Augusta McMahon
@augustamcmahon.bsky.social
Mesopotamian archaeologist at Univ of Chicago; former Univ of Cambridge; ancient urbanism; Tell Brak and Nippur; Co-Editor, Iraq Journal; distance runner.
More archaeology of archaeology. ‘His Majesty’ [#NotMyKing either] in this case was George VI. #Nippur #PostExcavation 🏺
June 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
More archaeology of archaeology. ‘His Majesty’ [#NotMyKing either] in this case was George VI. #Nippur #PostExcavation 🏺
Another #Nippur fieldwork season done, back to teaching on Tuesday (Assyrian Empire!). I thought I would never put together a team as good as the Brak team was, but this Nippur team is amazing. V proud of the work we did. Until next year. 🏺
March 22, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Another #Nippur fieldwork season done, back to teaching on Tuesday (Assyrian Empire!). I thought I would never put together a team as good as the Brak team was, but this Nippur team is amazing. V proud of the work we did. Until next year. 🏺
Sadly, after a day or so, the mouse and Yen have come to a detente of sorts and Stuart is back in the house.
March 17, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Sadly, after a day or so, the mouse and Yen have come to a detente of sorts and Stuart is back in the house.
From Day 1 at #Nippur we have had a small mouse problem. We have owls in the house, and I hoped the cycle of life would sort that out. No luck. Enter Yen, who refuses to chase mice but whose majestic presence may have solved the issue. 🏺 #ArchaeologyCats
March 15, 2025 at 9:44 AM
From Day 1 at #Nippur we have had a small mouse problem. We have owls in the house, and I hoped the cycle of life would sort that out. No luck. Enter Yen, who refuses to chase mice but whose majestic presence may have solved the issue. 🏺 #ArchaeologyCats
Sometimes the potters of #Nippur just phoned it in. (Thanks @antiquityj.bsky.social for the swag.) 🏺
March 13, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Sometimes the potters of #Nippur just phoned it in. (Thanks @antiquityj.bsky.social for the swag.) 🏺
Even though we are excavating in the Bronze and Iron Ages, it seems lithic technology was still alive and well at #Nippur (might also be prehistoric upchurn). 🏺
March 12, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Even though we are excavating in the Bronze and Iron Ages, it seems lithic technology was still alive and well at #Nippur (might also be prehistoric upchurn). 🏺
We have definitely shifted some soil this season: multiple stacked versions of the city wall and the most massive 1st mill BCE house that seems to go on forever. #Nippur 🏺
March 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
We have definitely shifted some soil this season: multiple stacked versions of the city wall and the most massive 1st mill BCE house that seems to go on forever. #Nippur 🏺
At #Nippur, we’re finding the breakage pattern on our 1st mill (top) and 3rd mill (centre and bottom) male figurines is the same. Weak points or persistence of use? 🏺
March 10, 2025 at 12:29 PM
At #Nippur, we’re finding the breakage pattern on our 1st mill (top) and 3rd mill (centre and bottom) male figurines is the same. Weak points or persistence of use? 🏺
In our ongoing experiment in creating a hollow way at #Nippur, the recent rains show how and why hollow ways are widened. We’ve veered to each side of our path (mostly to the left) to avoid a very soggy patch. 🏺
March 9, 2025 at 12:44 PM
In our ongoing experiment in creating a hollow way at #Nippur, the recent rains show how and why hollow ways are widened. We’ve veered to each side of our path (mostly to the left) to avoid a very soggy patch. 🏺
At #Nippur, every day is #InternationalWomensDay for our strong women-dominant team. 🏺
March 8, 2025 at 12:16 PM
At #Nippur, every day is #InternationalWomensDay for our strong women-dominant team. 🏺
Our pile of processed pottery is growing: all excavated, washed, counted, typed and analysed, drawn (a sample), and returned on site. 🏺🏺
March 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Our pile of processed pottery is growing: all excavated, washed, counted, typed and analysed, drawn (a sample), and returned on site. 🏺🏺
The rain meant we struggled all day with mud on the #Nippur excavations. But haircuts for the team in the evening! This is the 1st of 4. The many things a field director has to do… 🏺
March 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The rain meant we struggled all day with mud on the #Nippur excavations. But haircuts for the team in the evening! This is the 1st of 4. The many things a field director has to do… 🏺
We find dozens of these small chipped sherd discs in our 1st mill BCE houses at #Nippur. Any ideas for interpretation? Sharpie pen for scale. 🏺
March 4, 2025 at 7:10 PM
We find dozens of these small chipped sherd discs in our 1st mill BCE houses at #Nippur. Any ideas for interpretation? Sharpie pen for scale. 🏺
