Aidan O'Sullivan
@aidanosullivan.bsky.social
Head of School/Prof at UCD Archaeology; Early Medieval archaeologist; Director @experimentarchaeol.bsky.social Member Royal Irish Academy; Fellow Society of Antiquaries; Dad of boys; Dog Dad; Hurling/Camogie; IC Member; Own Opinions here
Memories of plunging my hand deep into the very cold peat to uncover Iron Age wooden planks last seen over 2,000 years ago.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
November 11, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Memories of plunging my hand deep into the very cold peat to uncover Iron Age wooden planks last seen over 2,000 years ago.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
In 1986, I started work on my first archaeology dig at Corlea 1, dated to 148/147 BC. I didn’t know then it would be some of the most spectacular archaeology of my career.
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
"Students and faculty at the Islamic University of Gaza ... described in interviews how they kept studying throughout two years of genocide by charging their laptops with solar energy, watching recorded lectures, and meeting in improvised study groups."
"Gaza's universities now need millions of dollars to rebuild the educational system."
"95 percent of all school buildings in Gaza had been damaged or destroyed — including every university."
#Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Education #Genocide #Military
"95 percent of all school buildings in Gaza had been damaged or destroyed — including every university."
#Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Education #Genocide #Military
Gaza's Students Kept Studying Amid the Rubble. Now Universities Hope to Rebuild.
Palestinian students learned remotely, with flickering internet, through two years of Israel's genocide. Now universities need funding to rebuild.
theintercept.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:22 AM
"Students and faculty at the Islamic University of Gaza ... described in interviews how they kept studying throughout two years of genocide by charging their laptops with solar energy, watching recorded lectures, and meeting in improvised study groups."
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
Michael D Higgins, with his wife Sabina, has left Áras an Úachtaráin for the final time as president.
He was given a guard of honour by members of the Sanctuary Runners, a charity of which he is patron.
The President’s term of office ends at midnight.
@VirginMediaNews.bsky.social
He was given a guard of honour by members of the Sanctuary Runners, a charity of which he is patron.
The President’s term of office ends at midnight.
@VirginMediaNews.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Michael D Higgins, with his wife Sabina, has left Áras an Úachtaráin for the final time as president.
He was given a guard of honour by members of the Sanctuary Runners, a charity of which he is patron.
The President’s term of office ends at midnight.
@VirginMediaNews.bsky.social
He was given a guard of honour by members of the Sanctuary Runners, a charity of which he is patron.
The President’s term of office ends at midnight.
@VirginMediaNews.bsky.social
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
It may have taken 2.5 months for us to edit, but you get a 2.5 hour-long pod in exchange! Learn about the multitude of early Irish professions and lower classes in Episode 15: Up the Workers, wherever you get your podcasts ✊ (Image: law text about physicians, Bretha Déin Chécht)
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
It may have taken 2.5 months for us to edit, but you get a 2.5 hour-long pod in exchange! Learn about the multitude of early Irish professions and lower classes in Episode 15: Up the Workers, wherever you get your podcasts ✊ (Image: law text about physicians, Bretha Déin Chécht)
Interestingly, climate change barely figured in Irish presidential election
Irish media just did their usual gotcha scoop competition, like a collie dog lying in wait on a country road for the next car to chase…
White chinos, Orange order, Syria trip
Nothing on the peril facing humanity
Irish media just did their usual gotcha scoop competition, like a collie dog lying in wait on a country road for the next car to chase…
White chinos, Orange order, Syria trip
Nothing on the peril facing humanity
The Post (me and @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social) analyzed the social media posts and appearances of prominent politicians across the country.
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
We found that no one is talking about climate change anymore. In 2025, mentions are 60% lower than in 2024.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
November 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Interestingly, climate change barely figured in Irish presidential election
Irish media just did their usual gotcha scoop competition, like a collie dog lying in wait on a country road for the next car to chase…
White chinos, Orange order, Syria trip
Nothing on the peril facing humanity
Irish media just did their usual gotcha scoop competition, like a collie dog lying in wait on a country road for the next car to chase…
White chinos, Orange order, Syria trip
Nothing on the peril facing humanity
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
Latest paper: Boxgrove is a key European site dating to 480,000 years ago. At GTP17, hominins knapped handaxes and then butchered an adult female horse. A fragment of the horse's scapula appeared to have evidence of impact from a wooden spear.....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Latest paper: Boxgrove is a key European site dating to 480,000 years ago. At GTP17, hominins knapped handaxes and then butchered an adult female horse. A fragment of the horse's scapula appeared to have evidence of impact from a wooden spear.....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
They wouldn’t be long coming after us legally if we stole THEIR original materials for profit…
“authors & publishers who filed a lawsuit against the Sam Altman-led firm have secured access to internal Slack messages… discussing the mass deletion of a pirated books dataset… A NY district court ordered OpenAI to hand over the communications regarding data deletion”
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
OpenAI in Danger After Authors Suing It Gain Access to Its Internal Slack Messages
Authors and publishers, who are suing OpenAI, secured access to internal Slack messages and emails discussing the deletion of pirated books.
futurism.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
They wouldn’t be long coming after us legally if we stole THEIR original materials for profit…
Saddened to hear of the death of Charlie Doherty, early Irish historian and UCD lecturer. He was a friendly, witty and approachable academic, and highly influential. He taught me back in the 1980s, and was a colleague in UCD when I joined. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. rip.ie/death-notice...
