CA 428 Letters – October

September 28, 2025
This article is from Current Archaeology issue 428


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Roman Morris

Having just received the latest issue of Current Archaeology, I placed it on our recently purchased tablecloth, the pattern of which is based on the ‘Blackthorn’ design by William Morris. As can be seen in the photo (above), the white flowers and leaf aspects are very similar to the painted Roman wall plaster pieces shown on the front cover of CA 427 (perhaps the Roman images represent blackthorn as well).

Clearly, good design has staying power!

Dick Francis, Childrey, Oxfordshire

Edible Archaeology

I retired from the NHS as a consultant Anaesthetist specialising in Pain Medicine on 31 July this year, and I started a BA in Archaeology at Exeter University in September. This cake was made for me by the daughter of Dr Alison Dick, a paediatric colleague. Her daughter, Eleanor Kenefick, made it for my leaving party as a thank you for helping to support the Children’s Pain Clinic in South Devon. Eleanor herself is going to Leeds University to study Medicine.

Douglas Natusch, Exeter

CA ONLINE: What you shared with us this month

Dr Francis Young @DrFrancisYoung

Absolutely insane gold thrymsa from Norfolk in the latest @CurrentArchaeo. Never seen anything like this. 

‘Sir Richard’ @DickiebirdBrown

Might I venture to suggest that a cross held up triumphantly over a valknut is a wholly Christian symbol indicating the sacrifice of the cross triumphing over death? It doesn’t seem syncretic but rather evangelising in intent. 

M J Simpson @mjsimpsonfilms

That’s like the coin equivalent of a duck-billed platypus!

Binyizdabbalah @binqizdabbalah.bsky.social

Absolutely wild cut-and-paste debased C4th emperor’s head, obvs cross swiped from Roman coin and then… the rest. Craziest British coin since the Iron Age

Fiona Robertson @stone_lands

Just so chuffed with the review of STONE LANDS in this month’s @CurrentArchaeo – ‘I am confident that this book will engage and inspire a whole new generation of megalith enthusiasts… As an epitaph to a lost love, I cannot think of a better one…’. Thank you @joeflatman. 

Write to us at: CA Letters, Current Publishing, Office 120, 295 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4HH, or by email to: letters@archaeology.co.uk For publication: 300 words max; letters may be edited.

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