It is interesting to see how the new Pope is reflected in the material culture of Rome. There are obvious things, of course, such as the postcards of Benedict next to, but not supplanting, those of John Paul. German visitors, in particular, are buying up rosary beads and other souvenirs in large quantities (I am in Munich this weekend, so will pick up more responses there) and I presume Polish visitors did the same when John Paul was elected, although at that time the economics were not in Poland's favour.

On one of my regular walks along the banks of the Tiber yesterday, in the distinctive SPQR metal supports of the city's hoardings there lingered a few images in memory of John Paul, together with others celebrating the new Pope

But also, quite disturbingly given the euphoria of recent days, a number of Pope Benedict XVI which had been defaced, or torn, apparently deliberately.

I wondered how this would appear in the archaeological record; if the only new Papal hoardings found was this cluster of defaced images (some of which seem inappropriate to post here) what reading would they suggest as a body of material culture? They could represent the work of one person, but could be read to represent the views of a city, perhaps?

Vintage Computers, a detour

Vintage computers, a Munich detour