Jen Baird's Avatar

Jen Baird

@jenbaird

Professor of Archaeology at Birkbeck, University of London. Director of Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies. Excavator of archives. Syria, Romans, photographs, Dura-Europos. Newfoundlander.

798
Followers
530
Following
142
Posts
13.10.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Jen Baird @jenbaird

Case studies by Miriam Saqqa-Carazo and Lucía Expósito-Cívico (visiting scholars at the CISA) will explore Palestinian and Spanish contexts, and will be of interest to those in memory studies, forensic and contemporary archaeology, material culture, and history of science. All welcome!

10.03.2026 20:21 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Archival document documenting human remains, with caption in Spanish

Archival document documenting human remains, with caption in Spanish

Working with sensitive archives or difficult histories? Join us next week for a workshop on “Methodological Approaches to the Margins of Violence.”

Book via the link here: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

10.03.2026 20:21 👍 15 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 2
UCL – University College London UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Come join me and the @uclarchaeology.bsky.social team! Teaching replacement post in Museum Studies, 1 year contract: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

16.02.2026 12:37 👍 10 🔁 9 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
3D Imaging and Modelling for Cultural Heritage

I'm told that one or two spaces have just become available on the ICS Summer School in 3D Imaging and Modelling for Cultural Heritage: ics.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...

If you're interested in learning photogrammetry, RTI, 3D design, 3D printing, paradata and heritage ethics, join us!

17.02.2026 12:24 👍 22 🔁 26 💬 1 📌 3
Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Ancient History and Classics to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. 

As Lecturer in Ancient History and Classics, you will contribute to the teaching of ancient Greco-Roman history and Classics in the School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA Ancient History and Archaeology, BA Classics, BA Classical Studies, as well as MA Classical Civilisation and MA Classics.

This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time, 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6-9pm Monday to Friday. 

To be successful, you will bring research expertise in ancient Greek history, broadly understood (this could include the history of Greek-speaking lands under the Roman empire), as well as ancient Greek literature, and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community.

We would also welcome applicants who could contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. The postholder could potentially take advantage of Birkbeck’s new Immersive Learning Centre for teaching or research.

As Lecturer, your core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students.

With a PhD in any area of Ancient History/Classics relating to the ancient Greek world,...

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Ancient History and Classics to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Ancient History and Classics, you will contribute to the teaching of ancient Greco-Roman history and Classics in the School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA Ancient History and Archaeology, BA Classics, BA Classical Studies, as well as MA Classical Civilisation and MA Classics. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time, 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6-9pm Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in ancient Greek history, broadly understood (this could include the history of Greek-speaking lands under the Roman empire), as well as ancient Greek literature, and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who could contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. The postholder could potentially take advantage of Birkbeck’s new Immersive Learning Centre for teaching or research. As Lecturer, your core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Ancient History/Classics relating to the ancient Greek world,...

We're hiring at Birkbeck!

Lecturer in Ancient History and Classics, full-time and open-ended. Closing date March 18th.

Details here: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

16.02.2026 14:04 👍 43 🔁 53 💬 3 📌 2
Roundtable: The Role of Heritage in Recovery and Transitional Justice in Syria Discussion about Syrian heritage.

Details and booking via the link below

www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

13.02.2026 11:03 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

Can heritage contribute to recovery after conflict? We're holding a roundtable in March at the Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies on the role of heritage in recovery and transitional justice in Syria. All welcome!

13.02.2026 11:03 👍 9 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0
The importance of a river's life.

The importance of a river's life.

March news! Come join us for our next CISA seminar on March 4th to hear Dr Muna Dajani, Fellow in Environment at LSE, talk on 'Wadi Gaza: a river valley recalcitrant to erasure'. More information and link on the CISA website to sign up.
www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

12.02.2026 14:56 👍 8 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 2

Yeah sure but we’re voting with our money for the kind of world we want

13.02.2026 10:29 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

I haven’t (knowingly) bought from Amazon in about 15 years and honestly live a perfectly fine life, I don’t know why this is so hard for people

13.02.2026 09:21 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Dissapointed the webinar seems not to work, but hope the event went well for those that braved the weather!

06.02.2026 18:15 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
The Ruination of Dura-Europos Ann Laura Stoler has asked what happens when we shift our scrutiny from the picturesque ruins of empire to the ongoing process of ruination. Examining some of the many and continuing ruinations of the...

The given names might be AI (?) but I, and my article, are not:
traj.openlibhums.org/article/id/4...

