Don O'Meara
@donomeara.bsky.social
Archaeologist in North East England, interested in all things archaeobotany, environmental archaeology, and local history and archaeology research. Editor of Archaeologia Aeliana. President of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle.
Spoke at the unveiling of a plaque to archaeologist Robert Blair, outside Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields last week. Great to see his contribution to the study of Roman archaeology in his local town recognised, and to have Mayor of South Tyneside Jay Potts and Mayoress Audrey Huntley in attendance.
October 8, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Spoke at the unveiling of a plaque to archaeologist Robert Blair, outside Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields last week. Great to see his contribution to the study of Roman archaeology in his local town recognised, and to have Mayor of South Tyneside Jay Potts and Mayoress Audrey Huntley in attendance.
A trek up to the #Cheviots, following a lead about a lump of flint (see photo 2, my hand for scale) found in 1978 under 5 feet of peat, by a farm worker. Initial conclusions from augering: there is a former tarn/lake at this spot, with possible #prehistoric activity in the form of a charcoal layer!
July 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A trek up to the #Cheviots, following a lead about a lump of flint (see photo 2, my hand for scale) found in 1978 under 5 feet of peat, by a farm worker. Initial conclusions from augering: there is a former tarn/lake at this spot, with possible #prehistoric activity in the form of a charcoal layer!
Doing a site visit in #Northumberland today. Got chatting to someone who claimed they think tjey found a stone tool as "It fits nicely into your hand and looks worked" That old chestnut, yeah I will have a look 🙄
"...oh, yeah that's a Neolithic polished stone axe! 🤯"
#archaeology #prehistory
"...oh, yeah that's a Neolithic polished stone axe! 🤯"
#archaeology #prehistory
July 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Doing a site visit in #Northumberland today. Got chatting to someone who claimed they think tjey found a stone tool as "It fits nicely into your hand and looks worked" That old chestnut, yeah I will have a look 🙄
"...oh, yeah that's a Neolithic polished stone axe! 🤯"
#archaeology #prehistory
"...oh, yeah that's a Neolithic polished stone axe! 🤯"
#archaeology #prehistory
Cleveland looking very much like one of the most underappreciated areas of England today. Little would one expect the field next to me contains the entrance to deepest mine in Britain (Boulby), with an astrophysics lab almost 1.5km under the surface.
July 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Cleveland looking very much like one of the most underappreciated areas of England today. Little would one expect the field next to me contains the entrance to deepest mine in Britain (Boulby), with an astrophysics lab almost 1.5km under the surface.
Harvesting the black gold this weekend. Material from a prehistoric site in north Cumbria excavated in 2001. Despite occasional labelling issues the charred remains are still perfectly viable.
#FlotThot #NakedWheat #Archaeobotany
#FlotThot #NakedWheat #Archaeobotany
July 7, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Harvesting the black gold this weekend. Material from a prehistoric site in north Cumbria excavated in 2001. Despite occasional labelling issues the charred remains are still perfectly viable.
#FlotThot #NakedWheat #Archaeobotany
#FlotThot #NakedWheat #Archaeobotany
Currently having my sample processing being monitored by the meanest looking chicken I have seen in a long time! 😐
July 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Currently having my sample processing being monitored by the meanest looking chicken I have seen in a long time! 😐
Sample processing today with some helpers.
These archaeobotanical samples are over 20 years old, and from a unit which no longer exists. They're still perfectly viable, but the labelling causes issues. Without permanent marker the internal labels have begun to fade, so reliant on external survival.
These archaeobotanical samples are over 20 years old, and from a unit which no longer exists. They're still perfectly viable, but the labelling causes issues. Without permanent marker the internal labels have begun to fade, so reliant on external survival.
July 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Sample processing today with some helpers.
These archaeobotanical samples are over 20 years old, and from a unit which no longer exists. They're still perfectly viable, but the labelling causes issues. Without permanent marker the internal labels have begun to fade, so reliant on external survival.
