Mercian Migrant
@mercianmigrant.bsky.social
Enthusiast of early medieval insular stone sculpture and natural history. Former teacher of science. Born in Mercia; lives in Sussex.
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
#StandingStoneSunday
Stood at Cwrt Dafydd farm, south of Margam, where they were found reused to form a footbridge across a stream. They are known as 'cart-wheel' crosses, and so named from the radial form of the cross head, like the wheels of a cart. 10thC.
📸My own #History
Stood at Cwrt Dafydd farm, south of Margam, where they were found reused to form a footbridge across a stream. They are known as 'cart-wheel' crosses, and so named from the radial form of the cross head, like the wheels of a cart. 10thC.
📸My own #History
December 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
#StandingStoneSunday
Stood at Cwrt Dafydd farm, south of Margam, where they were found reused to form a footbridge across a stream. They are known as 'cart-wheel' crosses, and so named from the radial form of the cross head, like the wheels of a cart. 10thC.
📸My own #History
Stood at Cwrt Dafydd farm, south of Margam, where they were found reused to form a footbridge across a stream. They are known as 'cart-wheel' crosses, and so named from the radial form of the cross head, like the wheels of a cart. 10thC.
📸My own #History
Roman tombstone reused as dedication stone for the tower of St Mary-le-Wigford, #Lincoln 1070-90.The OE dedication in the upper part is ‘Eirtig had me built and endowed with property to the glory of Christ and St Mary'. Written from the base to the apex. chacklepie.com/ascorpus/cat... #medievalsky
December 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Roman tombstone reused as dedication stone for the tower of St Mary-le-Wigford, #Lincoln 1070-90.The OE dedication in the upper part is ‘Eirtig had me built and endowed with property to the glory of Christ and St Mary'. Written from the base to the apex. chacklepie.com/ascorpus/cat... #medievalsky
A small #medieval grave cover displayed in Crowland Abbey, #Lincolnshire. Thought to be late 11th century. chacklepie.com/ascorpus/cat... Just less than 50cm long could this be from a child’s grave, or as suggested by the Crowland guides, a crusader heart burial? #medievalsky
November 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
A small #medieval grave cover displayed in Crowland Abbey, #Lincolnshire. Thought to be late 11th century. chacklepie.com/ascorpus/cat... Just less than 50cm long could this be from a child’s grave, or as suggested by the Crowland guides, a crusader heart burial? #medievalsky
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
🏆Win🏆the perfect Christmas 🎄 gift for a stones enthusiast:
STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO
THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)
To win a signed (and dedicated if you like) copy of both books… 1/
STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO
THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)
To win a signed (and dedicated if you like) copy of both books… 1/
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
🏆Win🏆the perfect Christmas 🎄 gift for a stones enthusiast:
STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO
THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)
To win a signed (and dedicated if you like) copy of both books… 1/
STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO
THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)
To win a signed (and dedicated if you like) copy of both books… 1/
Ooooofff!
Just out!
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
As @sarahsemple.bsky.social says, '544 pages and 190 images of pure sculptural joy!'
A fantastic cast list and a tremendous achievement @ascorpus.bsky.social.
boydellandbrewer.com/book/early-m...
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Ooooofff!
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Bakewell Churchyard: Two ancient crosses in Bakewell Churchyard; this one on the eastern side of the church near the wall is the 2.1m (7 ft) plus tall shaft of a glorious engraved cross - scrollwork and beasts are identifiable.
November 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Bakewell Churchyard: Two ancient crosses in Bakewell Churchyard; this one on the eastern side of the church near the wall is the 2.1m (7 ft) plus tall shaft of a glorious engraved cross - scrollwork and beasts are identifiable.
