Dan Diffendale
@diffendale.bsky.social
archaeologist, at the moment studying volcanic tuff as a building material but interested in all old trash
ΟΣΟΝ ΖΗΣ ΦΑΙΝΟΥ
he/him
Pisa
🥖🌹
simultaneously more and less fun than profile suggests
ΟΣΟΝ ΖΗΣ ΦΑΙΝΟΥ
he/him
Pisa
🥖🌹
simultaneously more and less fun than profile suggests
Pinned
Dan Diffendale
@diffendale.bsky.social
· Nov 10
diffendale's collections on Flickr
The safest and most inclusive global community of photography enthusiasts. The best place for inspiration, connection, and sharing!
www.flickr.com
my collection of about 14,000 photos (and growing) of ancient Mediterranean (broadly construed) archaeological subjects with Creative Commons license available here:
www.flickr.com/photos/dandi...
www.flickr.com/photos/dandi...
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Honestly we are much more sheep than wolves - intensely political, terrified of anything new in the environment, and extremely hostile to outgroup sheep who arrive as newcomers and try to join the flock.
November 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Honestly we are much more sheep than wolves - intensely political, terrified of anything new in the environment, and extremely hostile to outgroup sheep who arrive as newcomers and try to join the flock.
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
People who say "we're wolves not sheep" have never seen two ewes trying to murder each other over relative status in the flock before they give birth, and then all their friends and family picking sides because being friends with the winner will raise THEIR status, until there is a massive brawl
Revenge/physical combat was how people settled things for literally millions of years, it's normal human behavior, we're wolves not sheep, the government project trying to social engineer us and domesticate us into sheep has been unsuccessful
November 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
People who say "we're wolves not sheep" have never seen two ewes trying to murder each other over relative status in the flock before they give birth, and then all their friends and family picking sides because being friends with the winner will raise THEIR status, until there is a massive brawl
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
A post that started out about orthography and monograms, and ended up being about obscure aspects of Roman religion. livyarrow.org/2025/11/18/b...
Broken Bar A (?)
The obverse monogram on RRC 298/1 is typically resolved as AP for Apollo, although Veovis is another proposed identification of the deity, and those prefer this ID sometimes question if this readin…
livyarrow.org
November 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
A post that started out about orthography and monograms, and ended up being about obscure aspects of Roman religion. livyarrow.org/2025/11/18/b...
tfw you flub coordinate systems, but the park border in central Anatolia might as well run through Piazza del Popolo
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
tfw you flub coordinate systems, but the park border in central Anatolia might as well run through Piazza del Popolo
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Several minute piece on the BBC.
Lots of detectorists.
No archaeologists.
No-one from PAS.
No-one from museums.
No discussion of the costs or responsibilities involved.
😡
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #BBC #News
Lots of detectorists.
No archaeologists.
No-one from PAS.
No-one from museums.
No discussion of the costs or responsibilities involved.
😡
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #BBC #News
November 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Several minute piece on the BBC.
Lots of detectorists.
No archaeologists.
No-one from PAS.
No-one from museums.
No discussion of the costs or responsibilities involved.
😡
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #BBC #News
Lots of detectorists.
No archaeologists.
No-one from PAS.
No-one from museums.
No discussion of the costs or responsibilities involved.
😡
#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #BBC #News
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Turns out I still have a picture of Igl se Wighættefagol for when I fostered him for the holidays and took him to see Pictish stones.
November 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Turns out I still have a picture of Igl se Wighættefagol for when I fostered him for the holidays and took him to see Pictish stones.
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
20 odd years later, I think about her* often
*The phrase "þæt wæs gōd cyning".
*The phrase "þæt wæs gōd cyning".
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 AM
20 odd years later, I think about her* often
*The phrase "þæt wæs gōd cyning".
*The phrase "þæt wæs gōd cyning".
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
and, not for nothing, there is a further acute moral injury in becoming so used to it all, and so used to it not mattering, that you begin to think of terrible crimes with real victims along the lines of "maybe this will be what hurts him politically"
November 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
and, not for nothing, there is a further acute moral injury in becoming so used to it all, and so used to it not mattering, that you begin to think of terrible crimes with real victims along the lines of "maybe this will be what hurts him politically"
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Delighted that from January 2026 all research articles published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org will be Open Access
view.updates.cambridge.org?qs=85c24bbd7...
view.updates.cambridge.org?qs=85c24bbd7...
