Dr Matt Pope
@mattpope.bsky.social
Archaeologist & Associate Professor in Palaeolithic Archaeology at UCL, where we run the PaPa MSc programme.
Researching Neanderthal archaeology in La Mancheland & Western Doggerland, from Boxgrove to La Cotte.
Provide Geoarch expertise to ASE.
He/Him 🏺
Researching Neanderthal archaeology in La Mancheland & Western Doggerland, from Boxgrove to La Cotte.
Provide Geoarch expertise to ASE.
He/Him 🏺
Pinned
Dr Matt Pope
@mattpope.bsky.social
· Jan 9
Our book, Repeopling La Manche, is available direct from Oxbow Books.
Sharing research the Neanderthal archaeology of #LaCotte and the Ice Age landscapes of Jersey and La Mancheland.
www.oxbowbooks.com/978178925152...
🏺🦣🇯🇪
Sharing research the Neanderthal archaeology of #LaCotte and the Ice Age landscapes of Jersey and La Mancheland.
www.oxbowbooks.com/978178925152...
🏺🦣🇯🇪
Hope everyone had a good one
Happy There Is A Circulatory System Walking Through The Kitchen Day to all who celebrate.
November 11, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Hope everyone had a good one
The latest in a series of papers that redefine and, in this case, corrects what we think about the evidence for early wooden weapons.
@annemiekemilks.bsky.social bringscexcelkebce in scientific method and research partners to the work. The results speak for themselves. 🦣🏺
@annemiekemilks.bsky.social bringscexcelkebce in scientific method and research partners to the work. The results speak for themselves. 🦣🏺
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 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The latest in a series of papers that redefine and, in this case, corrects what we think about the evidence for early wooden weapons.
@annemiekemilks.bsky.social bringscexcelkebce in scientific method and research partners to the work. The results speak for themselves. 🦣🏺
@annemiekemilks.bsky.social bringscexcelkebce in scientific method and research partners to the work. The results speak for themselves. 🦣🏺
Yes I do own a copy of Elizabeth David and Larousse, but can't help keep on coming back to Floyd. 🍷
November 9, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Yes I do own a copy of Elizabeth David and Larousse, but can't help keep on coming back to Floyd. 🍷
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
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...
It was wonderful to be in a positive & friendly @sussexpast.bsky.social conference with some of the best humans in Sussex Archaeology.
Also brilliant to see so many @archsoutheast.bsky.social colleagues and see our collective contribution making an impact. Terrible selfie, you had to be there. 🏺🦣
Also brilliant to see so many @archsoutheast.bsky.social colleagues and see our collective contribution making an impact. Terrible selfie, you had to be there. 🏺🦣
November 9, 2025 at 10:25 AM
It was wonderful to be in a positive & friendly @sussexpast.bsky.social conference with some of the best humans in Sussex Archaeology.
Also brilliant to see so many @archsoutheast.bsky.social colleagues and see our collective contribution making an impact. Terrible selfie, you had to be there. 🏺🦣
Also brilliant to see so many @archsoutheast.bsky.social colleagues and see our collective contribution making an impact. Terrible selfie, you had to be there. 🏺🦣
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
Thank you @sussexpast.bsky.social for organising an excellent Sussex Archaeological Society conference today on Early Medieval Sussex. Thanks to the many contributors including @mattpope.bsky.social @archaeochaussee.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Thank you @sussexpast.bsky.social for organising an excellent Sussex Archaeological Society conference today on Early Medieval Sussex. Thanks to the many contributors including @mattpope.bsky.social @archaeochaussee.bsky.social
"The ethical inversion is stark, private gain: public cost." @tessmachling.bsky.social sharing another highly informed and articulate viewpoint on the current metal detecting crisis in the UK. 🏺🦣
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 6:40 AM
"The ethical inversion is stark, private gain: public cost." @tessmachling.bsky.social sharing another highly informed and articulate viewpoint on the current metal detecting crisis in the UK. 🏺🦣
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
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...
I wanna invite Pope Leo to my Intro to Science and Technology Studies class
November 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Getting ready to conference with @sussexpast.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Getting ready to conference with @sussexpast.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
It’s William Stukeley’s birthday 🎂 His landscape views are often just as interesting as the drawings of monuments - here’s his Prospect of Kits Coty House in Oct 1722
November 7, 2025 at 8:35 AM
It’s William Stukeley’s birthday 🎂 His landscape views are often just as interesting as the drawings of monuments - here’s his Prospect of Kits Coty House in Oct 1722
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
"Roman Remains Near Bexhill.