Condolence Book for Charles Doherty (Tallaght, Dublin) | rip.ie
Condolence Book for Charles Doherty of Tallaght, Dublin Ireland. Add your condolences here.
rip.ie
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Saddened to hear of the death of Charlie Doherty, early Irish historian and UCD lecturer. He was a friendly, witty and approachable academic, and highly influential. He taught me back in the 1980s, and was a colleague in UCD when I joined. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. rip.ie/death-notice...
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
WATCH: Seriously, if you’re following ANY bike-lane debate, you HAVE TO WATCH this news story. You actually can’t make this up. Ford claims without evidence that bike-lanes are bad for small business, and THE ACTUAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION obliterates him with data.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Annex businesses tell Ford to back off Bloor bike lanes
Stores in the Annex say the Bloor bike lanes have been a big boost to business. As Michelle Mackey reports, the neighborhood's BIA wants the province to back off its new bill that could see the lanes ...
toronto.citynews.ca
November 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
WATCH: Seriously, if you’re following ANY bike-lane debate, you HAVE TO WATCH this news story. You actually can’t make this up. Ford claims without evidence that bike-lanes are bad for small business, and THE ACTUAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION obliterates him with data.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
Safe bike-lanes mean business.
This is depressing about journalists and specifically journalists in the New York Times.
“Some people think being evil is bad, but others say…” that kind of both-sideism thing
“Some people think being evil is bad, but others say…” that kind of both-sideism thing
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...?
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This is depressing about journalists and specifically journalists in the New York Times.
“Some people think being evil is bad, but others say…” that kind of both-sideism thing
“Some people think being evil is bad, but others say…” that kind of both-sideism thing
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
Exploring India's Oldest Sacred Routes: Pilgrimage Trails Through Time
www.msn.com/en-in/travel...
www.msn.com/en-in/travel...
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Exploring India's Oldest Sacred Routes: Pilgrimage Trails Through Time
www.msn.com/en-in/travel...
www.msn.com/en-in/travel...
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
A guest blog, which adds more detail to the narrative of detecting in England & Wales.
Thank you to my anonymous colleague for writing this important piece & for allowing me to host it on the Big Book of Torcs! 😊
#Archaeology #Detecting #Torcs #gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/08/w...
Thank you to my anonymous colleague for writing this important piece & for allowing me to host it on the Big Book of Torcs! 😊
#Archaeology #Detecting #Torcs #gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/08/w...
“Who Pays for the Hobby?”: Metal Detecting in England and Wales
[A download/print PDF version can be found at the end of the paper] This is a first for The Big Book of Torcs. Today, I open up BBoT to a guest blog, written by a friend and archaeological colleagu…
bigbookoftorcs.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:32 AM
A guest blog, which adds more detail to the narrative of detecting in England & Wales.
Thank you to my anonymous colleague for writing this important piece & for allowing me to host it on the Big Book of Torcs! 😊
#Archaeology #Detecting #Torcs #gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/08/w...
Thank you to my anonymous colleague for writing this important piece & for allowing me to host it on the Big Book of Torcs! 😊
#Archaeology #Detecting #Torcs #gold #Treasure
bigbookoftorcs.com/2025/11/08/w...
How many bikes on an average Irish street?
Car owners are understandably tense about losing a single parking space (ie given over to a bike bunker?)
Families on the street may own dozens of bikes, but are expected to deal with their own private property (into the hall, dirtying the floor, etc)
Car owners are understandably tense about losing a single parking space (ie given over to a bike bunker?)
Families on the street may own dozens of bikes, but are expected to deal with their own private property (into the hall, dirtying the floor, etc)
Germany, a nation of car lovers, has around 85 million inhabitants.
These people own ~50 million cars, of which 1.5 million are 🔋.
They also own 90 million bicycles, of which 15 million are e-bikes.
We are, in fact, a hidden cycling nation. So well hidden that we can’t even see it ourselves.
These people own ~50 million cars, of which 1.5 million are 🔋.
They also own 90 million bicycles, of which 15 million are e-bikes.
We are, in fact, a hidden cycling nation. So well hidden that we can’t even see it ourselves.
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
How many bikes on an average Irish street?
Car owners are understandably tense about losing a single parking space (ie given over to a bike bunker?)
Families on the street may own dozens of bikes, but are expected to deal with their own private property (into the hall, dirtying the floor, etc)
Car owners are understandably tense about losing a single parking space (ie given over to a bike bunker?)
Families on the street may own dozens of bikes, but are expected to deal with their own private property (into the hall, dirtying the floor, etc)
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
Egypt’s Grand Museum Is Finally Open. Now, ‘We Need Our Stuff Back.’
