Dr Pen Foreman

No recommendations but lots of respect and support for any discourse other than the Stonehenge Manosphere!

A badge and membership card, both with the text "Stone Club", sit on an antique desk with a green leather surface.

A series of grey and beige rocks, a Neolithic chambered tomb, are in the foreground. Behind them are rolling green fields with a line of wildflowers. At the horizon there is a small line of blue ocean beneath the blue sky.

A Neolithic chambered tomb in Denmark. It is a series of very large grey and beige granite rocks, piled so large boulders are supported by smaller ones in two distinct chambers. The sky above them is blue and they are surrounded by green long grass.

A little bit of joy in what has been, let's say, A Week. Thank you @stoneclub.bsky.social for rekindling my stone fancying ways!

It's been an age, so I refreshed my memory with some of my old photos. This one is Sømarkedyssen, Møn, Denmark. This was the most peaceful, still space I've ever felt.

The Trans Literature Preservation Project: A Practical Guide to Resisting Censorship Project 2025 wants to criminalize trans literature. Here’s a game plan for keeping our stories alive.

Okay, here’s the deal: RIGHT NOW is the time for concrete, direct action.

If you’re following me, it’s probably because you care about trans art and trans literature. The article below lays out my suggestions for dozens of concrete actions you can take to preemptively combat literary censorship.

Last chance to respond to this consultation is today - 23 January. Heartfelt thanks to all those who have already responded to argue against the proposed #closure of Abbey House #Museum bsky.app/profile/cura...

It's been a long week that isn't even over yet, so here's me playing the theremin with my cat.

Andrew, it is always Stonehenge 😂

A masterclass in how archaeology should be communicated - fantastic research, backed by well evidenced science, open access paper front and centre, co-ordinated press campaign.

Fantastic project and what an incredible insight into Iron Age society, the role of women, and the role of movement!

It was inevitable, finally joined (I'm a bit of a lapsed stone botherer these days...)

This is a beautiful, social and working class history based museum that really is a home for communities and families - and the "saving" by closing it is a pittance, without taking into account the social cost it would have.

Please consider signing to show support for this Leeds gem.

Disappointed to see that once again, Stonehenge is the dog whistle for nationalism.

When those with the biggest profile and loudest voice time and again use it to feed into nationalist rhetoric, how is archaeology as a discipline supposed to tackle its issues with being a political tool for hate?

The clock tower of Bradford Town Hall, a Victorian gothic building, is lit up in pink, green, and orange. These are the colours of Bradford 2025 City of Culture.

A large crowd of people are gathered in the Bradford City Square. It is dark and the square is lit up with bright lights and displays, showing the Bradford 2025 logo.

RISE, the kickoff event for @bradford2025.co.uk on Friday brought me to tears, full of the power of the people of Bradford through poetry, music, dance, and magic.

"Who gave you the chance to be magic?"

Excited to be on the panel for this at the end of the month - talking about why leadership in the archaeology sector needs aspiration, vision, and reciprocity baked in.

"...leadership is rooted not in power and authority, but in service and wisdom" Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

Cost is huge, but so it reciprocity. What do they get out of it in terms of career / study impact? For the AIA we introduced a new membership rate, and opened up Board roles / experience as well as sitting on grant panels and other committee work. It's doing well for our numbers so far!

Amazing thank you!

Pen - thank you! Be lovely to add this to my email signature!

Barter Books is such a haven ❤️

YouTube video by British Pathé Women Bricklayers (1954)

Hmm I can't find anything in my links or YouTube history, but I did rediscover some lovely British Pathé films like this one about "women bricklayers"! youtu.be/-iCWFD4yJqM?... and this beautiful 1933 film from Fletton brickworks youtu.be/-0mQ8Jx96Do?...

Ooh I think I did share some of the BFI ones but I think they were more about London bricks - I'll find some links!

A hand holding a Kindle e-reader device. On the screen is the title page of a book, which is "Brickmaking: History and Heritage" by David Johnson.

Last day off before it's back to work, and I'm reviewing this beauty, David Johnson's Brickmaking: History and Heritage.

Bricks are essentially how I got into archaeology so they are very close to my heart. I wonder what my first brick find of 2025 will be?

I drew out my yearly journal yesterday and realised I wrote half of the title pages as 2024 🤦 still need to get into 2025 timezone!

A large book sits on a white cloth background. The book has a black and white photograph of a gasholder with a cricket ground in front of it. The title of the book is "Gasholders, a history in pictures"

An excellent start to my birthday this year. I've been eyeing this wonderful book for a while, and it's an absolute beast of a volume!

Please share images of your favourite Gasholders if you have them?

Anyone with an interest in a more equitable and accessible heritage sector for disabled people is welcome to join the list.

Mailing list members get updates, links to monthly online Roundtable discussions, and invitations to take part in research and consultation.

Him owning Dalmatians all named after Gone With the Wind characters had me absolutely rolling. It's just so - him

In the foreground, a red toadstool fungus. It is surrounded by fallen brown and golden leaves. In the background there are more toadstools and blurry hedge rows, with cars parked in the distance.

In an IKEA car park of all places!

Unstuck in Time – Science Fiction, Speculative Futures and Archaeological Imaginings This is part of my series of posts on presentations I have filmed at conferences. This session comes from the TAG conference: Session info Science fiction and archaeology are a classic combination …

It was this session! dougsarchaeology.wordpress.com/2020/01/10/u...

Ah sorry I meant write up / publish a previous session - we did it in I think Cardiff in 2017? But due a revisit for a future year I think!

Never did get that TAG session about archaeology and science fiction written up! Maybe there's still time!

www.bajrfed.co.uk/bajrpress/ar...

Today we release the BAJR Poverty Impact Report 2024, continuing the work begun with the first Report in 2022.
Contained within are the voices of 644 colleagues.

Read, absorb and act. Discussions on BAJR Facebook

Is anyone in Manchester tomorrow / Thursday for the "Towards a National Collection" conference? Would be lovely to have some in-person networking!

www.nationalcollection.org.uk/events/confe...

Thank you!