03.02.2026 10:56 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

I have been called many things, but "Joseph Armstrong Jr" is a new one. Le sigh.

03.02.2026 10:56 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
Current Vacancies - Birkbeck, University of London Birkbeck

Wonderful news from Birkbeck's School of Historical Studies. We're hiring not one but TWO open-ended, full-time roles: Medieval Studies, and History of Art! cis7.bbk.ac.uk/home.html#fi...

29.01.2026 15:20 👍 86 🔁 57 💬 1 📌 6
The Recovery and Identification of World War I Soldiers on the Western Front: Citizen Science, Nationalism and Memorial Diplomacy (CISA seminar) Archaeological Collaboration after Conflict Spring seminar 2026

All welcome, further details and booking here: www.bbk.ac.uk/events/event...

29.01.2026 09:43 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Statue memorial on stone plinth with French flag in background

Statue memorial on stone plinth with French flag in background

Next week at the Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies (Birkbeck), we'll hear from Layla Renshaw about 'The Recovery and Identification of WWI Soldiers on the Western Front: Citizen Science, Nationalism, and Memorial Diplomacy'

29.01.2026 09:43 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Julia Domna Headpot Handcrafted Replica Roman Head Pot – Inspired by the York Collection Details This stunning head pot replica is based on one of the 50 head pots or face urns discovered in York, a city founded by the R...

@pottedhistory.bsky.social makes replicas! They are stunning! potted-history.co.uk/products/jul...

28.01.2026 15:54 👍 11 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0
Vessel (head pot / face urn) in the shape of a woman's head.

Vessel (head pot / face urn) in the shape of a woman's head.

Working on a thing, distracted by a headpot. Please behold this incredible likeness of Syrian empress Julia Domna from York (York Museums H2132).

28.01.2026 15:54 👍 47 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0

Absolutely this. Carney (and Canada) are not perfect but such a relief to hear from someone who sounds like a grown-up for a change.

21.01.2026 12:38 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Book cover of "Domicide" by Ammar Azzouz

Book cover of "Domicide" by Ammar Azzouz

And mostly I'm very grateful to Ammar, for writing his incredible book and reading a draft of my chapter which took his work in directions he probably never expected.

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Book cover of 'Palmyra, the Roman Empire, and the Third Century Crisis' with black and white image of Roman ruins below the title

Book cover of 'Palmyra, the Roman Empire, and the Third Century Crisis' with black and white image of Roman ruins below the title

Anyway, I have a pdf if anyone would like a copy. I'm very grateful to Eivind Seland and Rubina Raja for inviting me (and having faith that I'd have something to say to the topic, even if I didn't realise it). Claire Taylor and @drdanstewart1.bsky.social talked through all my ideas (and worries)

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 11 🔁 1 💬 2 📌 0

What if we used that same evidence to think about lived experiences in the third century rather than grand narratives? I tried to do this using the evidence of houses and small finds in urban settings, looking at dispossession and displacement.

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Ancient tragedies such as plagues, earthquakes, & invasions tend to be something ancient historians and archaeologists write about blithely, as useful chronological horizons and recognisable strata in our deposits. We've tended to centre the spectacular over the mundane.

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Post image

This chapter is the result. Drawing on Ammar Azzouz's work on Domicide, I tried to use his frameworks to rethink the third century in Roman Syria using archaeological evidence.

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

In mid-2023 I was invited to speak about the 3rd Century Crisis at a conference in Copenhagen. By the time I was writing the paper later that year, the irony of writing about ancient crises from a position of safety in a world full of real violence (in the very same places) was almost too much.

16.01.2026 09:37 👍 18 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 1

Today! And if you tried to sign up and were waitlisted, we now have more space (Keynes library, Gordon square)

14.01.2026 08:05 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. 

As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas.

This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. 

To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community.

We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome.

Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care.  You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students.

With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026. As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas. This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday. To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community. We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome. Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students. With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.

Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended.

They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision.

Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

08.01.2026 12:48 👍 122 🔁 141 💬 4 📌 6

(Trying to find bigger rooms: if you've been waitlisted, we'll be in touch!)

05.01.2026 12:45 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thank you! In person only this term, sorry!

05.01.2026 12:17 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

The first Carena Institute of Sustainable Archaeologies Seminar series, on Collaborative Archaeologies in (Post)Conflict Contexts, kicks off next week with Hiba Alkhalaf. All welcome! Sign up via the link: www.bbk.ac.uk/events?tag=1...

05.01.2026 11:50 👍 14 🔁 8 💬 3 📌 1