricket shirts. One holds aloft a home-made sign reading ‘Go Rapids’. Photograph of a cricket pitch. Hampshire Bowler is in his follow-through. Worcestershire batter Ethan Brooks punches the ball square on the off-side Photograph of Worcestershire batter Henry Cullen hitting his first ball behind square on the leg side to win the match. Photograph of a celebrating group of Worcestershire players: Henry Cullen and Ben Allison, wearing blue match shirts, applauding. In front of them, injured club captain Brett D’Olivera wearing green training kit applauds, crutches dangling from his forearms.
September 21, 2025 at 1:36 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
It’s been quite a week (+month, year etc), so here’s a little #FindsFriday / #FlintFriday treat for your timelines: a gorgeous little Mesolithic ‘mèche de foret’ (drill bit) from my desk. Retouched edges abraded to a smooth sheen by repeated use. 🏺🏛️
Photograph of a honey-coloured flint artefact, a blade about 22mm long with the two long edges retouched to form a point. It is balanced on the photographers index finger. In the background are a set of calipers and an open notebook.
September 19, 2025 at 4:08 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Joined a friend for the southern leg of his solo Malverns marathon this morning, over the marvellous hillforts at Midsummer Hill and British Camp. Started warm and dry. Then several hours of unremitting downpour, brightened only by abundant lightning.
How it started vs how it’s going:
Two men in running kit on top of a hill. They are dry. They look happy. The same two men, on top of another hill. The camera lens is covered in rain. They are leaning on a trig point. They are drenched. One is smiling slightly manically. The other wears the grimace of a man who knows he’s got 20km to go and would, right now, welcome a quick, warm demise at the hands of the approaching thunderstorm.
September 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Couldn’t resist the lure of a medieval World Heritage Site AND a #Parkrun! Fabulous course around and amidst the ruins of Fountains Abbey this morning.
Photograph of a sweaty man in running kit standing in front of a sign reading ‘Parkrun Fountains Abbey’. In the background is the ruins of Fountains Abbey, a medieval Cistercian monastery.
August 16, 2025 at 3:00 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
50th #Parkrun and a PB this morning at Worcester Pitchcroft.
After a challenging week, it really is the best way to start the weekend!
Photograph of a tired-looking man trundling towards middle age, wearing sweaty running kit, standing next to a horse racetrack fence ringing a bell. A sign says ‘Worcester Pitchcroft Parkrun PB Bell’.
August 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Rob Hedge
tracelarkhall.bsky.social
It's 1629 and they're *still* after you. It's so long ago now that they've started getting the date wrong!
August 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM
robhedge.bsky.social
🤫. I’ve got away with this for 428 years, only to be outed on Bluesky. The archive always gets you in the end… 🗃️
July 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Working on 🏺 artefacts, there are times when you need to take a step back, to think conceptually about a site at a distance from the stuff. One method I use is to think through sketching.
These are usually quick, rough sketches that never see the light of day…
Photograph of an A3 sketchbook page with a rough ‘mood’ sketch in oil pastels, showing an archaeological excavation of one of several undulations in a pasture field. A single archaeologist fills orange buckets. In the background, the land rises to a range of hills.
July 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
Wonderful thread on the amount of thought and depth of knowledge that goes into an archaeological illustration, and on living with the uncertainty:
kjkillackey.bsky.social Killackey Illustration @kjkillackey.bsky.social · Jul 15
A new piece, my recent illo depicting long distance transport of wild boars to Asiab in the early Iranian #Neolithic. I’ve reposted a couple articles featuring the illustration but here’s the whole image and some detail crops.
#archaeology 🏺 #SciArt 🐡
1/9
A reconstruction illustration (by Kathryn Killackey) showing groups of hunters approaching Asiab, an early Neolithic site in Iran. In the foreground, one ground is forging a river and climbing up onto the banks. Two men carry a field-dressed wild boar between them on a pole. Another man has his hide clothing bundled and is carrying them on his head. He also has a hide bag on his back with a red deer antler strapped to it. The hunters exiting the river are dressed in hide loincloths and carry bows or spears. One wears a necklace of boar tusks perforated at both ends. The rest of this group has already crossed and dressed themselves in hide leggings, tunics, and shoes. They carry an assortment of baskets and bags on their backs, one with another boar's head attached. Their tunics and legging have decorative detailing with red ochre and small disk beads. They are walking up a slope towards the settlement at the top. A group stands at the top of the slope, greeting the new comers. Behind them is a large rammed earth circular building with a flat thatch roof. There are also clusters of smaller circular structures made of poles and hide, some with wood shade shelters attached. Groups of people are busy preparing food, including cooking another boar, for a feast. Children and dogs are running about. Another group of hunters are also seen arriving in the midground, entering the image from the right side. The landscape is covered in a mix of grass, wild pistacio and almond trees. There are sedges along the river banks. This vegetation is dry and yellowing, indicating autumn. You can see mountains in the background and vultures following air currents in the distance.
July 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
robhedge.bsky.social
This is an excellent thread. Worth adding: the legislation didn’t work. It didn’t work because that imagined class of peasant—the able bodied idle poor—did not exist. The legislation imagined a paradoxical peasant, simultaneously being too entrepreneurial and too lazy.
elisewang.bsky.social Elise Wang @elisewang.bsky.social · Jul 8
So this phrase “able-bodied” has clearly been on the most recent list of R talking points. It comes from the first round of English labor laws, which were instituted after the Black Death.

A mini medieval story time!
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Jul 8
Jim Jordan: "If there's an able-bodied adult out there now who is in our welfare system, guess what -- that person is going to have to work ... that is far from immoral."
July 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM