#archaeologistsofinstagram

I've started making a little memory box from my PhD. It's not finished yet - I need to fasten things correctly and add in some structure - but so far it includes a postcard from the Inuit Studies Conference, a beautifully carved piece of caribou antler that I bought from an Igloolik artist, and a seal skull. . The seal material used in the experiments that were mentioned in Tuesday's poem all came from an animal that had died of natural causes. I had contacted the Pieterburen seal sanctuary to the north of Groningen to ask if they had any recently deceased seals, and received an affirmative. As they are a sanctuary, they receive a lot of sick or injured seals, and while many of them are able to be released back into the wild, there are unfortunately those who don't survive. I was therefore invited to attend the autopsy of two such individuals, and could then take whatever material I needed for my experiments. (I should say that this was only allowed because I had signed a scientific research declaration - they don't just allow anyone to come and get bits of dead seal...) . I therefore got the skins from two seals to use in my sewing experiments (the poem for that one will be shared next week) as well as the bones from one to use as the raw material for the different kinds of tools I needed for my PhD experiments. I did not need the skull for my experiments, but the vets very kindly let me take it, as they would have just thrown it out anyway, and so now it sits on my shelf as a memory to the creature without who I would not have been able to complete my PhD. . A bit of an odd post today, but I wanted to acknowledge that experimental archaeology is often a messy business. What's important is to approach the acquisition of raw materials from an ethical perspective, and respect the animals who donated them. . #ExperimentalArchaeology #ArchaeologyLife #ArchaeologyLovers #ArchaeologistsOfInstagram #archaeology #archaeologist #PhD #PhdLife #skull #ArcticArchaeology https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZsCghqhKo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Yay it's #WorkspaceWednesday ! . We've started hosting "co-working" sessions over on the Discord server for the @archaeobookclub and it is doing wonders for my productivity! I have posted here before about I struggle with motivation to start new tasks, and especially with just two weeks to go now to get this thesis done, I really can't afford to be unproductive! (Especially as there are no extra tasks that need to be done that I can procrastinate with and convince myself that it's still productive in the long run - this is literally the final push!) . One of the big issues with working from home is that it's easy to feel lonely, especially if you're working on an independent project so aren't part of a team. And for me, that lonliness has a big negative effect on my working ability, because instead of taking breaks to chat with colleagues, which are usually not too long and help to air any issues or thoughts that I'm having that could do with a second ear, I end up distracting myself and ending up having a break that goes in for far too long and engaged in an activity that is completely unrelated to my work... (YouTube rabbit holes or browsing in Etsy are prime examples...) . That's why I'm really enjoying our new book club co-working sessions! We give ourselves goals to achieve before our next break, which helps with accountability, but can also share any issues we're having and provide both feedback and moral support. . Do you enjoy co-working? Or do you work better in isolation? . #PhD #phdlife #archaeologist #ArchaeologistsOfInstagram #ArchaeoBookclub #bookclub #PhdThesis #AcademicLife #AcademicsOfInstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CosC9QuKgXB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Well it's the last day of 2022 and so of course I had to do the traditional #TopNine post showing my top nice posts of this year. . This year seems to have been a very eclectic year when it comes to which content has been enjoyed more. The most popular posts (on the right) were those giving an insight into my own personal story, featuring the Tiny Teacup and my career path to archaeology and where I am now. This makes sense - storytelling is of course the best way to connect - and I'm honoured that you're all so interested in my story! . The next in popularity (on the left) included some #MugshotMonday posts, so perhaps I'll try and continue something similar in the future seeing as you enjoyed them so much. And of course our lovely #DiggingArchaeology workshop that I ran with my amazing colleagues @bedouinsilver and @theoverdressedarcheologist (for those still waiting on the recorded sessions - they will be here I swear! Life just got very much in the way for all of us unfortunately...) . And finally the third rank of popularity (the middle column) is a lot more random, with insights into my fieldwork travel, weekends at Christmas markets, sharing of small businesses, and promoting my other platforms like YouTube. Hopefully this means that you enjoy a little bit of everything that I do! . As I've already mentioned in a few posts here, I'm be continuing to take a little break from more regular series and posts on here over the next few months, while I finish up this PhD. And then there may be a pause while the next teacup is brought into the world, but I have lots of exciting plans for the future of my online platforms so I hope that you stick around and continue to be a member of this lovely community that you've created. I'm so grateful for all of you, and so happy that I'm able to do what I love and people actually seem interested in it! . Happy New Year everyone! . #archaeology #ArchaeologistsOfInstagram #phdlife #PhD #TheLeveragedPhd #SciComm #Archaeologist #TeaDay #ArchaeologyLovers #ArchaeologyLife #NewYear