Ben Westwood - Durham FLO 🇺🇦🇪🇺

Latest April news from @findsorguk.bsky.social !
#Archaeology #Heritage #History #MetalDetecting #Treasure

Tuesday's I have my finders come in to drop off & collect their finds.
Some cool stuff in today, including (& drool over this you Bronze Age freaks) this socketed LBA axe WITH a wooden peg(?) insert...😱😍
BRONZE AGE WOOD FROM CO. DURHAM
#archaeology #heritage #PAS #Rocks 😉

Last year @findsorguk.bsky.social started sending out a monthly newsletter/update that we can share with interested groups & peoples.
Is this something that might interest the Bsky crowd??
well, here it is anyways...
#Archaeology #PortableAntiquitiesScheme #MetalDetecting
#Heritage #RecordYourFinds

Trouble with jammy dodger spindle whorls, they make the yarn sticky...

#FindsFriday today with a lovely counterfeit Roman coin!
A copper-alloy cast contemporary copy of a Roman denarius of Diva Faustina I (AD 138-161), struck under Antoninus Pius, dating to the period c. AD 141-161
To see the full record, follow the link: finds.org.uk/database/art...

Last year @findsorguk.bsky.social started sending out a monthly newsletter/update that we can share with interested groups & peoples.
Is this something that might interest the Bsky crowd??
well, here it is anyways...
#Archaeology #PortableAntiquitiesScheme #MetalDetecting
#Heritage #RecordYourFinds

A complete lead spindle whorl from the Medieval period (AD1200-1500). The whorl comprises a very slightly central bi-conical body with a central aperture measuring 9.1mm. It is decorated on both faces with a series of raised lines, which form triangular shapes radiating from the central aperture forming a four-pointed star, with an additional two diagonal lines either side of the the point at the base. each point of the star contains a raised pellet, and further pellets are arranged between the points. A rasied border runs around the edge of the spindle whorl. The patina of the metal is of a dark cream colour. The relatively large diameter of the central perforation and the biconical form places this in the mid to later medieval period. Standley (2016, 278-9) suggests this type dates between the 13th and end of the 15th century. This spindle whorl is slightly unusual for a biconcial medieval Walton Rogers form C2, being almost a flat disc (and thus Walton Rogers form B). Dimensions: Thickness: 5.75 mm; Weight: 33.35 g; Diameter: 36.27 mm. Standley, E.R., 2016. Spinning Yarns: The Archaeological Evidence for Hand Spinning and its Social Implications, c ad 1200-1500. Medieval Archaeology 60, 266-299. Walton Rogers, P., 2007. Cloth and clothing in early Anglo-Saxon England: AD 450-700, CBA research report. Council for British Archaeology, York.

#FindsFriday little beauty...
weird, almost flat disc, yet decorated bi-concial high medieval Spindle Whorl.
Try to contain your envy....
finds.org.uk/database/art...

If you need a ‘good laugh’…👇

Since. Ancient. Times. 😂✨

Description: A hoard of [probably] 9 medieval long cross pennies dating to the period AD 1280 - 1310. Two (2) pennies are complete, or mostly complete, and survive individually and are thus identifiable. Seven (7) are fused together. The fused groups appear to comprise medieval long cross pennies, of which only the reverse of a single coin is identifiable. Catalogue: Coin 1: Silver penny of Edward I (AD 1272-1307) dating to the period AD 1301-1310. Long cross reverse. Mint of London. Class 10cf5 (note: slight fold across coin from 11-5) Obverse Legend: EDWA R ANGL DN[S hYB] Reverse Legend: CIVI/TAS/LON/DON Reference: North Vol 2, p.28, no.1043/1 Dimensions: Weight: 1.4g; Diameter: 19.61mm. Die Axis: 7. Coin 2: Silver penny of Edward I (AD 1272-1307) dating to the period AD 1301-1310. Long cross reverse. Mint of London. Class 10ab5 (note: slight fold across coin from 1-7) Obverse Legend: EDWAR R [ANG]L DNS hYB Reverse Legend: [CIV]I/TAS/LON/DON Reference: North Vol 2, p.28, no.1039/3 Dimensions: Weight: 1.4g; Diameter: 17.88mm. Die Axis: 5. Coins 7-9: A group of at least 7 fused coins (wt: 12.1g). All appear to be pennies, probably dating similar to the coins above, thus Edward 1 (AD1272-1307). The reverse of the bottom coin can be seen with a legend which reads CIVI/TAS/LON/DON (mint of London). Discussion: All the coins are official English silver coins of the 13th or 14th century and will thus have been struck to the sterling standard, over 90% fine metal, and would have been in circulation together. It is likely all the coins were deposited together as a group on a single occasion.

