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alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk
@alisonfisk.bsky.social
12K followers 3.5K following 1.5K posts
Recent Masters degree in Archaeological Practice at Birkbeck, University of London. Here to share my love of archaeology.
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 1d
A stunning 2,000 year-old Roman blue glass amphoriskos.

📷 Getty Museum www.getty.edu/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Getty Museum photo of a translucent, dark blue, two-handled, glass flask (amphoriskos) against a grey background. The free-blown body is bulbous in shape, with a narrow neck with a flattened rim. The two handles were added afterwards and attach to the body and mouth. The handle on the right has been attached slightly higher up on the body than the other side. Height 10.5 cm. There is some incrustation on the interior of the glass.
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
antiquity.ac.uk
Antiquity Journal @antiquity.ac.uk · 5d
📰 What was thought to be a Palaeolithic oil lamp was likely in fact a 13,000-year-old paint pallet, and contains the oldest instance of blue pigment in Europe!

🏺 #AntiquityResearch #ArchaeologyNews via @smithsonianmag.bsky.social

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...
These Archaeologists Set Out in Search of Animal Fat. Instead, They Found the Oldest Blue Pigment Ever Discovered in Europe
Blue residue on a 13,000-year-old stone artifact, long believed to be an oil lamp, may paint a new picture of Paleolithic art and culture
www.smithsonianmag.com
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
gettymuseum.bsky.social
Getty @gettymuseum.bsky.social · 2d
🏺Dab a Little 3,000-Year-Old Greek Civilization on Your Wrist🏺

Read about the art and science involved in recreating scents from ancient #Pylos at gty.art/4oh64CT.

#Perfume #Archaeology #ArtAndScience
Dab a Little 3,000-Year-Old Greek Civilization on Your Wrist | Getty News
Perfumer Michael Nordstrand distilled ancient Pylos into two scents for the Getty Villa Museum. One ingredient was originally raked from goats’ beards in Crete.
gty.art
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
4u1e.bsky.social
4u1e.bsky.social @4u1e.bsky.social · 3d
I assume the one at bottom right means that a modern tote bag wouldn't necessarily stand out in Minoan Crete.
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩

Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me

#Archaeology
From the Aegean Bronze Age, Minoan clay vessels with black handpainted decoration.on a pale biscuity-coloured slip Top left - clay flask decorated in Minoan ‘Marine Style’’ with an octopus with tentacles writhing around the body of the vase. Additional motifs such as seaweed and rocks represent the seabed. From Palaikastro, 1500-1450 BC Top right - clay rhyton in the shape of a bull’s head. A rhyton is a type of pouring vessel used for filling cups or making liquid offerings. There is a pouring hole at the bull’s mouth. From Knossos Little Palace, 1450-1375 BC Bottom left - Nautilus vessel - clay rhyton depicting the seabed with nautili, corals and seaweed. From Phaistos Palace, 1500-1450 BC Bottom right - Basket shaped rhyton decorated with double-axe motif. There is a small pouring hole in one of the bottom corners. From Pseira, 1500-1450 BC
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
drtobydriver.bsky.social
Dr Toby Driver @drtobydriver.bsky.social · 14h
For #TombTuesday the enormous & unusual Trevethy Quoit Neolithic tomb in Cornwall

In common with several other tombs it has a small door or portal cut in the front slab & a hole piercing the towering capstone

📷 My own, May 2021
A large stone chamber tomb with an angled capstone
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
kpw1453.bsky.social
Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 14h
The entrance to Wideford Hill Chambered Cairn, with its three concentric stone walls. Dating from around 3500-2400 BC, the ‘Maeshowe-type’ cairn is built into the side of Wideford Hill, near Kirkwall in Orkney. 📸 My own #TombTuesday #Prehistory #Orkney
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
skriptorium.info
Alastair Millar @skriptorium.info · 16h
'Stunning' is the right word.
As Keats put it, 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever'.
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 1d
A stunning 2,000 year-old Roman blue glass amphoriskos.

📷 Getty Museum www.getty.edu/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Getty Museum photo of a translucent, dark blue, two-handled, glass flask (amphoriskos) against a grey background. The free-blown body is bulbous in shape, with a narrow neck with a flattened rim. The two handles were added afterwards and attach to the body and mouth. The handle on the right has been attached slightly higher up on the body than the other side. Height 10.5 cm. There is some incrustation on the interior of the glass.
4 62
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 1d
A stunning 2,000 year-old Roman blue glass amphoriskos.

