ArchaeoPlays

@archaeoplays.bsky.social

They/them. Disabled/chronically ill Minecraft YouTuber, & archaeologist (aka: Dr. Heather Christie). Early medieval Scotland specialist & glass bead nerd. Lead Researcher for Carved in Stone. https://linktr.ee/archaeoplays | email: archaeoplays@gmail.com

*** EAA Student Award *** 🏺 Nominations for the #EAA2026 Student Award are open and should be submitted until 1 August. The prize is awarded annually for the best presentation at the EAA Annual Meeting by a student, or archaeologist, working on a dissertation. 1/

Student Award

The European Association of Archaeologists instituted the EAA Student Award in 2002. The prize is awarded annually for the best presentation at the EAA Annual Meeting by a student, or archaeologist,…

e-a-a.org

One of the stars of the recent exhibition about the #Etruscans in San Francisco is this gilded silver lebes (cauldron) with snake protomes. The rows of engraved figures depict a flight of geese, a royal hunting party, and military processions. 😍 🏺 1/ Praeneste, 7th c. BCE. 📸 me

Gilt silver lebes (cauldron) depicting four rows of scenes including a row of geese, a royal hunting expediiton, and military processions.  On the convex bottom there is a medallion with a lion trampling a man on all fours while a hawk flies overhead. Six snake protomes were added around the rim at a later date. 

The Etruscans were master metalsmiths. As metal was readily available in Etruria, artisans created a wide repertoire of vessels in bronze, gold, silver, and silver gilt, sometimes reflecting an influence from the Near East. This cauldron with attached snake protomes (decorative motifs usually of a head and torso of an animal) is a good example. Objects like these, which accompanied the deceased in their tombs, inform us of a love for luxurious objects including those inspired by their Mediterranean trading partners. 

It's considered a Phoenician-style import or heavy imitation, with Egyptian-influenced iconography. 

The Bernardini Tomb is one of the most celebrated princely burials of the ancient Mediterranean. Discovered in 1876 in Palestrina (the ancient Latin city of Praeneste), this 7th-century BCE trench grave (fossa) belonged to a high-ranking male elite or prince. 

Etruscan, from Praeneste (modern Palestrina), 'princely' Bernardini Tomb, 2nd quarter of 7th century BCE.

Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia (Villa Poniatowski), Rome (inv. 61566)

In today's entry of archaeological animals, I came across this moko or lizardman figure from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). I love this so much!! Often hung in buildings to act as guardians or worn around dancers necks during ceremonies. Who wouldn't want this dude guarding in your house? 🏺

Curved wooden carving of a creature with a lizard head, a human body, and a bird tail, though the Met says they can also have lizard tails. The head is flat and broad with wide eyes, and the curve REALLY captures the vibe of a lurking, curious little lizard.

Was literally putting my talk together today. There MIGHT be an abundance of dogs... and ogham... and minecraft... and SUPER pretty art by people who are much more talented than I am! 🏺

Enricharch@enricharch.bsky.social · last mo.

Tis July soon and that only means one thing - @buxtonfringe.bsky.social! July 7-26th and we have events in the programme from such speakers as @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social @archaeoplays.bsky.social and @lesleymcf.bsky.social Check out what's on here: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/descriptions...