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downham.bsky.social
Medievalist, Liverpool. She/Her. Author of ‘Medieval Ireland’ (Cambridge University Press) ‘Viking Kings of Britain and Ireland’ (Liverpool University Press) currently commissioned for a Penguin Classics volume on the Viking Age
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Just a reminder to all interested in Viking and Medieval Scandinavia that Apardjón is currently seeking submissions for our fourth volume following the success of our third! All details in our CFP below. #MedievalSky #AcademicSky

How on earth can this country still hold the World Cup and Olympics next year??

Currently reading this book by @rorynaismith.bsky.social to understand the context of the St Paul's runestone. Beautifully written and highly recommended #medievalsky

Right now — The call from the Madleen crew, share EVERYWHERE and demand safe passage for the crew and the critical humanitarian aid they are carrying #Madleen #FreedomFlotilla #AllEyesOnMadleen

"In other groups, looters have gone on Facebook Live from archaeological sites, asking users for advice where they should dig next and drumming up excitement from potential buyers who tune in." FFS. There is no end to Meta's complicity. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Three more source analyses to go and then the first draft of my next book is done. It’s exciting to see light at the end of the tunnel, but what a fun journey it’s been so far! Today’s work is St Paul’s runestone #London #medievalsky brief introduction here www.liverpool.ac.uk/media/livacu...

Today is the anniversary of Alan Turing’s suicide, in 1954. Turing was the father of modern computing. His codebreaking helped the Allies to win WWII. Arrested for being gay, he chose chemical castration over a prison sentence. He lost his security clearance, as all homosexuals were deemed a risk.

Author Raynor Winn has recounted how an email to the Big Issue in 2017 kickstarted her bestselling book's journey to publication.

So, to be clear, Musk has now admitted he funded a man he believes to be a pedophile to be president. And Trump has now admitted that he gave access to high level government secrets to a man he believes to be a big time drug addict. This should be *the* story on the Sunday shows tomorrow.

www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/fro... #skystorians

www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblo...

Really enjoyed this panel with the very impressive Janaya Pickett, Chloé Duteil @chloeduteil.bsky.social and Mary Booth #skystorians

A reminder for Professor Bruce Lincoln's online lecture for the Viking Society for Northern Research "Banquets, Atrocities, and the Nature of the Sacred" 4pm UK time time Saturday 14th June. Register via Eventbrite #medievalsky www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/banquets-a...

♦️ Job opportunity at UCC! ♦️ 5-year Lecturer in Old English position, commencing in September. This will be a great opportunity for someone to join a thriving department, and to really put their own mark on the discipline. Please share widely! www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...

"Chester and the Roodee", by Pieter Tillemans. Painted betw. 1710 & 1734, it is the earliest known oil painting of the city. The perspective is from the SW, across the #RiverDee and racecourse - site of the Roman Port - to the walls and towers beyond. #Chester #RomanSiteSaturday #RomanBritain

#FindsFriday The 'Peedie Pict' - a tiny Pictish warrior in a long tunic carved into a cattle bone! Found at Bu Sands in Orkney, it is thought to have been a gaming piece for something similar to the Viking game Hnefatafl 📸 Mine #archaeology #ancientbluesky #museums #history #scotland 🏺

What a time to be talking about Difficult Histories! Absolutely blown away by Professor Deana Heath’s phenomenal session on How Do We Do the History of Violence? Brilliant contributions too from @downham.bsky.social @historyandpolicy.bsky.social & former @livuninews.bsky.social colleagues.

I am thrilled to say that me and Thomas Dowson will be hosting a session at TAG 2025 titled '25 Years of 'Queer Archaeologies' - Where do we need to go?'. We seek submissions that engage with queer archaeology in its broadest sense. More details here: tag2025.hosted.york.ac.uk/en/call-for-...

Queen's University Belfast no longer investing in Israeli companies "as of yesterday"

Open access version of Harry Mawdsley‘s & my study on the changing reasons for & conditions of the banishment of women from antiquity to the early Middle Ages. Based on our dataset of 84 cases from 260-641 and 45 early imperial cases collected by Frank Stini. www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...

The term ‘neo-feudalism’ is problematic on many levels, but a public spat between big male egos/ former besties/ leader and king-maker has a very #medieval ring about it. Either TACO will CO & stab Musk in the back later, or Musk will retreat to a castle and try to forge new alliances against him.

Trinity College Dublin has agreed to divest from Israel due to the current genocide #gaza

Open all of the crossings. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift restrictions on what & how much aid we can bring in. Ensure our convoys aren’t held up by delays and denials. Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire. Let us work.

Had some fun today looking at the doodles someone has added to the spaces in the capital letters of a late medieval manuscript. Thanks @lisacolton.bsky.social for you time talking me through it #medievalsky

The UK government was just defeated in the House of Lords for a *fifth* time over AI training data transparency. Please watch the electrifying end to Baroness Kidron's closing speech ahead of the vote. Creators have no greater champion. 🧵 1/2

Please share and sign in support of Newcastle University staff under threat of compulsory redundancies chng.it/5gHt4yWKw6

THE ENCAMPMENTS is going to be screened on 13th Friday June at FACT, #Liverpool: A powerful new documentary following the Palestine solidarity protests that erupted across university campuses in 2024. The film captures the deeper stakes of a historic moment. www.picturehouses.com/movie-detail...

"The results, so far, suggest the scheme allowed participants to experience elements of daily life that others take for granted... The impact of them being able to socialize with friends really struck me. It’s a very everyday thing, but it wasn’t an everyday thing for these young people.” #Time4UBI

“do y’all ever get tired of being on the wrong side of history??” 💀 I’d be so embarrassed to be a republican. Also, happy Pride month!! 🥳🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Deis scoláireachta chun tabhairt fé PhD le hOllscoil Chaerdydd @cardiffuni.bsky.social @ysgolygymraegpc.bsky.social — mholfainn go hard bheith ag déanamh taighde leo, go háirithe dóibh le spéis sa phleanáil nó beartais teanga. Sásta aon cheist a fhreagairt nó téir ag caint le Diarmait!

Anything with Janet in will be great! I look forward to listening #medievalsky

Stop European Complicity in Occupation, Apartheid and Genocide *For researchers, science professionals, university staff and students based in Europe, Horizon Europe partner countries or affiliated to an EU institution* docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

🏺🧪📜 Hey, that’s me! I’ll be chatting about my PhD research on the Covesea Caves, showcasing some of my zooarchaeological analysis of several sites and exploring the life history of Covesea Cave 2 from the Neolithic to today. ⬇️