Ian Randall
@epinicion.bsky.social
Archaeologist. Byzantinist. Dr. Also possibly spider from space. He/him.
Pinned
Ian Randall
@epinicion.bsky.social
· Nov 22
My soapbox take is that archaeologists and anthropologists should be helping to shape public policy and infrastructure development. The way we currently behave is like someone who spent their whole life studying cars and then said "Oh no, I have nothing to contribute to current car manufacturing."
Reposted by Ian Randall
German-speaking academia was at the absolute forefront in the early 20th century before the Nazis and never really recovered from the tremendous damage done then, and it's starting to feel like Anglophone research could be going the same way
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
German-speaking academia was at the absolute forefront in the early 20th century before the Nazis and never really recovered from the tremendous damage done then, and it's starting to feel like Anglophone research could be going the same way
Reposted by Ian Randall
"For the first time in history, representatives of the five ancient patriarchal sees—Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—will stand together at Nicaea to commemorate the council’s 1700th anniversary." orthodoxobserver.org/why-is-pope-...
Why is Pope Leo XIV's visit to Türkiye important for the Orthodox Church?
Pope Leo XIV is about to set foot on Turkish soil for his historic journey to İznik and Constantinople.
orthodoxobserver.org
November 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
"For the first time in history, representatives of the five ancient patriarchal sees—Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem—will stand together at Nicaea to commemorate the council’s 1700th anniversary." orthodoxobserver.org/why-is-pope-...
Reposted by Ian Randall
Storytelling, it’s what archaeology is for. Telling stories about people, different ways of being, strangeness, the diversity of the human condition - that how we organise our world, our societies, our relationships with people, places, animals, plants, things, & time have not always been like this
New landmark research out today: We've just launched Trowel and Error, the most in-depth look in 25 years at how audiences want to engage with archaeology. The findings are clear: people want human, accessible, story-led archaeology.
Read the report here 👉 www.archaeologyuk.org/our-work/tro...
Read the report here 👉 www.archaeologyuk.org/our-work/tro...
November 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Storytelling, it’s what archaeology is for. Telling stories about people, different ways of being, strangeness, the diversity of the human condition - that how we organise our world, our societies, our relationships with people, places, animals, plants, things, & time have not always been like this
Things I did not know were Tom Stoppard. :O
My faves:
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer” (not Plutarch; Die Hard)
“Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds of the sky” (not Charlemagne; Indiana Jones & the Holy Grail)
Ezekiel 25:17 doesn’t exist except in Pulp Fiction
“When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer” (not Plutarch; Die Hard)
“Let my armies be the rocks and the trees and the birds of the sky” (not Charlemagne; Indiana Jones & the Holy Grail)
Ezekiel 25:17 doesn’t exist except in Pulp Fiction
November 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Things I did not know were Tom Stoppard. :O
I also do this.
I get too much satisfaction using Amazon to find books, then ordering them from my local indie. I think I might be petty. 📚
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I also do this.
Post something random (I will not threaten you more than you already are)
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Post something random (I will not threaten you more than you already are)
Reposted by Ian Randall
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
November 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
Reposted by Ian Randall
this girl means the world to me
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
Donate to Get Boudica treatment for her epilepsy, organized by Daniel Kelly
Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this — I'll keep this short.
Boudic… Daniel Kelly needs your support for Get Boudica treatment for her epilepsy
gofund.me
November 24, 2025 at 9:40 PM
this girl means the world to me
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
— boudica (6) is my tuxedo forest cat
— epilepsy caused by stress from allergies
— fees are for tests & full treatment
— insurance won't cover, lost my job
pls share / donate if you can 🖤
Reposted by Ian Randall
LAIUS: Socrates, you cannot claim that the sides supersede the fowl! The sides’ name implies that they are not a real meal.
SOCRATES: I understand your reasoning, Laius. And I believe you are an educated man.
LAIUS: Thank you.
SOCRATES: However, an educated man can be wrong.
SOCRATES: I understand your reasoning, Laius. And I believe you are an educated man.
LAIUS: Thank you.
SOCRATES: However, an educated man can be wrong.
Turkey or Sides: A Socratic Dialogue
LAIUS: Pardon my delay, Socrates! And thank you for being such a gracious host on this feast of thanks! My chariot got delayed at Crete. I had to w...
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 9:15 PM
LAIUS: Socrates, you cannot claim that the sides supersede the fowl! The sides’ name implies that they are not a real meal.
SOCRATES: I understand your reasoning, Laius. And I believe you are an educated man.
LAIUS: Thank you.
SOCRATES: However, an educated man can be wrong.
SOCRATES: I understand your reasoning, Laius. And I believe you are an educated man.
LAIUS: Thank you.
SOCRATES: However, an educated man can be wrong.
Reposted by Ian Randall
I feel you, ancient Mongolian ceramic hedgehog. I feel you.
