Andy Brockman
@andybrockman.bsky.social
Reporting from where politics and money meet archaeology and heritage at http://thepipeline.info/
YouTube: Watching Brief
Co-Author: The Buried Spitfires of Burma-A fake history
Tips/Gossip/Commissions: PipeLineNews@protonmail
Signal: AndyBrockman.25
YouTube: Watching Brief
Co-Author: The Buried Spitfires of Burma-A fake history
Tips/Gossip/Commissions: PipeLineNews@protonmail
Signal: AndyBrockman.25
You have read the predictions, seen the kites flown, and watched the reverse ferrets, but soon all will be revealed.
I will be live blogging #Budget2025, delving into the Treasury Red Book & monitoring reaction to assess how the announcements will impact Archaeology & Heritage world.
Can't wait...
I will be live blogging #Budget2025, delving into the Treasury Red Book & monitoring reaction to assess how the announcements will impact Archaeology & Heritage world.
Can't wait...
Budget Statement Wednesday 26 November
On Wednesday 26 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver the 2025 Budget Statement in the House of Commons.
share.google
November 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
You have read the predictions, seen the kites flown, and watched the reverse ferrets, but soon all will be revealed.
I will be live blogging #Budget2025, delving into the Treasury Red Book & monitoring reaction to assess how the announcements will impact Archaeology & Heritage world.
Can't wait...
I will be live blogging #Budget2025, delving into the Treasury Red Book & monitoring reaction to assess how the announcements will impact Archaeology & Heritage world.
Can't wait...
"Sebastia is an archaeological site in a Palestinian village that is part of their heritage and part of a future Palestinian state. According to the Oslo Accords, which Israel signed, it was supposed to pass some time ago to Palestinian administration,”
Statement: The Israeli Peace Now movement.
Statement: The Israeli Peace Now movement.
Israel begins seizing 1,800 dunams of West Bank land to develop archaeological site
Civil Administration says development legal, taking place amid 'neglect' of site by Palestinians; Peace Now: 'Government's lust for dispossession and annexation is insatiable'
www.timesofisrael.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
"Sebastia is an archaeological site in a Palestinian village that is part of their heritage and part of a future Palestinian state. According to the Oslo Accords, which Israel signed, it was supposed to pass some time ago to Palestinian administration,”
Statement: The Israeli Peace Now movement.
Statement: The Israeli Peace Now movement.
No San Jose style hype, but the Swash Channel wreck, excavated by Bournemouth University is,
"...the largest survival of the hull of any 17th-century ship in UK waters and one of the most complete 17th-century Dutch shipwrecks outside of the Baltic."
And now you can read the e-book for nothing...
"...the largest survival of the hull of any 17th-century ship in UK waters and one of the most complete 17th-century Dutch shipwrecks outside of the Baltic."
And now you can read the e-book for nothing...
In the Swash Channel, Dorset, UK lies a 17th century shipwreck. Likely salvaged after it sank, few material remains survive. The researchers' detective work and protection efforts are now published and the book features in our #NewBookChronicle 🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🏺 #Archaeology
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
No San Jose style hype, but the Swash Channel wreck, excavated by Bournemouth University is,
"...the largest survival of the hull of any 17th-century ship in UK waters and one of the most complete 17th-century Dutch shipwrecks outside of the Baltic."
And now you can read the e-book for nothing...
"...the largest survival of the hull of any 17th-century ship in UK waters and one of the most complete 17th-century Dutch shipwrecks outside of the Baltic."
And now you can read the e-book for nothing...
GB News would show it,
Sky would hire to Sir David Attenborough to anchor an election night special
And the BBC would fire the chimps for alleged bias.
Sky would hire to Sir David Attenborough to anchor an election night special
And the BBC would fire the chimps for alleged bias.
We are moving inexorably to the end point of electoral chaos - five parties all tied on 19% in the polls, election to be decided by blindfolded chimps chucking coloured darts at a constituency map
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 25% (-2)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (+1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 15% (+2)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 23-24 Nov.
Changes w/ 16-17 Nov.
RFM: 25% (-2)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (+1)
GRN: 16% (-1)
LDM: 15% (+2)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @yougov.co.uk, 23-24 Nov.
Changes w/ 16-17 Nov.
November 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
GB News would show it,
Sky would hire to Sir David Attenborough to anchor an election night special
And the BBC would fire the chimps for alleged bias.
