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The Watching Brief
@watchingbrief.bsky.social
The Watching Brief podcast keeps an eye on news stories, topical media and developments, in the world of archaeology and heritage. Join us!

"News is what someone doesn't want you to hear, everything else is just advertising."
The Legal Loophole which Destroys Battlefield Archaeology!

Battle of Edgecote.

youtu.be/5fYOoVLE4DU

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social and @mrsoup.bsky.social
The Legal Loophole which Destroys Battlefield Archaeology!
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
October 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Unesco’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects goes live
The digital project, which was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, presents looted objects in 3D form

www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/30/u...
Unesco’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects goes live
The digital project, which was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, presents looted objects in 3D form
www.theartnewspaper.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by The Watching Brief
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bEv... For decades we've worked to enhance the Sheffield Zooarch Lab & to see years of dedication destroyed by corporate executives who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing is heart breaking @watchingbrief.bsky.social #savesheffieldarchaeology
The destruction of the Zooarch laboratories in Sheffield
YouTube video by Sheffield Zooarchaeology Lab
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
EAA President (allegedly) Orchestrated Campaign Against EAA Board!

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social and @mrsoup.bsky.social

#archaeologynews #eaa2025 #exclusive
EAA President (allegedly) Orchestrated Campaign Against EAA Board!
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
September 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Reposted by The Watching Brief
EXCLUSIVE: EAA PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF HELPING ORCHESTRATE PROTEST CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER OWN EXECUTIVE BOARD’S GAZA VOTE

thePipeLine with the extraordinary story of how the President of the European Association of Archaeologists is accused of helping orchestrate a campaign to overturn its Gaza vote.
EXCLUSIVE: EAA PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF HELPING ORCHESTRATE PROTEST CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER OWN EXECUTIVE BOARD’S GAZA VOTE
thePipeLine can reveal allegations that the President of the beleaguered European Association of Archaeologists [EAA], Professor Eszter Bánffy, was instrumental in organising a covert campaign to p…
thepipeline.info
September 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
EAA Claims Victimhood on the Belgrade 2025 Conference Crisis

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social

youtu.be/H9iJUN5n4kc

#archaeologynews
EAA Claims Victimhood on the Belgrade 2025 Conference Crisis
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
September 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Eight World War One Pillboxes – Grade II Listed by Historic England

youtu.be/rlMo_6f9du4?...

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social, @ckolonko.bsky.social, @mrsoup.bsky.social
Eight World War One Pillboxes – Grade II Listed by Historic England
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
August 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Sycamore Gap Tree Vandals Sentenced to Over 4 Years!

youtu.be/s3q6TFi44yY?...

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social

#archaeologynews #sycamoregap
Sycamore Gap Tree Vandals Sentenced to Over 4 Years!
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
July 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Breakthrough: The Myth of Looting of Navy Shipwrecks and Pre-Nuclear Steel!

youtu.be/anjEiym6CfE

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social

#archaeologynews #thewatchingbrief #independentnews
Breakthrough: The Myth of Looting of Navy Shipwrecks and Pre-Nuclear Steel!
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
July 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by The Watching Brief
Fresh evidence that there are still questions to be answered re: the short tenure of Nathan Baker as CEO at the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).

#archaeology #history #heritage #CIfA #CEO #questions #archaeologytiktok #ukarchaeology

youtu.be/174ZiKksph8?...
Fresh Evidence - Strange CIfA CEO Exit Leaves Crucial Questions!
YouTube video by Archaeosoup
youtu.be
May 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by The Watching Brief
Ahead of this afternoon's episode, here is a Watching Brief catch up playlist re: the closure of Archaeology at Sheffield University and the ongoing struggle for Zooarchaeology staff:

w/ @umbertoalbarella.bsky.social & @andybrockman.bsky.social

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

#archaeologynews
Sheffield University Archaeology Dept Closure: WB - YouTube
youtube.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The proposal is to introduce a planning document for Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site which will have to be taken into account when authorities are considering upgrades to roads or other visitor pressures at the "internationally significant" site, Wiltshire Council's report states.
Plans to protect Stonehenge from future developments - BBC News
Authorities are coming up with a plan to safeguard the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A firm linked to the ex-owner of the Crooked House pub, which was gutted by fire before being demolished illegally, has gone into voluntary liquidation with debts of £1.2m.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Firm linked to Crooked House goes into liquidation
Himley Environmental Ltd, which owns landfill land adjacent to the pub has been wound up voluntarily.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Recently on the #WatchingBrief
we discussed the rise and currently fall, of Silicon Valley DNA company #23andMe.

The background is here in thePipeLine.
23andME THROUGH? PRIVACY FEARS AS DNA TEST CO FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
It was once the go to present for a relative or friend who had everything except proof that they are descended from Vikings, and as recently as 2021 it was valued at $6 billion, but now Silicon Val…
thepipeline.info
April 4, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The #WatchingBrief is a @mrsoup.bsky.social production in association with @andybrockman.bsky.social of thePipeLine heritage news web site.

We try to tell stories the rest of the heritage media won't always talk about, but which we think you should know about.

Please Subscribe, Follow and Share.
The Watching Brief
Together Marc Barkman-Astles of Archaeosoup and & Andy Brockman of thePipeLine website, (Where history is tomorrow's news) and their guests continue their on-going Watching Brief: The Watching Brief...
www.youtube.com
April 3, 2025 at 11:39 PM
The #WatchingBrief team has been trying to come up with an angle on the story that a US maker has run into copyright trouble trying to sell a replica of the famous Roman Dodecahedron found by the Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group.

Unfortunately there are 30 and life is too short.
Roman dodecahedron replica removed from eBay after complaint
Archaeologists say the copy of the Roman artefact
www.bbc.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
23andMe Bankrupt, Austerity is Back & British Museum Back-Pedaling on Parthenon Marbles?

#archaeologynews #ukarchaeology #thewatchingbrief

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social and @mrsoup.bsky.social
23andMe Bankrupt, Austerity is Back & British Museum Back-Pedaling on Parthenon Marbles?
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
April 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
US education department insiders warn student loan system at risk.
US education department insiders warn student loan system at risk: ‘The gatekeepers are gone’
Mass firings spark concern as department employees say cuts set stage for widespread fraud and abuse
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
US Government ERASING History with DEI & LGBTQ+ Executive Purge (Heritage Half-Wit)

youtu.be/3xDN14RVE88

w/ @andybrockman.bsky.social & @mrsoup.bsky.social

#archaeologynews #enolagay #DoD #military #DEI #LGBTQ+
US Government ERASING History with DEI & LGBTQ+ Executive Purge
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
March 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM