Dr Tess Machling
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tessmachling.bsky.social
Dr Tess Machling
@tessmachling.bsky.social
Archaeologist, gold & torc researcher, chocolate artefact maker & mum. Often post about cats who aren't mine...

Views all my own 😊
Green party 💚

She/her 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Work on torcs & gold: https://bigbookoftorcs.com

Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tess317409
Yeah.
They did...
November 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Bruce and I both really enjoyed the @lpfgsocmedia.bsky.social conference yesterday.

For anyone who missed it, there's recordings coming. ❤️

#Archaeology 🏺
November 21, 2025 at 7:04 AM
He's hilarious... he was not at all happy this morning (don't worry, I let him in! 🤣)
November 19, 2025 at 10:43 AM
+3000 words written.
Blog done.
Grim reading.
Online tomorrow...

... and now I really am done until the 2024 TVC minutes, the next PAS report and/or I get the FOIs back. 😊

Bruce got so fed up with me, he started savaging artefacts! 🤣
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 PM
OK...I need someone to check my maths here.

This really is that 1/3 of the number of finds found in any one year & c.6% of the number of annual Treasure finds were exported in 2023?

The data is all from the 2023 PAS report.

Seriously, I'm not imagining this, am I?

😮

#Archaeology #Detecting 🏺
November 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
For those who remember the Staffordshire Torc Odyssey from a year ago - I have good news!

I've been allowed access to the final torc in the set... 😊

You can read more about it here:

bigbookoftorcs.com/2024/05/25/t...

#Archaeology #Gold #Torcs
November 16, 2025 at 6:35 AM
We built a dead hedge and planted 250 wild daffodils...

... the kingfisher was very impressed! ❤️
November 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Morrisons finest and my favourite! ❤️🐇
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Today, I want to focus on donation of treasure finds to museums.

Note, these figures include those who have sold their finds to museums at a reduced rate, as well as donated them for free - there's no way of finding out how many of each.

1/6

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #Gold 🏺
November 14, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Several minute piece on the BBC.
Lots of detectorists.
No archaeologists.
No-one from PAS.
No-one from museums.
No discussion of the costs or responsibilities involved.

😡

#Archaeology #Detecting #Treasure #BBC #News
November 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Guess what I've spent the morning doing??

TLDR it's all getting worse: number of Treasure finds up, number of donations and acquisitions down.

#Archaeology #Treasure #Detecting
November 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As a break from insanity that is archaeology, I spent the morning helping plant 1000 fritillary bulbs in Verulamium park - part of a superb project to make River Ver a bit more healthy & a bit less floody...

Really lovely bunch of folks. 😊

I've even got me own hi-viz & found a bit of Roman tile! 🤣
November 11, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Hello folks. I've been making plaster of paris artefacts/decorations for friends.

I'm opening it up here now - all items incl. postage (UK only, sadly) & gift packaging. I can send things within a week, usually faster.

Anyway, if there's anything you fancy, message/email me! 😊

#Archaeology 🏺
November 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Yeah exactly. Art and design isn't just added deco. My favourite torc ever, which i think is incredibly beautiful is this one from Snettisham...

It is so stunningly precise and simple in its make, and I'm sure intended to be just that...
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The 6th one...
November 8, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Oh my!!! 😲

#CabinPressure
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 AM
November 5, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This it almost as good as Boudica: Queen of War where our gal Boudica can be seen wearing a British Museum shop pendant...
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 PM
With huge thanks to my friend Patrick for spotting this.

The new MGM Robin Hood series.

Sean Bean as the Sheriff of Nottingham...

...wearing a horse-bit as a cloak fastener!!!!

Crying!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

#Archaeology 🏺
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Here -
October 23, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Listening to a podcast and just heard someone say that a certain politician never 'got their gander up'...

🤣🤣🤣
October 23, 2025 at 6:09 AM
I always mean to take photos of this, but always forget - I rather like the design of the British Library and how it compares and contrasts to the fabulously opulent St Pancras hotel...

Always makes me smile when I come out of Kings Cross St Pancras station.
October 22, 2025 at 6:41 AM
*Snoopy torc dance!*
October 19, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Weekend crossword in the Grauniad today...

He's gets everywhere, that @zackpolanski.bsky.social !! 🤣
October 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
On this day in history... 🤣🤣🤣

@theduncanmackay.bsky.social !
October 15, 2025 at 6:14 AM