Weird fused/melted medieval coin hoard, probably all late Edward I but only the 2 separated coins were identifiable, the other 7 not so much...
Still, acquired by @ducollections.bsky.social through the Treasure process, so hopefully available to view there soon!
finds.org.uk/database/art...

just to say, I'm completely here for - dodecahedrongate -
@findsorguk.bsky.social data is free, & all our images are [should]!] be available with CC BY 2.0!

Had a thoroughly lovely time @romanfindsgroup.bsky.social Spring conference!
I think we can agree that amongst archaeologists, finds specialists really are the loveliest & friendliest bunch - & not biased at all 😜
i'm sure @findsorguk.bsky.social will agree....

Join the Roman Finds Group - you know it makes sense! @romanfindsgroup.bsky.social

I'll be talking about these cheeky little chappies on Sunday at the Roman Finds Group conference in Durham in Sunday!
Join the RFG only £12 a year 😍
#LionHeadStud #TongueOut
romanfindsgroup.org.uk/rfg-spring-2...

a blue and yellow heart with the words we stand with ukraine written on it ALT: a blue and yellow heart with the words we stand with ukraine written on it

💙 if you stand with UKRAINE? 🇺🇦

#SlavaUkraini

That's it.

Today saw the launch of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (2023) and Treasure (2022) annual reports at the British Museum, highlighting record levels of finds submitted for voluntary recording to the PAS (over 70,000) and those reported (1,358) in 2023. Available here: finds.org.uk/publications

A silver penny of the Medieval period from the reign of John (AD1199-1216). Class 6a2 Moneyer Abel, London, 1208/9-1216 AD. Obverse description: Crowned bust facing with sceptre Obverse inscription: hEN[RICU]S REX Reverse description: Short cross voided with quatrefoil in each corner. Reverse inscription: A[BE]L ON LVNDE. Cross pattée Measurements: Diameter: 18.3mm, Weight: 1.5g

medieval coin ID'ing is all about fine margins!
John class 6a2 or Henry III 6c1??
6a2 has an 'E' with spur, but 6c1 has large pearls in the crown!
So we thought latter, turns out it's the former due to neat bust and rectangular face...
#Splittinghairs #Splittingheirs
finds.org.uk/database/art...

Agree, but you missed 'traitorous' 😉

Flash back to the first time i had to tell a finder "yes, it's a grave" 😂

3/4th century Roman twisted wire bracelet in an 's' shape

Ex-sss-iting Late Roman copper alloy/bronze twisted wire bracelet, just recorded on @findsorguk.bsky.social
c. 3rd - 4th century AD
Found in Wiltshire, and reported up here in Durham.

@findsorguk.bsky.social record for this fascinating object, if anyone's interested:
finds.org.uk/database/art...

Export bar on Anglo-Saxon gold panel found near Pocklington The piece of art, valued at almost £4,000, was found in a field near Pocklington in 2013.

"Export bar on Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet panel"

Good.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

English Heritage plans up to 200 redundancies and winter closures of some sites Exclusive: At least 7% of workforce could be affected with curators targeted as part of charity’s restructuring

Worrying news from English Heritage.
Is it time for both EH and Historic England to be taken back under full government control?
Seems like bonkers to me that our national heritage bodies are ALBs!
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Warrant issued for the arrest of Viking hoard thief A warrant has been issued for the arrest of metal detectorist George Powell who stole a hoard of gold coins and jewellery valued at £3 million.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Today’s office for the day is Newcastle’s hidden gem, the @litandphil! If you haven’t been, you’re missing out.

Istanbul Church Reopens as Mosque With Medieval Mosaics and Frescoes Intact After a four-year wait, the Chora Church reopened as the Kariye Mosque with its treasured works of Christian art open to public view.

Istanbul is a city of dreams....
- Istanbul Church Reopens as Mosque With Medieval Mosaics and Frescoes Intact hyperallergic.com/933289/istan...

Spent yesterday over at Tees Archeology, one of my local partners, working with their volunteers as part of some training we're delivering
Also had a peek at some of the stuff from the LIA/RB site at Catcote currently being sorted in the Archives
including this rare (this far north) Rossette Brooch😍

medieval iconographic silver gilt finger ring featuring the annunciation scene on the bezel

here @findsorguk.bsky.social the Research never ends...
Just updating this 10 year old Treasure case: we think the figures on the bezel of this medieval iconographic ring are Gabriel (left) & Mary in an Annunciation scene.
props to Rob Webley 😘 (where is he
@tokeneffort.bsky.social?)

Trump's executive order says "female" means a person, belonging, **at conception,** to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell, and "male" means a person belonging, **at conception,** to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell.

Having trouble managing the flood of messages from biologist pals chortling that Trump's anti-trans executive order legally defines every American as female, because defines people by their gender *at conception,* and all embryos are phenotypically female (they differentiate after 6-7 weeks).

People are calling for Starmer to resign over a counter-terrorism failure that occurred before the election. Make it make sense.