Kate Sheehan-Finn
@katesfwriter.bsky.social
Writer, Untold Stories/Perspectives, Historical Fiction, Roman Archaeology, Ancient History, Pottery, Books, Travel, Gardens, Walking, Landscapes, #UNWC 2023/24, Winner #FNL #LFOW24 Jericho Writers
As cute as our Maple 🍁 who’s also ‘grown up’ now - though at 2 years of age she’s also still very playful.
November 21, 2025 at 8:19 AM
As cute as our Maple 🍁 who’s also ‘grown up’ now - though at 2 years of age she’s also still very playful.
Bronze pennanular brooch with inlaid terminals, circa AD 450-550, was the latest object deposited in the Spring at Bath.
Late Roman, probably made in Ireland; birds and fish on the terminals might be associated with the goddess Sulis Minerva.
#FindsFriday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own
Late Roman, probably made in Ireland; birds and fish on the terminals might be associated with the goddess Sulis Minerva.
#FindsFriday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own
November 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Bronze pennanular brooch with inlaid terminals, circa AD 450-550, was the latest object deposited in the Spring at Bath.
Late Roman, probably made in Ireland; birds and fish on the terminals might be associated with the goddess Sulis Minerva.
#FindsFriday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own
Late Roman, probably made in Ireland; birds and fish on the terminals might be associated with the goddess Sulis Minerva.
#FindsFriday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own
My policy choices show that it’s possible to keep most of the people happy most of the time. Play the #Budget2025 game and see how you could do. Perhaps #RachelReeves should try this out before #BudgetDay?
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
November 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My policy choices show that it’s possible to keep most of the people happy most of the time. Play the #Budget2025 game and see how you could do. Perhaps #RachelReeves should try this out before #BudgetDay?
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Corstopitum/Coria began as a Roman military base in a strategic position. A bridge carried the north-south Dere Street. This road met the east-west Stanegate Road at Coria. It became a hybrid place, a town with some military installations, in the later 2nd C.
#RomanFortThursday #Archaeology
My 📸
#RomanFortThursday #Archaeology
My 📸
November 20, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Corstopitum/Coria began as a Roman military base in a strategic position. A bridge carried the north-south Dere Street. This road met the east-west Stanegate Road at Coria. It became a hybrid place, a town with some military installations, in the later 2nd C.
#RomanFortThursday #Archaeology
My 📸
#RomanFortThursday #Archaeology
My 📸
Roman gravestone of an optio, name unknown.
An optio was second in command to a centurion, commander of a century.
1st C AD. From Roman Bath.
The optio was in charge of communications. He carries a scroll and his official staff.
#ReliefWednesday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, #Bath
An optio was second in command to a centurion, commander of a century.
1st C AD. From Roman Bath.
The optio was in charge of communications. He carries a scroll and his official staff.
#ReliefWednesday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, #Bath
November 19, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Roman gravestone of an optio, name unknown.
An optio was second in command to a centurion, commander of a century.
1st C AD. From Roman Bath.
The optio was in charge of communications. He carries a scroll and his official staff.
#ReliefWednesday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, #Bath
An optio was second in command to a centurion, commander of a century.
1st C AD. From Roman Bath.
The optio was in charge of communications. He carries a scroll and his official staff.
#ReliefWednesday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, #Bath
And this morning we have a dusting of snow and it’s glistening in sunshine. It’s still around zero Celsius or just below. ❄️ 🥶
#Winter #Snow #Weather #Nortumberland
#Winter #Snow #Weather #Nortumberland
November 19, 2025 at 11:33 AM
And this morning we have a dusting of snow and it’s glistening in sunshine. It’s still around zero Celsius or just below. ❄️ 🥶
#Winter #Snow #Weather #Nortumberland
#Winter #Snow #Weather #Nortumberland
2/3 We know that the Altar was dedicated to the Pax Augusta because he told us in his own words in his Res Gestae inscription on bronze that he placed before his mausoleum close to the Ara Pacis. This survives only in copies from elsewhere.
📸 my own #MausoleumofAugustus #Archaeology #ReliefWednesday
📸 my own #MausoleumofAugustus #Archaeology #ReliefWednesday
November 19, 2025 at 8:03 AM
2/3 We know that the Altar was dedicated to the Pax Augusta because he told us in his own words in his Res Gestae inscription on bronze that he placed before his mausoleum close to the Ara Pacis. This survives only in copies from elsewhere.
📸 my own #MausoleumofAugustus #Archaeology #ReliefWednesday
📸 my own #MausoleumofAugustus #Archaeology #ReliefWednesday
1/3
The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, depicts Augustus’ (formerly Octavian) vision of the #Rome he created. The monument is by Augustus’ mausoleum at the Campus Martius. Panels show the imperial family, including Livia, his wife.