Sky would hire to Sir David Attenborough to anchor an election night special
And the BBC would fire the chimps for alleged bias.
Clucking hell...
Are Domino's taking the pizza here?
Are Domino's taking the pizza here?
November 25, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Clucking hell...
Are Domino's taking the pizza here?
Are Domino's taking the pizza here?
The #StreisandEffect
Rutger Bregman's judgement regarding Donald Trump and its association with the BBC, is now fixed and going viral and by tomorrow it will be a major news story and the subject of OpEds and phone ins.
Rutger Bregman's judgement regarding Donald Trump and its association with the BBC, is now fixed and going viral and by tomorrow it will be a major news story and the subject of OpEds and phone ins.
What it looks like in the transcript versus what I actually said.
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The #StreisandEffect
Rutger Bregman's judgement regarding Donald Trump and its association with the BBC, is now fixed and going viral and by tomorrow it will be a major news story and the subject of OpEds and phone ins.
Rutger Bregman's judgement regarding Donald Trump and its association with the BBC, is now fixed and going viral and by tomorrow it will be a major news story and the subject of OpEds and phone ins.
A legal change means, from 27 November, some museum charities can respond to restitution claims upto the value of £20k "ex gratia" without seeking permission from the Charity Commission.
This includes claims from overseas.
16 major museums & galleries, including the British Museum, are excluded.
This includes claims from overseas.
16 major museums & galleries, including the British Museum, are excluded.
Law change enabling restitution on moral grounds comes into force this month - Museums Association
But national museums will be excluded from new rules that simplify ‘ex-gratia’ payments
www.museumsassociation.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:41 PM
A legal change means, from 27 November, some museum charities can respond to restitution claims upto the value of £20k "ex gratia" without seeking permission from the Charity Commission.
This includes claims from overseas.
16 major museums & galleries, including the British Museum, are excluded.
This includes claims from overseas.
16 major museums & galleries, including the British Museum, are excluded.
#DarkHeritage News
Community focussed practice Freehaus will lead the project to design a memorial to the 72 people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire and the communities effected.
The proposed design is expected to be presented in 2027, the 10th anniversary of the notoriously avoidable disaster.
Community focussed practice Freehaus will lead the project to design a memorial to the 72 people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire and the communities effected.
The proposed design is expected to be presented in 2027, the 10th anniversary of the notoriously avoidable disaster.
Architect chosen for Grenfell Tower memorial
A team led by up-and-coming practice Freehaus has been selected to co-develop the proposed Grenfell Tower memorial, working with the bereaved and survivor families of the 2017 tragedy
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
#DarkHeritage News
Community focussed practice Freehaus will lead the project to design a memorial to the 72 people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire and the communities effected.
The proposed design is expected to be presented in 2027, the 10th anniversary of the notoriously avoidable disaster.
Community focussed practice Freehaus will lead the project to design a memorial to the 72 people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire and the communities effected.
The proposed design is expected to be presented in 2027, the 10th anniversary of the notoriously avoidable disaster.
Two years since the cyber attack which crippled British Library services and the long convalescence continues with a (work in progress?) restoration of some key catalogue functions.
Many underlying issues around the attack itself & future resilience remain little discussed.
Many underlying issues around the attack itself & future resilience remain little discussed.
Restoring our services – November 2025 update
In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.
www.bl.uk
November 24, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Two years since the cyber attack which crippled British Library services and the long convalescence continues with a (work in progress?) restoration of some key catalogue functions.
Many underlying issues around the attack itself & future resilience remain little discussed.
Many underlying issues around the attack itself & future resilience remain little discussed.
"A senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed at Europe’s plan to end the war in Ukraine and said the Kremlin preferred U.S. President Donald Trump’s original proposal."
Of course the Russians prefer the Trump proposal for Ukraine. Reports are they wrote it...
Of course the Russians prefer the Trump proposal for Ukraine. Reports are they wrote it...
Russia trashes Europe’s peace plan — but likes Trump’s Ukraine proposal
Top Kremlin aide scoffs that the European counterproposal “constructively doesn’t fit us at all.”
www.politico.eu
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
"A senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed at Europe’s plan to end the war in Ukraine and said the Kremlin preferred U.S. President Donald Trump’s original proposal."