Cambridge University Press
view.updates.cambridge.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Delighted that from January 2026 all research articles published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org will be Open Access
view.updates.cambridge.org?qs=85c24bbd7...
view.updates.cambridge.org?qs=85c24bbd7...
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
New book on Indo-European Afterlives (dowloadable as an Open Access PDF)! :
www.stockholmuniversitypress.se/books/e/10.1...
www.stockholmuniversitypress.se/books/e/10.1...
Indo-European Afterlives | Stockholm University Press
<p>This volume brings together scholars from archaeology, historical linguistics and comparative mythology to explore how early Indo-European communities imagined death and what lies beyond. From poet...
www.stockholmuniversitypress.se
November 12, 2025 at 10:14 PM
New book on Indo-European Afterlives (dowloadable as an Open Access PDF)! :
www.stockholmuniversitypress.se/books/e/10.1...
www.stockholmuniversitypress.se/books/e/10.1...
I'm generally pretty calm, and I try to give people benefit of the doubt, but the time I just spent trying to provide constructive feedback in a peer review before arriving at the references and realizing that many were simply invented out of thin air, surely from use of genAI, has me hopping mad
November 12, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I'm generally pretty calm, and I try to give people benefit of the doubt, but the time I just spent trying to provide constructive feedback in a peer review before arriving at the references and realizing that many were simply invented out of thin air, surely from use of genAI, has me hopping mad
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
My piece out now in the new PMLA: Marxism, Cultural Studies, and the Rise of Indigenous Studies
Marxism, Cultural Studies, and the Rise of Indigenous Studies | PMLA | Cambridge Core
Marxism, Cultural Studies, and the Rise of Indigenous Studies - Volume 140 Issue 3
www.cambridge.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:19 PM
My piece out now in the new PMLA: Marxism, Cultural Studies, and the Rise of Indigenous Studies
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
i have concluded that frecciarossa executive class is hilarious and we need it urgently on amtrak:
-huge evil villain chairs
-next seat is two counties over
-big stupid conference room you can book
-food is good enough
-chairs can swivel, recline, etc.
-bizarrely cheap
-huge evil villain chairs
-next seat is two counties over
-big stupid conference room you can book
-food is good enough
-chairs can swivel, recline, etc.
-bizarrely cheap
November 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
i have concluded that frecciarossa executive class is hilarious and we need it urgently on amtrak:
-huge evil villain chairs
-next seat is two counties over
-big stupid conference room you can book
-food is good enough
-chairs can swivel, recline, etc.
-bizarrely cheap
-huge evil villain chairs
-next seat is two counties over
-big stupid conference room you can book
-food is good enough
-chairs can swivel, recline, etc.
-bizarrely cheap
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
The boyfriend of a friend of my son's has spent several weeks in a psych ward due to Chat GPT induced psychosis. He isn't suicidal but AI encouraged him down a toxic and paranoid wormhole until he became completely delusional. Evil stuff.
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
One of the many (silly, nonsensical) arguments that anti-repatriation folks have is that if we return all of the stolen artefacts, our museums would be empty.
Meanwhile, artefacts dug up by metal detectors in this country are being sold off…wonder where their outrage is? 🤔
Meanwhile, artefacts dug up by metal detectors in this country are being sold off…wonder where their outrage is? 🤔
Today's news:
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What happens when museums can't afford to buy coins...
'Auctioneer, David Guest said the "stunning" coins were sold to "bidders from all over the world and exceeded my expectations".'
Bidders.
From.
All.
Over.
The.
World.
😡
#Archaeology 🏺 #Detecting
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New Forest hoard of 70 coins dug up in lockdown fetch over £380k
The 69 gold coins and one silver were found in a garden in Milford on Sea in April 2020.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 7:57 AM
One of the many (silly, nonsensical) arguments that anti-repatriation folks have is that if we return all of the stolen artefacts, our museums would be empty.
Meanwhile, artefacts dug up by metal detectors in this country are being sold off…wonder where their outrage is? 🤔
Meanwhile, artefacts dug up by metal detectors in this country are being sold off…wonder where their outrage is? 🤔
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
question, especially for USians, but all contributions welcome: if you have a university degree (or intend to pursue one), and have an interest in but don't work in archaeology or a related field, what sort of archaeology courses do you wish had been/would be offered where you went to school?
