Dr Christina Cowart-Smith's Avatar

Dr Christina Cowart-Smith

@celticist.bsky.social

Early medievalist, West Highland fiddler, writer & editor based in London (UK). Occasionally posts sculpture on @ASCorpus.bsky.social. Trustee @gefrintrust.bsky.social. British Museum tour guide.

891 Followers  |  193 Following  |  25 Posts  |  Joined: 19.09.2023  |  1.986

Latest posts by celticist.bsky.social on Bluesky

Post image 11.02.2026 10:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Hooray! Many thanks to Jolene at the Ad Gefrin Museum & Distillery Shop for the assistance and help throughout this process.

04.02.2026 21:07 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Roger Miket's "Ad Gefrin: Brian Hope-Taylor and His Quest for the Early Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria" is out now. Published by The Gefrin Trust. Online orders coming soon! In the meantime, pick up your copy at Ad Gefrin Museum & Distillery in Wooler, Northumberland. #Archaeology #Northumbria

04.02.2026 12:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

And yes, the irony that baby pigeon seeks sanctuary under the plastic owl that is there to scare away birds is not lost on me....

03.02.2026 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Not really a pigeon fan (!) but this little one came to stay on Thursday. Its sibling took flight over the wkend but this one is still trying to learn its wings. Fast fwd 5 days & I'm reading random pigeon facts (+watching visits from pigeon parents). Hopefully soon the deck can have a proper clean!

03.02.2026 19:10 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Brian Hope-Taylor pondering the base of a Bronze Age cinerary urn.
#GefrinTrust #Yeavering #EarlyMedieval #Northumbria #Archaeology

03.02.2026 15:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This is the site of the Priory Church of St Neot, founded by St Anselm of Canterbury, in St Neots in Huntingdonshire

03.02.2026 19:00 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 35    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
Post image 03.02.2026 09:41 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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A delight to lead a 17-strong Two Sigma team around The British Museum last week. Who knew hedge fund employees could be so into good archaeology ๐Ÿ˜‰ ๐Ÿ˜œ! (Sorry for the spam - catching up after not using this platform for a good long while)

02.02.2026 16:43 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Awwww just seeing this now! It was fantastic getting to see you x

02.02.2026 16:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Last week @celticist.bsky.social gave an absolute tour de force on Northumbrian stone sculpture at the lovely Church of St Hilda in Hartlepool. Great to see some faces from Lindisfarne there as well. The old Bernician connections are yet strong!

18.01.2026 14:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The Gefrin Trust is delighted to announce the publication of a landmark volume by Roger Miket entitled "Ad Gefrin: Brian Hope-Taylor and His Quest for the Early Medieval Kingdom of Northumbria." Get your copy at the Ad Gefrin Shop in Wooler! #Yeavering

02.02.2026 16:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Our Trustees met on site this morning for a tour led by Trustee Sarah Semple, a wander around Maelmin with Trustee Roger Miket, andโ€”in the afternoonโ€”sat down for a proper meeting. The future of #Yeavering is in good hands! Stay tuned for exciting news out of Yeavering in the months to come.

17.09.2025 15:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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In between the hours excavating, the @arcdurham students at #Yeavering have been enjoying some early medieval gamesโ€ฆ and donuts ๐Ÿฉ! (Donโ€™t worry - the donuts arenโ€™t 7th-century ๐Ÿ˜‰)

Catch our daily site tour tomorrow at 3pm. #Yeavering #GefrinTrust #Northumberland #DUArchaeology

08.09.2025 16:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Itโ€™s the #Yeavering teamโ€™s day off. ๐Ÿ˜Š What better way to spend it than to head over to Holy Island & check in on the 10th (final) year of the DU/DV dig! Dr David Petts @arcdurham talks the team through the reopened trenches. Weโ€™ve been so lucky to have both digs run concurrently for a few years!

