Kevin Wilbraham
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kpw1453.bsky.social
Kevin Wilbraham
@kpw1453.bsky.social
4.1K followers 2.1K following 970 posts
Passionate about archives, archaeology and the medieval past.
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kpw1453.bsky.social
The remains of the chapel of the Medieval Hospital of St. Mary Magdalen at Giliesgate in Durham. The hospital was originally founded during the 13th century. 📸 My own. #MedievalMonday #Durham
November 10, 2025 at 7:24 AM
kpw1453.bsky.social
The central panel from the ‘Geometric Mosaic’ which decorated one of the rooms at Rudston Roman Villa in East Yorkshire. The mosaic is now part of the collections at the Hull and East Riding Museum. 📸 My own. #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain #RudstonRomanVilla
November 10, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social
The Callanish VIII stones

This circle stands on the edge of Great Bernera island, leaning towards the mainland Isle of Lewis

I always wondered why it would be placed here...

#StandingStoneSunday #archaeology #photooftheday 🏺
Standing stones on a rocky slope looking out towards a narrow strait of water and mountains in the distance
November 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
stoneclub.bsky.social
Chûn Quoit
photographed by @matthewmshaw.bsky.social
#StandingStoneSunday
Chûn Quoit in Penwith
November 9, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
petecrane.bsky.social
A circle of beauty; the kerb stones of Aviemore Clava …. One of five cairns in and around the village #StandingStoneSunday

More pics on @megalithic.bsky.social here www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?...
A 13m wide circle of many boulders on grassland with a single leafless tree and a tall evergreen hedge in the background.
November 9, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
drtobydriver.bsky.social
#StandingStoneSunday chancing across the Merry Maidens stone circle in West Penwith, #Cornwall, as we dropped down to Newlyn was a real delight.

Heaven knows how this perfect circle has survived 4500 years of landscape change since the Late Neolithic/early Bronze Age 🥰

📷 My own, Friday
A ring of stones in a grassy field
November 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
tony-o.bsky.social
For #StandingStoneSunday #Stunday... The largest of 11 stones at Goles Stone Row in the Glenelly Valley, Tyrone, Ireland
#IrishArchaeology #Archaeology #Megalithic #Neolithic #Photography #PhotographersOfBluesky #Photography #Infrared #Monochrome #ClassicMono #Art #BlueSky #EastCoastKin #Tyrone
November 9, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
maxmoran.bsky.social
The Cove, garden of The Druid Inn, Stanton Drew, Somerset 08.11.25 #StandingStoneSunday #Stunday #scape #landscapephotography
#photographersofbluesky
November 9, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
stonelands.bsky.social
Watch Croft menhir. There are ancient cairns close by and you can see the tower of Ding Dong mine on far horizon. Somewhere down there is Boskednan, the Mên-an-Tol and Mén Scryfa. But where? (Next time I need to bring binoculars.) #StandingStoneSunday
November 9, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Happy Sunday! 🦛 💙

Adorable ancient Egyptian blue faience hippos made by artisans some 4,000 years ago!

📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo collage shows four hippo statuettes made of Egytian blue faience, a ceramic material made of ground quartz. Their bright-blue shiny bodies are decorated in black with depictions of Nile river plants such as water weed and lotus flowers. This decoration depicts their marsh habitat as well as having various layers of symbolism associated with regeneration. For example lotus flowers open in the morning and close at night, symbolising rebirth. Blue faience hippos have been found in Middle Kingdom tombs of high ranking officials. It’s thought they were placed in the tombs to aid the rebirth of the deceased. Hippo top left - Walking hippo shown in profile facing right. Height 11.5 cm, Length 21 cm. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Top right - Roaring hippo (looks like the hippo is smiling), seated, with head at left and turned inwards to front. Height 7.5 cm, length 12.5 cm. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. Bottom left - Standing hippo in profile facing right. This hippo is part of the Met Museum’s collections and is popularly known as ‘William’. Height 11.2 cm, Length 20 cm Bottom Right - Reclining hippo with head on the right, facing front, and tilted down. Egyptian Museum, Cairo
November 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
fotofacade.bsky.social
The village of Rudston is, perhaps, one of the oldest occupied sites in England. It's name derives from Old English meaning 'Rood Stone' - place with the stone cross - indicating the past re-use of the stone as a Christian symbol. 📸 by me.
Close view of the Rudston Monolith within the churchyard at All Saints, Rudston. The tall prehistoric standing stone towers before a medieval church tower and gravestones, its rough face catching the low morning light. Warm tones of autumn trees and mauve clouds lend atmosphere to this layered scene.
November 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
drnwillburger.bsky.social
For #AncientSiteSunday the #Hellenistic theatre at Pergamon, #Türkiye, built in the 3rd century BC, alterations were made in the #Roman period. It's one of the steepest known ancient theatres. The capacity was about 10,000 spectators.

