The Scent of Veneration: Study shows Ancient Statues were Perfumed ~ New research suggests that ancient statues were not only painted and adorned but also covered with oils and perfumed.
https://wildhunt.org/2025/03/the-scent-of-veneration-study-shows-ancient-statues-were-perfumed.html
Archaeologists Explore Medieval French Church https://www.medievalists.net/2025/01/archaeologists-explore-medieval-french-church/ #archaeology
For #MosaicMonday a #Roman mosaic panel with a mesmerising three dimensional cube pattern. Dating 1 century BC
On display at Glyptothek München
me
The seal impression of king Hezekiah of Judah on a clay seal ("bulla") with a winged sun motif and an Egyptian ankh. Bullae were used to seal strings that closed documents, lids, and doors https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/king-hezekiah-in-the-bible-royal-seal-of-hezekiah-comes-to-light/ #ancMedToot #archaeology #aramaic #hebrew
Ancient Greco-Roman sculptures were scented, study reveals
https://archaeologymag.com/2025/03/ancient-sculptures-were-scented-study-reveals/
Archaeologists Identify ‘Lost’ Anglo-Saxon Site Depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry https://www.medievalists.net/2025/01/archaeologists-identify-lost-anglo-saxon-site-depicted-in-the-bayeux-tapestry/ #archaeology
I’ve gone down a rabbit hole on the Five Star Armband “五星出东方利中国”护膊
and wonder how the last part of the associated text (四夷服單于降與天無極) was reconstructed. According to this rather handwavy article by collating other textile fragments but does anyone have a ref to a more detailed account?
https://web.archive.org/web/20200807021522/http://m.xinhuanet.com/2018-05/21/c_1122865193.htm
Open Context has been getting overwhelmed by bots. Again. Huge range of IP addresses, many, many user-agent strings that look like human controlled browsers, but all accessing random pages of content.
If I'm blocking your IP address and you want #opendata in #archaeology I apologize.
If anyone knows mitigation strategies, please let me know. It's one more form of bullshit that makes the political and cultural calamities feel even more overwhelming.
New paper on the telegraph line is out! It’s a #microhistory of Strangways Springs//Pangki Warruna, exploring its evolution from a #pastoral property to a #telegraph station to a #railway stop, and how these transitions shaped innovation in #Australia 
We also highlight the importance of #water in creating and sustaining these innovations (as is the case for technologies of today like #AI 
).
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10761-025-00788-4
Left: The southern boundary of the prehistoric Huccaby Ring. This was cleared all around last year. Princetown with North Hessary Tor and TV mast on the horizon. Right: The nineteenth century Brimpts Leat that cuts across Huccaby Ring. We cleared most of this today and a few volunteers are still tidying up. Laughter Tor is on the horizon to the right.
Open letter from over 250 archaeologists and cultural heritage professionals calling on the World Archaeological Congress to join the Palestinian-led academic boycott of Israel in response to "Israel's crimes against Palestinians, including its genocide in Gaza and its underlying apartheid regime" and "targeted destruction of Palestinian cultural heritage":
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hcOph2RXz4ywD83G_8uxOueGNM_lsLdl/view?usp=drive_link
Sign here (before 18 March):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_DsVRpSR4dAfnHcKSb0G0misVwmR1SYXzVANzKd3F9c/viewform?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaA6La379pYpnFFjVezfjFD-AqY62ulISDRRXDS6rZaAJuQ5WMny1TNEt8_aem_iVg_gy4fpOhAW-6p7cA8hg&edit_requested=true
In #archaeology we love *analytical* machine learning applications, like the ones that can search through aerial photographs for something we're interested in, or make a charred scroll legible.
But we mostly hate *generative* applications, like LLMs and prompt-based image generators. Because they debase scientific knowledge with their hallucinations, and undermine skilled writing and painting.
Roman 'voodoo doll' from Eining: Hand-modeled clay figurines with puncture holes are commonly referred to as 'voodoo dolls'. Archaeological and epigraphic evidence indicates that these figurines were pierced with nails or needles by individuals attempting to influence or harm a person.
Dating 2nd/3rd century AD.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
me
Medieval Blacksmithing Workshop Uncovered in Southern France https://www.medievalists.net/2025/03/medieval-blacksmithing-workshop-uncovered-in-southern-france/ #archaeology #France #blacksmithing
The Copt Hill Barrow - a Neolithic burial mound at Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland. The barrow is also known as the Seven Sisters due to the seven trees that stood atop it. 
My own. #TombTuesday #Prehistory #Archaeology #Neolithic
While chalcedony & chert are both composed of cryptocrystalline quartz colored by minerals, chalcedony is denser because it has less pore space. When thermally altering chalcedony, you have to go more slowly than with chert to allow any trapped water molecules time to escape. Chalcedony, being denser, is often harder than chert, making better scraper & knives, though it can be harder to flintknap. #archaeology #lithics
The most popular forms of chalcedony are banded & lace agates. Chalcedony can be almost any color, w/ or w/o mottling & banding, & can have fossils in the matrix. It is waxy looking & can be shiny or dull. Red carnelian is a chalcedony. A backlight test is the quickest way to tell chalcedony from chert. Except for thin flakes & edges, light doesn't shine through chert but does with chalcedony. There can be denser spots; light can only penetrate so far. #archaeology #lithics
“Silent Witness of Time:” Statue of Hermes with Ram Found in Türkiye ~ An extraordinary statue of Hermes has been unearthed in Türkiye.
https://wildhunt.org/2025/03/silent-witness-of-time-statue-of-hermes-with-ram-found-in-turkiye.html
Monday mourning faces?
(7,000 year-old sculptures from the Lepenski Vir archaeological site in Serbia)
#art #monster #archaeology #sculpture
!["The sculptures can be classified into two distinct categories: one with simple geometric patterns and the other representing humanoid figures. The latter is the more interesting. All of the sculptures were modeled in a strongly expressionistic manner. Only the head and face of the human figures were modeled realistically, with strong brow arches, an elongated nose, and a wide, fish-like mouth. Hair, beard, arms, and hands can be seen on some of the figures in a stylized form. Many fish-like features are evident.[21] Along with the position these sculptures had in the house shrine, they suggest a connection with river gods. " WIKI](https://ftp.ieji.de/media_attachments/files/114/137/423/809/433/224/original/4defbca70d27fa1b.png "\"The sculptures can be classified into two distinct categories: one with simple geometric patterns and the other representing humanoid figures. The latter is the more interesting. All of the sculptures were modeled in a strongly expressionistic manner. Only the head and face of the human figures were modeled realistically, with strong brow arches, an elongated nose, and a wide, fish-like mouth. Hair, beard, arms, and hands can be seen on some of the figures in a stylized form. Many fish-like features are evident.[21] Along with the position these sculptures had in the house shrine, they suggest a connection with river gods. \" WIKI")
A late Neolithic dagger found in the pile dwelling site of the Roseninsel, Bavaria.The blade is made of flint from the Monti Lessini, upper Italy.
Dating 3500 - 2700 BC.
On display at Archäologische Staatssammlung München
me
