Image of books. One is called Palestine mapped and the other is called Against decolonisation: taking African agency seriously.
Three books. The true story of Raja the Gullible, Murjana and The Shadow King.
There’s also a bookshop selling a wonderfully curated selection of books. Obvs I did a bit of shopping.
Close up of a lithophane. This shows a smal clay figurine.
Close up of a lithophane. This shows a smal clay pot.
Sarkissian makes absence visible in the most poignant & emotional of ways. He gets it. #Archaeology isn’t just things or the past. It’s abt humanity, past, present & future. It’s not just a loss of heritage - we lose our humanity too. That’s what erasure does and it’s happening in many places. 🇸🇾🇸🇩🇵🇸🇱🇧🏺
The dark room featuring rows of columns each with an image on top.
The room is dark and it’s like looking at rows of tombstones. Each column has a lithophane with a now lost piece of heritage.
So today I wandered into @ibraaz.bsky.social and wowza. There was a fab exhibition by Hrair Sarkissoan called Stolen Past.
It’s about artefacts looted from Raqqa Museum (northern Syria) by Islamic State.
In-text citations or nothing. FIGHT ME 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Seriously though, endnotes are diabolical. At least footnotes are somewhat readable. Ps. Not an actual fight - I’ll go make some coffee cos I’m a pacifist who runs on caffeine.
And at long last!
This paper is finally live. It's been a labour of love, with thanks to so many @ucdarchaeology.bsky.social @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social @micireland.bsky.social @ulstermuseum.org @nmireland.bsky.social and so many more!
And it's open access!
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
And they have yet to even apologise for the data breach.
The ousting of Orbán is a great thing but I’ve seen what happens when there’s a change. The key thing will be accountability. Will Hungary get that? Because it’s never a given. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
But why is it the second I find time to breathe and make a coffee, the cat activates demon mode? It’s a good thing he’s cute.
1/5 Two questions around slavery & its legacies that I’m asked quite frequently, with short answers & links for more detail:
Q1: Which was “worse”, European trans-Atlantic or “Islamic” slavery?
Oh totally but I am still surprised someone there actually reads. Thats how low the bar is at the moment.
I’m more stunned that someone in that lot is dimly aware of Avignon. I’m going to guess they used chatgpt.
Oooh interesting. Thank you Claire. Just shared this with my students. I miss the days of Zoom lectures - so folks if you have anything open to all and online do share and I'll share with my lot :-)
Some great photos from @theguardian.com including a photo of the Bormla Risen Christ. One of my favourites across Malta. Amazing photo by @darrinzl.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
The lamb is coming along nicely. Happy Easter/ L-Għid it-tajjeb.
Shocked pikachu face dot gif
Come on #ArtemisII
I vote castor oil.
Playmobil Obelix, Asterix and Getafix moving standing stones.
It’s that night of the year when Obelix visits every stone circle to synchronise the clocks. Busy night! Jump forward, people!
I know @danherb10.bsky.social LOVES this stuff
#DontBlockMe
#ClocksGoFoward
#TheTimesTheyAreAChangin
#BritishSummerTime
A series of stone cut tombs
Glorious blue sky and light fluffy clouds frame a small chapel. The landscape is green and vibrant and to the right there’s the side of a rock.
Glorious vista of a green valley. Blue skies and fluffy white clouds.
Today was spent clambering around early Christian catacombs while enjoying a very splendid vista. Very windy day but perfect for a spot of gentle archaeology.
Close up of a plate of snails
Time for some snails :-)
Scene of procession. The back of the statue, being carried by people, contrasts with the evening light.
Back of statue as it approaches the church
Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows inside the church.
That was a very lovely Our Lady of Sorrows procession in Lija
View of Filfla island from a small window inside the tower.
The name Xutu refers to the name of two boulders below the island of Fifla (from Arabic filfil, pepper). The Brits yturned the name to Sciuto as apparently the X is hard to pronounce 🤷🏽♀️X is sh. It features heavily in our language.
Light entering through a small window in the thick walls
View towards the water from a window at the top of the tower
I just love the details. In the present I appreciate the golden light. Not sure how I’d have felt as a watchman! Each tower was manned by two guards and a watchman.
Corbelled arches and death stairs.
Inside you can see the fine corbelled architecture. And the death stairs to visit up top. During the colonial period it served various purposes and until 2002 it was a police station!
Canon on steps on tower. Pointing towards coast.
The towers were military installations mostly against Ottoman fleets. During the day they used a system of smoke and signals. At night they used fire and petards.
View of the rocky coast. Blue seas and sky.
This one is known as Ta’ Xutu and was a prototype for the 13 other towers. Somewhere to the left and right are two of the other towers (visible when you’re up at the top)
Stone watch tower set against the blue sky and sea
Between the 15th and 17th centuries the Grandmasters of the Order of St John built a series of coastal watch towers. The aim was to have at least three towers visible to each other. This one was built in 1637 by Grandmaster Lascaris.
Blue skies and blue sea
Time for a bit of peace.
Image of a country side passageway. The sea is to the left, sky is a brilliant blue.
Wandering around my favourite landscape. Best way to clear the mind and renew the soul. Alas still too cold for a swim!