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
An Anglo-Saxon grave marker from St. Peter’s Church at Monkwearmouth in Sunderland. Dating to around 900 AD, the runic inscription commemorates ‘TIDFIRTH’. The stone is now part of the collections at Sunderland Museum. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday #SunderlandMuseum #StoneworkSunday
November 16, 2025 at 7:30 AM
An Anglo-Saxon grave marker from St. Peter’s Church at Monkwearmouth in Sunderland. Dating to around 900 AD, the runic inscription commemorates ‘TIDFIRTH’. The stone is now part of the collections at Sunderland Museum. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday #SunderlandMuseum #StoneworkSunday
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
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. 🏺🦣
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
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Tiny fragment at Tangmere Church a rare piece of Scandinavian influenced 11thC sculpture in Sussex. Two figures, one with female genitalia. They are holding a sphere & a horn
I did my masters dissertation on Anglo-Saxon sculpture of Sussex. This is my favourite piece
#anglosaxon #churchmonuments
I did my masters dissertation on Anglo-Saxon sculpture of Sussex. This is my favourite piece
#anglosaxon #churchmonuments
October 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Tiny fragment at Tangmere Church a rare piece of Scandinavian influenced 11thC sculpture in Sussex. Two figures, one with female genitalia. They are holding a sphere & a horn
I did my masters dissertation on Anglo-Saxon sculpture of Sussex. This is my favourite piece
#anglosaxon #churchmonuments
I did my masters dissertation on Anglo-Saxon sculpture of Sussex. This is my favourite piece
#anglosaxon #churchmonuments
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
🍄🟫FREE online waxcap training course🍄🟫
Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄
Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4
Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄
Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4
October 10, 2025 at 10:10 AM
🍄🟫FREE online waxcap training course🍄🟫
Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄
Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4
Whether you’re a beginner, regular citizen scientist for #WaxcapWatch, a land manager or simply someone who loves learning about nature - our free fungi course is for you. 🍄
Take your waxcap knowledge to the next level 👉 https://loom.ly/-W0_R_4
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
A 7th century Pictish symbol stone discovered in 1936 during excavations at the Knowe of Burrian - a broch at Netherbrough in the Orkney Isles. Now part of the collections at Orkney Museum in Kirkwall. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #Picts #Orkney
October 10, 2025 at 4:18 AM
A 7th century Pictish symbol stone discovered in 1936 during excavations at the Knowe of Burrian - a broch at Netherbrough in the Orkney Isles. Now part of the collections at Orkney Museum in Kirkwall. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #Picts #Orkney
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
The Book of Kells by Victoria Whitworth - Out Today!
The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world – and Victoria Whitworth's masterly treatment offers something new.
Get your copy here! - https://bit.ly/48HEVnQ
The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world – and Victoria Whitworth's masterly treatment offers something new.
Get your copy here! - https://bit.ly/48HEVnQ
October 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The Book of Kells by Victoria Whitworth - Out Today!
The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world – and Victoria Whitworth's masterly treatment offers something new.
Get your copy here! - https://bit.ly/48HEVnQ
The Book of Kells is probably the most famous manuscript in the world – and Victoria Whitworth's masterly treatment offers something new.
Get your copy here! - https://bit.ly/48HEVnQ
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
New book of interest out on the 'Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland'
theconversation.com/book-of-kell...
#medievalsky
theconversation.com/book-of-kell...
#medievalsky
Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland
While we know the manuscript spent at least 650 years at Kells, we do not know where it started its life. Now a new book offers some clues as to its provenance.
theconversation.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
New book of interest out on the 'Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland'
theconversation.com/book-of-kell...
#medievalsky
theconversation.com/book-of-kell...
#medievalsky
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Weekend walking in the Peak gave an opportunity to revisit the Wirksworth slab. Probably late 8C and the coped top of a tomb from which scenes on the left have been lost. The iconography is connected to Eastern Mediterranean and has been much discussed. @ascorpus.bsky.social especially intriguing 1/
October 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Weekend walking in the Peak gave an opportunity to revisit the Wirksworth slab. Probably late 8C and the coped top of a tomb from which scenes on the left have been lost. The iconography is connected to Eastern Mediterranean and has been much discussed. @ascorpus.bsky.social especially intriguing 1/
The new season of the Medieval Irish podcast has begun.
What does it say about a society that valued poets so highly? Find out in The Medieval Irish History Podcast — back for a 3rd series! We are kicking off again with the inimitable @thecelticist.bsky.social @ceilteachomn.bsky.social @tiagoovsilva.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/1DTU... 1/2
Poets and Poetry with Dr Elizabeth Boyle
open.spotify.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The new season of the Medieval Irish podcast has begun.
