
#archaeology31 is a photo challenge created by Kim Biddulph that encourages archaeologists to share photos and stories about their work. The challenge takes place in January on Twitter and this post shares a summary of all my tweets for 2020’s #archaeology31.
How does #archaeology31 work?
#archaeology31 was created by Kim Biddulph in 2019. This is what inspired her and how she envisioned the challenge:
Inspired by #museum30 created by Gracie Price (@magnifyzoology) that runs in November, I decided to create an #archaeology31 photo challenge on Twitter to brighten up everyone’s January. The idea is for archaeologists to post one photo a day in January, with a specific theme each day…
Kim Biddulph
While Twitter is the primary medium for the challenge, some archaeologists have posted on Instagram and on their personal blogs. Some participants (like myself) posted other content (e.g., gifs, videos, external links, etc.) for some days instead of a picture.
The daily themes change from year to year. Kim curated the following themes for the 2020 challenge:
My #archaeology31 2020 Photo Challenge Summary
Day 1: Who am I? + Day 2: #ThrowbackThursday
Check out the post: Behind the Discovery and Publication of Beta Samati
Day 3: Tools of the Trade
Day 4: Place
Day 5: Rest
Check out the post: Visiting the Famous Pillow Basalts in Wadi Jizzi, Oman
Day 6: Animal
Day 7: Vegetable
Day 8: Minerals
Day 9: #FolkloreThursday
Day 10: It’s Ritual
Check out the post: The 4 Foods I Must Have As Soon As I Land In Ethiopia
Day 11: Shelfie
Day 12: Friendship
Check out the post: Habits of the Night
Day 13: Layers
Check out the post: Skincare Basics for Fieldwork
Day 14: Lines
Check out the post: 4 Resolutions of Remote Sensing – An Archaeological Perspective
Day 15: #HillfortWednesday
Check out the post: Architectural Feats in Oman Throughout the Ages
Day 16: Shape
Check out the post: Visiting the Tombs of al-Ayn in Oman
Day 17: Patterns
Check out the post: Archaeobotany vs. Paleoethnobotany vs. Paleobotany
Day 18: #Caturday
Day 19: Leisure
Check out the post: The 4 Foods I Must Have As Soon As I Land In Ethiopia
Day 20: Reconstruction
Check out the post: Visiting the Tombs of al-Ayn in Oman
Day 21: Experimental
Check out the post: microMORPH Summer Course 2015: How I Learned Plant and Wood Anatomy (and how you can too!)
Day 22: Community
Check out the post: The Doors of Oman
Day 23: Interpretation
Day 24: #FlintFriday
Day 25: Storytime
Check out my Pinterest album: Archaeology Told By Archaeologists
Day 26: Communication
Day 27: Movement
Day 28: Breakages
Check out the post: Behind the Discovery and Publication of Aqir al-Shamoos
Day 29: Resist
Day 30: Environment
Check out the post: Architectural Feats in Oman Throughout the Ages
Day 31: Why Archaeology?
Closing Thoughts
If you have made it to the end of this post, thank you because it was a long one!
I really enjoyed participating in #archaeology31. It helped me learn about the interesting work other archaeologists were doing and communicate my own research. I am looking forward to participating next year.
Have you heard of #archaeology31? What are your favorite social media hashtag challenges? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you-very enjoyable for me to read and see as I am a layperson who enjoys exploring these places especially around Sohar where I live. I look forward to your 2021 post.
Thanks for your comment Ancilla. I’m glad the post was enjoyable and stay tuned for the 2021 post.