You may have noticed that things archaeological and historical have been hitting the headlines quite a bit recently. Never one to shy away from the path of the bleedin’ obvious, I’ve taken this as inspiration for not one, but two posts: this instalment of Bits and Pieces and an experiment with a new type of post here.

First up in the now-traditional vein, a nice piece for Monastic Yorkshire and Wine, Wool, & Spices alumni as well as fans of Fountains Abbey in general:  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blogs/archaeologists-blog/fountains-abbeys-archaeology-past-present-and-future. Early Medieval Art and Architecture and The Dark Ages students may find recent media coverage of research on British fifth- and sixth-century inscribed stones published last year of interest: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2021/26-february/news/uk/cult-of-celtic-saints-widens-under-fresh-examination. Those of you currently enjoying Renaissance Art and Architecture and Beyond the Frontiers will, I suspect, find plenty of welcome lockdown distraction (including areas not usually open to the public) via the Vatican Museums’ virtual tours: https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html.

Post-Impressionists students past and present (the latter of whom have voiced a particular fondness for Mucha) - there’s a treat in store for you here: http://www.muchafoundation.org/en/home. And if you happen to be a fan of Van Gogh and kitsch, voila: https://www.brickfanatics.com/vincent-van-goghs-the-starry-night-painting-is-being-turned-into-an-official-lego-ideas-set/. No really.

For The Dark Ages, Beyond the Frontiers, and Post-Impressionist students who have enjoyed some of the many depictions of Judith and Holofernes, a heads-up (sorry. Couldn’t resist…) for a pasta sauce which could be in a supermarket near you. Should you find this particular variety and wish to learn more about its provenance, this episode of In Our Time may help: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0002hl7 . [OK. It may not help with that per se, but it may yet be of interest. Also, full disclosure: this is an old one, but as it cropped up, I thought I’d share it here anyway – Ed.]

For past and imminent Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic and Imperial Rome: Augustus to Severus alumni, voila: https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/rome-mausoleum-augustus-reopens-march-890342. As a friend of the Facebook friend from whom I nabbed this link noted, we weren’t aware that it had been that hidden, but regardless, this is a puff for a virtual tour which is rather super: http://experience.mausoleodiaugusto.it/it/

Staying with things Roman… Pompeii and Herculaneum alumni (and those who will be alumni by the end of April!) will, no doubt, have noticed that Pompeii is about to have a new feather-ruffling director: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/26/pompeii-vexes-board-with-appointment-of-german-director and, on the ongoing controversy, https://news.artnet.com/art-world/gabriel-zuchtriegel-board-resignations-1947865. Personally, we’re looking forward to seeing how he continues and develops the excellent work on the site (see also: https://www.dw.com/en/a-fresh-vision-for-pompeii-as-new-director-is-appointed/a-56663403 . Less controversially, in Recently Discovered News, see also details of a rather wonderful recent find at Pompeii: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/28/elaborate-ancient-roman-chariot-found-near-pompeii-declared/ and, for more details and images: http://pompeiisites.org/en/comunicati/the-four-wheeled-processional-chariot-the-last-discovery-of-pompeii/.

As we’re talking about exciting new discoveries and interpretations, something which has struck me since entering Robert’s retinue… It is the devil’s own job for poor Robert to incorporate everything that’s dug up everywhere across all of his courses’ remits (if you’re currently on your first course with him, a brief scan of our archive will give you an idea of how widely he spreads his wings), so do please be gentle with him if he doesn’t include all new discoveries or recommendations right away (I refer you also, for example, to the current project in York’s Rougier Street, on which the latest I’ve seen is: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/19115876.refused-plans-huge-roman-quarter-development-rejected/ and, as a random tip-of-the-iceberg selection of things further afield, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/china-archaeology-medieval-emperor-nanzhao-b1794173.html, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/28/remnants-of-mosque-from-earliest-decades-of-islam-found-in-israel, https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-dealer-discovered-rare-miniature-king-henri-iii-1939756, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56067717, http://www.sci-news.com/archaeology/christian-inscription-et-taiyiba-09283.html. ). Not too gentle, of course. We don’t want him to get complacent, do we…?

Our next links to things being dug up/rediscovered this time are ones to remember for those who are currently in Spain or plan to visit one day: https://english.elpais.com/arts/2021-02-17/12th-century-bathhouse-uncovered-in-spanish-bar.html and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/25/could-a-former-bar-be-one-of-spains-lost-medieval-synagogues If we ever get to visit Andalucía again (i.e. if the Covid, financial, & dog-sitting stars ever align), we’ll do our utmost to conduct a field trip. Just in the interests of research, you understand. Because that’s how dedicated we are (you’re welcome).

And finally, In Breaking News, those of you who “enjoyed” the edited lowlights of the currently-infamous Handforth Parish Council meeting may be interested to learn that it has inspired a Jackie-Weaver-endorsed dance track. No really. See: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/02/zoom-legend-jackie-weaver-cuts-first-dance-track. For those of you who have not yet seen the footage, wincing at the flashbacks to your personal experiences of the phenomenon, see here for a very edited version: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/05/handforth-insults-and-expletives-turn-parish-council-meeting-into-internet-sensation (I shall spare you the longer edited version, even though it offers a still richer experience. Unless you ask for it, in which case on your own head be it). Essentially, this has gone viral because it encapsulates every meeting in the History of Ever. (…Sorry? What’s that I hear you say? Did I frame it thus simply so I could render it relevant by illustrating it with a historical image? Tsk. The very idea! At least I didn’t refer to any Pompeii-related meetings…)

So. That’s all for this round-up. Is there anything of interest here, or had you already seen everything? Is there something else I should have included? Do please let me know by commenting below! And on a blog page near you: the second of today’s posts inspired by archaeology and history.