Welwyn Archaeological Society

@welwynarchsoc

The Society's Blue Sky feed run by the Director with an interest in all things archaeological especially archaeological method, geophysics and fieldwork. Have been known to publish a few things on coins and stats too. Always looking for speakers!

242 Siguiendo739 Seguidores694 Publicaciones

Bluesky

alt

¿Es tu perfil?Reclámalo y welwynarchsoc.dirty.social es tuyo.Reclamar perfil

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 2d

Visited St Mary's Westmill, #Hertfordshire yesterday. The church is lovely if not the most interesting one I've visited. The tea rooms on the nearby green are super and serve really nice cake.

A view down the aisle of a medieval church. The early English chancel arch shows in the middle and beyond the stained glass in a later window above the altar. In the foreground are dark wooden pews with a blue carpet running down the middle. To the left built against the wall is an early 20th century pulpit.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 4d

A tombstone from St Mary's churchyard in #Hitchin, #Hertfordshire for #SkullSaturday. It is so eroded the text is not readable and there are even holes right through the stone. @churchmonuments.bsky.social @graveyardarch.bsky.social

A detail of the top of the tombstone showing two skulls above two sets of crossed bones. The skulls look towards each other. The top of the stone is two semicircles. The stone is grey with some yellow and green lichen.

A photo of the whole tombstone with the two skull-and-crossbones motif described in the previous photo. In the background are the dark brown doors of the west entrance to the church.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 5d

Two images of the entertaining font from Anstey, Hertfordshire for #FontsOnFriday. Thought to be late 12th or early 13th century by Bond (1985, p. 206). #Hertfordshire #font #merman #mermen #13thcentury

Detail of the bowl of the font showing a relief carving of a merman. The merman has a split tail and is holding one half in arch hand with out stretched arms.

The font showing the bowl with mermen (see previous picture's alt text) sitting on a five-column base. There is one large central column and four smaller ones around it, of which only three are visible.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 11d

When insta was a fun place to share photos I liked it. There was a group posting to #SkullSaturday showing photos of tombstones and church monuments with skull images. Now I have cancelled my account there I thought I would rekindle the idea here. The first is to Henry Stapleton at St Pauls Walden.

A wall mounted church monument. In the centre are two figures in white marble kneeling at a prayer desk, the man on the left and the woman on the right. Peeping out from behind the skirts of the woman is a third figure of a child, also in white marble, holding a skull showing she had died quite young. The scene sits on a black marble slab on which there is an inscription. Either side of the figures are black columns holding up a triangular pediment within which is the familt crest and some streamers.

Detail from the previous figure showing the small child peeping out from behind their mother's skirts and clutching a skull.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 12d

One for #FontsOnFriday This 12th century font is in St Peter's, #Cornworthy, #Devon. It is made of red sandstone and is probably the oldest surviving feature in this church.

A font. The bowl is rounded with palmetto carvings in the lower register and saltire crosses in the upper register. The font sits on a short column base which then sits on a octagonal raised slab. On the font is a modern wooden cover on which sits a jar with flowers,

Detail of the font showing the red sandstone hemispherical bowl carved with a lower frieze of palmettos and a narrower frieze above of saltire crosses.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 13d

What used to be my local church has a monument by Thorvaldsen high up on the wall. My photo of it shows it filthy, but it has been cleaned since. There is a plaster model for the monument in the Museum and the receipt for the monument in county archive.

Monument to Charles Drake Garrard of Lamer. It has two figures in relief, a man and a woman, both in classical dress. The figures are framed with two columns and a curved pediment. The inscription is below. The monument is in white marble but in this photo is filthy.

Detail of the underside of the monument which just about shows the inscription Thorwaldsen Sculpt.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 13d

Sad to hear of the passing of Roy Hodson, pioneering user of #statistical methods in #archaeology. Although we only met in passing quite some time ago, his work forms the foundations of much quantitative archaeology and an important part of the @uclarchaeology.bsky.social 's history. RIP.

The cover of Doran and Hodson, 1975, Mathematics and Computers in Archaeology. The cover image shows the statue of Romulus and Remus suckling on a she-wolf as a pixelated image of red dots.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 13d

One for #AdoorableThursday This is one of the many lovely doors in #Lavenham, #Suffolk. It was taken during a visit when it was too hot to work on the #UCL training dig.

A wooden door with vertical bars and arcading in wood. The door is set into a timber framed building. There are brick steps up to it and an iron hand rail. To the right is the brick of another building.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· 25d

Today was the 2nd Hertfordshire Archaeology Fair at @welwyn.bsky.social Roman Baths. I gave three talks about the baths during the day. All part of the CBA #festivalofarchaeology. Many thanks to all the other organisations with stalls. #romanarchaeology #archaeology #romanbaths #romanbritain

A view down the vault of the Roman Baths under the motorway at Welwyn. In the foreground is the statue of Merle Rook. On the left I am gesticulating while speaking and on the right and in the distance are the audience.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· May 4

Don't you just love "AI assistants"? I was looking at this paper which included a correspondence analysis whilst being told that the paper didn't include correspondence analysis... At this rate I'll go back to standing at the racks flicking through hardcopies... #AIslop #uselessAI #jstor

Screenshot from jstor with a paper showing a map from a Correspondence Analysis on the left and text from the "AI Assistant" telling me the paper didn't include a CA...

