Tom Booth
@boothicus.bsky.social
Bioarchaeologist. Amateur Scarecrow.
Ancient DNA Lab @ The Francis Crick Institute
Associate Lecturer in Quantitative Archaeology and Later European Prehistory @ UCL Institute of Archaeology
Ancient DNA Lab @ The Francis Crick Institute
Associate Lecturer in Quantitative Archaeology and Later European Prehistory @ UCL Institute of Archaeology
Pinned
Tom Booth
@boothicus.bsky.social
· Sep 11
What Can Archaeology Tell Us About Prehistoric Migration in Scotland? - Dig It!
Migration has been a hot topic in archaeology since its beginnings. Antiquarians and archaeologists of the 19th and 20th centuries often interpreted changes in the archaeological record as representin...
www.digitscotland.com
I wrote something swift with Dig It! about ancient DNA, migration and genetic change in prehistoric Britain, and specifically how to interpret ‘population replacement.’ Hint: it is not synonymous with ‘invasion’.
www.digitscotland.com/what-can-arc...
www.digitscotland.com/what-can-arc...
Just about to leave Ireland and my first site of the sun since my be been here! Those megalith building sub-worshippers were crazy…
November 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Just about to leave Ireland and my first site of the sun since my be been here! Those megalith building sub-worshippers were crazy…
Reposted by Tom Booth
Putting aside the deeper issues of why this analysis was done and how it has been promoted, the choice to broadcast a tv show before releasing a preprint should make people skeptical of the results. How can one be sure of their scientific claims?
As I told the CNN, without details and data it is not possible to assess the claims.
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
Researchers say they have verified and sequenced Hitler’s DNA – and found a genetic disorder | CNN
Analysis of Adolf Hitler’s DNA reveals he may have had a rare genetic disorder that can delay puberty.
edition.cnn.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Putting aside the deeper issues of why this analysis was done and how it has been promoted, the choice to broadcast a tv show before releasing a preprint should make people skeptical of the results. How can one be sure of their scientific claims?
Reposted by Tom Booth
As I told the CNN, without details and data it is not possible to assess the claims.
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
Researchers say they have verified and sequenced Hitler’s DNA – and found a genetic disorder | CNN
Analysis of Adolf Hitler’s DNA reveals he may have had a rare genetic disorder that can delay puberty.
edition.cnn.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
As I told the CNN, without details and data it is not possible to assess the claims.
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
Reposted by Tom Booth
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The emergence and diversification of dog morphology
Dogs exhibit an exceptional range of morphological diversity as a result of their long-term association with humans. Attempts to identify when dog morphological variation began to expand have been con...
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Tom Booth
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Tom Booth
"At the very heart of the Nazis’ so-called “race science” was the idea that our blood is where our destiny lies..."
Did Hitler really have a ‘micropenis’? The dubious documentary analysing the dictator’s DNA
Was the wartime chant about his solitary testicle correct? Did he have Jewish ancestry? New documentary Hitler’s DNA is trying to answer these, and more contentious, questions – but should it have gon...
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
"At the very heart of the Nazis’ so-called “race science” was the idea that our blood is where our destiny lies..."
Reposted by Tom Booth
🏺 Have had a proper look at this ahead of time and it’s such a gorgeous book and a fantastic approach to engaging with history!
The Picts were always more than their blue-painted, bloodthirsty depictions. Carved in Stone, a new setting guide from @stoutstoat.co.uk and archaeologist Heather Christie, invites players to explore their incomplete but beautiful history.
Carved in Stone is both a history book and an eye-catching RPG
Publisher Brian Tyrrell and archeologist Heather Christie paint a pretty Pict-ure.
www.rascal.news
November 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
🏺 Have had a proper look at this ahead of time and it’s such a gorgeous book and a fantastic approach to engaging with history!
Reposted by Tom Booth
Come and join us here in Cambridge! Applications open for a new faculty position, for a researcher in computational and/or theoretical biology, based jointly in Genetics and Mathematics. Happy to answer questions about research, teaching and working here.
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
Faculty Position in Computational Biology
Applications are invited for an Assistant/ Associate Professorship in Computational Biology to commence on 1 April 2026 or shortly thereafter. This is a joint post between the Department of Applied
www.cam.ac.uk
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Come and join us here in Cambridge! Applications open for a new faculty position, for a researcher in computational and/or theoretical biology, based jointly in Genetics and Mathematics. Happy to answer questions about research, teaching and working here.
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/faculty...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Urghh... it's as bad as I hoped it wasn't - these really are 'the first', 'the earliest', 'the only'.
In terms of gold cash price they're not worth a huge amount, maybe £60k, if that - but in historical value, they're utterly priceless.
So awful.😔
#Archaeology 🏺
1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
In terms of gold cash price they're not worth a huge amount, maybe £60k, if that - but in historical value, they're utterly priceless.
So awful.😔
#Archaeology 🏺
1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Search continues for Bronze Age artefacts stolen from St Fagans
Two men have been charged with burglary, but "invaluable" items are still missing from St Fagans collection.
www.bbc.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Urghh... it's as bad as I hoped it wasn't - these really are 'the first', 'the earliest', 'the only'.
In terms of gold cash price they're not worth a huge amount, maybe £60k, if that - but in historical value, they're utterly priceless.
So awful.😔
#Archaeology 🏺
1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
In terms of gold cash price they're not worth a huge amount, maybe £60k, if that - but in historical value, they're utterly priceless.
So awful.😔
#Archaeology 🏺
1/2
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past?
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Artificial Intelligence: A Warning for History
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past? Gordon McKelvie considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for the his...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past?
