Spencer Carter

@microburin.bsky.social

3809 Followers 1066 Following

Mesolithic & community archaeologist, FSA Scot, Hon Research Fellow at Durham University Archaeology, Long Covid since 2020. timevista.co.uk | clevelandarchaeology.com

Diary dates for August: #Archaeology Exhibition (free) at Loftus, North Yorkshire, Neolithic to Anglo-Saxon
Prehistoric artefact teaching kits at our Festival of Archaeology event today, from Mesolithic - Neolithic - Bronze Age, mix of original artefacts and replicas, stone to metal and some antler too. https://thornboroughag.org/
Knitted summer characters on top of a post box. It's a huge local tradition.
This year TAG is making its most ambitious contribution yet to the CBA Festival of Archaeology. On Saturday 18th July, we are providing our 'gateway event', consisting of a talk, Q&A, artefact handling, and then a tour of the Thornborough henges. This event is ideal to anyone who wants an informed and up-to-date overview of Thornborough. A week later, on Saturday 25th July, we are getting together again, to provide a deep dive into the theme of henges and nature. This event, co-organised with English Heritage and Manchester Metropolitan University, consists of a number of talks, and provides the perfect opportunity for you to develop your knowledge and understanding of the British Neolithic, and in particular, its henges. Moreover, English Heritage and TAG will have their own 'stands' there, so there will be plenty of opportunity to talk to archaeologists and heritage professionals. Tickets for these events can be purchased by clicking on the links below. Thank you. (Jan Harding) 18th July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/festival-of-archaeology-at-thornborough-north-yorkshire-tickets-1991461182004?aff=oddtdtcreator 25th July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-henges-and-nature-tickets-1991767828191?aff=oddtdtcreator
Archaeology, sub zero temperatures, huge feature. Pic is the plan, some tools, and a 4H pencil (and eraser, sharpener) on the planning board.
Three henge monuments, each 250m diameter, now under the guardianship of English Heritage, free access. The three henges are not in a perfectly straight line but form a distinct dogleg. This deliberate layout mirrors the exact arrangement of the three stars in Orion's Belt. The Thornborough alignment is part of a broader 17.7 km ceremonial route. One of the alignments connects the henges to the Devil's Arrows standing stones in Boroughbridge, via the Nunwick henge.
Three henge monuments, each 250m diameter, now under the guardianship of English Heritage, free access. The three henges are not in a perfectly straight line but form a distinct dogleg. This deliberate layout mirrors the exact arrangement of the three stars in Orion's Belt. The Thornborough alignment is part of a broader 17.7 km ceremonial route. One of the alignments connects the henges to the Devil's Arrows standing stones in Boroughbridge, via the Nunwick henge.
My ex blowing on coals.
L to R. Spence as an archaeologist, healthy and active. The lady who coughed in my face at Tesco, the super spreader. So Covid infection. And, today, barely able to function, housebound, no treatments or support, an alien potato.
The primary phase of the villa dates to the 3rd–4th centuries AD. It is a courtyard villa, with mosaics and a small bath house on the east side. The site has some evidence for a 1st–2nd century AD rectangular enclosure and an earlier Iron Age settlement beneath it.
Late Mesolithic Hunter-Gatherer Transitions at Esklets, Westerdale, North York Moors 5000-3700 BC is presently a research project but with future potential for community engagement based on analysis and dating of peat and sediment samples. This phase is supported here by Dr Jim Innes (Durham University Geography) for environmental and pollen analysis and Dr Seren Griffiths (Manchester Metropolitan University) for Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon dates. These sites are under threat, and are being destroyed by erosion, by land management, by heavy use of adjacent footpaths and by unrecorded flint collecting by the public. The project is trying to research the sites through excavation and scientific analyses before they are destroyed. Several are already badly affected.
Minor disagreement over onsite trench priorities, Henry the victim, Kate the poler, and the supposedly Bronze Age double dykes radiocarbon dated to Viking.
Upland moorland setting (heather), Bronze Age largely stoney features (ring cairn), Prof on a ladder held with ropes to take pics.
Crop-spray bi-plane, two pilots, vodka, dive bombed our archaeology dig every day. (Lovely guys).
King Carles III points at plant.
Mesolithic figurine in antler headress at the seaside with waves.
Two novels, adventure stories, ideal for younger readers 8-11 but great reads at any age.
Composite image, view of moorland c 300m elevation (R), excavated secition (L), peat profile (Bot L), selected flint artefacts, bladelets, microliths, cores. More at https://timevista.co.uk/about/research/
Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fisher with barbed spear and deer antler headress, at the seaside.
Orange drama by a Greek cardiologist from London.
Black helmet with white 'W' on front and rear. The helmet is fitted with an internal metal and leather safety structure and a fabric chinstrap. The helmet is stamped inside 'A50 BMH 1/1939'. This helmet is not of LTPB origin but of a common style as used by LT staff. It is believed that the 'W' stands for Warden.
Cognac (warmed) and a cigar.
Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fisher with barbed antler spear and deer antler headdress. At the sea side.
For around 10% of Covid victims, no matter what age, gender, or severity, the life-changing journey into post-viral Long Covid is utterly disabling. Image from normal me L, coughing an airborne virus, and how life now feels as a housebound alien unable to move or think. No treatments. Long Covid affects several major body systems, and neural, so there won't be a "single pill" solution.
Laying out a Mesolithic rescue excavation plan and finds at 1:1 scale on an office floor. You can walk around the hearths and see where people were knapping flint, shaking aprons, making tools. Spooky.
Fictional adventure stories based in Mesolithic Britain c 8000 BCE, illustrated by Amy Groves. Intended for 8-12 year olds, they're great reads for any age. Available via Amazon for under a tenner, Warriors ships end of April 2026.
Vapours
Sobiejuchy, Poland. HQ in the manor house.
Poster. Nationally and internationally important finds from earliest salt-making to a Saxon princess buried in a bed.
Asleep with Ray Mears' Wild Food.
North York Moors towards the west, tabular hills.
Durham University Archaeology, red minibus heading to Poland - Durham - Hull - Rotterdam - Oder-Frankfurt - Żnin. Packed full of toilet rolls before the Iron Curtain fell.
Left: two (damaged) late Neolithic flint tools Right: are rather later golf ball
Neolithic replica pots by Graham Taylor, grooved ware to the L, carinated cooking bowl to the R with rounded base.
Neolithic house preparing dinner. Image courtesy Frank Wiersema.
Selection of some good Neolithic books, a replica black pottery bowl, cooking pot, a fletched leaf-shaped arrowhead and selective grey flint tools on top of the book covers. We could be sat around the warm fire chatting in around 3800 BCE. What's in the stew?
Excavation in clay soil, approaching 1.5m depth below grass, diggers in shot. Final depth near 2m below turf two years later.
Blue-grey ribbon for awareness of Long Covid, the post-viral illness affecting 10% of Covid19 victims, life-changing and disabling.
Complexity of Long Covid post-viral, affecting almost every bodily and cognitive system.
Model cruise ship in a pothole with a decking ramp made from lolly sticks.
White van with plum image on the side. Most are electric.