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Apr 9

I'll be talking about Roman Baths in Britain at the Epping Forest District Museum on the 22nd April at 7pm. Tickets £7 to raise money for the museum. www.ticketsource.com/efdmuseum/ta... @theromansoc.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social @durotrigesdig.bsky.social @uclarchaeology.bsky.social

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Apr 6

Some great photos. Remember the pilot?

A biplane flying low over a lake in Poland, 1987.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 22

I clearly went wrong somewhere... ~sigh~

Photograph of the cover of a book entitled "Multiple Factor Analysis by Example in R".

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 14

This Friday (16/01/26) Miles Russell will be giving a talk entitled "The Durotriges Project: Life and death in Late Iron Age and Early Roman Dorset". The talk is sponsored by @prehistoricsociety.bsky.social. 7.45pm, United Reformed Church hall, Welwyn Garden City. All welcome (visitors £3).

Poster for the talk with the speaker and the title. The photo shows a skeleton being excavated at the bottom of a cylindrical pit.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 13

Fifty years (38/50) Here I am posing with a #Romanian #shepherd in the hills of SW #Transylvania during a survey season in 2003. #Geophysics #EarthResistance #archaeology #RomanArchaeology @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @ehasarch.bsky.social @hertshistory.bsky.social #VoteKris

Three men in a line posing for a photograph. Behind are grass covered hills and sheep. The author (on the left) is wearing a yellow waterproof, red fleece and blue jumper with wellies. The person on the right is wearing a multicoloured waterproof jacket, wellies and a red baseball cap. The shepherd in the middle is wearing a sheepskin cloak, wellies and a traditional hat. He is carrying a sturdy wooden staff.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 11

Fifty years (37/50) The St Albans and Hertfordshire Architectural and Archaeological Society celebrated their 175th anniversary in 2020. They had a super exhibition which was curtailed due to covid. It did open for a bit, however, and here I am next to a poster about the surveys at Verulamium

A man in a red t-shirt and dark trousers wearing a mask standing next to a poster. The poster's title is "Mapping Verulamium". Various images of the survey can been seen along with some more text.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 10

Fifty years (36/50) In 2013 I went on a around-the-world trip speaking at conferences in #Perth (Au) and #Hawaii and giving a seminar in #Sydney. In Sydney there is a giant mirror so I used my tripod to take a sort of #selfie. I'm the figure at the back near the door. @uclarchaeology.bsky.social

In the centre is a huge circular mirror in which is reflected paving, grass, and a brick building with a large central door. Very faintly in the centre a tripod can be seen and the photographer is off to the right behind near the door. Around the edges of the mirror can be seen palm trees, buildings, blue skies and white clouds.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 9

Fifty years (35/50) A friend of mine's Mum wanted to see a photo of the #wisteria growing in our garden, and is also found of getting #selfies from family and friends, so I obliged. #VoteKris @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @ehasarch.bsky.social @hertshistory.bsky.social #LamerPark Photo taken in 2016.

A man in a blue Denver Broncos tee-shirt with his hand raised in a wave standing in front of a evergreen tree with a wisteria growing up it. There are multiple cascades of purple flowers.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 8

Fifty years (34/50) I was part of the team working on the Noviodunum Archaeological Project, #Romania. Here I am applying sun block before a day of pick-up survey. The sun block was green when you first put it on then faded so that you were sure you didn't miss a spot. #VoteKris #RomanArchaeology

A man leaning over and squinting at the camera. He is wearing a dark t-shirt, shorts and orange socks. He is applying bright green sun block to his legs and his arms are green from it too.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 6

Fifty years (33/50) Every year I run at least one roll of film through my late friend Kate's #Minolta 7000 starting on her birthday, 18th August. I once tried a #selfie using the self timer but I wasn't sure it was working. Ooops... it was counting down! #VoteKris @uclarchaeology.bsky.social

Black and white image showing a man from the shoulders down wearing a t-shirt and shorts. He is leaning towards the camera. In the foreground is grass and in the background a view of the landscape with trees, hedges and fields.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 5

Fifty years (32/50) I stood for 'Head Boy' at #TheHowardSchool in 1982 as I wanted to give the leavers speech at the end of the year. I lost. Turned out Peter, who won, really didn't want to give the speech, so I got to give it anyway in the summer of 1983. @uclarchaeology.bsky.social #VoteKris

A young man in a white shirt and tie giving a speech. In the foreground are three women listening.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 4

Fifty years (31/50) Two pictures of me standing over the #PrimeMeridian at #Greenwich, one taken in the 1970s, one taken in 2015. Both were taken when on a Society coach outing. In the earlier one I just rocked-up and took the photo. In the latter, there was a queue for #Selfies! #VoteKris

A man in a grey t-shirt standing over a yellow line on the ground which marks the Prime Meridian (0 degrees east/west). To the right are a group of people waiting in the queue to take a selfie. Behind is a brick building with three windows and a door.

