Nina Willburger
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
Nina Willburger
@drnwillburger.bsky.social
18K followers 3.4K following 3K posts
Archaeologist | Permanent Representative of the Director, Archäologisches Landesmuseum Baden-Württemberg | Adjunct lecturer State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart | Private account, views are mine 🖖
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drnwillburger.bsky.social
Like a time capsule: a #Roman tile marked with #finger lines, hobnail #shoe prints, #dog's paw prints, and a #stamp of the LEG(io) XIIII G(emina). Tiles with imprints are very common, since tiles were laid out to dry in the open air ahead of firing, where...🧵1/2

#TilesOnTuesday 🏺
A tile with well-preserved surface impressions: three distinct outline of shoes with hobnail patterns in the center, a animal paw prints nearby, and a rectangular maker's stamp with worn lettering and an imprint of a foot. And finger lines. The tile surface shows additional small impressions and chips.
November 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
I totally agree
Illustration of Snoopy sitting cross-legged in a meditative pose wearing a blue patterned hoodie. The text beside him reads, “Inner peace begins with four words: not my fucking problem."
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #MosaicMonday a charming duck.
Found in Trier, dating 4th century AD

📷 me

On display at Museum am Dom, Trier

🏺 #archaeology
A mosaic depicting a duck
November 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A catoon image offering satirical advice about how to become a better conversationalist. The top text suggests: "Ask people questions that give them an opportunity to talk about themselves." The cartoon shows one character asking, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #AncientSiteSunday the #Hellenistic theatre at Pergamon, #Türkiye, built in the 3rd century BC, alterations were made in the #Roman period. It's one of the steepest known ancient theatres. The capacity was about 10,000 spectators.

📷 C. Bredfeldt

🏺 AncientBluesky #archaeology
A full shot of the ruins of an ancient theatre, located on a hillside. The theatre's steep tiered seating structure is clearly visible, constructed of light gray stone blocks, weathering evident in various tones. The hillside surrounding the theatre s covered with grass, creating a contrast between the man-made stone structures and the natural landscape. Sections of crumbling stone walls and foundations are scattered throughout the grassy slopes.
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
It's time for #Caturday and a timeline cleanse!

A terracotta figurine of a #cat playing the harp.

From #Egypt, #Roman period, late 1st century AD.

On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.

Have a lovely #weekend!

📷 me

🏺
Fragment of a yellowish-brown clay figurine depicting a cat playing a harp. The cat is upright, with detailed facial features and textured fur, holding the harp to its side. The surface shows signs of wear and age, and the piece is displayed on a clear stand.
November 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Today, a friend involved in the Esna restoration project has shared with me his latest stunning photos of the restored ceiling and columns of the Temple of Khnum in Esna, Upper #Egypt. During a multi-year restoration project, the dirt and soot that had obscured the ...🧵1/3

📷 D. v. Recklinghausen
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Interior view of the building showing massive stone columns with detailed carvings and colorful hieroglyphs as well as the ceiling. The columns are shaped like lotus or papyrus plants and are closely spaced, supporting a decorated ceiling. 📷 Daniel von Recklinghausen
November 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
I just leave this one for #PhallusThursday 👃

Bronze amulet from Egypt, 1st c. BC.
Mougins, Musée d’art classique de Mougin

📷 me

🏺
The image shows a small bronze head sculpture displayed on a metal stand. The head has exaggerated features, including a deeply wrinkled brow and a prominently protruding tongue. The nose is shaped like a phallus, which gives the object a grotesque and comic appearance, consistent with its use as an amulet in the Hellenistic era.
November 6, 2025 at 7:56 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Today's a perfect day to post some beautiful blue glass!
A gorgeous #Roman flask in the form of a shell, mold-blown from dark blue glass. It was used to hold perfume. Dating 1st century AD.

On display at British Museum.

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Small cobalt-blue glass vessel shaped like a scallop shell with a narrow neck and two delicate handles. The glass has a glossy surface and is displayed on a clear stand in a museum setting with other artifacts blurred in the background.
November 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A tiny but very charming #Etruscan amber pendant in the shape of a squatting #monkey, height 4.7 cm.
Found in Vetulonia, #Italy, dating late 8th/early 7th century BC.

Photo: Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici della Toscana

🏺 #archaeology
Small translucent amber figurine carved in the shape of a squatting monkey. The figure has a detailed face with expressive eyes and rests its chin on its hands, appearing thoughtful. It sits atop a rectangular platform supported by four rounded, balloon-like legs.
November 4, 2025 at 7:14 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Fascinating world of ancient #glass: This delicate #Roman blue and white marbled glass unguentarium, a vessel to hold oil/perfume, was made from translucent dark blue glass with trails in opaque white. Dating 1st century AD.

On display at Landesmuseum Württemberg

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Small blue glass bottle with a round base and a long narrow neck, decorated with white swirling patterns. The bottle rests on a textured dark surface, reflecting light across its glossy finish
November 3, 2025 at 7:29 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
An extraordinary discovery was made in Ibiza: a 30-centimeter wooden sculpture representing Hercules. Considering the scarcity of wooden sculptures preserved from the Roman era, this discovery is truly remarkable.
The figure was found in a Roman well that was later reused as a refuse pit. 🧵1/2