Mr. B. H. Lucas's Discoveries at Crowhurst Park.
Interesting Relics Of Hadrian Times.
#Roman remains in the form of pottery and shards, which have been identified as belonging to the second century, have been excavated..." #Bexhill Observer 7.11.1936. #Archaeology #1930s
Mr. B. H. Lucas's Discoveries at Crowhurst Park.
Interesting Relics Of Hadrian Times.
#Roman remains in the form of pottery and shards, which have been identified as belonging to the second century, have been excavated..." #Bexhill Observer 7.11.1936. #Archaeology #1930s
November 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"Roman Remains Near Bexhill.
Mr. B. H. Lucas's Discoveries at Crowhurst Park.
Interesting Relics Of Hadrian Times.
#Roman remains in the form of pottery and shards, which have been identified as belonging to the second century, have been excavated..." #Bexhill Observer 7.11.1936. #Archaeology #1930s
Mr. B. H. Lucas's Discoveries at Crowhurst Park.
Interesting Relics Of Hadrian Times.
#Roman remains in the form of pottery and shards, which have been identified as belonging to the second century, have been excavated..." #Bexhill Observer 7.11.1936. #Archaeology #1930s
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
* Warning may contain images of human remains
Here are some behind the scenes shots of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social dig! Big thanks to everyone for being so patient and accommodating!
Here are some behind the scenes shots of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social dig! Big thanks to everyone for being so patient and accommodating!
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
* Warning may contain images of human remains
Here are some behind the scenes shots of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social dig! Big thanks to everyone for being so patient and accommodating!
Here are some behind the scenes shots of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social @buarchanth.bsky.social dig! Big thanks to everyone for being so patient and accommodating!
After a late one at Bonfire and watching Riot Women and The Traitors Finale, I'm feeling pretty wrung-out this morning.
November 7, 2025 at 7:34 AM
After a late one at Bonfire and watching Riot Women and The Traitors Finale, I'm feeling pretty wrung-out this morning.
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
Today's news:
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New Forest hoard of 70 coins dug up in lockdown fetch over £380k
The 69 gold coins and one silver were found in a garden in Milford on Sea in April 2020.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Today's news:
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Another important late Neanderthal site from just across La Manche, discovered by INRAP.
We have these site in the UK but our 'frameworks' mean often no, or just inadequate, assessment takes place.
Loss is happening on our watch, the French experience gives us hope. 🦣🏺 www.inrap.fr/des-traces-d...
We have these site in the UK but our 'frameworks' mean often no, or just inadequate, assessment takes place.
Loss is happening on our watch, the French experience gives us hope. 🦣🏺 www.inrap.fr/des-traces-d...
Actualité | Des traces de Neandertal à Amiens (Somme)
Une fouille préventive a été menée par l'Inrap à Amiens, rue de Cagny, avant la construction d’un ensemble immobilier. Le diagnostic archéologique avait révélé la présence de silex taillés attribuable...
www.inrap.fr
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Another important late Neanderthal site from just across La Manche, discovered by INRAP.
We have these site in the UK but our 'frameworks' mean often no, or just inadequate, assessment takes place.
Loss is happening on our watch, the French experience gives us hope. 🦣🏺 www.inrap.fr/des-traces-d...
We have these site in the UK but our 'frameworks' mean often no, or just inadequate, assessment takes place.
Loss is happening on our watch, the French experience gives us hope. 🦣🏺 www.inrap.fr/des-traces-d...
We have such a toxic problem with the protection of UK heritage. Are we even living up to our expectations under the Valletta Convention?
"A spokesperson said funds had to be raised by April 2026 and they needed the public's help to secure it."
AKA You give us your hard earned cash & we'll give it to two people.
BTW £3.5 million is c.100 curator salaries.
#Archaeology #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....
AKA You give us your hard earned cash & we'll give it to two people.
BTW £3.5 million is c.100 curator salaries.
#Archaeology #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....
Museum appeal to save pendant linked to Henry VIII
The British Museum hopes to secure the pendant, found by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 12:37 PM
We have such a toxic problem with the protection of UK heritage. Are we even living up to our expectations under the Valletta Convention?
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
Hidden in one of my favourite ever papers is a nugget about the UK almost refusing to sign #Valetta due to the (illegal) #antiquity trade & (unlicensed) #metaldetecting.