A young boy standing over a line in the pavement. He is wearing a yellow waterproof coat and a green t-shirt. In the background some people are going into the brick building. On the pavement to the right is the boy's yellow and red rucksack.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 3

Fifty years (30/50) Here I am at a party at the Old Rectory in Welwyn. I'm hugging Merle Rook who died in 2012. Merle was a lovely person and I miss her enormously. #VoteKris @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @ehasarch.bsky.social @hertshistory.bsky.social #Welwyn #Hertfordshire

A bearded man in glasses with a ginger beard wearing a shirt and cardigan hugging a short lady in a blue dress. In the background are other party guests and a table of drinks. On the right are two legs of a gazebo.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 2

Fifty years (29/50) Just to show I haven't given up digging, here is me in Suffolk last summer cleaning up a surface in the Roman bath house we are excavating there. @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @romanpalace.bsky.social #RomanArchaeology #VoteKris #RomanBath #excavation @ehasarch.bsky.social

A man kneeling in the middle of the photograph, leaning over the surface with a brush in one hand and a trowel in the other. There is a yellow bucket with a hand shovel to one side. He is kneeling in the middle of an excavation trench with hints of walls and floors around him. In the background is a large spoil heap.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Jan 1

Fifty years (28/50) Here is another early selfie. This time taken when in sixth form mucking about with the camera on a tripod. Linda must have been very trusting! @uclarchaeology.bsky.social #VoteKris #TheHowardSchool #WelwynGardenCity #Selfie

Three young men in a row holding a young lady horizontally. Everyone is laughing.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Dec 31

Fifty years (27/50) Taking a #selfie wasn't so easy with a #35mm #SLR. Here I am, "Sur le Pont d'Avignon" during an #InterRail trip in 1988. I wanted to be sure I was in the frame, but somewhat over estimated how far away I needed to be with a 28mm lens. #France #Avignon @uclarchaeology.bsky.social

The bottom half of the image is a cobbled surface at a very oblique angle. The top half of the image is blue sky with some clouds. There are two sets of railings on either side converging towards the centre of the image. In the background is a building. Just off centre of the image is a person standing, looking at the camera but he appears to be a long way away and is very small within the image.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Dec 30

Fifty years (26/50) In 1989-1990 I worked for the Test Valley Archaeological Trust. One site I excavated was at Kings Sombourne where I found an Anglo-Saxon grubenhaus. Some days the weather was less than kind. #MedievalArchaeology #excavation #Hampshire @ehasarch.bsky.social #VoteKris

In the centre of the photo is a small yellow plastic hut with the door open showing tools inside. Leaning against the hut is Kris wearing a waxed jacket and bright orange waterproof trousers which are covered in mud. In he background is a wooden fence and a house. On the right is a wheelbarrow standing on its yoke and the front of the bucket.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Dec 29

Fifty years (25/50) Who knew that the little baby on his sister's knee was destined to become an archaeologist? The woolly babygrow was almost certainly knit by my Mum. @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @ehasarch.bsky.social #VoteKris

Black and white photograph. Six children sitting on a sofa having a family photograph taken. The smallest child is the author of the post wearing a woolly knit one-piece outfit. The middle boy is wearing a jumper and the older two boys on the right are wearing shirts and ties. The three elder boys are all in shorts. The eldest sister is holding the baby and looking very elegant with a bobbed haircut. The younger sister on the far left has long hair.

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Dec 28

Fifty years (24/50) I took the radical decision to do 'O' level cookery ('79-81) at a time when only the girls did cookery in their first three years. I really enjoyed it so cooked meals for my friends. Here I am in the late Carol Spall's kitchen cooking supper for them. @uclarchaeology.bsky.social

A young man looking at the camera with his mouth wide open probably saying something like "yay". He is wearing a red checked apron and in his hand is the grill pan from an eye-level grill with chops on it (I think). In the background is a cooker with plates warming,

Welwyn Archaeological Society@welwynarchsoc· Dec 27

Fifty years (23/50) Here are some of the authors at the launch of the "Archaeology in Hertfordshire: Recent Research" book in 2015 with the honouree, Tony Rook, holding a copy in the middle. tinyurl.com/4h5hn5z7 #VoteKris @uclarchaeology.bsky.social @ehasarch.bsky.social @uhpress.bsky.social