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I feel you, ancient Mongolian ceramic hedgehog. I feel you.
Reposted by Ian Randall
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Are you a PhD student & interested in using museum collections in your teaching or research?
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
We're running a *free* doctoral training programme for students at any institution to learn about working with collections.
Find out more:
collections.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/
Reposted by Ian Randall
When they say ‘higher education providers’ do they mean universities?
When they say ‘exiting the market’ do they mean closing?
When they say ‘exiting the market’ do they mean closing?
November 25, 2025 at 11:06 PM
When they say ‘higher education providers’ do they mean universities?
When they say ‘exiting the market’ do they mean closing?
When they say ‘exiting the market’ do they mean closing?
Reposted by Ian Randall
Excited to announce a brilliant new fellowship opportunity together with the Honor Frost Foundation. See below for more details & caari.org to find out about our other fellowships now open: honorfrostfoundation.org/2025/11/24/c...
CAARI-HFF Graduate Fellowship - Honor Frost Foundation
CAARI-HFF Graduate Fellowship The fellowship offers one grant of £2000 to a graduate student of any nationality, with a preference given to scholars from Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon, and Syria, enrolled in...
honorfrostfoundation.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Excited to announce a brilliant new fellowship opportunity together with the Honor Frost Foundation. See below for more details & caari.org to find out about our other fellowships now open: honorfrostfoundation.org/2025/11/24/c...
Reposted by Ian Randall
OUTLOOK: You replied to this message on 5/22/2025 11:44 AM.
ME: Oh that's really helpful actually. Can I see the reply?
OUTLOOK: What reply?
ME: The reply I sent to the message.
OUTLOOK: What message?
ME: Oh that's really helpful actually. Can I see the reply?
OUTLOOK: What reply?
ME: The reply I sent to the message.
OUTLOOK: What message?
October 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
OUTLOOK: You replied to this message on 5/22/2025 11:44 AM.
ME: Oh that's really helpful actually. Can I see the reply?
OUTLOOK: What reply?
ME: The reply I sent to the message.
OUTLOOK: What message?
ME: Oh that's really helpful actually. Can I see the reply?
OUTLOOK: What reply?
ME: The reply I sent to the message.
OUTLOOK: What message?
I don't know if anyone has been paying attention to COP30 but we're all fucking doomed.
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 AM
I don't know if anyone has been paying attention to COP30 but we're all fucking doomed.
It always breaks my heart a little when I teach a guest lecture and afterwards students beg me to teach a course on the subject. Yeah, yeah, I'd LOVE to, but do you know where they'll employ me to do that? Anywhere? :(
November 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
It always breaks my heart a little when I teach a guest lecture and afterwards students beg me to teach a course on the subject. Yeah, yeah, I'd LOVE to, but do you know where they'll employ me to do that? Anywhere? :(
Reposted by Ian Randall
I just did this and I feel like a hacker in an early 2000s movie
My new favorite kind of meme is "here are detailed instructions on how to turn off AI". 🔨
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I just did this and I feel like a hacker in an early 2000s movie
Reposted by Ian Randall
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
November 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"Greeks living in Afghanistan were Buddhist 500 years before China and a thousand years before Southeast Asia" is one of those things that sounds made up but is in fact true
Richest country in the world. Good thing everybody who gets cancer has Dawson's Creek merch.
James Van Der Beek is auctioning off ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ merchandise to pay for his cancer treatments.
James Van Der Beek Sells Dawson’s Creek Merch to Pay for Cancer Treatment
James Van Der Beek is auctioning off ‘Dawson’s Creek’ and ‘Varsity Blues’ merchandise to pay for his cancer treatments.
www.vulture.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Richest country in the world. Good thing everybody who gets cancer has Dawson's Creek merch.
This is how you do it.
I started out researching sources of tin in the ancient world. 16 hours later I had 34 tabs open, including suspension bridges, singing stones, African leopard societies, 5th century naval warfare, and 16th century women's underwear.
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
This is how you do it.
This really really explains a lot about our current media environment.
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 12, 2025 at 10:05 AM
This really really explains a lot about our current media environment.
Richest man in the world ladies and gentlemen.
Apparently the $470k I dropped on my education (before scholarships) was a total waste.
Apparently the $470k I dropped on my education (before scholarships) was a total waste.
*maximum alpha at 1.25x speed* continuously lives on in my head, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Richest man in the world ladies and gentlemen.
Apparently the $470k I dropped on my education (before scholarships) was a total waste.
Apparently the $470k I dropped on my education (before scholarships) was a total waste.
Getting a nice sandwich for myself at lunch because I predicted, almost to the day, when the Dems would cave.
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Getting a nice sandwich for myself at lunch because I predicted, almost to the day, when the Dems would cave.
Reposted by Ian Randall
This has been my question for Clintonian Liberalism since November 2016
November 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This has been my question for Clintonian Liberalism since November 2016