Of course the Russians prefer the Trump proposal for Ukraine. Reports are they wrote it...
Of course the Russians prefer the Trump proposal for Ukraine. Reports are they wrote it...
"The favorable accounting outcome hinges on some convenient assumptions. Some appear implausible, while others are in tension with one another, making the off-balance-sheet treatment look questionable."
Jonathan Weil (first to query Enron's accounting methods) on how Meta guards its credit rating.
Jonathan Weil (first to query Enron's accounting methods) on how Meta guards its credit rating.
AI Meets Aggressive Accounting at Meta’s Gigantic New Data Center
Favorable treatment off the balance sheet hinges on some convenient assumptions.
www.wsj.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"The favorable accounting outcome hinges on some convenient assumptions. Some appear implausible, while others are in tension with one another, making the off-balance-sheet treatment look questionable."
Jonathan Weil (first to query Enron's accounting methods) on how Meta guards its credit rating.
Jonathan Weil (first to query Enron's accounting methods) on how Meta guards its credit rating.
As part of a £10m project Studio Weave have submitted a plan to develop the north and south entrances to the British Museum with the aim of improving the public realm and reducing street queues.
Studio Weave submits plans for new British Museum entrances
Project aiming to reduce lengthy queues on streets surrounding the museum's Bloomsbury building
www.bdonline.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
As part of a £10m project Studio Weave have submitted a plan to develop the north and south entrances to the British Museum with the aim of improving the public realm and reducing street queues.
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
From a social media forum near you.
Complaints after metal detecting rally company makes reporting finds to the PAS a condition of attending...
Sorry my bad, makes reporting finds worth over £250 a condition of attending so the organiser and landowner can get a cut.
From a social media forum near you.
Complaints after metal detecting rally company makes reporting finds to the PAS a condition of attending...
Sorry my bad, makes reporting finds worth over £250 a condition of attending so the organiser and landowner can get a cut.
November 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
From a social media forum near you.
Complaints after metal detecting rally company makes reporting finds to the PAS a condition of attending...
Sorry my bad, makes reporting finds worth over £250 a condition of attending so the organiser and landowner can get a cut.
From a social media forum near you.
Complaints after metal detecting rally company makes reporting finds to the PAS a condition of attending...
Sorry my bad, makes reporting finds worth over £250 a condition of attending so the organiser and landowner can get a cut.
#Breaking: Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army and the Chair of the Norfolk based HMS Gloucester 1682 Trust, is one of two peers suspended from the House of Lords for breaches of lobbying rules.
Two peers suspended from House of Lords for breaking lobbying rules
Lord Evans of Watford and Lord Dannatt were filmed breaking rules in undercover footage recorded by Guardian
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
#Breaking: Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army and the Chair of the Norfolk based HMS Gloucester 1682 Trust, is one of two peers suspended from the House of Lords for breaches of lobbying rules.
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
A reminder the "the holy grail of shipwrecks" is a media invention because commercial salvagers punted the story the contents of the San José are worth a f*ckton of cash and the media (& would be investors) always go for treasure over archaeology.
See PAS stories passim
A reminder the "the holy grail of shipwrecks" is a media invention because commercial salvagers punted the story the contents of the San José are worth a f*ckton of cash and the media (& would be investors) always go for treasure over archaeology.
See PAS stories passim
First treasures from 'holy grail of shipwrecks' recovered
The site of the wreck is a Colombian state secret and ownership of the treasure is hotly contested.
news.sky.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
A reminder the "the holy grail of shipwrecks" is a media invention because commercial salvagers punted the story the contents of the San José are worth a f*ckton of cash and the media (& would be investors) always go for treasure over archaeology.
See PAS stories passim
A reminder the "the holy grail of shipwrecks" is a media invention because commercial salvagers punted the story the contents of the San José are worth a f*ckton of cash and the media (& would be investors) always go for treasure over archaeology.
See PAS stories passim
Historic England has a problem listing modern buildings (and that problem is not wanting to risk butting heads with developers and the Government). Discuss
Culturally important and architecturally striking, the Point at Milton Keynes falls victim to pernicious certificate of immunity from listing.
Culturally important and architecturally striking, the Point at Milton Keynes falls victim to pernicious certificate of immunity from listing.