#ReliefWednesday #AncientRome #Archaeology
📸 my own.
The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, depicts Augustus’ (formerly Octavian) vision of the #Rome he created. The monument is by Augustus’ mausoleum at the Campus Martius. Panels show the imperial family, including Livia, his wife.
#ReliefWednesday #AncientRome #Archaeology
📸 my own.
November 19, 2025 at 8:03 AM
1/3
The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, depicts Augustus’ (formerly Octavian) vision of the #Rome he created. The monument is by Augustus’ mausoleum at the Campus Martius. Panels show the imperial family, including Livia, his wife.
#ReliefWednesday #AncientRome #Archaeology
📸 my own.
The Ara Pacis, or Altar of Augustan Peace, depicts Augustus’ (formerly Octavian) vision of the #Rome he created. The monument is by Augustus’ mausoleum at the Campus Martius. Panels show the imperial family, including Livia, his wife.
#ReliefWednesday #AncientRome #Archaeology
📸 my own.
We were told there’d be #snowfall, well maybe, the first dusting of #Winter.
Well it’s been cold, sleety, grey, dank.
So to make up for it, here’s snowy days from years gone by.
📸 my own, #Northumberland.
Well it’s been cold, sleety, grey, dank.
So to make up for it, here’s snowy days from years gone by.
📸 my own, #Northumberland.
November 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
We were told there’d be #snowfall, well maybe, the first dusting of #Winter.
Well it’s been cold, sleety, grey, dank.
So to make up for it, here’s snowy days from years gone by.
📸 my own, #Northumberland.
Well it’s been cold, sleety, grey, dank.
So to make up for it, here’s snowy days from years gone by.
📸 my own, #Northumberland.
I have photos from inside the tabularium too. See below for where I took this photo which is one of many. The red pin marks the spot.
November 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I have photos from inside the tabularium too. See below for where I took this photo which is one of many. The red pin marks the spot.
To the spirit of the departed.
T. Flavius Actionicus made this for his son, Q. Thersius Actionicus. Well deserved. He lived 18 years.
Roman marble funerary dedication. Dated late 1st century AD.
📸 my own, Largo Di Torre Argentina, #Rome.
#EpigraphyTuesday #TombTuesday #Archaeology #AncientRome
T. Flavius Actionicus made this for his son, Q. Thersius Actionicus. Well deserved. He lived 18 years.
Roman marble funerary dedication. Dated late 1st century AD.
📸 my own, Largo Di Torre Argentina, #Rome.
#EpigraphyTuesday #TombTuesday #Archaeology #AncientRome
November 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM
To the spirit of the departed.
T. Flavius Actionicus made this for his son, Q. Thersius Actionicus. Well deserved. He lived 18 years.
Roman marble funerary dedication. Dated late 1st century AD.
📸 my own, Largo Di Torre Argentina, #Rome.
#EpigraphyTuesday #TombTuesday #Archaeology #AncientRome
T. Flavius Actionicus made this for his son, Q. Thersius Actionicus. Well deserved. He lived 18 years.
Roman marble funerary dedication. Dated late 1st century AD.
📸 my own, Largo Di Torre Argentina, #Rome.
#EpigraphyTuesday #TombTuesday #Archaeology #AncientRome
This was the ancient Roman forum on a sunny late afternoon/early evening in October.
#AncientRome #Archaeology #RomanEmpire
📸 my own, #Rome 2025.
#AncientRome #Archaeology #RomanEmpire
📸 my own, #Rome 2025.
November 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
This was the ancient Roman forum on a sunny late afternoon/early evening in October.
#AncientRome #Archaeology #RomanEmpire
📸 my own, #Rome 2025.
#AncientRome #Archaeology #RomanEmpire
📸 my own, #Rome 2025.
The sun dipped below the horizon just after 4 pm, leaving this golden glow in his wake.
It was 3 degrees Celsius then. We are in for a sub zero night in rural #Northumberland.
#Autumn 🍂 seems to be giving graceful way to #Winter 🥶.
📸 my own.
It was 3 degrees Celsius then. We are in for a sub zero night in rural #Northumberland.
#Autumn 🍂 seems to be giving graceful way to #Winter 🥶.
📸 my own.
November 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The sun dipped below the horizon just after 4 pm, leaving this golden glow in his wake.
It was 3 degrees Celsius then. We are in for a sub zero night in rural #Northumberland.
#Autumn 🍂 seems to be giving graceful way to #Winter 🥶.
📸 my own.