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Reposted by Tom Booth
Our paper on imputation of ancient goat genomes is now available at GBE - congratulations to @jolijnerven.bsky.social #aDNA
Inferring Domestic Goat Demographic History Through Ancient Genome Imputation
Abstract. Goats were among the earliest managed animals, making them a natural model to explore the genetic consequences of domestication. However, a chall
academic.oup.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Our paper on imputation of ancient goat genomes is now available at GBE - congratulations to @jolijnerven.bsky.social #aDNA
This is out now:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Association between lactase persistence and height in the past (indicating people with the persistence allele were better nourished by drinking milk than those without it) provides a potential explanation for why it was under strong selection.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Association between lactase persistence and height in the past (indicating people with the persistence allele were better nourished by drinking milk than those without it) provides a potential explanation for why it was under strong selection.
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
This is out now:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Association between lactase persistence and height in the past (indicating people with the persistence allele were better nourished by drinking milk than those without it) provides a potential explanation for why it was under strong selection.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Association between lactase persistence and height in the past (indicating people with the persistence allele were better nourished by drinking milk than those without it) provides a potential explanation for why it was under strong selection.
Reposted by Tom Booth
🏺 🧪 Research and publications like this really matter, since even when one theory is not supported by later evidence, it opens up interesting new perspectives and scenarios for #humanevolution.
Rather, in terms of metrics and morphology, it matches best to impact from a hammerstone, likely used to access the liquid within-bone nutrients such as marrow and bone grease.
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🏺 🧪 Research and publications like this really matter, since even when one theory is not supported by later evidence, it opens up interesting new perspectives and scenarios for #humanevolution.
Reposted by Tom Booth
Some pictures from when Sandi Toksvig and @rakshadigs.bsky.social came to visit our dig in July #Durotriges25
If you missed episode 1 of *Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders*, you can still catch up at Channel 4 On Demand
www.channel4.com
The rest of the series continues on More4 Tues 9pm
Enjoy 😊
If you missed episode 1 of *Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders*, you can still catch up at Channel 4 On Demand
www.channel4.com
The rest of the series continues on More4 Tues 9pm
Enjoy 😊
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Some pictures from when Sandi Toksvig and @rakshadigs.bsky.social came to visit our dig in July #Durotriges25
If you missed episode 1 of *Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders*, you can still catch up at Channel 4 On Demand
www.channel4.com
The rest of the series continues on More4 Tues 9pm
Enjoy 😊
If you missed episode 1 of *Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders*, you can still catch up at Channel 4 On Demand
www.channel4.com
The rest of the series continues on More4 Tues 9pm
Enjoy 😊
The inevitable splash of cold water…
That Roman database of roads that's been in the news: treat with some caution.
Comparaison entre ce qui est connu (en rouge) et les tracés du dataset (en vert) pour l'est de la Bourgogne. Les données mises a disposition sont sans doute meilleures dans les zones où des spécialiste ont été sollicité.e.s (Egypte, etc). Bonne base de départ donc, mais a utiliser avec prudence 3/3
November 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The inevitable splash of cold water…
Avoid jumping to conclusions about mechanisms behind large-scale genetic shifts in the past! This paper doesn’t prove that small scale migrations of Homo sapiens led to the gradual replacement of Neanderthal DNA but suggests this explanation is as good as any other.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A simple analytical model for Neanderthal disappearance due to genetic dilution by recurrent small-scale immigrations of modern humans - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - A simple analytical model for Neanderthal disappearance due to genetic dilution by recurrent small-scale immigrations of modern humans
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Avoid jumping to conclusions about mechanisms behind large-scale genetic shifts in the past! This paper doesn’t prove that small scale migrations of Homo sapiens led to the gradual replacement of Neanderthal DNA but suggests this explanation is as good as any other.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Free online talk on Constantine the African, and his adaption of the work of al-Majūsī, next Tuesday.
Reminder
𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐭' 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞!
csmbr.fondazionecomel.org/events/onlin...
#CSMBR #OnlineLectures #CompoundMedicamentes #ConstantinetheAphrican
𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐭' 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞!
csmbr.fondazionecomel.org/events/onlin...
#CSMBR #OnlineLectures #CompoundMedicamentes #ConstantinetheAphrican
The Science of Compound Medicaments - CSMBR
This lecture explores al-Majūsī’s "Kitāb al-Malakī" and its Latin translation, showing how Book X on compound medicaments was reshaped into a new synthesis of pharmacology and philosophy.
csmbr.fondazionecomel.org
November 8, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Free online talk on Constantine the African, and his adaption of the work of al-Majūsī, next Tuesday.
Reposted by Tom Booth
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 Tom Booth
THREAD: Delighted that Peterborough Museum has received £250k, to further explore the amazing Bronze Age assemblage from Must Farm. One of my favourite projects of the past few years was creating replicas of the pots, to better understand the technology behind them 🏺
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Peterborough Museum gets £250k for Bronze Age project
The two-year initiative will explore the discoveries made at Must Farm in Whittlesey.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
THREAD: Delighted that Peterborough Museum has received £250k, to further explore the amazing Bronze Age assemblage from Must Farm. One of my favourite projects of the past few years was creating replicas of the pots, to better understand the technology behind them 🏺
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Tom Booth
Check out this fine #Pleistocene-themed wall art photographed by my buddy Paul Stewart in Kennington, Oxford
November 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Check out this fine #Pleistocene-themed wall art photographed by my buddy Paul Stewart in Kennington, Oxford
Reposted by Tom Booth
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Wow! 😮🤩
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.
There's a new interactive map of Every Known Road in the Roman Empire!! 🤓
itiner-e.org
We might have to have a lie-down.