Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
@cama-york.bsky.social
Global leaders in the application of state-of-the art methods used to study archaeological materials and artefacts throughout the ages.
Department of Archaeology, University of York
Department of Archaeology, University of York
We love these replica Must Farm pots being made at our YEAR Centre for a Master's project 😍 @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM
We love these replica Must Farm pots being made at our YEAR Centre for a Master's project 😍 @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social
Tabea Koch, a former @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social PhD student, now a postdoc at the British Museum, gave a @cama-york.bsky.social talk entitled "Divine creatures: New molecular research on Egyptian animal mummies at the British Museum". With a title like that, it was no wonder we had a full house!
December 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Tabea Koch, a former @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social PhD student, now a postdoc at the British Museum, gave a @cama-york.bsky.social talk entitled "Divine creatures: New molecular research on Egyptian animal mummies at the British Museum". With a title like that, it was no wonder we had a full house!
Our Experimental Archaeology Masters students have been exploring the use of ceramic hotplates to produce simple flatbreads - working through the entire process, from making and firing the hotplate, grinding the seeds, baking the bread. @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Our Experimental Archaeology Masters students have been exploring the use of ceramic hotplates to produce simple flatbreads - working through the entire process, from making and firing the hotplate, grinding the seeds, baking the bread. @uoyarchaeology.bsky.social
New paper out by members of @cama-york.bsky.social 🎉
"Ancient DNA and biomarkers from artefacts: insights into technology and cultural practices in Neolithic Europe"
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
"Ancient DNA and biomarkers from artefacts: insights into technology and cultural practices in Neolithic Europe"
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Ancient DNA and biomarkers from artefacts: insights into technology and cultural practices in Neolithic Europe | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Birch bark tar was widely used throughout prehistoric Europe for hafting stone tools
as well as various other purposes. While previous research has mainly focused on the
identification and production ...
doi.org
October 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
New paper out by members of @cama-york.bsky.social 🎉
"Ancient DNA and biomarkers from artefacts: insights into technology and cultural practices in Neolithic Europe"
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
"Ancient DNA and biomarkers from artefacts: insights into technology and cultural practices in Neolithic Europe"
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
Today is the deadline for bursary applications! Click the link to apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
TAG 2025 Bursary Application
Thank you for your interest in applying for a bursary to present at TAG 2025 in York. Please complete the form below to help us assess your eligibility and better understand the context of your applic...
docs.google.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Today is the deadline for bursary applications! Click the link to apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We had an excellent research forum talk by guest speaker Gregor Bader from the University of Tübingen titled:
"Reconstructing hunter-gatherer behavior during the Middle and Late Stone Age in southernmost Africa". Wonderful to see results from the recent fieldwork campaigns.
"Reconstructing hunter-gatherer behavior during the Middle and Late Stone Age in southernmost Africa". Wonderful to see results from the recent fieldwork campaigns.
October 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
We had an excellent research forum talk by guest speaker Gregor Bader from the University of Tübingen titled:
"Reconstructing hunter-gatherer behavior during the Middle and Late Stone Age in southernmost Africa". Wonderful to see results from the recent fieldwork campaigns.
"Reconstructing hunter-gatherer behavior during the Middle and Late Stone Age in southernmost Africa". Wonderful to see results from the recent fieldwork campaigns.
We were delighted to have a visit this week from a former Material Culture and Experimental Archaeology Masters student, Frankie Wong, who is now working on the 'Power Hall' at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester. Frankie graduated from the programme in 2022.
October 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
We were delighted to have a visit this week from a former Material Culture and Experimental Archaeology Masters student, Frankie Wong, who is now working on the 'Power Hall' at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester. Frankie graduated from the programme in 2022.
York Experimental Archaeology Research (YEAR) Centre and @cama-york.bsky.social postdoc, Patrick Nørskov Pedersen (funded by the Danish DFF scheme) presented at our Research Forum on Orcadian Neolithic axes, including the @nessofbrodgar.bsky.social axe assemblage.
