Dr Huw Groucutt
@huwgroucutt.bsky.social
Archaeologist, lecturer at University of Malta, PI: TerraForm ERC project.....posting about old stones, and occasional bones. Exploring human responses to climate change, particularly in Malta and Arabia. http://www.huwgroucutt.com
#FieldworkFriday. I've always loved caves, so it was fun exploring these Arabian caves.
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 AM
#FieldworkFriday. I've always loved caves, so it was fun exploring these Arabian caves.
This just popped up from ten years ago...flashback to my office in Oxford looking at ancient stone tools from Arabia.
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This just popped up from ten years ago...flashback to my office in Oxford looking at ancient stone tools from Arabia.
#FieldworkFriday. Fond memories of exploring caves in Saudi Arabia a few years ago.
November 21, 2025 at 7:47 AM
#FieldworkFriday. Fond memories of exploring caves in Saudi Arabia a few years ago.
(14/18) The Middle Palaeolithic (about 200-50 thousand years ago in Arabia) seems to be the most well-represented period. While places like northwest Arabia have thousands of Holocene stone structures, this is the only significant one we found in our study area, a Bronze Age (?) pendant tomb.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(14/18) The Middle Palaeolithic (about 200-50 thousand years ago in Arabia) seems to be the most well-represented period. While places like northwest Arabia have thousands of Holocene stone structures, this is the only significant one we found in our study area, a Bronze Age (?) pendant tomb.
(13/18) In most cases, artefacts were at a low density, but at one site (EP19.1) we found hundreds of stone tools, next to a deep cave shaft which was a water source in the past.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(13/18) In most cases, artefacts were at a low density, but at one site (EP19.1) we found hundreds of stone tools, next to a deep cave shaft which was a water source in the past.
(12/18) Chert (flint) outcrops occur in the area, and this was used by ancient humans to make tools
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(12/18) Chert (flint) outcrops occur in the area, and this was used by ancient humans to make tools
(10/18) Aswell as larger animals, there is an abundant record of microfauna.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(10/18) Aswell as larger animals, there is an abundant record of microfauna.
(8/18) This is one of the areas full of bones in Murrubeh Cave. Detailed studies are needed to understand these kind of assemblages. What animals are represented? How did the bones get there? How old are they?
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(8/18) This is one of the areas full of bones in Murrubeh Cave. Detailed studies are needed to understand these kind of assemblages. What animals are represented? How did the bones get there? How old are they?
(7/18) During out fieldwork we surveyed many caves. This is one of them, Murrubeh Cave. Thousands of animal bones are found in this cave.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(7/18) During out fieldwork we surveyed many caves. This is one of them, Murrubeh Cave. Thousands of animal bones are found in this cave.
(6/18) We recently published a paper on the speleothems (stalagmites etc) from this area, which unexpectedly produced an eight million year climate record. See the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(6/18) We recently published a paper on the speleothems (stalagmites etc) from this area, which unexpectedly produced an eight million year climate record. See the paper here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(5/18) It’s a limestone area…and so there are caves. Lots of caves. Some are very hard to get into, but look impressive!
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(5/18) It’s a limestone area…and so there are caves. Lots of caves. Some are very hard to get into, but look impressive!
(4/18) This shows @elliescerri.bsky.social and myself trying to look at lithics (stone tools) during a sandstorm.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(4/18) This shows @elliescerri.bsky.social and myself trying to look at lithics (stone tools) during a sandstorm.
(3/18) Today, is a very dry and challenging landscape, with very few people around.
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
(3/18) Today, is a very dry and challenging landscape, with very few people around.
Congratulations to our archaeology students who just graduated at the University of Malta. Onwards to great things.
November 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Congratulations to our archaeology students who just graduated at the University of Malta. Onwards to great things.
#FieldworkFriday ...An intensive week for fieldwork. I worked at three different sites, doing different things. Ground Penetrating Radar was fun :)
November 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
#FieldworkFriday ...An intensive week for fieldwork. I worked at three different sites, doing different things. Ground Penetrating Radar was fun :)
Terraces, terraces.
November 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Terraces, terraces.
Slightly delayed #FieldworkFriday post...not a bad view from the 'office' this week.
November 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Slightly delayed #FieldworkFriday post...not a bad view from the 'office' this week.
Very nice new paper systematically mapping different structural types in northwest Saudi Arabia (www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/...). Note distinction between different types of 'desert kites' (large hunting traps) in the study area.
November 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Very nice new paper systematically mapping different structural types in northwest Saudi Arabia (www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/...). Note distinction between different types of 'desert kites' (large hunting traps) in the study area.
#FlintFriday. Some beautiful Neolithic arrowheads from central Saudi Arabia that we published a few years ago (Alghabban et al., 2015).
October 31, 2025 at 7:27 AM
#FlintFriday. Some beautiful Neolithic arrowheads from central Saudi Arabia that we published a few years ago (Alghabban et al., 2015).
#FieldworkFriday. Serious science in the desert.
October 24, 2025 at 6:17 AM
#FieldworkFriday. Serious science in the desert.
It was a pleasure for the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta to host a visit from the Ambassador of Ireland to Malta, Caroline Whelan.
October 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
It was a pleasure for the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta to host a visit from the Ambassador of Ireland to Malta, Caroline Whelan.
Photos from some recent trips to Tarxien and Tas Silġ Neolithic 'temples' in Malta. Amazing remains from about 5000 years ago.
October 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Photos from some recent trips to Tarxien and Tas Silġ Neolithic 'temples' in Malta. Amazing remains from about 5000 years ago.
#FieldworkFriday. Nice looking through pictures from various fieldwork seasons for the talk I did the other day. Had some amazing adventures with great friends and colleagues.
October 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
#FieldworkFriday. Nice looking through pictures from various fieldwork seasons for the talk I did the other day. Had some amazing adventures with great friends and colleagues.
Fieldwork Friday with the TerraForm team.
October 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Fieldwork Friday with the TerraForm team.