These archaeobotanical samples are over 20 years old, and from a unit which no longer exists. They're still perfectly viable, but the labelling causes issues. Without permanent marker the internal labels have begun to fade, so reliant on external survival.
*sigh* and I had so much planned for today. Better cancel everything.
July 5, 2025 at 8:53 AM
*sigh* and I had so much planned for today. Better cancel everything.
(Warning: this is either very interesting or tediously boring)
When putting down sheeting during cleaning in Bessie Surtees House they caught the draft through the wooden floor. But it wasn't just a breeze, it was a rhythmic pulse as the air moved through the building and it breathed 🧐
When putting down sheeting during cleaning in Bessie Surtees House they caught the draft through the wooden floor. But it wasn't just a breeze, it was a rhythmic pulse as the air moved through the building and it breathed 🧐
July 4, 2025 at 3:22 PM
(Warning: this is either very interesting or tediously boring)
When putting down sheeting during cleaning in Bessie Surtees House they caught the draft through the wooden floor. But it wasn't just a breeze, it was a rhythmic pulse as the air moved through the building and it breathed 🧐
When putting down sheeting during cleaning in Bessie Surtees House they caught the draft through the wooden floor. But it wasn't just a breeze, it was a rhythmic pulse as the air moved through the building and it breathed 🧐
Great to see McDonalds promoting the Irish language in Durham 🫡🇮🇪
July 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Great to see McDonalds promoting the Irish language in Durham 🫡🇮🇪
Trust me, something very interesting is happening under this plastic sheet!
#ArchaeologicalScience #Archaeology #OSL #MysteriousScienceSheet
#ArchaeologicalScience #Archaeology #OSL #MysteriousScienceSheet
July 2, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Trust me, something very interesting is happening under this plastic sheet!
#ArchaeologicalScience #Archaeology #OSL #MysteriousScienceSheet
#ArchaeologicalScience #Archaeology #OSL #MysteriousScienceSheet
Great to see this plaque unveiled in honour of Dr Irene Ighodaro in Newcastle yesterday, and nice to be quoted in the Newcastle Chronicle as part of this celebration.
#BlackHistory #Newcastle
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
#BlackHistory #Newcastle
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
June 26, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Great to see this plaque unveiled in honour of Dr Irene Ighodaro in Newcastle yesterday, and nice to be quoted in the Newcastle Chronicle as part of this celebration.
#BlackHistory #Newcastle
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
#BlackHistory #Newcastle
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...
I ran for the Metro today and jumped though while the doors were closing. A group of teenagers spotted me and two gave me a big cheer and clapped. I felt like such a bad ass 😎
Teenager 3: "Why are you clapping?"
Teenager 1: "That old man ran for the Metro and made it just in time"
Me: 🙃
Teenager 3: "Why are you clapping?"
Teenager 1: "That old man ran for the Metro and made it just in time"
Me: 🙃
June 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I ran for the Metro today and jumped though while the doors were closing. A group of teenagers spotted me and two gave me a big cheer and clapped. I felt like such a bad ass 😎
Teenager 3: "Why are you clapping?"
Teenager 1: "That old man ran for the Metro and made it just in time"
Me: 🙃
Teenager 3: "Why are you clapping?"
Teenager 1: "That old man ran for the Metro and made it just in time"
Me: 🙃
Love having a walk through an urban area and getting a surprise like this. (A family of roe deer in central Newcastle, Ouseburn Valley, this evening)
#UrbanNature #Newcastle
#UrbanNature #Newcastle
June 20, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Love having a walk through an urban area and getting a surprise like this. (A family of roe deer in central Newcastle, Ouseburn Valley, this evening)
#UrbanNature #Newcastle
#UrbanNature #Newcastle
My renewal card came today. Officially licensed to be Irish for another year👌🏻 🇮🇪
June 20, 2025 at 6:14 PM
My renewal card came today. Officially licensed to be Irish for another year👌🏻 🇮🇪
A resourceful kittiwake in Newcastle finding a suitable alternative to a cliff edge!