📷 C. Bredfeldt

🏺 AncientBluesky #archaeology
A full shot of the ruins of an ancient theatre, located on a hillside. The theatre's steep tiered seating structure is clearly visible, constructed of light gray stone blocks, weathering evident in various tones. The hillside surrounding the theatre s covered with grass, creating a contrast between the man-made stone structures and the natural landscape. Sections of crumbling stone walls and foundations are scattered throughout the grassy slopes.
November 9, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
northages.bsky.social
William de St Calais was nominated to succeed the murdered Walcher as bishop of Dunholm (Durham) #OTD in 1080. William’s experience as abbot of St Vincent, Le Mans, in the politically volatile county of Maine, France, made him a smart choice. #medievalsky
William de St Calais, from an 11th-century manuscript of St Augustine's Commentary on the Psalms.
November 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
tuatha.ie
These decorated bone slips were found during excavations at Cairn H, one of the Neolithic passage tombs at Loughcrew.

They date to the 1st century AD, and they were found along with other material from the Iron Age, showing that the Neolithic tomb continued as a place of importance for millennia
Six bone plaques with delicately incised decoration
November 7, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
durotrigesdig.bsky.social
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 😊
Archaeologists Ruby, Sandi and Meg, all smiling in the sun Archaeologists Raksha and Lewis at work Archaeologists Sandi and Bron happy by the site hut Archaeologists Kel and Sandi examine some finds laid out on a table in the sun
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
kpw1453.bsky.social
A decorative mount from Roman Norfolk that once formed part of a crown worn by priests during Roman religious ceremonies. Now part of the collections at Norwich Castle. 📸 My own. #RomanBritain #RomanReligion #NorwichCastle
November 9, 2025 at 7:45 AM
kpw1453.bsky.social
A group of intertwined birds - one of the many Anglo-Saxon friezes from the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph at Breedon on the Hill in Leicestershire. 📸 My own. #SaxonSunday #Breedon #SundayStonework
November 9, 2025 at 7:44 AM
kpw1453.bsky.social
A lone standing stone at Milton of Clava - a Bronze Age cemetery close to the more famous Clava Cairns in the Scottish Highlands. The stone may have been part of a larger stone circle. 📸 My own. #StandingStoneSunday #ClavaCairns #Archaeology #Prehistory
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
paulchamberlain.bsky.social
Callanish sunset yesterday #StandingStoneSunday
November 9, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
drnwillburger.bsky.social
It's time for #Caturday and a timeline cleanse!

A terracotta figurine of a #cat playing the harp.

From #Egypt, #Roman period, late 1st century AD.

On display at Museum August Kestner, Hannover.

Have a lovely #weekend!

📷 me

🏺
Fragment of a yellowish-brown clay figurine depicting a cat playing a harp. The cat is upright, with detailed facial features and textured fur, holding the harp to its side. The surface shows signs of wear and age, and the piece is displayed on a clear stand.
November 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Even 2,500 years ago, people loved a novelty cup! 🦞 🍷 😄

It’s suggested this Ancient Greek terracotta vessel in the shape of a lobster claw was used as a drinking horn at parties!

The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo shows an ancient Greek red-figure terracotta vase with a body in the shape of a lobster claw. The vase is painted with black glaze. On one side are five knobly bumps or ‘spines’, on the other side is painted a red donkey (not shown). The vessel has a vertical neck with funnel-shaped mouth and outsplayed rim. There is a strap handle from the bottom of the neck across the length of the vase which attaches just before the claw’s pincers. The inner side of the pincers is warm red terracotta. Around the handle base there is a decorative red pattern. The vessel is displayed on a pale beige fabric. Dimensions: 7 x 7.3 x 15.9 cm. On display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Met label reads: Greek, Attic, red-figure, ca. 460 BC. Attributed to the Class of the Seven Lobster-Claws Donkey; keras (drinking horn). Because so many aspects of Greek life depended on the sea, a vase in the shape of a lobster claw is not surprising. It is, however, exceptional and may be a variant of the askos— a bag-shaped oil container provided with a vertical mouth and strap handle. The Dionysiac iconography of the lobster claw suggests that it was a novelty item used at symposia (drinking parties).
November 8, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
chapps.bsky.social
An idea for your Christmas tree this year - stacks of Celtic gold torcs! Known as the Ipswitch Torcs after the location where their hoard was found, the terminals are decorated in the swirly La Tène style (Tène II), save the top one which is unadorned. 🎄🏺 1/

150-50 BCE. 📸 me
#BritishMuseum
A stack of five gold torcs against a green background. All were made from two twisted solid bars, with loop terminals cast on. Four (1969,0103.2-5) have cast terminals ornamented in high relief with Tène II style curvilinear motifs of bosses and scrolls, within a border of two corded bands lying slightly apart; they can be paired but their patterns are not identical. The fifth - at top (1969,0103.1) - has plain terminals. These torcs were probably deposited together as a hoard around 75 BCE.
November 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Sunshine ☀️ in Exeter today.

#steeplesaturday
November 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
enniusredloeb.bsky.social
Peacock in principio

Bodleian Library MS. Canon. Bibl. Lat. 61; Gospel Lectionary (Benedictine Use); 1081 CE–1086 CE; Italy, Dalmatia, Zadar (Zara); f.10r @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Kevin Wilbraham
archaeohawke.bsky.social
#RomanSiteSaturday

The Amphitheatre of #Pompeii is one of the oldest surviving #Roman amphitheatres.

#Archaeology #History
November 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM