Small things from the Keeper's desk — too short for a story, too good to keep quiet.
17 OCTOBER 2026
Happy International Archaeology Day! 🌍
Why does archaeology matter?
Because it’s how we get to know the people who lived long before us: what they ate, how they hunted, what they believed and how they faced a changing world. Sharing those stories is what Archaeology Teahouse is all about, and today we’re celebrating archaeology in all its forms, from bones and stone tools to rock art and everything in between. ⛏️
A huge thank you to all the Teahouse patrons for reading along. There are many more stories to come!
Another Tea Break is on its way today! It is all about snakesssss. That was a coincidence, but I thought it was a funny one. Too bad I couldn't find a more recent third snake story to go with it. Oh well, next time perhaps?
26 SEPTEMBER 2026
On this day, 1580: Francis Drake completed the second-ever circumnavigation of the World
PLATE I. Engraved world map showing Francis Drake's journey. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Just thought I would share a fun historic moment. On 26 September 1580, Francis Drake sailed into Plymouth aboard the Golden Hind, nearly three years after he had left. He set out in December 1577 with 5 ships, and his was the only one to finish the voyage. It was the second circumnavigation of the world, after Magellan's expedition.
Wonder what he thought of all the places he saw? Today we can make that same journey by plane in a matter of days. Our destinations, especially larger cities all look rather similar, back then each new port would have been very different.
31 AUGUST 2026
Conference Update!
Happy to announce I will be attending the XXI UISPP World Congress in Poznań, Poland, for the next few days!
I will be presenting on my PhD research concerning the 8.2k event in South Africa, using zooarchaeology and stable isotopes. Hopefully I will make many amazing new connections and discover fun archaeological stories for the Teahouse.
Maybe I will see you there too ;)
28 AUGUST 2026
A Little Carnivore in a Dusty Old Collection
Hi all,
Just a fun little update on my side of the world. Went with a bag of bones to the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History on Tuesday to identify some to species. Nothing too exciting, mainly Grey Rhebuck and many Mountain Reedbuck.
But there was one cute little tooth (I need to go back for another day to as I did not have time to double-check). It looks a bit like a small otter, but much smaller, perhaps a wild cat of some sort?
Look at how small this little fella was!
PLATE I. Little itty bitty carnivore tooth.
I tried taking a picture of it standing upright, but it kept falling, and I don't have prestik 😭
Anyway, mini update over. Byeeee!
21 AUGUST 2026
Introducing Tea Breaks: A Monthly Mini Analysis for the Discoveries That Got Away
PLATE I. Tea Breaks: a new monthly round-up from Archaeology Teahouse.
Dear Teahouse patrons,
Put the kettle on, there's news brewing.
Starting this month (31 August), Archaeology Teahouse is adding something new to the menu: Tea Breaks, a monthly round-up arriving at the end of every month, dedicated to the archaeological discoveries that slipped past the headlines (and past this blog).
Why Tea Breaks?
Here's a not-so-secret secret about archaeology that rarely gets mentioned: there is simply too much of it. Every single month, hundreds of studies are published, possibly more and I cannot cover every single one. But I can give you a rundown of some of the ones that I had considered writing up but didn't for one reason or another.
Many of these discoveries never reach the public at all. The mission of Archaeology Teahouse is to change that.
What to Expect
Tea Breaks are, at heart, everything I wanted to write about but couldn't for one reason or another, and yet simply could not let slip by unnoticed. Each month's edition will be a mixed pot:
The ones that got away. Short summaries of the studies and finds I considered writing up but never got to. You'll get the discovery, why it matters, and what I personally make of it.
My take on the mainstream. Sometimes a story does make the big headlines, and I just want to sit down and give you my honest thoughts on it as an archaeologist.
Pseudoscientific nonsense, dissected. When dubious claims about the past make the rounds, we'll pull them apart together and see what the evidence actually says.
And of course, I always want to hear from you. Your comments, questions, and musings are half the fun of running the Teahouse, and I will do my best to engage with every single one of you.
An Honest Note on Subscriptions
One thing to mention upfront: while the weekly blogs on Archaeology Teahouse are free, and will stay free from now until forever, Tea Breaks will be for monthly subscribers.
Writing takes time, and archaeology doesn't always pay the bills. I write Archaeology Teahouse out of passion and conviction, and that won't change. But rather than ask for support with nothing in return, I'd rather offer something extra in exchange: a little something I hope you'll genuinely enjoy.
So here's how I see it. If you can afford it and want to support independent science communication and the many hours that go into each story, a subscription is a lovely way to do that, and Tea Breaks are my thank-you. If you can't, no guilt and no hard feelings: the weekly blogs remain yours, free, always.
The first-ever Tea Break is almost here, covering this months archaeological tea (oh I now running a Teahouse will come with so many terrible puns, I apologize).
Here's to catching the stories that got away, one Tea Break at a time.
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