October 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
York Experimental Archaeology Research (YEAR) Centre and @cama-york.bsky.social postdoc, Patrick Nørskov Pedersen (funded by the Danish DFF scheme) presented at our Research Forum on Orcadian Neolithic axes, including the @nessofbrodgar.bsky.social axe assemblage.
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
A study led by @cama-york.bsky.social has revealed new insights into Stone Age life and death, showing that stone tools were just as likely to be buried with women and children as with men
Open access paper in @plosone.org doi.org/10.1371/jour... 🔓 📄
Open access paper in @plosone.org doi.org/10.1371/jour... 🔓 📄
Burial Site challenges stereotypes of Stone Age women and children
Study has revealed new insights into Stone Age life and death, showing that stone tools were just as likely to be buried with women and children as with men.
www.york.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
A study led by @cama-york.bsky.social has revealed new insights into Stone Age life and death, showing that stone tools were just as likely to be buried with women and children as with men
Open access paper in @plosone.org doi.org/10.1371/jour... 🔓 📄
Open access paper in @plosone.org doi.org/10.1371/jour... 🔓 📄
What are lithic ontologies?
Delighted to share a new paper just out in World Archaeology by @cama-york.bsky.social Director Aimée Little, Astrid Nyland and Chantal Conneller. This caps the special issue on, you guessed it, Lithic Ontologies! doi.org/10.1080/0043...
Delighted to share a new paper just out in World Archaeology by @cama-york.bsky.social Director Aimée Little, Astrid Nyland and Chantal Conneller. This caps the special issue on, you guessed it, Lithic Ontologies! doi.org/10.1080/0043...
What are lithic ontologies?
Published in World Archaeology (Vol. 56, No. 2, 2024)
doi.org
September 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
What are lithic ontologies?
Delighted to share a new paper just out in World Archaeology by @cama-york.bsky.social Director Aimée Little, Astrid Nyland and Chantal Conneller. This caps the special issue on, you guessed it, Lithic Ontologies! doi.org/10.1080/0043...
Delighted to share a new paper just out in World Archaeology by @cama-york.bsky.social Director Aimée Little, Astrid Nyland and Chantal Conneller. This caps the special issue on, you guessed it, Lithic Ontologies! doi.org/10.1080/0043...
Very happy to say that Aimée Little and Andy Needham from @cama-york.bsky.social group and collaborators have a new paper out on the production of animal teeth pendants - exploring the question of how the teeth were extracted from mandibles:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
First stage in technological production of Stone Age animal teeth pendants: evidence from Zvejnieki (Latvia) and wider social implications - Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Animal teeth were amongst the most common materials utilised for personal ornament production during the Stone Age, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. The hunter-gatherer cemetery site of Zvejniek...
link.springer.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Very happy to say that Aimée Little and Andy Needham from @cama-york.bsky.social group and collaborators have a new paper out on the production of animal teeth pendants - exploring the question of how the teeth were extracted from mandibles:
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The BBC has done a short piece on our teeth pendant research 🤩
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Slow cooking used to extract animal teeth for Stone Age jewellery
Research shows teeth used in prehistoric jewellery were extracted after a carcass was slow-cooked.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The BBC has done a short piece on our teeth pendant research 🤩
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
We are delighted that this major piece of research is out and now gaining a lot of media interest!
Prehistoric people used a culinary method similar to slow cooking to carefully extract animal teeth for use in decorative crafts, according to a study by archaeologists at
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
‘Slow pit-cooking’ likeliest method to extract animal teeth for Stone Age ornaments, study shows
Prehistoric people used a culinary method, similar to slow cooking today, to carefully extract animal teeth to use in decorative crafts, such as pendant-making, archaeologists have shown.
www.york.ac.uk
June 30, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We are delighted that this major piece of research is out and now gaining a lot of media interest!