📷 Getty Museum www.getty.edu/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Getty Museum photo of a translucent, dark blue, two-handled, glass flask (amphoriskos) against a grey background. The free-blown body is bulbous in shape, with a narrow neck with a flattened rim. The two handles were added afterwards and attach to the body and mouth. The handle on the right has been attached slightly higher up on the body than the other side. Height 10.5 cm. There is some incrustation on the interior of the glass.
4 80 410
Reposted by Alison Fisk
kpw1453.bsky.social
Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 1d
Detail from a mid-fourth century AD mosaic at North Leigh Roman Villa in Oxfordshire. The mosaic was probably from a dinning room or reception room. 📸 My own. #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #NorthLeighRomanVilla
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
Durotriges Dig @durotrigesdig.bsky.social · 1d
Close up of the central panel in a late 4th century AD floor, #Roman townhouse at Colliton Park #Dorchester

The design, a stylised flower surrounded by guilloche, is simple but highly effective 😍

Excavated 1937-8, it's today protected by Dorset council and Dorset Museum

📷 Sept 2014

#MosaicMonday
Roundel in a Roman mosaic floor featuring a stylised flower surrounded by interlocking guilloche
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
drjeball.bsky.social
Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 1d
A #Roman figurine of a dog, shown lying down with its back legs curled underneath, looking at something behind it. Dogs feature quite prominently in Roman everyday art, associated with loyalty & healing, & valued for their companionship (just like today!) 🐶 🏺 #AncientBlueSky #Archaeology
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 2d
A Roman fibula shaped like a panther with a human rider on its back, crafted in bronze with colorful enamel inlay.
Panthers were linked to the god Dionysus/Bacchus, often depicted as his favored mounts, suggesting a symbolic or protective function for fibulae ...🧵1/2

📷 me

🏺 #archaeology
Roman bronze fibula shaped like a panther with a human rider on its back. The panther’s body features small enamel inlays, and the piece rests on display in a museum case.
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
gratefulg.bsky.social
GraceCallahan @gratefulg.bsky.social · 3d
So beautiful! This is original art. Ai can't make this originally, it can only copy. Long live authenticity in the arts! No AI!
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩

Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me

#Archaeology
From the Aegean Bronze Age, Minoan clay vessels with black handpainted decoration.on a pale biscuity-coloured slip Top left - clay flask decorated in Minoan ‘Marine Style’’ with an octopus with tentacles writhing around the body of the vase. Additional motifs such as seaweed and rocks represent the seabed. From Palaikastro, 1500-1450 BC Top right - clay rhyton in the shape of a bull’s head. A rhyton is a type of pouring vessel used for filling cups or making liquid offerings. There is a pouring hole at the bull’s mouth. From Knossos Little Palace, 1450-1375 BC Bottom left - Nautilus vessel - clay rhyton depicting the seabed with nautili, corals and seaweed. From Phaistos Palace, 1500-1450 BC Bottom right - Basket shaped rhyton decorated with double-axe motif. There is a small pouring hole in one of the bottom corners. From Pseira, 1500-1450 BC
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩

Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me

#Archaeology
From the Aegean Bronze Age, Minoan clay vessels with black handpainted decoration.on a pale biscuity-coloured slip Top left - clay flask decorated in Minoan ‘Marine Style’’ with an octopus with tentacles writhing around the body of the vase. Additional motifs such as seaweed and rocks represent the seabed. From Palaikastro, 1500-1450 BC Top right - clay rhyton in the shape of a bull’s head. A rhyton is a type of pouring vessel used for filling cups or making liquid offerings. There is a pouring hole at the bull’s mouth. From Knossos Little Palace, 1450-1375 BC Bottom left - Nautilus vessel - clay rhyton depicting the seabed with nautili, corals and seaweed. From Phaistos Palace, 1500-1450 BC Bottom right - Basket shaped rhyton decorated with double-axe motif. There is a small pouring hole in one of the bottom corners. From Pseira, 1500-1450 BC
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
drjeball.bsky.social
Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 14d
A metal face mask from a #Roman cavalry helmet; the blank expression is quite off-putting even now, & must have been pretty intimidating in antiquity (whether or not they were ever worn in battle) 🏺 #AncientBlueSky
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
chapps.bsky.social
Chapps @chapps.bsky.social · 4d
I imagine this guy shouting at museum patrons with a squeaky little voice, ‘C’mon, you think you can take me? Look what I did with the last guy!’.

This green-glazed terracotta gladiator is ready to rumble, but only his competitor’s foot remains. 🏺 1/

Roman, 1st c. CE, #BritishMuseum
📸 me
Terracotta gladiator group, with an olive-green enamel glaze. Two gladiators once opposed each other on the long base, one now missing, save his left foot. The remaining gladiator stands with his right leg advanced, his scutum (shield) held before him in his right hand. He holds a sica (short curved sword) in his left hand and wears a crested visored helmet and extra long greaves which cover his entire legs.
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
chrisseddon.bsky.social
Chris Seddon @chrisseddon.bsky.social · 4d
There's something quite beautiful about Sir Mortimer Wheeler's box-system excavations at Maiden Castle. Such a fantastic photograph!