It’s all baked in to UK Govt policy and Willem Willems recorded it, the absolute legend.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
It’s all baked in to UK Govt policy and Willem Willems recorded it, the absolute legend.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
November 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Hidden in one of my favourite ever papers is a nugget about the UK almost refusing to sign #Valetta due to the (illegal) #antiquity trade & (unlicensed) #metaldetecting.
It’s all baked in to UK Govt policy and Willem Willems recorded it, the absolute legend.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
It’s all baked in to UK Govt policy and Willem Willems recorded it, the absolute legend.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
November 5, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
November 5, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
It is that time again. And that time where its up to you, to help make our collective lives better. Poverty Impact Report 2025 is anonymous and we so need this information to help.
Please answer if you are employed in - or have been employed in UK Archaeology
survey.app.do/archaeologis...
Please answer if you are employed in - or have been employed in UK Archaeology
survey.app.do/archaeologis...
BAJR SURVEY PIR III: ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
Inflation, energy costs, fuel costs and food are becoming increasingly expensive - this anonymous survey will help to understand the level of Financial Crisis we are in as archaeologists - as individu...
survey.app.do
November 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It is that time again. And that time where its up to you, to help make our collective lives better. Poverty Impact Report 2025 is anonymous and we so need this information to help.
Please answer if you are employed in - or have been employed in UK Archaeology
survey.app.do/archaeologis...
Please answer if you are employed in - or have been employed in UK Archaeology
survey.app.do/archaeologis...
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
* contains images of human remains
I loved working on this show. Showcasing what archaeologists do best, their care and compassion when dealing with human remains.
Big thanks @durotrigesdig.bsky.social and @buarchanth.bsky.social
Hidden wonders is on tonight at 9pm More 4 #Archaeology 🏺
I loved working on this show. Showcasing what archaeologists do best, their care and compassion when dealing with human remains.
Big thanks @durotrigesdig.bsky.social and @buarchanth.bsky.social
Hidden wonders is on tonight at 9pm More 4 #Archaeology 🏺
November 4, 2025 at 8:40 AM
* contains images of human remains
I loved working on this show. Showcasing what archaeologists do best, their care and compassion when dealing with human remains.
Big thanks @durotrigesdig.bsky.social and @buarchanth.bsky.social
Hidden wonders is on tonight at 9pm More 4 #Archaeology 🏺
I loved working on this show. Showcasing what archaeologists do best, their care and compassion when dealing with human remains.
Big thanks @durotrigesdig.bsky.social and @buarchanth.bsky.social
Hidden wonders is on tonight at 9pm More 4 #Archaeology 🏺
Reposted by Dr Matt Pope
It's Reading Week - but the #archaeology never stops!
Dr Kris Lockyear is out in the field this week w/ 2nd & 3rd year students running (with Gareth Rees, 1 of our alum) a surveying course in Hertfordshire...
Stay tuned & send good weather vibes!
#LocalAndGlobal
#ThinkDifferentlyThinkArchaeology
Dr Kris Lockyear is out in the field this week w/ 2nd & 3rd year students running (with Gareth Rees, 1 of our alum) a surveying course in Hertfordshire...
Stay tuned & send good weather vibes!
#LocalAndGlobal
#ThinkDifferentlyThinkArchaeology
November 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
It's Reading Week - but the #archaeology never stops!
Dr Kris Lockyear is out in the field this week w/ 2nd & 3rd year students running (with Gareth Rees, 1 of our alum) a surveying course in Hertfordshire...
Stay tuned & send good weather vibes!
#LocalAndGlobal
#ThinkDifferentlyThinkArchaeology
Dr Kris Lockyear is out in the field this week w/ 2nd & 3rd year students running (with Gareth Rees, 1 of our alum) a surveying course in Hertfordshire...
Stay tuned & send good weather vibes!
#LocalAndGlobal
#ThinkDifferentlyThinkArchaeology
How about a charity that provided expert and timely reviews of archaeological DBAs in the public domain. Flagging inaccuracies to originators and local-authority archaeologists, through simple evidenced-based reports & suggested redrafts, could be transformative for UK heritage-protection. 🏺🦣
November 4, 2025 at 12:02 PM
How about a charity that provided expert and timely reviews of archaeological DBAs in the public domain. Flagging inaccuracies to originators and local-authority archaeologists, through simple evidenced-based reports & suggested redrafts, could be transformative for UK heritage-protection. 🏺🦣