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
Prehistoric people used a culinary method similar to slow cooking to carefully extract animal teeth for use in decorative crafts, according to a study by archaeologists at
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
‘Slow pit-cooking’ likeliest method to extract animal teeth for Stone Age ornaments, study shows
Prehistoric people used a culinary method, similar to slow cooking today, to carefully extract animal teeth to use in decorative crafts, such as pendant-making, archaeologists have shown.
www.york.ac.uk
June 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Prehistoric people used a culinary method similar to slow cooking to carefully extract animal teeth for use in decorative crafts, according to a study by archaeologists at
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
@cama-york.bsky.social and University of Helsinki 🦷 ⛏️
#Openaccess paper in Archaeol Anthropol Sci: doi.org/10.1007/s125... 🔓 📃
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
Very cool indeed! Well done Mel and Adam! www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/w...
Major grant to explore the discovery of Wales’ first complete ancient chariot
The University of Manchester and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales have been awarded a £1.25 million research grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) following the discovery of an Iron ...
www.manchester.ac.uk
June 30, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Very cool indeed! Well done Mel and Adam! www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/w...
Thank you to all who came to the CAMA opening on Friday. An especially big thank you to our guest speaker, Prof Annelou van Gijn, who gave a truly brilliant talk full of thought proving artefact biography stories from across her distinguished career. @cama-york.bsky.social is now officially open🎉🍾🥂
June 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thank you to all who came to the CAMA opening on Friday. An especially big thank you to our guest speaker, Prof Annelou van Gijn, who gave a truly brilliant talk full of thought proving artefact biography stories from across her distinguished career. @cama-york.bsky.social is now officially open🎉🍾🥂
Looking forward to our official opening this week! We are delighted to have a guest lecture by Prof Annelou van Gijn and Prof Mark Edmonds as discussant. If you haven't got your ticket already, you can do so here:
www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
Studying object biographies, telling stories of the past
Objects reveal rich histories through their materials, crafting, and use, offering insights into past lives, beliefs, and interactions.
www.york.ac.uk
June 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Looking forward to our official opening this week! We are delighted to have a guest lecture by Prof Annelou van Gijn and Prof Mark Edmonds as discussant. If you haven't got your ticket already, you can do so here:
www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
www.york.ac.uk/news-and-eve...
We are delighted to announce the official opening of @cama-york.bsky.social !! This is combined with our Royal Society of Antiquaries Summer Lecture "Studying object biographies, telling stories of the past" by Prof. Annelou van Gijn. To book a ticket, see the link in the comments.
May 22, 2025 at 6:32 PM
We are delighted to announce the official opening of @cama-york.bsky.social !! This is combined with our Royal Society of Antiquaries Summer Lecture "Studying object biographies, telling stories of the past" by Prof. Annelou van Gijn. To book a ticket, see the link in the comments.
Excellent lunchtime CAMA talk by Reb Ellis-Haken today. Reb showcased her recent photographic work, results from the on-going Leverhulme Trust funded ‘Cults of the Head?’ project and earlier work on Britain’s most figuratively decorated vessel from the late Iron Age: the Marlborough Bucket.
May 22, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Excellent lunchtime CAMA talk by Reb Ellis-Haken today. Reb showcased her recent photographic work, results from the on-going Leverhulme Trust funded ‘Cults of the Head?’ project and earlier work on Britain’s most figuratively decorated vessel from the late Iron Age: the Marlborough Bucket.
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
Really happy to hear her making the argument for skilled photography in archaeology again, after so much photogrammetry and phone photos.
Listening to Dr Reb Ellis-Haken lecture on adaptable, portable, extremely high-quality artefact photography and how she's using it to find out incredible new details on the Iron Age (and beyond!) assemblage as part of the Cults of the Head? Project:
media.leverhulme.ac.uk/feature/iarmit
media.leverhulme.ac.uk/feature/iarmit
media.leverhulme.ac.uk
May 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Really happy to hear her making the argument for skilled photography in archaeology again, after so much photogrammetry and phone photos.
