Dr Alan Montgomery
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classicalalan.bsky.social
Dr Alan Montgomery
@classicalalan.bsky.social
7.1K followers 2.9K following 1.9K posts
Historian, artist, tour guide and FSAScot. A lover of legend and folklore.
Buy my art and my books here: https://linktr.ee/classicalalan
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classicalalan.bsky.social
Dr Alan Montgomery @classicalalan.bsky.social · Dec 11
There are loads of Roman forts in my books 'Walking the Antonine Wall' and 'The Road to Mons Graupius' - from Trimontium near Melrose in the south to Stracathro, the most northerly Roman fort in the world, and lots more in between! #RomanFortThursday
The front covers of the books Walking the Antonine Wall and The Road to Mons Graupius by Alan Montgomery.
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
victorianlondon.bsky.social
Mummy outrage leads to tickets-only for women at British Museum (1914)
February 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
classicalalan.bsky.social
I had a lovely (if rather damp) day out with the one and only @stonelands.bsky.social on Sunday, during which she introduced me to Coldrum Long Barrow in Kent. Its name is possibly derived from the old Cornish word 'Galdrum' which means 'place of enchantments'. #TombTuesday
A cluster of four huge stones sticking out of grassy ground. Beyond are trees and undulating fields.
February 3, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
kpw1453.bsky.social
The restored entrance to Wayland’s Smithy in Oxfordshire - a Neolithic chambered long barrow close to the Uffington White Horse. The barrow was built over an earlier burial structure which held the remains of at least 14 individuals. 📸 My own. #TombTuesday #WaylandsSmithy
February 3, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
stonelands.bsky.social
St Lythan's for #TombTuesday. There is something about this site, it always feels quite eerie. Maybe it's not called the Accursed Field for nothing!
February 3, 2026 at 8:26 AM
classicalalan.bsky.social
I had a lovely (if rather damp) day out with the one and only @stonelands.bsky.social on Sunday, during which she introduced me to Coldrum Long Barrow in Kent. Its name is possibly derived from the old Cornish word 'Galdrum' which means 'place of enchantments'. #TombTuesday
A cluster of four huge stones sticking out of grassy ground. Beyond are trees and undulating fields.
February 3, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
potsofhistory.bsky.social
⏳A gentle reminder that our special offer ends on 10 Feb.
The newest figure is inspired by a Late Bronze Age terracotta from Cyprus. Learn more about her mystery, and every order of a goddess figure currently includes a FREE Miniature Palaeolithic Figurine.
potted-history.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
classicalalan.bsky.social
This is my watercolour of Mên-an-Tol, a Neolithic or Bronze Age monument in Cornwall. Thought to be the remains of a stone circle or tomb, climbing through its circular stone is said to cure illness. The original work is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#StandingStoneSunday
A black and white painting of an ancient monument consisting of two standing stones and a circular stone in the centre.
February 1, 2026 at 9:32 AM
classicalalan.bsky.social
This is my watercolour of Mên-an-Tol, a Neolithic or Bronze Age monument in Cornwall. Thought to be the remains of a stone circle or tomb, climbing through its circular stone is said to cure illness. The original work is now available on my Etsy shop here: shorturl.at/HDzSI
#StandingStoneSunday
A black and white painting of an ancient monument consisting of two standing stones and a circular stone in the centre.
February 1, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
raypurvis.bsky.social
Milecastle 42 at Cawfields Quarry. #hadrianswall #followtheacorn #RomanSiteSaturday
Looking down on the remains of Milecastle 42 at Cawfields Quarry.
January 31, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
classicalalan.bsky.social
Hiding in plain sight - a tiny stretch of the Antonine Wall ditch at Bantaskin in Falkirk. The stone base of the Roman wall was excavated here in 1976, but then destroyed to make way for a new road. #RomanSiteSaturday
A short, shallow ditch in grass surrounded by trees, with a line of houses behind. A 1976 photo of excavations at Bantaskin which revealed the stone base of the Antonine Wall
January 31, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
trimontiumtrust.bsky.social
A clip of the Carrickstone #Roman Altar in Cumbernauld, #Scotland. This intriguing stone is around 2,000 years old & is a scheduled ancient monument. Legend states it was used as a rallying point for Robert the Bruce & where he planted his banner before the Battle of Bannockburn.
January 30, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
richardosgood.bsky.social
#findsfriday - the ‘Face of Agamemnon’. A gold funerary mask from Mycenae - probably 16th C BCE. Sadly not the face of the king though. One of those wow moments when you finally see the object that has become incredibly familiar to you from books & stories #archaeology #greekmyths #trojanwar #gold
A golden mask of a face of a man with a moustache
January 30, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
ruinsofdespair.bsky.social
The Count's out and about!

'Dracüla' by Fritz Schwimbeck 1917 #gothic #horror
Drawing by Fritz Schwimbeck 11–12 September 1917, pen and ink on paper. A black-and-white image of a human-looking figure crawling away from the viewer on the roof on an old castle. The figure's black cape is waving in the air, resembling the wings of a bat. Moonlight, and dark woods in the background.
January 31, 2026 at 7:22 AM
classicalalan.bsky.social
Hiding in plain sight - a tiny stretch of the Antonine Wall ditch at Bantaskin in Falkirk. The stone base of the Roman wall was excavated here in 1976, but then destroyed to make way for a new road. #RomanSiteSaturday
A short, shallow ditch in grass surrounded by trees, with a line of houses behind. A 1976 photo of excavations at Bantaskin which revealed the stone base of the Antonine Wall
January 31, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social
#FindsFriday A ball of flax fibre ready to be woven into a basket, still perfectly preserved after 3800 years!