June 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A resourceful kittiwake in Newcastle finding a suitable alternative to a cliff edge!
Site visits in #Northumberland today with some help
May 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Site visits in #Northumberland today with some help
Mid May and by far the worst magpie harvest I've had for years. Is anyone else having a poor season?!
#RescueBorb #CatchAndRelease #IDidntEatIt
#RescueBorb #CatchAndRelease #IDidntEatIt
May 15, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Mid May and by far the worst magpie harvest I've had for years. Is anyone else having a poor season?!
#RescueBorb #CatchAndRelease #IDidntEatIt
#RescueBorb #CatchAndRelease #IDidntEatIt
Cork's very own nod to Teessaurus Park in #Middlesbrough, Jim Buckley's 1985 installation 'Red Dragon', on the banks of the River Lee, with the seal of approval from a visiting Teessider for scale
#Ireland #PublicArt
@c20society.bsky.social
#Ireland #PublicArt
@c20society.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Cork's very own nod to Teessaurus Park in #Middlesbrough, Jim Buckley's 1985 installation 'Red Dragon', on the banks of the River Lee, with the seal of approval from a visiting Teessider for scale
#Ireland #PublicArt
@c20society.bsky.social
#Ireland #PublicArt
@c20society.bsky.social
The most important thing North East England sent to Ireland since Jack Charlton!🤯
April 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The most important thing North East England sent to Ireland since Jack Charlton!🤯
I don't think #IrishWithMollie is on Bluesky (this image is from her account on the 'Gram), but I had to share her image of the cúlán, which is definitely about to become the Gen-Z haircut of choice for the summer of 2025 in Britain!
www.instagram.com/irishwithmol...
www.instagram.com/irishwithmol...
April 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I don't think #IrishWithMollie is on Bluesky (this image is from her account on the 'Gram), but I had to share her image of the cúlán, which is definitely about to become the Gen-Z haircut of choice for the summer of 2025 in Britain!
www.instagram.com/irishwithmol...
www.instagram.com/irishwithmol...
The Watergate, leading from the River Tyne to Bessie Surtees House, #Newcastle. It was here that in 1972 members of President Nixon's re-election team mugged members of the Democratic National Convention, setting in motion a political scandal which would reverberate from Bigg Market to Capitol Hill!
April 1, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The Watergate, leading from the River Tyne to Bessie Surtees House, #Newcastle. It was here that in 1972 members of President Nixon's re-election team mugged members of the Democratic National Convention, setting in motion a political scandal which would reverberate from Bigg Market to Capitol Hill!
A day out looking at the lowland peat landscape of Prestwick Carr, near #Newcastle. Just managed to reach the late glacial lake deposits (blue-grey silt) which underlie the basin in which the peat formed.
#Geoarchaeology #archaeology
#Geoarchaeology #archaeology
February 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A day out looking at the lowland peat landscape of Prestwick Carr, near #Newcastle. Just managed to reach the late glacial lake deposits (blue-grey silt) which underlie the basin in which the peat formed.
#Geoarchaeology #archaeology
#Geoarchaeology #archaeology
There is no greater love than when you are an environmental archaeologist and your mother sends you a photo of a swan carcass and offers to pick it up for you
😭♥️♥️🦢☠️
#zooarchaeology #archaeology #IrishMammy
😭♥️♥️🦢☠️
#zooarchaeology #archaeology #IrishMammy
February 5, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There is no greater love than when you are an environmental archaeologist and your mother sends you a photo of a swan carcass and offers to pick it up for you
😭♥️♥️🦢☠️
#zooarchaeology #archaeology #IrishMammy
😭♥️♥️🦢☠️
#zooarchaeology #archaeology #IrishMammy