Theft of Bronze Age gold artefacts from UK museum sparks fresh concerns about lack of government investment in sector by Joe Ware #TheArtNewspaper
“The theft of a Bronze Age gold torc and bracelet from a UK institution has sparked calls for greater government investment in the museum sector.
Police are yet to make arrests and are appealing for information to track down two thieves who broke into the Ely Museum, Cambridgeshire, on 7 May and escaped on electric scooters.
With gold prices hitting a record high in recent months experts are worried that the precious artefacts, worth £220,000 in their current form, might be melted down for their scrap metal value.”
On this day in 1763, Frances McDonnell died aged 9 months. The Journals show a drawing of a monument erected for her by her father, Alexander, at Bonamargy graveyard, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim: https://bit.ly/mcdon1763
🪔 For #FrescoFriday: a wall-painting with a reclining Naiad, drinking from a horn. Dated to AD 30-50, it was found at a Roman villa at Campo Varano, #Stabiae. Now in the BM. 📸 me
Remains of a 6th/7th century basilica in Gortyn on the island of #Crete. Excavators dubbed it the "church of St. Titus" assuming by its size that it was dedicated to the island's patron saint, but the actual dedication is not known.
First evidence for human occupation of a lava tube in Arabia: The archaeology of Umm Jirsan Cave and its surroundings, northern Saudi Arabia
"The lava tube does not appear to have served as a permanent habitation location, but rather as a site that likely lay on herding routes and that allowed access to shade and water for passing herders and their animals. Prior to this, as well as during pastoral periods, the lava tube was likely also linked with hunting activities, which probably remained a cornerstone of local economies into the Bronze Age."
Stewart M, Andrieux E, Blinkhorn J, Guagnin M, Fernandes R, et al. (2024) First evidence for human occupation of a lava tube in Arabia: The archaeology of Umm Jirsan Cave and its surroundings, northern Saudi Arabia. PLOS ONE 19(4): e0299292. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299292
🪔 This is a roman glass flask in the form of a gladiator helmet with ‘snake-thread’ trails. It was made in Rhineland in the 3rd c. AD. Now in the British Museum. 📸 me #ancientglass#romanglass#glassobjet
On this day in 1754, Janet Har Allen died aged 75. See this and other gravestone inscriptions from Larne, Co. Antrim, in the Journals: https://bit.ly/allen1754