Vanessa Oakden
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voakden.bsky.social
Vanessa Oakden
@voakden.bsky.social
150 followers 160 following 51 posts
Community archaeologist & Museum Curator.
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voakden.bsky.social
54 years and a day apart this week two Early Medieval hoards were discovered in Cheshire.

The Castle Esplanade hoard of Viking silver & Anglo-Saxon pennies, AD900-950 found #OTD in 1950 & the lovely Huxley Hoard of Viking arm rings, an ingot & lead fragments found in 2004, AD850-950
📸 me & NML
Pieces of Viking silver, coins and hack silver laid out on steppers mounts with a black base and a white top. The pot sits in the centre of the image on a higher mount. Folder silver Viking arm rings, with a variety of stamped decoration lying in a pile on a white background.
November 29, 2025 at 10:26 AM
voakden.bsky.social
Finally had my summer holiday! Enjoying the last of the sun before flying back ✈️
Woman standing on a rock looking out to sea, blue sky and sun above. A large rock in the foreground, volcanic beach and sea in the background. Bright pink flowers with small white flowers emerging from them, green leaves in the background. A cactus with long yellow spikes and bulbous purple buds with the sea behind.
November 17, 2025 at 12:22 PM
voakden.bsky.social
Today & tomorrow living history reenactors from Wirhalh Skip Felagr will be bringing the Viking Age back to life at Museum of Liverpool👇

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
Viking takeover day
Join us in the Museum of Liverpool's atrium as atop our iconic Calderstones Spiral we are joined by living history reenactors from Wirhalh Skip Felagr, who will be bringing the Viking Age back to life...
www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
November 1, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
nantwichmuseum.bsky.social
We’re proud of our Treasures collection. Some are currently on loan to the Museum of Liverpool's “Treasure: history unearthed” exhibition, bringing together artefacts at the British Museum and museums from Wales and the northwest of England. For more info go to www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
henebtwa.bsky.social
Want the latest digs, discoveries, and heritage projects across Wales delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to Heneb’s newsletter via Subscribe to the Newsletter and be the first to hear about our work! heneb.org.uk/newsletter/
October 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
voakden.bsky.social
A great morning of wet sieving & owl pellet excavation at Mesolithic Lunt Meadows with our future prehistorians & zooarchaeologists from the Mersey & Dee YAC!
October 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
voakden.bsky.social
Reflecting on the docks after a Merseyside Archaeological Society lecture about their construction this evening!
October 16, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
irishinstitute.bsky.social
⚠️1 week warning⚠️
Want to pick up Cúpla Focal or learn more about the history of the Irish Language?
Join our Taster/History Session as part of #LIF2025
All welcome - no Irish required!
‪
🗓️6pm, 22 October 2025
🧭Rendall Building @liverpooluni.bsky.social
🎟️FREE: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1753116200...
LIF 2025: Irish language taster session
Free Irish language taster session as part of the Liverpool Irish Festival 2025.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 12:53 PM
voakden.bsky.social
My favourite type of monument!
October 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
voakden.bsky.social
#OTD 192 years ago the Mold cape was discovered. It is fantastic to be caring for the cape at the Museum of Liverpool until March in thanks to the British Museum.

Archaeology is about people and connections, hear how the cape connects Alistair to the past👇

www.facebook.com/share/r/1BbS...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
October 11, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
chesterarchsoc.bsky.social
DYK: We offer a grant of £1000 every two years for the study of finds reported to findsorguk.bsky.social from #Cheshire, the results to be published in our journal. You can find out mor here: chesterarchaeolsoc.org.uk/grants-and-a....
Grants & Awards – Chester Archaeological Society
chesterarchaeolsoc.org.uk
October 8, 2025 at 8:36 PM
voakden.bsky.social
Lovely to watch the Galeón Andalucía sail into Liverpool today just outside the office!
The ship Galeón Andalucía sailing on a calm River Mersey. Blue sky and clouds above. The rigging of the Galeón Andalucía seen from below. Blue sky and fluffy clouds above.
September 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
voakden.bsky.social
My current favourite part of the day is saying good morning to the objects I’ve read about since I was a student, and those I’ve excavated & written about over the years, in our new exhibition at Museum of Liverpool, Treasure: History Unearthed!

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
The gold Mold cape with an interpretation panel visible in the background. Viking silver arm rings and coins on a white surface within a display case. Some objects are elevated on stick mounts and the case has a black background. Three Roman silver gilded brooches displayed vertically on a white mount. Silver coins and two rings in the foreground.
September 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
tessmachling.bsky.social
The ever incredible Mold Cape is also there.

Made from piece of gold alloy c.30mm x 30mm x 30mm, it never ceases to impress.

It's been beautifully displayed by folks at #Liverpool Museum, who've got it on loan from British Museum.

#Archaeology 🏺

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
The Mold Cape, impressive in its Bronze Age craft.
September 12, 2025 at 7:19 AM
voakden.bsky.social
Treasure: History Unearthed at Museum of Liverpool is now open!