For many Egyptians, the state-of-the art museum is a stage from which to renew demands that Egypt’s most iconic antiquities belong in their homeland — not the marble halls of European museums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
For many Egyptians, the state-of-the art museum is a stage from which to renew demands that Egypt’s most iconic antiquities belong in their homeland — not the marble halls of European museums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
Egypt’s Grand Museum Is Finally Open. Now, ‘We Need Our Stuff Back.’
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Egypt’s Grand Museum Is Finally Open. Now, ‘We Need Our Stuff Back.’
For many Egyptians, the state-of-the art museum is a stage from which to renew demands that Egypt’s most iconic antiquities belong in their homeland — not the marble halls of European museums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
For many Egyptians, the state-of-the art museum is a stage from which to renew demands that Egypt’s most iconic antiquities belong in their homeland — not the marble halls of European museums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/a...
A small gift to myself from eBay for my UCD office - Indy with MP40 Schmeisser to go with his Da, Prof Henry Jones, Sr, medievalist and Grail scholar
"Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky”
Or
“Let’s punch some Nazis”
"Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky”
Or
“Let’s punch some Nazis”
November 8, 2025 at 10:10 AM
A small gift to myself from eBay for my UCD office - Indy with MP40 Schmeisser to go with his Da, Prof Henry Jones, Sr, medievalist and Grail scholar
"Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky”
Or
“Let’s punch some Nazis”
"Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds in the sky”
Or
“Let’s punch some Nazis”
I wonder how many bikes there are in Ireland? @cyclingireland.bsky.social
Germany, a nation of car lovers, has around 85 million inhabitants.
These people own ~50 million cars, of which 1.5 million are 🔋.
They also own 90 million bicycles, of which 15 million are e-bikes.
We are, in fact, a hidden cycling nation. So well hidden that we can’t even see it ourselves.
These people own ~50 million cars, of which 1.5 million are 🔋.
They also own 90 million bicycles, of which 15 million are e-bikes.
We are, in fact, a hidden cycling nation. So well hidden that we can’t even see it ourselves.
November 8, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I wonder how many bikes there are in Ireland? @cyclingireland.bsky.social
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
“The old arguments against return are crumbling,” said @monicahanna.bsky.social a leading Egyptologist based in Cairo. The new museum, she argued, was a signal to the world: “Egypt possesses the capacity, the will and the world-class facilities to house its own heritage.”
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“The old arguments against return are crumbling,” said @monicahanna.bsky.social a leading Egyptologist based in Cairo. The new museum, she argued, was a signal to the world: “Egypt possesses the capacity, the will and the world-class facilities to house its own heritage.”
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Feck sake, Ireland has dropped from 9 to 10 in most reputable countries in the world. Time for action
According to this ranking, Canada’s reputation has improved since 2024. We are now the 2nd most reputable country in the world.
The United States has dropped from 30th to 48th in that same year, the biggest drop of any nation BY FAR. Its reputation-peers are now Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan…
The United States has dropped from 30th to 48th in that same year, the biggest drop of any nation BY FAR. Its reputation-peers are now Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan…
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Feck sake, Ireland has dropped from 9 to 10 in most reputable countries in the world. Time for action
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
I am familiar with the peatscape of the midlands but every now and then I stop to look at a site in more detail. Moyclare Bog SAC is one I've never visited, but it sure sounds great!
You can see significant cutting and drainage to the north, but it's still in remarkably good condition See link...
You can see significant cutting and drainage to the north, but it's still in remarkably good condition See link...
November 6, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I am familiar with the peatscape of the midlands but every now and then I stop to look at a site in more detail. Moyclare Bog SAC is one I've never visited, but it sure sounds great!
You can see significant cutting and drainage to the north, but it's still in remarkably good condition See link...
You can see significant cutting and drainage to the north, but it's still in remarkably good condition See link...
Our national broadcaster - ceasing to produce documentaries, one of the things it has traditionally been good at..
RTÉ's in-house TV documentary unit is to cease production next year as part of changes at the broadcaster.
The broadcaster maintains this will not lessen its output and these staff will be re-assigned across RTÉ.
www.thejournal.ie/rte-document...
The broadcaster maintains this will not lessen its output and these staff will be re-assigned across RTÉ.
www.thejournal.ie/rte-document...
RTÉ will close its in-house TV documentary unit next year
The decision has been blasted by the National Union of Journalists.
www.thejournal.ie
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Our national broadcaster - ceasing to produce documentaries, one of the things it has traditionally been good at..
Conall’s (mini schnauzer, chief dog of Ireland, etc) photo on the cover of Archaeology Ireland has now been seen in Dublin bookshops and the library of the Royal Irish Academy!
@ria.ie
@ria.ie
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Conall’s (mini schnauzer, chief dog of Ireland, etc) photo on the cover of Archaeology Ireland has now been seen in Dublin bookshops and the library of the Royal Irish Academy!
@ria.ie
@ria.ie
Reposted by Aidan O'Sullivan
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...
Full Professorship(s) in Archaeology - Vacancy at Aarhus University
Vacancy at School of Culture and Society - Department of Heritage Studies, Aarhus University
international.au.dk
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Deadline approaches for our open professorship here at @au.dk @auarcher.bsky.social. Get in touch if you have q
international.au.dk/about/profil...
international.au.dk/about/profil...