Alison Foster

Just got some Ref**m literature delivered with the post. No prepaid address on the back, so the wokest, greenest thing I can think to do with it is put it in the wormery with all the other rotten stuff. It'll be transformed into lovely worm casts to plant next year's vegetables in.

Fellow archaeologists out there can we have a conversation about the use of AI in the materials we produce for the public. I know that a lot of us are increasingly frustrated by the use of AI in media and all the awful stereotypes that we have spent decades trying to challenge creeping back in

I say, I say, I say! Here is a joke I’ve been trying to write for a decade, but I think it only works as a diagram — so, BEHOLD! The fog on the Tyne is all mime

Late post for Caturday - saw this nice little detail on a pub wall in Sheffield as I walked to the Professional Zooarch meeting a few weeks ago. It reminded me of the Cat Trail in York - maybe there are other Sheffield cats? #Caturday

I have a few days to polish our #zooarchaeology workshop for the Contemporary & Historical Archaeology conference in Innsbruck. Title is “Seeing the Wild Possibilities of Domestic and Captive Animals” Here is a link to the workshop website. apbeisaw.vassarspaces.net/omekas_exhib...

"I made the Armoured Scorpion of Death to help mankind, not to destroy!" youtu.be/QdhwTXwhA4c?...

Those Boston Dynamics employees need to quit, start a company and make robot squirrels to distract the robot dogs. Actions speak louder than words.

Adopt some #Herefordshire hens! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sister's car was reversed into by a tractor, while she was inside. Insurance claim form question: "How do we know that the third party was a tractor?" Several replies have been drafted, none of them very polite.

The scale of this destruction is almost unimaginable. There really aren't the words to describe it. And this afternoon I have to complete a survey at work so my employer can gauge how staff are using AI effectively. Suspect I will be marked for 'education'. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Amal asked if I could share this photograph of dear little Khaled, along with the supplies she was able to buy with the donations from this link. It really does make a difference. But donations have stopped for 3 days and she really needs to get him a crib for winter now. ❤️‍🩹🍉 gofund.me/32bda5e44

So many museums in Berlin, and I've visited quite a few, but I didn't know about this one. Will have to check it out next time I'm there.

Just had a phone call from my sister who has had a brilliant evening in a brewery taproom at Launceston listening to @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social Fascinating talk and a great venue too!

Shout out to Brandenburg 👀

The Roman Army in Britain needed over a tonne of cheese to make it through the day. On the pod this week @deliciouslegacy.bsky.social and I look at how the Roman Army revolutionised cheese production and consumption in Britain. On Youtube and your pod app! open.spotify.com/episode/254E...

Bit small, but it'll do I suppose.

This thread about posh biscuits includes the phrase "more packaging than an emergency couriered replacement heart", which I may have to use if the opportunity arises.

Me, in The Guardian, wanging on about worms.

I do have children, but neither of them would thank me for my zooarch reference collection. It needs a good home though. Some of the specimens are like old friends, and all have a story. I spend more time with them than I do with people.

Huge horses in medieval and earlier period dramas.

My mother is very scathing about these 'baby' potatoes. "They're pig tates. The little ones that fall through the riddle. We used to feed 'em to the pigs." Not sure how they get away with labelling them 'new' either, in October.

Great to see Scarlett at Questfest last night. She adapted a piece of my chainmail and wouldn't take payment so the least I can do is share her webpage. Take a look - she's incredibly talented and makes individual pieces to order #Questfest #powermetal #metal scarlettbladeschainmail.bigcartel.com

Worrying news, from Amal today "My fever went up to 40°C, and I’m still very weak and exhausted after giving birth. They found that I have a severe infection and my white blood cell count is also very high. I’m still feeling very sick and need treatment." Please help 🍉🙏❤️ gofund.me/32bda5e44

This Monday's 'Meet Your ICAZ Member' is Richard Madgwick! To be featured, please email answers to the provided questions to gmail.com, along with a photo of yourself or your work. #ICAZ #Zooarch

Sophie laying claim to an entire three-seater sofa. (She will, of course, remain undisturbed.)

This BBC story about EVs and car sickness includes a quote from an American doctor. "'I've heard about it many, many, many times,' he adds, saying about two patients a month specifically reference feeling motion sick in electric vehicles." Many, many, many. Two a month.

Do ponies living wild on a hillfort have Iron Age chariot dreams? The beautiful inhabitants of Traprain Law, East Lothian. #HillfortsWednesday

At some point soon I will have finished recording this box of bone and will need to replace the lid. This will not be a popular move.

His face! A real-life Cheshire Cat ❤️

With no phone and my elderly Garmin on strike, I had to wait till I got home to find I'd done a sub-41 minutes parkrun! I've accepted that I'll probably never do a sub-30 again, but I'm beginning to feel that things are definitely improving! Photo: Worcester Woods parkrun #runningpunks

Great to add a mountaineering badger to our garden species list. The hillside is very steep and rocky! The footage is not TV nature programme standard but I'm chuffed to bits.

"So if you want to be like Avon, Vila, Tarrant..." I wanted to be like Servalan.

I watched this last night. It's terrifying, but hopeful. I feel it's my duty, as a human, to share it. I'd appreciate it if you shared it too. It's specifically made for people in the UK, but it's about everyone, and, the more people see it, the better chance we'll have. www.nebriefing.org/the-film

I live near a very popular primary school on a narrow, twisty road with no proper parking. I want to print this off and leave it under windscreen wipers.

The extraordinary 3,000 year-old ‘Berlin Gold Hat’! One of four known cone-shaped golden ‘hats’ from ancient Europe. Sheet gold decorated with bands of solar and lunar motifs, which may represent calendars according to latest research. Neues Museum, Berlin 📷 by me #Archaeology

Not an amateur archaeologist, or any other kind. The Guardian should know better. Still, he did contact the authorities at an early stage, so that's something. Amateur archaeologist finds 934 Roman silver denarii in German field | Germany | The Guardian share.google/SapJQ5dU6qYu...

Matt Berry! (To be honest, I say that every time a voice actor is required)

Xandria headlining at the O2 Institute Birmingham, tonight. Excellent show, especially the brilliant Seven Spires. Tulip were good too. #Symphonicmetal

When is a dog a dog? 🐾🐕‍🦺 Fascinating paper from A.B, Sophy & @gregerlarson.bsky.social ponders the dangers of assumptions and presumptions when drawing conclusions about #domestication of our furry... friends(?) #dogsofbluesky #zooarchaeology #aDNA #dogs

Monday morning, and I have just sent an email and signed off Beast, Alison Good start to the week.

This is what a city orchestra looks like mailchi.mp/ichoosebirmi...

Very impressive. Had to read the comments though, to see how long it was before someone mentioned Rick Wakeman. (4th comment, first of several)