https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm0sazHqnDE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Only one week to go until the first in an exciting new series that I’ve been helping to organise by Kulturo Media (who amongst other things, run the wonderful @archpodnet who produce my podcast "Tea-break Time Travel”): Kulturo Share. . In this first instalment of Kulturo Share, we’ll be talking all about experimental archaeology. To introduce us to the diversity of this topic, we have three fabulous guest speakers: . Thomas Keyes (@thomaskeyesartist ) is an Scotland-based artist who specialises in the reconstruction of insular manuscripts and their material components. He'll be talking about his current kickstarter project "Making the Book of Kells", in which he aims to recreate one of the iconic pages from the Book of Kells, starting completely from scratch and using only authentic materials and methods. . Aaron Deter-Wolf (@archaeologyink ) is the Prehistoric Archaeologist for the Tennessee Division of Archaeology in Nashville. He'll be talking about his work and experience in ancient tattooing, in particular a recent project undertaken alongside professional tattoo artists to compare the physical characteristics of tattoos using different pre-modern tools and methods. . Dr Anita Radini (@anitaradini ) is the archaeological science and engagement officer at the Centre for Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture (CEAMC) at UCD (@ucd_experimental_archaeology ). She'll be talking about her projects and the work currently being done at the CEAMC. . This event is free if you attend live (make sure to register through the link in my stories, or look up "Kulturo Media" on the web). If you miss it, members of the Archaeology Podcast Network can re-watch whenever they want (to become a member, check out @archpodnet ). . #archaeology #ArchaeologyLovers #ExperimentalArchaeology #ArchaeologistsOfInstagram #tattooing #AncientTattooing #BookOfKells #liveevent #onlineevent https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck5PnuxKsUL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hello! I have a brief moment of internet access so wanted to send a quick update. I'm currently up in Igloolik - a beautiful town in the northern Foxe Basin in Nunavut (Arctic Canada). I'll be back in regular internet contact at the end of August, but until then here's a little insight into our travels up north to whet your appetite! . #archaeology #arctic #ArcticArchaeology #archaeologistsofinstagram #archaeologylife #archaeologist #Igloolik #iqaluit #nunavut #fieldwork #archaeologyfieldwork https://www.instagram.com/p/ChZuNj4OLHd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What are you up to this #WorkspaceWednesday ? . I'm currently editing my final paper for my PhD thesis (🥳) but in my breaks I'm also setting up yet another fun project - an archaeology book club! . I recently joined the @scientistswhoread community book club and an really enjoying it, so I asked a week or two ago on all my social media platforms whether anyone knew of an archaeology-based community book club but apparently nobody has, although several of you have expressed interest in joining one should it ever exist. So, as is the case with all of my projects, because it doesn't exist yet, I've decided to make one myself! The idea is to create an online community of people who are interested in the past but also share a love of books and reading. . I still need to sort out the details and I'd like it to be a group effort so I've made a little sign-up sheet for those who are interested in joining (link in stories or message me if you're reading this later). Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! . #bookclub #archaeology #archaeologist #archaeologistsofinstagram #archaeologylife #archaeologylovers #archaeologystudent #booklovers #books #bookstagram #archaeologybookclub #archaeologybooks https://www.instagram.com/p/Cggzj2-qbBS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A lucky double post day today, because it's the fourth Tuesday of the month which means it's time for episode 3 of Tea-break Time Travel! . This month I chatted with Zechariah Jinks-Fredrick - a professional archaeologist and blacksmith and proud founder of @anvilandyew . We talked about the history of the archaeologist's trowel, why we choose the tools that we do, and the development of metal tools and metalworking in the past. . So tune in and like/follow/subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear the answer to all your burning questions about archaeological trowels. For example: What's the difference between a cow bone and a trowel? (Very little apparently...) . #archaeology #archaeologylife #archaeologylovers #archaeologist #archaeologistsofinstagram #archaeologypodcast @archpodnet #archaeologiststrowel #archaeologytrowel #trowel #toolkit #podcast #newpodcastepisode #newepisode #archaeologytoolkit #blacksmith #metalworking #history #prehistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CgeB1-wKhKu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hiding from the sun and working on the July newsletter for a bit this morning. I'm really enjoying coming up with new challenges for the #MonthlyMicrowear section, but not sure if anyone's actually reading them as I haven't received any feedback for the last few... . If you haven't already, you can subscribe to this monthly newsletter through my website (link in bio) and check out the monthly microwear for yourself! As well as other sections highlighting interesting publications, cool projects, and fun events, and of course updates on the different projects within The Archaeologist's Teacup. . Also if anyone has any suggestions for new sections or other content, do let me know! . #WorkspaceWednesday #newsletter #archaeology #ArchaeologistsOfInstagram #SciComm #PhDLife #microwear #archaeologist https://www.instagram.com/p/CgOVM5rqT_X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=