From the Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, c.1800 BC

📍 Seen in the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge

📸 Mine

#archaeology #photooftheday 🏺
A rolled up ball of brown plant fibres, sitting on a red museum stand
January 30, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
classicalalan.bsky.social
Discovered during excavation of a midden in the High Street of Perth, Scotland - a completely intact one thousand-year-old egg! Dating to 1000-1100 CE, it was laid by either a duck or a chicken. Now on display @perthmuseum.bsky.social.
#FindsFriday
A duck or hen egg held in a wire display stand with the number 17 on the wall behing it.
January 30, 2026 at 8:16 AM
classicalalan.bsky.social
Discovered during excavation of a midden in the High Street of Perth, Scotland - a completely intact one thousand-year-old egg! Dating to 1000-1100 CE, it was laid by either a duck or a chicken. Now on display @perthmuseum.bsky.social.
#FindsFriday
A duck or hen egg held in a wire display stand with the number 17 on the wall behing it.
January 30, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
stoneclub.bsky.social
from A Voyage Round Great Britain, Rassella near Kilmartin Loch Crenan, Argyllshire
by William Daniell
Engraving of a very large standing stone
January 29, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
bwallower.bsky.social
#ReliefWednesday
#Roman tombstone of Flavinus found under Hexham Abbey
floor.
The high ranking Signifer from Gaulish cavalry regiment of Petriana carries standard w sun god + wears a #torque, possibly mark of status among his Celtic people, as he tramples a barbarian.
A tall tombstone carved in relief, with a cavalry officer on his rearing horse, with standard in hand. Beneath is the kneeling, crouching image of a bearded barbarian with a club. Inscription below the translates: To the Venerated Departed: Here Lies Flavinus A Horse Rider of the Cavalry Regiment of Petriana Standard Bearer of the Troop of Candidus Aged 25, of 7 Years’ Service
January 28, 2026 at 10:46 AM
classicalalan.bsky.social
Just thought of another one - this fragment of Roman tile from Trimontium in Scotland has been nibbled by a mouse (although maybe not this exact mouse).
A fragment of Roman tile showing evidence of being nibbled by a mouse. A taxidermy mouse is displayed next to it.
January 28, 2026 at 12:45 PM
classicalalan.bsky.social
How about a tiny wee Roman mouse from Rochester in Kent?
A tiny bronze sculpture of a mouse from the Guildhall Museum in Rochester.
January 28, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
muninnherself.bsky.social
#DailyMegalith #TombTuesday

Dolmen de Kerherne Bodunan, aka Roh-Coh-Couët or Allée couverte de Roh Koh Koed, nr #Saint-JeanBrevelay #Morbihan #Brittany #France (2022)

🏺#Neolithic

@megalithic.bsky.social
Ollie, a middle-aged, bearded white man in a straw hat, floral shirt and sunglasses, sitting on the capstone of a mossy dolmen in the woods. The angle makes him look quite small, but to be fair the stone is large and the orthostats are tall, so the capstone is a long way off the ground and his little legs are dangling. This is a passage grave, in a wooded clearing. The trees crowd around it but it's quite light, a sunny afternoon.
January 27, 2026 at 7:47 PM
classicalalan.bsky.social
I visit Southwark Cathedral regularly, but have never noticed this - I will search it out next time I am there!
bwallower.bsky.social Becky Wallower @bwallower.bsky.social · 7d
#TerracottaTuesday
A little patch of #Roman tesserae in S choir aisle
@southwarkcathedral.bsky.social, set in #TilesOnTuesday.
Origins probably consigned to history/mystery, but site is over remains of thriving settlement, just over bridge from Londinium, w Roman road now exposed N of church. 🏺
A rectangular patch of red Roman tesserae, set in more modern tiles. The later ceramic tile border has a pattern or circles with stylised crosses and quatrefoils in between. This is set into the stone floor of the Cathedral's south choir aisle.
January 27, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
classicalalan.bsky.social
This is the tombstone of Gauis Calpurnius Receptus, a priest in charge of the temple of Sulis Minerva in Bath. Erected by his wife, it looks like an altar and is the only example of a tomb monument from Roman Britain where the job of the deceased is reflected in its shape. #TombTuesday.
A tall rectangular stone altar with a damaged Latin inscription on the front.
January 27, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Dr Alan Montgomery
nicktankard.bsky.social
I left my old job a couple of years ago. I’m getting by (just) but crikey, having done my tax return & seen how little I’m earning it was a shocker, it’s getting more & more difficult to earn money from illustration.

I have been out of action too so…I’ll get cracking!

Buy my art (FEBRUARY) 🙏🏻
A black pen in a crosshatch technique and black block printing ink applied with a roller on white paper illustration. The dark silhouetted shape of a woman in a black funeral dress stands at the foot of a bed in an Edwardian style room, she stares at a tired looking man under a heavy quilt. Moonlight shines into the room from behind the woman. Creepy and atmospheric.
January 27, 2026 at 11:06 AM