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
September 13, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
tessmachling.bsky.social
Besides the lovely things, there's an important story about treasure legislation at the #Liverpool Museum exhibition. You can even do a quiz to rest your knowledge of Treasure law...

... 5/5 💪

Book your tickets here: www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...

#Archaeology 🏺
Treasure History Unearthed What is Treasure? Everyone has their own idea of what treasure is, whether that's a chest of gold or a personal item that's treasured. Do we think of treasure in the same way today as people thought of treasure in the past? Throughout history people have identified objects as special or valuable for many different reasons. These cherished objects may become lost or are buried with purpose. Many are rediscovered as archaeology, the study of people in the past. These exciting discoveries connect us to people who have lived before us, and we can begin to understand how they viewed the world and themselves. Each of these objects has a fascinating story to tell. Who made them? Who wore them? Who buried them? Here we begin to unravel their secrets. Once rediscovered, their story continues. Discover how they were unearthed and what happened next. Beth yw Trysor? Mae gan bawb ei syniad ei hun am beth yw trysor, boed yn gist yn llawn aur neu'n eitem bersonol sy'n cael ei thrysori. Ydyn ni'n meddwl am drysor heddiw yn yr un modd ag roedd pobl yn meddwl am drysor yn y gorffennol? Trwy gydol hanes mae pobl wedi penderfynu bod rhai pethau'n arbennig neu'n werthfawr am wahanol resymau. Gall y trysorau hyn fynd ar goll neu gael eu claddu'n bwrpasol. Archaeoleg, astudio pobl y gorffennol, sy'n gyfrifol am ailddarganfod llawer ohonyn nhw. Mae'r darganfyddiadau cyffrous hyn yn ein cysylltu ni â phobl fu'n byw o'n blaenau, a gallwn ddechrau deall sut roedden nhw'n gweld y byd a'u hunain. Mae gan bob un o'r eltemau hyn stori ddifyr i'w hadrodd. Pwy wnaeth nhw? Pwy oedd yn eu gwisgo? Pwy wnaeth eu claddu? Yma rydyn ni'n dechrau datgelu eu cyfrinachau. Ar ôl eu hailddarganfod, mae eu stori'n parhau. Dyma sut y cawson nhw eu datguddio a beth ddigwyddodd nesaf. The game - Treasure or not treasure A viking gold ring found in the 1970s. Is it treasure? I got a perfect 5/5 score. Phew!
September 12, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
prehistoricsociety.bsky.social
From the Museum of Liverpool:

'Treasure: History Unearthed' will feature largest collection of archaeological treasure ever shown in the region, with finds from the North West & Wales, celebrating archaeology & the work of Portable Antiquities Scheme.

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
Treasure History Unearthed Open from 13 September 2025 Museum of Liverpool Pier Head Liverpool L3 1DG Book tickets now
August 22, 2025 at 1:12 PM
voakden.bsky.social
Busy afternoon preparing the Cuerdale Hoard for display with conservation colleagues!

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/muse...
A rectangular silver ingot held in a purple gloved hand with a dish of solution in the background.
August 26, 2025 at 6:24 PM
voakden.bsky.social
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
'Rare opportunity' to see Liverpool treasure 'found by chance'
So much history has been uncovered and preserved
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
voakden.bsky.social
Lovely to head back to Mold for a day of community engagement! Looking forward to more craft and a another talk tomorrow www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/treasuring-o...
A peg doll held in fingers in the foreground against a leaflet which reads Treasure: History Unearthed with a replica of the Mold cape in a display case in the background.
August 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
nattrustarch.bsky.social
As part of our theme #OutintheField, we’re sharing recent discoveries made by National Trust archaeologists and partners alongside current fieldwork.

Did you know that the Sefton Coast at Formby in Lancashire contains tantalising glimpses into the lives of our hunter-gather ancestors? 🧵
A row of preserved human footprints in a sandy, muddy beach, with red flags marking their locations
August 7, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
aidanosullivan.bsky.social
Very exciting opportunity, Assistant Keeper, in Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland

www.museum.ie/en-ie/about/...
Vacancies | National Museum of Ireland
Welcome to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin & Castlebar covering Archaeology, Decorative Arts, Folk & Country Life, & Natural History.FREE Exhibitions
www.museum.ie
August 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Reposted by Vanessa Oakden
tessmachling.bsky.social
Today in the #FestivalOfArchaeology it's time for #ADayInArchaeology...

... and here's mine! ❤️

(... and if you want to write your day in archaeology, there's plenty of time!)

#Archaeology 🏺

www.archaeologyuk.org/resource/i-m...
I’m an Iron Age torc specialist, so how on earth did I end up looking at Viking gold rings?
www.archaeologyuk.org
July 31, 2025 at 7:13 AM
voakden.bsky.social
Double archaeology & two of my favourites, dolmens & Viking sculpture!

Stopped off at lovely Plas Newydd and picked up a bargain at the second hand bookshop 😊 📕 🪨

#Prehistory #Vikings #YnysMôn
Red book with gold lettering reading Richard N. Bailey Viking Age Sculpture being held in front of a Neolithic dolmen which sits on grass in front of a large house.
July 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM