Artists have always loved to sketch! Sketch of a sparrow from Egypt, c. 1479–1458 BC. Some 3,500 years ago in Egypt, artists used flakes of limestone as sketch pads rather than paper. MMA excavations 1922-23, Deir el-Bahri. 📷 The Met metmuseum.org/art/collection… #FindsFriday

I co-wrote an article about Romany Gypsy archaeology in the new issue of British Archaeology magazine and it is in shops today!! Thanks to Raksha Dave for her hard work on this wonderful issue 🫡 So cool/surreal to see 1960s Romany stories on platforms like these ✌🏼

Introducing Soane and Modernism: Make It New (12 February - 18 May 2025) Our first exhibition of 2025 investigates Sir John Soane as a forerunner of architectural modernism and places his work in dialogue with celebrated modernists and those who share affinities with his work.

Join us online on Tues 18 Feb 13:00-14:00 to hear the latest from Cultural Heritage PhD student alinanbotezatu talking about her fascinating research on #heritage objects in a maritime collection in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland: stir.ac.uk/events/2024-25…

Glorious news from Londinium! “Beginnings of Roman London discovered in office basement” bbc.com/news/articles/… Great piece by Rebecca Morelle and team.

Today is #RandomActsofKindnessDay so we're giving people free access to books, information, free internet access and WiFi, a free warm space and a whole load of other stuff. FOR FREE. Just like every other day. ❤️ Libraries are amazing. #LoveLibraries

On display in our #MedievalWomen exhibition is a volume made by the Jewish printer Estellina Conat in c. 1476, the earliest known printed book by a named woman. Today's blogpost explores her work and other Jewish women printers of the 15th century. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

Enroute to Leeds for the Society for Army Historical Research Land Forces of the Crown conference where I’ll be honoured to deliver my first ever keynote speech. Had to pause before boarding to admire the beautiful architecture of King’s Cross Station

This apse appears in a set of late 1890s glass plates newly donated to the Signet Library. We're stumped as to the church, but it may be Lothians/Borders, somewhere between Innerleithan and Penicuik. Does anyone recognise it, please?

Gorgeous Roman glass cups decorated with colourful enamel-painted animals from the Roman arena. AD 200s. Found in richly-furnished ‘princely’ graves in Denmark, where they are known as ‘circus beakers’. National Museum of Denmark 📷 by me #FindsFriday #Archaeology

And #sahr2025 kicks off with an opportunity for our early career scholars to network and socialise!

Since it’s the 1st of March and I happened to be passing: a fresco of Mars who lends his name to the month. From the House of Punished Love VII.2.23, Pompeii Currently on display in Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli

At almost 2,000 years old, this child’s wooden toy sword is a remarkable survival from Roman times! Found in the living quarters of the cavalry barracks at Vindolanda fort in 2017. Dated c. 120 AD. Chesterholm Museum 📷 by me #Archaeology

Scott’s passion for Jacobite history was shaped by childhood stories and his ancestor ‘Beardie’. See a selection of relics he collected in our new display at Abbotsford, on now until 16 Nov. 📖 #Abbotsford #History #VisitScotland #ScottishBorders #Edinburgh

If you go down to Stromness Library today, you can see Stephanie's superbly spooktacular window painting of Meg and Mog, from the brilliant books by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pieńkowski. 🧙‍♀️🐈‍⬛️🦉🧹🌙 #LoveLibraries #Halloween

Rest in peace, Patricia Routledge 🙏🏻 In memory of her, I encourage everyone to read these words of hers from February last year. Whether young or old, you're bound to get something out of it. ***** "I’ll be turning 95 this coming Monday. In my younger years, I was often

On a recent trip to Winchester, on Jane Austen business of course, I saw the Actual Mr Darcy Suit worn by Colin Firth in the 1995 version of P&P. To ladies my age, THIS IS EVERYTHING

The Horn of Ulf, on display in York Minster. An absolute treasure, it’s 1000 years old and was gifted to the Minster by a Norse lord named Ulf in around 1030 as a deed of transfer of lands that he had given to the church. It’s an elaborately carved elephant tusk, with that alone

It's that time of year again! 🎄 Imagine the look on your loved ones faces when they unwrap their very own Orkney Library Tote Bag on #Christmas morning! Sturdy canvas bags with the Orkney Library logo in Red, Green, Blue, Purple or Pink. £10 each.

Today (12th January) marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Dame Agatha Christie; mystery writer, playwright, plotting genius, creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple AND THE BESTSELLING NOVELIST OF ALL TIME. If you've never read her, the time is now. #ReadChristie2026