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Two views of a damaged wooden human-shaped sculpture shown from the front and back. The figure is missing parts of its arms and legs, with a cracked and worn surface, and is placed beside a black, red, and white measuring scale for size reference.
November 2, 2025 at 8:21 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
New discovery: A #bakery was unearthed in the Roman town of Sisapo, Spain. The town was part of a major economic center linked to mining in the Sierra Morena region. The bakery occupied a large complex of over 200 m² with five rooms, including a large circular oven, milling areas with stone ...🧵1/2
Aerial view of an archaeological excavation site showing rectangular and circular stone structures partially unearthed in sandy soil. The exposed foundations and walls form distinct rooms or sections, with visible stone outlines and varying textures indicating different excavation layers.
November 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A terracotta bust of a girl wearing a crescent-shaped pendant, known as a lunula, which was typically worn by females.
Lunula pendants were believed to possess apotropaic qualities, meaning they were intended to ward off evil. The moon was a symbol associated. ..🧵1/2

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Small bust figurine made of light-colored stone or clay, depicting a female figure with large almond-shaped eyes, a rounded face, and patterned lines suggesting hair or a headdress, wearing a crescent-shaped pendant. Displayed against a dark background.
November 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Happy #Halloween 🎃🎃🎃
Cartoon showing a “Halloween Group Therapy” session with classic monsters sitting in a circle sharing their problems. A vampire says, “My love life bites!”; a ghost says, “I’m not the man I used to be!”; a jack-o’-lantern says, “I feel hollow inside!”; a witch says, “I curse everything!”; a zombie says, “I haven’t felt alive in years!”; and Frankenstein’s monster says, “I just feel disconnected!
October 31, 2025 at 7:19 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Happy #Halloween
This intaglio depicts a skeleton resting on an amphora and holding a jug. Such representations were intended to remind to enjoy life to the fullest since pleasure ends irrevocably with death.

Photo: Museum August Kestner/Christian Tepper

#RomanArchaeology
Oval intaglio engraved with a skeletal human figure resting on an amphora and holding a jug, carved in translucent amber-colored stone.
October 31, 2025 at 6:36 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A terracotta figurine of a dromedary carrying two large amphorae on each side of a load frame.

From Egypt, Roman period, 2nd/3rd century AD.

📷 me

The photo was taken at the Caesar and Cleopatra exhibition in Speyer, having been loaned by the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg.
A close-up of terracotta figurine of a dromedary carrying two amphorae, displayed in a museum with other figurines visible.
October 30, 2025 at 6:52 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Welcome back, fog - you never fail to return! 🙄

#LakeConstance #Bodensee #Konstanz
Foggy morning at Lake Constance, with the lake and distant landscape completely obscured by thick fog. The foreground shows a city street intersection and a green roof with autumn plants, while a few cars and trucks drive through the misty scene.
October 29, 2025 at 8:11 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday!
A Roman marble relief of a warship. Found in the necropolis of Praeneste (Latium), late 1st century BC.
The relief presumably belonged to the tomb of a Roman veteran who had served on Octavian’s side at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC.

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
A marble relief depicting a Roman warship with rows of oars and soldiers on board. The figures wear helmets and carry shields, while the ship features ornate carvings, including a decorative prow and architectural elements like a tower. Displayed against a blue-lit museum background
October 29, 2025 at 6:39 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Simply beautiful: Late Neolithic and early Bronze Age flint daggers found in Saxony-Anhalt, 2300-1600 BC (Unétice-Culture).

On display at Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte, Halle.

📷 me

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Five finely crafted flint daggers are displayed vertically against a black background. Each blade features unique flaking patterns and subtle variations in shape and color, ranging from light grey to tan, highlighting their prehistoric craftsmanship. The lighting emphasizes the texture and contours of each blade, making them stand out distinctly against the dark backdrop.
October 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A remarkably well-preserved early medieval comb, found in Trier, 5th century, made from animal bone with iron rivets.

The comb consists of three layers: the central strip with fine teeth is decorated with stylized animal heads and is framed by two side plates. To protect the ... 🧵1/2

📷 me

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A three-layered comb made of animal bone, decorated with carved circular patterns and animal head motifs at each end. The comb has fine, evenly spaced teeth side. The comb is displayed above its matching case: it's. decorated with carved circular patterns and animal head motifs at each end, mirroring the design on the comb. Comb and case are displayed against a dark background with the label number 7.
October 27, 2025 at 6:22 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
It's time for a timeline cleanse!

A small Corinthian aryballos in the shape of an owl (circa 630 BC). It served as a perfume container.

On display at Antikensammlung München

A lovely Sunday to all of you 🌞

📷 me
A pottery owl figurine displayed on a transparent pedestal. The figurine is intricately painted in black, red, and beige, with finely detailed feathers, large round eyes, and a slightly tilted head.
October 26, 2025 at 8:07 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
What a charming #Egyptian bronze figure of a shrew! Since shrews are animals that find their way in the dark they were connected to the descending phase of the sun’s nocturnal journey. Late Period (746-332 B.C).
On display at Museum Hohentübingen. 🏺

📷 me
A small bronze statue of a shrew standing on a rectangular base. The figure is elongated with a pointed snout, slender legs, and a long tail, featuring engraved decorative patterns on its back. Displayed against a neutral background with the label number 42.
October 25, 2025 at 7:22 AM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Today I am definitely a nine.
Meme showing nine illustrations of medieval lions with humorous/whimsical expressions and poses, labeled 1 to 9, with the caption “On a scale of medieval lion how are you feeling today?”
October 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
drnwillburger.bsky.social
A marvellous painted terracotta sima with a lion head waterspout. A sima was a roof element that functioned as a gutter.

Found in Delphi, #Greece, dating late 5th century BC.

📷
#Archaeology 🏺
A terracotta architectural fragment depicting a lion’s head with an open mouth (spout), attached to a decorated block featuring geometric and floral painted patterns. The artifact is weathered and displayed against an orange background on a shelf.
October 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM