Dr Thomas J. Derrick 🧪🌺🏛 ⛏📚
@tjderrick.bsky.social
Archaeologist and Social Historian - Glass, perfumes/medicines, the senses, & the everyday in the Roman World. Gale Research Fellow
at Macquarie University - He/Him. 🇬🇧 in 🇦🇺 on unceded Cammeraygal and Wallumattugal (Dharug) Land
at Macquarie University - He/Him. 🇬🇧 in 🇦🇺 on unceded Cammeraygal and Wallumattugal (Dharug) Land
My new article "Looting and Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Sudan and the Glass from Sedeinga" in Glass News 55, embargo-free. It can be downloaded below (or contact me ([email protected]) for a copy if you don't want to use the below site).
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
July 31, 2025 at 4:15 AM
My new article "Looting and Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Sudan and the Glass from Sedeinga" in Glass News 55, embargo-free. It can be downloaded below (or contact me ([email protected]) for a copy if you don't want to use the below site).
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Had fun filming a talking head interview about historical glass at Hyde Park Barracks, as part of a new (as yet unannounced) archaeological exhibition opening in Sydney late 2025. Sneak peek: this European glass 'core' was knapped by First Nations Australians to make small blades (First Gov. House).
July 9, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Had fun filming a talking head interview about historical glass at Hyde Park Barracks, as part of a new (as yet unannounced) archaeological exhibition opening in Sydney late 2025. Sneak peek: this European glass 'core' was knapped by First Nations Australians to make small blades (First Gov. House).
📢 I was very lucky to be asked to be an expert on ABC Kids’ Imagine This. I help answer “How is glass made” and we go back to Egypt and Jerusalem during the Roman Empire to find out! Thanks to Nij and Soumia at ABC Kids - this is the best thing I've ever done.
www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/p...
www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/p...
May 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
📢 I was very lucky to be asked to be an expert on ABC Kids’ Imagine This. I help answer “How is glass made” and we go back to Egypt and Jerusalem during the Roman Empire to find out! Thanks to Nij and Soumia at ABC Kids - this is the best thing I've ever done.
www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/p...
www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/p...
Experimental archaeology (of sorts) happening today at Macquarie with my student intern (and chemist) Evie. We are trying to replicate the fake patination found on Roman glass facsimiles in our museum.
May 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Experimental archaeology (of sorts) happening today at Macquarie with my student intern (and chemist) Evie. We are trying to replicate the fake patination found on Roman glass facsimiles in our museum.
🗞️ Glass News 54 hot off the presses. Consider joining (or asking your library to subscribe) @ahglass.bsky.social (15 GBP a yr) for 2 issues a year (3 most recent are in our members area), plus other benefits. We have also bolstered our research grants pool (deadline 31 March) historyofglass.org.uk
January 31, 2025 at 12:11 PM
🗞️ Glass News 54 hot off the presses. Consider joining (or asking your library to subscribe) @ahglass.bsky.social (15 GBP a yr) for 2 issues a year (3 most recent are in our members area), plus other benefits. We have also bolstered our research grants pool (deadline 31 March) historyofglass.org.uk
The marvels of ancient #glass in the late first century BCE and CE These matching cameo glass furniture inlays from Pompeii are huge and so intricate. They depict Ariadne and Bacchus and were found in the house of Marcus Fabius Rufus (Reg. 7, Insula 16) in 1960. @ NMA's 'Pompeii' Canberra until May
December 13, 2024 at 3:55 AM
The marvels of ancient #glass in the late first century BCE and CE These matching cameo glass furniture inlays from Pompeii are huge and so intricate. They depict Ariadne and Bacchus and were found in the house of Marcus Fabius Rufus (Reg. 7, Insula 16) in 1960. @ NMA's 'Pompeii' Canberra until May
Pompeii at the NMA in Canberra PT.2
December 13, 2024 at 3:04 AM
Pompeii at the NMA in Canberra PT.2
Pompeii at the NMA in Canberra PT.1
December 13, 2024 at 2:27 AM
Pompeii at the NMA in Canberra PT.1
A great time had by all at the launch of Pompeii at the National Museum of Australia last night. I'll be posting some highlights but they won't do it justice, if you're in eastern Aus between now and May 2025, go!
December 13, 2024 at 2:24 AM
A great time had by all at the launch of Pompeii at the National Museum of Australia last night. I'll be posting some highlights but they won't do it justice, if you're in eastern Aus between now and May 2025, go!
Enjoyed speaking about my work on the glass from Ulpiana at a small workshop at MQ organised by Ray Laurence for the visit of Prof. Frank Vermeulen. Espec. fun to talk about the clear links btn the blue-rimmed 4th/5th c high-quality material and similar material in Bulgaria (partic. Serdica(Sofia)).
November 29, 2024 at 6:38 AM
Enjoyed speaking about my work on the glass from Ulpiana at a small workshop at MQ organised by Ray Laurence for the visit of Prof. Frank Vermeulen. Espec. fun to talk about the clear links btn the blue-rimmed 4th/5th c high-quality material and similar material in Bulgaria (partic. Serdica(Sofia)).
It is spring in Australia, SPRING. No.
November 26, 2024 at 10:42 PM
It is spring in Australia, SPRING. No.