New paper out by @cama-york.bsky.social director Aimée Little and Norwegian-based colleagues 🎉🎉🎉🇧🇻
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Photogrammetric 3D modelling and experimental archaeology reveals new technological insights into engraved soapstone sinker production in Western Norway (6400-3300 cal. BC)
This pilot research presents the first study integrating digital submillimetre image-based 3D modelling with experimental archaeology to examine how s…
www.sciencedirect.com
May 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
New paper out by @cama-york.bsky.social director Aimée Little and Norwegian-based colleagues 🎉🎉🎉🇧🇻
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Another brilliant @cama-york.bsky.social lunchtime talk today!
Gustav Hejlesen Solberg, a visiting PhD Fellow from the University of Copenhagen and the National Museum of Denmark, gave an excellent talk titled: "Vikings, weapons and violence". So many questions we ran over time...
Gustav Hejlesen Solberg, a visiting PhD Fellow from the University of Copenhagen and the National Museum of Denmark, gave an excellent talk titled: "Vikings, weapons and violence". So many questions we ran over time...
April 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Another brilliant @cama-york.bsky.social lunchtime talk today!
Gustav Hejlesen Solberg, a visiting PhD Fellow from the University of Copenhagen and the National Museum of Denmark, gave an excellent talk titled: "Vikings, weapons and violence". So many questions we ran over time...
Gustav Hejlesen Solberg, a visiting PhD Fellow from the University of Copenhagen and the National Museum of Denmark, gave an excellent talk titled: "Vikings, weapons and violence". So many questions we ran over time...
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
ISHGR regret that we have been forced to cancel CHAGS14, which was to have been held June 2026 in University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
This decision reflects our concern about the current political situation in America and the uncertainties and risks for those travelling there.
1/2
This decision reflects our concern about the current political situation in America and the uncertainties and risks for those travelling there.
1/2
April 5, 2025 at 10:23 AM
ISHGR regret that we have been forced to cancel CHAGS14, which was to have been held June 2026 in University of Nevada, Reno, USA.
This decision reflects our concern about the current political situation in America and the uncertainties and risks for those travelling there.
1/2
This decision reflects our concern about the current political situation in America and the uncertainties and risks for those travelling there.
1/2
Reposted by Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis (CAMA)
I was asked to appear on BBC Uncanny to say something about Roman ghosts in York! It was fun, though they cut all critical and nuanced comments on ghost stories and archaeology. Reduced to 10 sec. 'here is an archaeologist who points out a Roman road, so the story must be true'😂 lesson learnt.
March 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I was asked to appear on BBC Uncanny to say something about Roman ghosts in York! It was fun, though they cut all critical and nuanced comments on ghost stories and archaeology. Reduced to 10 sec. 'here is an archaeologist who points out a Roman road, so the story must be true'😂 lesson learnt.
Visiting MCSA Fellow, Symon Radchenko - a scholar from ukraine, now based @unistavanger.bsky.social - gave a fantastic talk as part of the @cama-york.bsky.social lunchtime series:
Thousand scratches of prehistoric art in 3D: a closer look
A big thank you to Symon and everyone who came!
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇧🇻
Thousand scratches of prehistoric art in 3D: a closer look
A big thank you to Symon and everyone who came!
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇧🇻
March 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Visiting MCSA Fellow, Symon Radchenko - a scholar from ukraine, now based @unistavanger.bsky.social - gave a fantastic talk as part of the @cama-york.bsky.social lunchtime series:
Thousand scratches of prehistoric art in 3D: a closer look
A big thank you to Symon and everyone who came!
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇧🇻
Thousand scratches of prehistoric art in 3D: a closer look
A big thank you to Symon and everyone who came!
🇬🇧🇺🇦🇧🇻