How Milton Keynes saved cinema in the UK - BBC News
Tickets for 95p, salted popcorn and cup holders - in 1985, new tricks were used to get people back to the big screen.
share.google
November 24, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Historic England has a problem listing modern buildings (and that problem is not wanting to risk butting heads with developers and the Government). Discuss
Culturally important and architecturally striking, the Point at Milton Keynes falls victim to pernicious certificate of immunity from listing.
Culturally important and architecturally striking, the Point at Milton Keynes falls victim to pernicious certificate of immunity from listing.
The new #WatchBrief is out with planning news and allegations about the Gov of Israel's use of archaeology in the occupied West Bank.
Leading, archaeology comm's with Wessex responding in an exemplary, professional way to questions, but we ask where can archaeworld hold full & frank discussions?
Leading, archaeology comm's with Wessex responding in an exemplary, professional way to questions, but we ask where can archaeworld hold full & frank discussions?
Wessex Archaeology: Good News - A Case Study in Professional Accountability
YouTube video by The Watching Brief
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The new #WatchBrief is out with planning news and allegations about the Gov of Israel's use of archaeology in the occupied West Bank.
Leading, archaeology comm's with Wessex responding in an exemplary, professional way to questions, but we ask where can archaeworld hold full & frank discussions?
Leading, archaeology comm's with Wessex responding in an exemplary, professional way to questions, but we ask where can archaeworld hold full & frank discussions?
“...we’re going to catch less bad stuff”
Says Trump friendly, broligarch Mark Zuckerberg as he announces Meta is to reduce content moderation, move moderation teams to Texas (the jokes write themselves) & carry more "political content".
By coincidence the incoming #WatchingBrief features Facebook.
Says Trump friendly, broligarch Mark Zuckerberg as he announces Meta is to reduce content moderation, move moderation teams to Texas (the jokes write themselves) & carry more "political content".
By coincidence the incoming #WatchingBrief features Facebook.
Meta to get rid of factcheckers and recommend more political content
Mark Zuckerberg says company will ‘dramatically reduce censorship’ across Facebook, Instagram and Threads
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
“...we’re going to catch less bad stuff”
Says Trump friendly, broligarch Mark Zuckerberg as he announces Meta is to reduce content moderation, move moderation teams to Texas (the jokes write themselves) & carry more "political content".
By coincidence the incoming #WatchingBrief features Facebook.
Says Trump friendly, broligarch Mark Zuckerberg as he announces Meta is to reduce content moderation, move moderation teams to Texas (the jokes write themselves) & carry more "political content".
By coincidence the incoming #WatchingBrief features Facebook.
If #HeritageWorld (including archaeology) could get its act together there would be a concerted public campaign to end the blatent cultural and environmental injustice and outrage that planet friendly lower carbon repair, restoration & #RetrofitFirst attracts VAT where demolish and newbuild doesn't.
In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
If #HeritageWorld (including archaeology) could get its act together there would be a concerted public campaign to end the blatent cultural and environmental injustice and outrage that planet friendly lower carbon repair, restoration & #RetrofitFirst attracts VAT where demolish and newbuild doesn't.
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
"(Auctioneer) Noonans' head of coin department, Bradley Hopper, said the find was "important nationally."
But not so important it wasn't broken up into 57 lots which were the flogged to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile the PAS is underfunded and local museums lose out.
"(Auctioneer) Noonans' head of coin department, Bradley Hopper, said the find was "important nationally."
But not so important it wasn't broken up into 57 lots which were the flogged to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile the PAS is underfunded and local museums lose out.
Roman coin find in Dorset field sells for over £16,000
A hoard of 97 Roman coins found in Dorset by metal detectorist Trenton Oliver sold for £16,625 at Noonans Mayfair auction, exceeding estimates.
www.dorsetecho.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
#ItsAllAboutTheHistory News
"(Auctioneer) Noonans' head of coin department, Bradley Hopper, said the find was "important nationally."
But not so important it wasn't broken up into 57 lots which were the flogged to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile the PAS is underfunded and local museums lose out.
"(Auctioneer) Noonans' head of coin department, Bradley Hopper, said the find was "important nationally."
But not so important it wasn't broken up into 57 lots which were the flogged to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile the PAS is underfunded and local museums lose out.
A Metaphor Too Far? News
Maurizio Cattelan's creation, golden toilet, “America” (2016), fetches $12.1 million (inc fees) at Sotheby’s.