Thanks to Julien, Marcus, and colleagues at the MUHM, and especially the lighting which has done me a world of favours. This was fun to do and I'm looking forward to hearing my rambling rendered in Arabic. New profile picture too!
November 25, 2024 at 1:56 AM
Thanks to Julien, Marcus, and colleagues at the MUHM, and especially the lighting which has done me a world of favours. This was fun to do and I'm looking forward to hearing my rambling rendered in Arabic. New profile picture too!
This is a definite sign that I need to have some sort of digital index of my analogue books. Let me know if you have a favourite!
November 20, 2024 at 10:53 PM
This is a definite sign that I need to have some sort of digital index of my analogue books. Let me know if you have a favourite!
A great time last night speaking week at The Lens of Perception: A Panel Discussion on Glass at Chau Chak Wing Museum, Uni of Sydney. I was thrilled to share the stage with some great Australian glass artists and to share tales of ancient glassworking. Thanks to Katrina Liberiou for assembling!
November 17, 2024 at 12:36 AM
A great time last night speaking week at The Lens of Perception: A Panel Discussion on Glass at Chau Chak Wing Museum, Uni of Sydney. I was thrilled to share the stage with some great Australian glass artists and to share tales of ancient glassworking. Thanks to Katrina Liberiou for assembling!
I'm not sure the novelty of campus laughing kookaburras will ever wear off. Usually a hunter, it promptly killed this melon by hitting it against a tree.
October 3, 2024 at 4:16 AM
I'm not sure the novelty of campus laughing kookaburras will ever wear off. Usually a hunter, it promptly killed this melon by hitting it against a tree.
Accident or design? This hemispherical circa 1st century BCE Mediterranean slumped and wheel-polished bowl is both blue-green and yellow-green. This is possibly due to uneven temperatures in the furnace, or two batches of different glass. #findsfriday in
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
October 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Accident or design? This hemispherical circa 1st century BCE Mediterranean slumped and wheel-polished bowl is both blue-green and yellow-green. This is possibly due to uneven temperatures in the furnace, or two batches of different glass. #findsfriday in
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
Date night? (sorry) - This Roman mould-blown glass flask dates (!) to the first century CE (likely made in the region around modern Syria). I like to think they were a dinner table joke, or maybe even a perfume/cosmetic using dates (a bit sticky?!) #findsfriday in @macquariemuseum.bsky.social
October 13, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Date night? (sorry) - This Roman mould-blown glass flask dates (!) to the first century CE (likely made in the region around modern Syria). I like to think they were a dinner table joke, or maybe even a perfume/cosmetic using dates (a bit sticky?!) #findsfriday in @macquariemuseum.bsky.social
Sometimes seeing an object up close can surprise you. This late Roman sprinkler flask looks like a typical greenish colourless glass vessel with applied dark-blue-green decoration. But up close - swirled red/pink inside the blue! #findsfriday - from
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
October 13, 2023 at 10:33 AM
Sometimes seeing an object up close can surprise you. This late Roman sprinkler flask looks like a typical greenish colourless glass vessel with applied dark-blue-green decoration. But up close - swirled red/pink inside the blue! #findsfriday - from
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
@macquariemuseum.bsky.social
🏺Think you've got a handle on Friday? What about 13?! This lovely squat glass jar dating to the late Roman period has lots of character as well as lots of dark blue-green handles. From the @macquariemuseum.bsky.social for #FindsFriday
October 6, 2023 at 11:26 AM
🏺Think you've got a handle on Friday? What about 13?! This lovely squat glass jar dating to the late Roman period has lots of character as well as lots of dark blue-green handles. From the @macquariemuseum.bsky.social for #FindsFriday
🏺 - Treasure! Didn't expect to pick up lots of precious older Roman Britain bits and bobs in an office clear out (especially as they don't teach it here!). Well chuffed!
October 5, 2023 at 3:52 AM
🏺 - Treasure! Didn't expect to pick up lots of precious older Roman Britain bits and bobs in an office clear out (especially as they don't teach it here!). Well chuffed!
Feeling blue? A cobalt blue lathe-cut 'Hofheim' cup for #findsfriday. Featuring a (slightly uneven) abraded line at the top and one thin one on the lower body. Fits wonderfully in the hand, maybe for a Friday afternoon tipple 🥃 - but it's not for sale (sorry). @macquariemuseum.bsky.social
September 29, 2023 at 2:17 AM
Feeling blue? A cobalt blue lathe-cut 'Hofheim' cup for #findsfriday. Featuring a (slightly uneven) abraded line at the top and one thin one on the lower body. Fits wonderfully in the hand, maybe for a Friday afternoon tipple 🥃 - but it's not for sale (sorry). @macquariemuseum.bsky.social
A charming Roman lidded glass and copper alloy inkwell with moving handle for #findsfriday - if you squint on the 2nd pic you'll see some nice decoration (lines and circles). Inkwells for knib pens are uncommon and especially so in glass with copper alloy mounts. @macquariemuseum.bsky.social
September 22, 2023 at 4:14 AM
A charming Roman lidded glass and copper alloy inkwell with moving handle for #findsfriday - if you squint on the 2nd pic you'll see some nice decoration (lines and circles). Inkwells for knib pens are uncommon and especially so in glass with copper alloy mounts. @macquariemuseum.bsky.social