07.09.2025 13:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Itโ€™s raining cats๐Ÿฑ & dogs ๐Ÿถ out there! Archaeologists are hearty folk but trenches this wet mean super slippery surfaces.

Weโ€™ve cancelled our @gefrintrust site tour for today but will be back at #Yeavering to deliver the usual 3pm tour tomorrow (Thurs, 4 September). Stay dry! โ˜”๏ธ ๐Ÿ’ฆ

Image: @adgefrin

03.09.2025 12:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image 29.08.2025 13:18 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Rain or shine, thereโ€™s big smiles all around from the Yeavering crew! #YeaveringExcavation #Northumbria #earlymedieval #GefrinTrust #DUArchaeology

28.08.2025 15:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I had the joy of sitting down with Prof Sarah Semple to hear about her 20-year relationship with The Gefrin Trust, her initial memories of Yeavering, and her favourite time to be on site. Follow @gefrintrust.bsky.social over the next month as the team excavates! #Yeavering #GefrinTrust

26.08.2025 16:08 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Professor Sarah Semple (Durham University) and team are readying to lay out the trenches at Yeavering for another fantastic season of fieldwork. We canโ€™t wait to see what they get up to! #Yeavering #DurhamArchaeology #GefrinTrust

23.08.2025 21:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The 2025 Yeavering excavation has commenced with the relocation of the grandstand! Stay tuned for lots more from the trenches. We can't wait to see what the team gets up to! #YeaveringExcavation #Northumberland #DUArchaeology #GefrinTrust

26.08.2025 15:21 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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On Friday night #TheGefrinTrust, along with our partners #AdGefrin and @arcdurham.bsky.social, lit up the contours of Edwin's palace and grandstand. For the first time in over a millennium, the structures' footprints could be seen against the dramatic backdrop of Yeavering Bell. (Image: A. Jansen)

06.08.2025 12:57 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 13    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Weโ€™re still buzzing from our 2025 Festival of Archaeology at Yeavering! Hear from Charlotte and Liam, two of our historical reenactors on site. #festivalofarchaeology #yeavering #adgefrin #northumbria

www.instagram.com/reel/DM7b5bN...

04.08.2025 10:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Weโ€™ve had a fantastic 2025 Festival of Archaeology at Yeavering. Thank you to all those who came out to site, to learn and share. Particular thanks to our collaborators @arcdurham @adgefrin @aclereenactment. Weโ€™re already planning for next year! #FestivalofArchaeology #Yeavering #Northumbria

02.08.2025 17:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Weโ€™ll be highlighting the stories of our Trustees, including Roger Miket, over the next few months. Stay tuned! #GefrinTrust #Yeavering #Northumbria

02.08.2025 13:35 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Another well-attended tour of site. Weโ€™ve two final tours today โ€” come out and visit us until 4pm!

#Yeavering #FestivalofArchaeology #EarlyMedievalNorthumberland

02.08.2025 12:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Weโ€™ve had a fantastic first day. Join us tomorrow for Day 2 of our Festival of Archaeology at Yeavering, Northumberland. Thanks to our co-organisers Ad Gefrin, Durham Archaeology, and Acle. And most of allโ€”thanks to all who showed up! We had a superb turnout!

#Yeavering #EarlyMedievalNorthumbria

01.08.2025 17:05 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Meet Heather & Colin of Acle Reenactment. Heather produces all her own dyed wool & creates gorgeous textiles (like this one, inspired by the design of the Bamburgh stone throne). Colin crafts objects in silver based on Pictish & Anglo-Saxon metalwork. His work has been featured in tv shows & movies!

01.08.2025 12:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Walking the outlines of Edwinโ€™s hall. #Yeavering #EarlyMedievalNorthumbria @adgefrin

01.08.2025 11:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Our first tour of the day is underway, led by Professor Sarah Semple (Durham), Gefrin Trust trustee and lead site excavator. #Yeavering #EarlyMedievalNorthumberland

01.08.2025 09:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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