Benedict Frankish

Hey wait a minute these roads lead all kinds of places

The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…

N England (Lincs./Yorks.), English, meow mostly. Kittens or cats wanting fed particularly insistently will mew.

Several archaeologists wearing high-vis vests excavating graves. In the background an excavator stands amongst piles of earth. Excavation at the post-Roman cemetery at Worth Matravers cemetery (credit: Lilian Ladle).

NEW West African ancestry in #medieval England? 🏺 #Archaeology
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.

#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵

📷 Lilian Ladle

If historians know something it is this: nothing is inevitable just because it is popular. AI is not an exception. Nor is fascism.

As you should, for my money (which will go to your Patreon if that's the route you go down) you're one of the best history communicators in the game. Whatever business thinks, the audience will look for passion, knowledge, and craft, and they'll find it wherever good creators are.

...and misses the greater part of what a historian does which is interpret that information, which no LLM is remotely capable of. That's before you get into the lack of ability to critically assess info and whether it's true or even plausible. Totally agree with you on their motives though!

From the paper, it looks like their rationale is that Copilot can 'research historical information', but what they mean by research is 'scan through the already written (generously, possibly digitised primary source) data our model has harvested/ stolen', which isn't research in any useful sense...

The assertion seems founded on a complete lack of understanding of what it is historians actually do and the skills and work required, and I suspect the same is true of many of the other claims by AI firms that 'AI will soon replace [X]'

I feel if you try and separate politics from anything you’re a bad historian.

Really pleased to see this clear and well-reasoned response from the MA that recommits to keeping museums inclusive and welcoming spaces for trans visitors, staff and volunteers.

A news story: "Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise"

*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*

Very well put and thoughtful 🧵 re: LLMs and archives

It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.

It can happen here in a few short years time. Just as easily and shamelessly as its happening in the US right now. British Conservatism is absolutely primed and ready to make it happen.

This whole thread is fascinating, but this in particular. I would love to see how different an answer you would get to this question in other countries.

I'd nominate Bernard Knox, Bradford-born classicist, International Brigade volunteer and special forces fighter in WWII. His essay 'Premature Anti-Fascist' might make interesting material for your students - it's very readable.

ChemArch Learning Resources - York Archaeology - Learning Explore science and archaeology through fascinating video resources, created by researchers from the ChemArch Network.

Explore science and archaeology in 2025 through some exciting new video resources, created by researchers from the ChemArch Innovative Training Network. These videos are designed for anyone with a beginner's interest in archaeological sciences.

learning.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/chemarch-lea...

Go Birds.

Sheffield Uni Needs East Asian Studies! The University of Sheffield has been a global leader in East Asian Studies since its inception as the national centre for modern Japanese Studies in 1963. Korean Studies was introduced in 1979 and mai...

I see there's a petition - please do consider signing.

Terrible to hear about this latest from @sheffielduni.bsky.social, as someone who benefited from this excellence in East Asian history as an undergraduate. The interdisciplinary focus on global histories at Sheffield made me a much better historian - awful to narrow horizons for future students.

‘The hair stands up’: citizen archaeologists unearth ancient treasures in Scotland Members of the public are helping to sustain digs across the country, even as volunteering declines

'Although Volunteer Scotland has warned that last year’s Scottish Household Survey results “point to a crisis in volunteering”, for those participating in culture and heritage the numbers remain constant, compared with an 18% drop elsewhere.' Interesting (and important, including for public health).

A luminous full moon rises high above the silhouette of bare winter trees, casting a serene glow over the landscape. The pale orb dominates the dusky sky, its craters and markings softly visible, radiating an ethereal light. Known as December's "Cold Moon," it marks the arrival of winter’s chill, illuminating the frost-bitten evenings with its quiet brilliance.

Tonight, the Cold Moon rises. ❄️

Known too as the Long Night Moon or The Moon Before Yule, it rises during the darkest nights of the year, heralding the onset of winter’s chill.

Its glow has guided ancient Yule traditions and marked the turning of the seasons.

Moonrise: 15:09*

Alright *cracks knuckles* let's do this!

Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first:

What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects

Thanks for joining us...your virtual steed is speedy.

We start up at the Knavesmire and oh look! There's a race on at York Racecourse. Not clear who's winning but the stand is packed.

There's also something slightly more macabre we've just spotted on Tadcaster Road...