Image Rights: Society of Antiquaries (held at Historic England Archive)

#archaeology 🏺 #photography
An historic black & white image of the box excavations at Maiden Castle during Sir Mortimer Wheeler's excavations in 1937. Image Rights: Society of Antiquaries (held at Historic England Archive)
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 3d
Current mood....

An Egyptian shabti (a figurine who acted as servant for a deceased to perform the manual labour in the afterlife), on display at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology

🏺 AncientEgyptBluesky
A display of ancient Egyptian shabti figurines, small human-shaped burial statues made of different materials and colors, including brown, beige, and turquoise blue. The figures are arranged in rows, with carved facial features and crossed arms, some inscribed with hieroglyphs. In the center a whimsical shabti figurine, made of light brown material with black painted hieroglyphs on its body. The figure has a rounded head, large dark eyes, and an unevenly painted large mouth, giving it a quirky and slightly unusual appearance.
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alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 3d
Marvellous Minoan clay vessels made by creative potters on the island of Crete during the Aegean Bronze Age around 3,500 years ago! 🤩

Heraklion Archaeological Museum 📷 by me

#Archaeology
From the Aegean Bronze Age, Minoan clay vessels with black handpainted decoration.on a pale biscuity-coloured slip Top left - clay flask decorated in Minoan ‘Marine Style’’ with an octopus with tentacles writhing around the body of the vase. Additional motifs such as seaweed and rocks represent the seabed. From Palaikastro, 1500-1450 BC Top right - clay rhyton in the shape of a bull’s head. A rhyton is a type of pouring vessel used for filling cups or making liquid offerings. There is a pouring hole at the bull’s mouth. From Knossos Little Palace, 1450-1375 BC Bottom left - Nautilus vessel - clay rhyton depicting the seabed with nautili, corals and seaweed. From Phaistos Palace, 1500-1450 BC Bottom right - Basket shaped rhyton decorated with double-axe motif. There is a small pouring hole in one of the bottom corners. From Pseira, 1500-1450 BC
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 4d
Pot of gold!

Rare Roman gold coin hoard uncovered near Didcot, Oxfordshire, by a metal detectorist in 1995. The pot contained 126 gold aurei, struck between AD 54-160. It would have taken a legionary soldier over ten years to earn this large sum!

Ashmolean Museum 📷 by me

#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
My photo shows a pile of shiny Roman gold coins below five fragments from a grey pot
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social
Oscar Lozada @oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social · 4d
#FindsFriday This bronze helmet was found in a field near Falaise in northern France in the 1820s

It dates to the late Bronze Age, around 1100-900BC, and was part of a cache of 10 helmets!

What could have prompted someone to bury all these? 👀

#archaeology #ancientbluesky #museums
A dark greenish corroded metal helmet with a large point at the top sitting on a glass museum shelf
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
yorym-flo.bsky.social
Rebecca Griffiths @yorym-flo.bsky.social · 4d
This amazing object is a Bronze Age palstave axehead c.1500-1250 BC. The axe would be hafted to a forked wooden handle held in place by high flanges & deep stop ridge. It is decorated with a trident-like shield design. #FindsFriday finds.org.uk/database/art...
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
scoupland.bsky.social
Simon Coupland @scoupland.bsky.social · 4d
For #FindsFriday some of the lovely objects in the Ilanz hoard from Switzerland, buried during Charlemagne's reign, in the early 790s. Gold Lombard and Carolingian coins, silver Carolingian, Anglo-Saxon and Arabic coins, as well as gold jewellery. See more here: raetischesmuseum.app/extras/highl...
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
tonydivey.bsky.social
Tony Divey @tonydivey.bsky.social · 4d
Here are two Romano British triskele brooches from Verulamium (left) and Wroxeter (right) that I have recently been comparing for an EH article. The design was as old when they were made as the brooches are now. #FindsFriday
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Reposted by Alison Fisk
orkat3.bsky.social
Kath Page @orkat3.bsky.social · 4d
#FindsFriday This unique carving of a woman was discovered in 1880 in a peat bog in Ballachulish near Loch Leven, #Scotland in 1880. Carved from a single piece of alder, the Ballachulish women stands 1.5m tall, has quartz pebbles for eyes and dates to about 600AD. Her purpose is unknown. #IronAge
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