Astonishingly, the New York Times reports the only bidder was a Florida based entertainment company and not the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Maurizio Cattelan's creation, golden toilet, “America” (2016), fetches $12.1 million (inc fees) at Sotheby’s.
Astonishingly, the New York Times reports the only bidder was a Florida based entertainment company and not the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Maurizio Cattelan’s Golden Toilet Fails to Make a Splash
The work sold for $12.1 million after an awkward minute during which the auctioneer attempted to draw out more bids.
hyperallergic.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
A Metaphor Too Far? News
Maurizio Cattelan's creation, golden toilet, “America” (2016), fetches $12.1 million (inc fees) at Sotheby’s.
Astonishingly, the New York Times reports the only bidder was a Florida based entertainment company and not the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Maurizio Cattelan's creation, golden toilet, “America” (2016), fetches $12.1 million (inc fees) at Sotheby’s.
Astonishingly, the New York Times reports the only bidder was a Florida based entertainment company and not the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
#DevelopmentArchaeologyWorking News
Following extensive geophysical and other landscape surveys ahead of a railway development, the Money Hill Barrow Cemetery in Cambridgeshire has received legal protection as East West Rail swops cutting plan to protect the site by creating a mined tunnel instead.
Following extensive geophysical and other landscape surveys ahead of a railway development, the Money Hill Barrow Cemetery in Cambridgeshire has received legal protection as East West Rail swops cutting plan to protect the site by creating a mined tunnel instead.
Ancient burial site by EWR at Haslingfield gets protected status
East West Rail has altered its plans to protect the integrity of the 4,000-year-old barrow site.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 1:20 PM
#DevelopmentArchaeologyWorking News
Following extensive geophysical and other landscape surveys ahead of a railway development, the Money Hill Barrow Cemetery in Cambridgeshire has received legal protection as East West Rail swops cutting plan to protect the site by creating a mined tunnel instead.
Following extensive geophysical and other landscape surveys ahead of a railway development, the Money Hill Barrow Cemetery in Cambridgeshire has received legal protection as East West Rail swops cutting plan to protect the site by creating a mined tunnel instead.
With a bit of imagination Greenwich Council could have worked with the developer to enhance local character and celebrate local history, by including a refurbished Victorian pub, the Bull, into a flagship development...
But hey, lets demolish it and (checks notes) build 21 story towers!
But hey, lets demolish it and (checks notes) build 21 story towers!
More homes behind Woolwich Waves leisure centre approved - The Greenwich Wire
Plans for a bigger housing development behind the new Woolwich Waves leisure centre have been approved by Greenwich councillors - amid worries about the future of the Sikh temple behind the site.
greenwichwire.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
With a bit of imagination Greenwich Council could have worked with the developer to enhance local character and celebrate local history, by including a refurbished Victorian pub, the Bull, into a flagship development...
But hey, lets demolish it and (checks notes) build 21 story towers!
But hey, lets demolish it and (checks notes) build 21 story towers!
Reports Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told a panel discussion that Greece has not made as much progress in talks to reunite the #ParthenonMarbles as he would like & the British want the Greeks to disclaim ownership, but forthcoming renovations at the British Museum could represent an opportunity.
PM Mitsotakis Declares Deadlock in Talks Over Parthenon Marbles - GreekReporter.com
Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece is no closer to getting back the stolen Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum despite talks
greekreporter.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reports Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told a panel discussion that Greece has not made as much progress in talks to reunite the #ParthenonMarbles as he would like & the British want the Greeks to disclaim ownership, but forthcoming renovations at the British Museum could represent an opportunity.
While the #EAA wrestles with how to deal with its relationship with official Israeli bodies, there are fresh allegations that the Government of Israel is seeking to take control of part of the northern area of the illegally occupied West Bank, citing protecting archaeological sites as justification.
Israel plans to take 4,600 dunams in northern West Bank, citing archaeology protection
A Palestinian official said on Tuesday that Israel plans to take 4,600 dunams of land belonging to the towns of Sebastia and Burqa in Nablus governorate in the northern West Bank, claiming it is to…
www.middleeastmonitor.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:49 PM
While the #EAA wrestles with how to deal with its relationship with official Israeli bodies, there are fresh allegations that the Government of Israel is seeking to take control of part of the northern area of the illegally occupied West Bank, citing protecting archaeological sites as justification.