It was 3 degrees Celsius then. We are in for a sub zero night in rural #Northumberland.
#Autumn 🍂 seems to be giving graceful way to #Winter 🥶.
📸 my own.
Roman mosaics in a luxurious second century townhouse in Italica, Santaponce, near Seville, Spain.
Emperor Hadrian was born in Italica, and was emperor from AD 117-138.
#MosaicMonday
#RomanEmpire #Archaeology
📸 my own
Emperor Hadrian was born in Italica, and was emperor from AD 117-138.
#MosaicMonday
#RomanEmpire #Archaeology
📸 my own
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Roman mosaics in a luxurious second century townhouse in Italica, Santaponce, near Seville, Spain.
Emperor Hadrian was born in Italica, and was emperor from AD 117-138.
#MosaicMonday
#RomanEmpire #Archaeology
📸 my own
Emperor Hadrian was born in Italica, and was emperor from AD 117-138.
#MosaicMonday
#RomanEmpire #Archaeology
📸 my own
Staying grounded is the thing.
With that in mind,
here’s something solid for #StandingStoneSunday.
#Stonehenge is a reliable indicator of our heritage, of our past, of change, and continuity too.
My own 📸
#Archaeology
With that in mind,
here’s something solid for #StandingStoneSunday.
#Stonehenge is a reliable indicator of our heritage, of our past, of change, and continuity too.
My own 📸
#Archaeology
November 16, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Staying grounded is the thing.
With that in mind,
here’s something solid for #StandingStoneSunday.
#Stonehenge is a reliable indicator of our heritage, of our past, of change, and continuity too.
My own 📸
#Archaeology
With that in mind,
here’s something solid for #StandingStoneSunday.
#Stonehenge is a reliable indicator of our heritage, of our past, of change, and continuity too.
My own 📸
#Archaeology
A Roman saddle plate, once attached to straps that hung from a saddle that may have been used during Roman cavalry parades.
The copper alloy was silvered with niello decorations. Niello is a black material composed of one or more metal sulphides.
📸 my own, Vindolanda Roman Fort.
#RomanBritain
The copper alloy was silvered with niello decorations. Niello is a black material composed of one or more metal sulphides.
📸 my own, Vindolanda Roman Fort.
#RomanBritain
November 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
A Roman saddle plate, once attached to straps that hung from a saddle that may have been used during Roman cavalry parades.
The copper alloy was silvered with niello decorations. Niello is a black material composed of one or more metal sulphides.
📸 my own, Vindolanda Roman Fort.
#RomanBritain
The copper alloy was silvered with niello decorations. Niello is a black material composed of one or more metal sulphides.
📸 my own, Vindolanda Roman Fort.
#RomanBritain
How can I use archaeological and historical sources in my writing?
Here’s the perfect example👇
George RR Martin was inspired by #HadriansWall and its garrison forts for The Wall of ice in the north and The Night’s Watch in #GameOfThrones.
📸 my own
#RomanEmpire #RomanBritain
#RomanSiteSaturday
Here’s the perfect example👇
George RR Martin was inspired by #HadriansWall and its garrison forts for The Wall of ice in the north and The Night’s Watch in #GameOfThrones.
📸 my own
#RomanEmpire #RomanBritain
#RomanSiteSaturday
November 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM
How can I use archaeological and historical sources in my writing?
Here’s the perfect example👇
George RR Martin was inspired by #HadriansWall and its garrison forts for The Wall of ice in the north and The Night’s Watch in #GameOfThrones.
📸 my own
#RomanEmpire #RomanBritain
#RomanSiteSaturday
Here’s the perfect example👇
George RR Martin was inspired by #HadriansWall and its garrison forts for The Wall of ice in the north and The Night’s Watch in #GameOfThrones.
📸 my own
#RomanEmpire #RomanBritain
#RomanSiteSaturday
There are moments when I think everything will be okay.
The rest of the time, I know it’s a global shit show, and that the chances it’ll be just fine are slim to nothing.
But life goes on.
📸 my own, Crete.
The rest of the time, I know it’s a global shit show, and that the chances it’ll be just fine are slim to nothing.
But life goes on.
📸 my own, Crete.
November 15, 2025 at 12:09 AM
There are moments when I think everything will be okay.
The rest of the time, I know it’s a global shit show, and that the chances it’ll be just fine are slim to nothing.
But life goes on.
📸 my own, Crete.
The rest of the time, I know it’s a global shit show, and that the chances it’ll be just fine are slim to nothing.
But life goes on.
📸 my own, Crete.
A silver and gilt, shell-shaped box from Tomba degli Ori, Canosa, Bari, Italy.
Dated late 3rd to early 2nd C BCE.