🏺
🏺
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
question, especially for USians, but all contributions welcome: if you have a university degree (or intend to pursue one), and have an interest in but don't work in archaeology or a related field, what sort of archaeology courses do you wish had been/would be offered where you went to school?
🏺
🏺
question, especially for USians, but all contributions welcome: if you have a university degree (or intend to pursue one), and have an interest in but don't work in archaeology or a related field, what sort of archaeology courses do you wish had been/would be offered where you went to school?
🏺
🏺
November 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM
question, especially for USians, but all contributions welcome: if you have a university degree (or intend to pursue one), and have an interest in but don't work in archaeology or a related field, what sort of archaeology courses do you wish had been/would be offered where you went to school?
🏺
🏺
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
lol no they absolutely will not, for so many reasons
I'd bet everything I own that in 20 years there will never be more than 1000 people in space at any one time. (It'll probably be well under 100.) Nobody will be living there with their kids.
Tech billionaires don't know a damn thing about tech.
I'd bet everything I own that in 20 years there will never be more than 1000 people in space at any one time. (It'll probably be well under 100.) Nobody will be living there with their kids.
Tech billionaires don't know a damn thing about tech.
Jeff Bezos Says He Doesn't Understand Why Anybody Alive Now Would Be 'Discouraged'—Because Soon, 'Millions Of People Will Be Living In Space'
Jeff Bezos says the future is so bright, he "doesn't see how anybody can be discouraged who is alive right now." Speaking at Italian Tech Week 2025 earlier this month with Ferrari and Stellantis chair...
tech.yahoo.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
lol no they absolutely will not, for so many reasons
I'd bet everything I own that in 20 years there will never be more than 1000 people in space at any one time. (It'll probably be well under 100.) Nobody will be living there with their kids.
Tech billionaires don't know a damn thing about tech.
I'd bet everything I own that in 20 years there will never be more than 1000 people in space at any one time. (It'll probably be well under 100.) Nobody will be living there with their kids.
Tech billionaires don't know a damn thing about tech.
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Kat Abu seemingly has broken the news of her own indictment by the DOJ for protesting near an ICE facility
I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.
October 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Kat Abu seemingly has broken the news of her own indictment by the DOJ for protesting near an ICE facility
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
New incredible detail here: ICE says a match in its facial recognition app Mobile Fortify is a "definitive" determination of a person's status, and that this overrides birth certificates. This is an app ICE is using in the field to scan people
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
www.404media.co/ice-and-cbp-...
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
Once again urging archaeologists to critically assess the AI push into archaeology. There is a huge swath of problematic ethical issues that come with the AI tech & tech lords & we don't have to make it easier for them to insert themselves in archaeology by welcoming them in. Don't be complicit.
🏺
🏺
October 29, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Once again urging archaeologists to critically assess the AI push into archaeology. There is a huge swath of problematic ethical issues that come with the AI tech & tech lords & we don't have to make it easier for them to insert themselves in archaeology by welcoming them in. Don't be complicit.
🏺
🏺
Reposted by Dan Diffendale
despite all the fear mongering about trans people and the attempts to abandon and actively harm us from both political parties in the US, transitioning is still the greatest decision i’ve ever made, only regret i have is not doing it younger, and that it has only made my life infinitely better
October 27, 2025 at 9:45 PM
despite all the fear mongering about trans people and the attempts to abandon and actively harm us from both political parties in the US, transitioning is still the greatest decision i’ve ever made, only regret i have is not doing it younger, and that it has only made my life infinitely better
professor/lecturer/whatever IN or AT the Faculty of Whatevertydo... ?
my (northeast US English) instinct is strongly for IN, but I have been tasked with proofing for UK English, and I can find examples of AT... opinions?
my (northeast US English) instinct is strongly for IN, but I have been tasked with proofing for UK English, and I can find examples of AT... opinions?
October 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
professor/lecturer/whatever IN or AT the Faculty of Whatevertydo... ?
my (northeast US English) instinct is strongly for IN, but I have been tasked with proofing for UK English, and I can find examples of AT... opinions?
my (northeast US English) instinct is strongly for IN, but I have been tasked with proofing for UK English, and I can find examples of AT... opinions?