Today's dull, grey day is now illuminated by the arrival of this beautiful new investigation into the Book of Kells by @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social . Colourful illustrations; comparisons with stone sculpture. No doubt it will be full of fascinating incites. #medievalbluesky
October 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Today's dull, grey day is now illuminated by the arrival of this beautiful new investigation into the Book of Kells by @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social . Colourful illustrations; comparisons with stone sculpture. No doubt it will be full of fascinating incites. #medievalbluesky
Lovely. This is a species I’ve never found. Are you happy to provide some direction as to where to look on Seaford Head?
Autumn Ladies Tresses growing on Seaford Head - seen this week #wildflowerhour
August 18, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Lovely. This is a species I’ve never found. Are you happy to provide some direction as to where to look on Seaford Head?
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
The #Viking-Age Luss hogback still lies in the C6th graveyard of the magnificent and welcoming Luss Parish Church.
As with several @govanstones.bsky.social hogbacks, Luss has been recarved in later periods, possibly losing any end-beasts.
My 📷
Ref. portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=150...
As with several @govanstones.bsky.social hogbacks, Luss has been recarved in later periods, possibly losing any end-beasts.
My 📷
Ref. portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=150...
August 12, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The #Viking-Age Luss hogback still lies in the C6th graveyard of the magnificent and welcoming Luss Parish Church.
As with several @govanstones.bsky.social hogbacks, Luss has been recarved in later periods, possibly losing any end-beasts.
My 📷
Ref. portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=150...
As with several @govanstones.bsky.social hogbacks, Luss has been recarved in later periods, possibly losing any end-beasts.
My 📷
Ref. portal.historicenvironment.scot/apex/f?p=150...
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Tato managed to spot some Viking Age sculptured stones in northern Wales last week, and Maen Achwyfan might be his favourite!
July 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Tato managed to spot some Viking Age sculptured stones in northern Wales last week, and Maen Achwyfan might be his favourite!
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Heads up! The brilliant @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social’s Kells book is in Waterstones’ upcoming summer sale. I had the pleasure of engaging with the book when it was being written and it’s splendid - evocative, rigorous, step-changing.
Get your copy on preorder at an excellent price! Code: SUMMER25
Get your copy on preorder at an excellent price! Code: SUMMER25
July 25, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Heads up! The brilliant @victoriawhitworth.bsky.social’s Kells book is in Waterstones’ upcoming summer sale. I had the pleasure of engaging with the book when it was being written and it’s splendid - evocative, rigorous, step-changing.
Get your copy on preorder at an excellent price! Code: SUMMER25
Get your copy on preorder at an excellent price! Code: SUMMER25
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Checking out the stonework at @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social Viking North exhibition, including my absolute fave from Old Malton - gives us a glimpse of his forked beard and snake-headed seat
July 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Checking out the stonework at @yorkmuseumstrust.bsky.social Viking North exhibition, including my absolute fave from Old Malton - gives us a glimpse of his forked beard and snake-headed seat
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
Sundial from St. Gregory’s Minster in Kirkdale, North Yorkshire. The inscription sets out that Orm had ‘built anew’ the church during the ‘days’ of King Edward (the Confessor) and Earl Tostig of Northumbria, dating the church rebuilding to 1055-1065. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday
July 20, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Sundial from St. Gregory’s Minster in Kirkdale, North Yorkshire. The inscription sets out that Orm had ‘built anew’ the church during the ‘days’ of King Edward (the Confessor) and Earl Tostig of Northumbria, dating the church rebuilding to 1055-1065. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday
Reposted by Mercian Migrant
This stunning carving was found under the chancel floor at St Kyneburgha, Castor in 1928 and is assumed to have come from her shrine. Dating from either the late 8th or early 9thC it's a wonderful thing to get so close to, the folds of cloth, his face..
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework
July 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
This stunning carving was found under the chancel floor at St Kyneburgha, Castor in 1928 and is assumed to have come from her shrine. Dating from either the late 8th or early 9thC it's a wonderful thing to get so close to, the folds of cloth, his face..
#SundayStonework
#SundayStonework