Interior and exterior of the lid shows a Nereid on a sea monster.
Greek Inscription on the hinge:
Of Opaka Sabaleida
#FindsFriday #Archaeology
📸 my own, Taranto Archaeological Museum.
Dated late 3rd to early 2nd C BCE.
Interior and exterior of the lid shows a Nereid on a sea monster.
Greek Inscription on the hinge:
Of Opaka Sabaleida
#FindsFriday #Archaeology
📸 my own, Taranto Archaeological Museum.
November 14, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A silver and gilt, shell-shaped box from Tomba degli Ori, Canosa, Bari, Italy.
Dated late 3rd to early 2nd C BCE.
Interior and exterior of the lid shows a Nereid on a sea monster.
Greek Inscription on the hinge:
Of Opaka Sabaleida
#FindsFriday #Archaeology
📸 my own, Taranto Archaeological Museum.
Dated late 3rd to early 2nd C BCE.
Interior and exterior of the lid shows a Nereid on a sea monster.
Greek Inscription on the hinge:
Of Opaka Sabaleida
#FindsFriday #Archaeology
📸 my own, Taranto Archaeological Museum.
The river Tay meets the sea at Dundee. On the opposite bank to the south is Fife. This was home for a decade. I still miss living by the water, and the people who made us welcome. Doesn’t matter that we made #Northumberland home and fifteen years have sped by.
📸 my own, The Tay Estuary, #Scotland.
📸 my own, The Tay Estuary, #Scotland.
November 13, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The river Tay meets the sea at Dundee. On the opposite bank to the south is Fife. This was home for a decade. I still miss living by the water, and the people who made us welcome. Doesn’t matter that we made #Northumberland home and fifteen years have sped by.
📸 my own, The Tay Estuary, #Scotland.
📸 my own, The Tay Estuary, #Scotland.
Sadly, cloud cover and heavy rain 🌧️ obscured the #auroraborealis last night. But we often see them in #Northumberland as my old photo shows. Hope everyone who saw them had a wonderful experience.
November 13, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Sadly, cloud cover and heavy rain 🌧️ obscured the #auroraborealis last night. But we often see them in #Northumberland as my old photo shows. Hope everyone who saw them had a wonderful experience.
Housesteads Roman fort, #Vercovicium, was constructed in the years between AD 122 and 130 when Roman emperor Hadrian’s plan for his Wall to mark the limits of the empire changed.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, taken on sunnier days, #Northumberland.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, taken on sunnier days, #Northumberland.
November 12, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Housesteads Roman fort, #Vercovicium, was constructed in the years between AD 122 and 130 when Roman emperor Hadrian’s plan for his Wall to mark the limits of the empire changed.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, taken on sunnier days, #Northumberland.
#RomanFortThursday #RomanBritain #Archaeology
📸 my own, taken on sunnier days, #Northumberland.
Now I hate scary movies set in cemeteries where the dead return to terrorise the living.
However, I love pottering about in cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on stone left for posterity.
📸 my own, Thockrington church, Northumberland.
The village almost vanished when cholera struck in 1744.
However, I love pottering about in cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on stone left for posterity.
📸 my own, Thockrington church, Northumberland.
The village almost vanished when cholera struck in 1744.
November 11, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Now I hate scary movies set in cemeteries where the dead return to terrorise the living.
However, I love pottering about in cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on stone left for posterity.
📸 my own, Thockrington church, Northumberland.
The village almost vanished when cholera struck in 1744.
However, I love pottering about in cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on stone left for posterity.
📸 my own, Thockrington church, Northumberland.
The village almost vanished when cholera struck in 1744.
Funerary altar of A. Egrillus Magnus, from a tomb near #OstiaAntica, AD 50-100, carved in marble.
From a tomb like the one that fronts the main road leading into ancient Ostia, which was Rome’s main port near the mouth of the Tiber.
#AncientRome #RomanEmpire
#TombTuesday
📸 my own
From a tomb like the one that fronts the main road leading into ancient Ostia, which was Rome’s main port near the mouth of the Tiber.
#AncientRome #RomanEmpire
#TombTuesday
📸 my own
November 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Funerary altar of A. Egrillus Magnus, from a tomb near #OstiaAntica, AD 50-100, carved in marble.
From a tomb like the one that fronts the main road leading into ancient Ostia, which was Rome’s main port near the mouth of the Tiber.
#AncientRome #RomanEmpire
#TombTuesday
📸 my own
From a tomb like the one that fronts the main road leading into ancient Ostia, which was Rome’s main port near the mouth of the Tiber.
#AncientRome #RomanEmpire
#TombTuesday
📸 my own