Don O'Meara

Two copies of the journal Archaeologia Aeliana on a wooden table

Always slightly surreal to hold the printed editions of Archaeologia Aeliana after working on it for a year. AA 2025 is another very full issue, with everything from prehistory to post-medieval history and archaeology. Onwards to AA2026!
#archaeology #history

Speaking at the gates of Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields, before the unveiling of the Robert Blair Plaque.

Plaque to Robert Blair 1845-23

Mayor of South Tyneside Jay Potts and Mayoress Audrey Huntley after the plaque unveiling.

Spoke at the unveiling of a plaque to archaeologist Robert Blair, outside Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields last week. Great to see his contribution to the study of Roman archaeology in his local town recognised, and to have Mayor of South Tyneside Jay Potts and Mayoress Audrey Huntley in attendance.

Pet peeve of the day (month/year): universities which are desperate for people to utilise a scientific technique, set up a commercial organisation to offer this, then proceed to only take on work they are interested in and give up on taking it at all in a few years 😑

You don't! You make reckless assumptions, wild speculations and go back with a plan for testpitting and a more thorough auger survey.
On a serious note: the charcoal is only around the edges of the lake and doesn't appear under the peat in adjacent areas. It's the basis for further investigation 🧐

Man standing in a bog, holding an auger, trying to figure out why he didn't bring insect repellent.

A large lump of flint being held in a man's hand

A view across a bog

A trek up to the #Cheviots, following a lead about a lump of flint (see photo 2, my hand for scale) found in 1978 under 5 feet of peat, by a farm worker. Initial conclusions from augering: there is a former tarn/lake at this spot, with possible #prehistoric activity in the form of a charcoal layer!

I could list off some dead professor or someone very worthy but the reality is Sam Neill's character Dr Alan Grant in the first Jurassic Park movie probably did more to direct me towards an interest in archaeology than anyone else.

There are buildings that 'burn down' and buildings that 'catch fire'. These are distinctly different things when a fire in a historic building is being discussed, no one explains when to use one or the other but we all seem to know when to use one or the other.

A polished stone axe being held in someone's hand

Doing a site visit in #Northumberland today. Got chatting to someone who claimed they think tjey found a stone tool as "It fits nicely into your hand and looks worked" That old chestnut, yeah I will have a look 🙄
"...oh, yeah that's a Neolithic polished stone axe! 🤯"
#archaeology #prehistory

If you are teaching a course that includes digital ethics, what are your go-to texts? I need a refresh of my reading list, and I'm looking for any recent papers that stand out

Space for more morris dancing content! Give the people what they want!!!

Image credit: FCO

NEWS: C20 is delighted to announce that distinguished journalist and broadcaster @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social has been elected as our new President. She becomes the fifth female president in the Society's 46 year history, and succeeds Catherine Slessor in the role.

➡️ c20society.org.uk/news/samira-...

Marine Geophysics: Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation | Historic England Techniques for conducting geophysical survey and processing and interpretation techniques that can reveal information about the marine environment.

Historic England have just released updated guidance for marine geophysical surveys. This second edition helps protect and document England’s incredible underwater heritage — shipwrecks, submerged landscapes, and more.

Learn more: historicengland.org.uk/images-books...

#maritimeheritage

🤦🏻

A coastal view with a cloudy sky. A road runs in the foreground.

Cleveland looking very much like one of the most underappreciated areas of England today. Little would one expect the field next to me contains the entrance to deepest mine in Britain (Boulby), with an astrophysics lab almost 1.5km under the surface.

A poster announcing a new community archaeology project based in Hexham

Announcing our plans for a new #community #archaeology project in #Hexham

Harvesting the black gold this weekend. Material from a prehistoric site in north Cumbria excavated in 2001. Despite occasional labelling issues the charred remains are still perfectly viable.
#FlotThot #NakedWheat #Archaeobotany

Have you tried the tripartite division based on hominid facial reconstructions of:
1) Surprised-happy
2) Surprised-concerned
3) Weary-but now have dogs

A monstrous chicken

Currently having my sample processing being monitored by the meanest looking chicken I have seen in a long time! 😐

Definitely! Hats off to the anonymous sample taker!

A sample bucket containing archaeological sediment, the internal labels have completed faded, so I rely on the external labels which can often scratch off or fade.

Some ducks wondering what all the fuss is about, looking at all my archaeobotanical sample processing material laid out on grass, with a brick shed in the background

Sample processing today with some helpers.
These archaeobotanical samples are over 20 years old, and from a unit which no longer exists. They're still perfectly viable, but the labelling causes issues. Without permanent marker the internal labels have begun to fade, so reliant on external survival.

These properties often needed a lot of conservation work, were in difficult locations, and didn't come with associated land or property which could be rented out. To split them off and expect them to be self sustaining and profitable was always going to be problematic.

English Heritage were told to be more like the National Trust, but that's like comparing apples with some badly damaged apples in need of conservation work. English Heritage was always the curator of last resort, taking properties which other organisations wouldn't touch (1/2)

A lil' cat sitting on my lap

*sigh* and I had so much planned for today. Better cancel everything.

(Warning: this is either very interesting or tediously boring)
When putting down sheeting during cleaning in Bessie Surtees House they caught the draft through the wooden floor. But it wasn't just a breeze, it was a rhythmic pulse as the air moved through the building and it breathed 🧐

Person pointing at a mark in a stone wall

Group of people standing in front of an old church

Miniscule inscription on stained glass, almost imperceptible to the eye, reading “If all were understood, all would be forgiven”.

NEW PROJECT: The Society and @scotchurchestrust.bsky.social are announcing a £229,015 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help ensure a sustainable future for Scotland’s churches and their contents.‬

Read about Finding Futures for Scotland’s Churches: www.socantscot.org/news/finding...

Indiana Jones had his contract reduced to 0.5 FTE, as preventing Nazis from acquiring objects which would give them the power of God was not a REF'able activity 🧐

Hive mind: does anyone know the earliest human remains from Scotland?

"Straight from the Kitchen"

"Coming to you"

"Enjoy"

Great to see McDonalds promoting the Irish language in Durham 🫡🇮🇪

I am hoping the OSL samples are more interesting than the condensation, but you never know with OSL 🧐

Mysterious plastic sheet of science!

Trust me, something very interesting is happening under this plastic sheet!
#ArchaeologicalScience #Archaeology #OSL #MysteriousScienceSheet