The Archaeology Podcast Network Feed

This week we have the latest installment of the journal Club! Ash and Tilly from the And My Trowel podcast join us for a lively discussion about two recent news articles. Join us to learn about ghost DNA, turtle figurines (or not?), and all the ways Americans eat and drink tea and scones incorrectly!

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Second episode in the Landscapes series of The Past Macabre. 

For links transcripts and more head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/tpm/37

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Stig of the Dump is a 1963 children’s novel by Clive King which spawned at least two TV adaptations; today we’re reviewing the first, from 1981. It’s a very gentle, very British show in which a neglected child befriends a caveman in a garbage dump and everyone else gaslights him for 10 episodes.

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Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been out for a few weeks, but how does it hold up to a panel of archaeologists and classicists?

In this episode, I’m joined by archaeologist, author, and YouTuber Raven Todd DaSilva, classicist, researcher, and PhD student Cosima Carnegie, and classicist and ancient dog expert Dr. Alyce Cannon to break down Nolan’s The Odyssey from the perspectives of archaeology, ancient history, and the original Homeric epic.

So how accurate is Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? And more importantly: does it actually matter? Let us know!

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In this episode, Alan speaks with Dr. George Nash about Ice Age archaeology and rock art in South Wales. They explore the remarkable discoveries at Bacon Hole and Cat Hole, including a painted cave panel rediscovered after disappearing beneath calcite for decades, and a stylized reindeer engraving dated using uranium-thorium dating. They also examine Ice Age hunter-gatherer movement, the changing landscape of the Gower Coast, and how new technologies such as D-Stretch are revealing previously invisible traces of prehistoric art.

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Did the Māori of New Zealand make an ocean voyage all the way to Antarctica in the 7th century AD, predating the European discovery by many hundreds of years? No. Why not? Because listen and I’ll tell you, that’s why!

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It’s time for a guest! Jessica and Matilda are joined by Mayanist Zac Lindsey in this episode focusing on the aesthetic concept of “cute”. But what exactly is “cute”? How can we study it archaeologically? And can we pitch a new idea to Disney featuring an adulterous rabbit? Listen in to find out!

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In this episode of The Archaeology Show, we follow three discoveries that reveal how much ancient meaning can survive—and how much can still elude us. First, we look at rare Neolithic obsidian arrowheads from central Anatolia, etched with one-of-a-kind geometric designs that took real effort to carve, yet remain impossible to interpret. Then we head deep into Spain’s Cova de les Dones, where a hidden chamber holds 120 Latin inscriptions—evidence of an organized Roman cult centered on a mysterious “Lady,” Domina, and the name “MALACI.” Finally, we travel to Wetar Island in eastern Indonesia, where a 4,000-year-old painted stone...

Some Ancient Technologies last until the present day and Weir Fishing is one of them. Fascinated by the dimensions of an archaeological find of a fishing weir, photographer and filmmaker Frank Wiersema decided to make a film about this phenomenon. Frank chats with host Noah Melton about the multi-pronged approach he took to making the film. Challenges he encountered ranged from the complexity of replicating a fishing weir as a museum display in Swifterkamp open-air museum to considerations regarding which type of actors to cast and diversity and inclusion in the reenactment community in general.

This conversation...

Part two of my Archaeologist commentary on the 2013 Tomb Raider game. The Tomb Raider vs Himiko: Battle For Yamatai. Continue along as we dive deeper into the Dragon’s Triangle and raid some more tombs to save our friends.

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Ash and Tilly have finally started chapter 2 of The Hobbit, which means its time for some frantic last-minute preparations before they set off on their quest, or on their archaeological excavation! Together, they discuss their packing essentials, their bucket-list sites, and why you should always know where your handkerchief is.

Books mentioned:

Jingo (Terry Pratchett)

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Chris Johnston, Operations Director of the PaleoCultural Research Group (PCRG), about his journey through archaeology and the importance of bringing the public into archaeological research. Chris discusses his path from his undergraduate program at CU Boulder, through graduate research on communal bison hunting at the Roberts Ranch Buffalo Jump, his time as Assistant State Archaeologist of Colorado, and his return to PCRG. The conversation explores PCRG’s approach to citizen science and how involving volunteers can both advance archaeological research and create a broader community of stewards fo...

Description: In this episode, Heather, Andrew, and Bill talk about how archaeologists can use their skills to help communities conserve the sites they value. From networking with archivists to becoming a historical recreationist, the show hosts discuss ways archaeologists can connect with history in fun, fruitful ways. So grab your faux fur viking hat, your drinking horn, sit back and listen to how you can use your superpowers to do good things.

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Today we’re joined by filmmaker Maarten Peels to talk about his 2024 short film De Poten van de Bizon (The Bison’s Legs), the story of two friends who go on a dream quest to make a cave painting. Maarten did extensive research in order to avoid the clichéd caveman tropes and make something we’ve never seen before: a plausible and scientifically accurate portrayal of Palaeolithic life. We are absolutely in love with this film, and highly recommend that you pause the episode and go watch it right now!

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In this episode, Alan speaks with Stephen Alvarez about his new book, Rock Art: An American Story, exploring the enduring significance of rock art across North America. They discuss Indigenous perspectives, the sacredness of rock art sites, and how ancient imagery continues to connect people with place, culture, and history. The conversation also considers the challenges of interpreting and dating rock art, and the importance of respecting and protecting these remarkable records of the past.

Transcripts

For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/171

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Today on the Pseudoarchaeology Podcast, we pit The Odyssey against Treasure Planet in a movie match up to the death! Why these two disparate films (besides the vague pseudoarchaeological vibes inherent in both)? Because my daughter said she likes Treasure Planet better than The Odyssey.

She might be right.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/pseudo/190

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It’s finally time for the final installment of Jessica and Matilda’s deep dive into the archaeology of cutlery! This episode, they discuss chopsticks. But what exactly is a chopstick? How does politics affect what we know about their history? And what do they have to do with baseball bats? Listen in to find out!

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/teabreak/59

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Dr. Trevor R. Peck about one of the most recognizable, and often misunderstood, archaeological features of the Northern Plains: the “medicine wheel.” Drawing on his article “Unpacking the ‘Medicine Wheel’ Rubric,” Trevor discusses why archaeologists have historically grouped a diverse range of stone features under this broad label and why more careful identification of their function and cultural affiliation matters.

The conversation then focuses on Death Lodges, a distinctive type of stone feature that Trevor argues represents a Blackfoot cultural tradition. He discusses the archaeological, historical...

This episode continues the ongoing discussion about the challenges and changes currently affecting cultural resource management (CRM). We take a closer look at what is happening within the field, what these changes could mean for cultural resources and historic preservation, and, most importantly, what we can do about it.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/338

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On this month’s episode, Jessica speaks with Dr. Uzma Rizvi (Professor of Anthropology and Urban Studies at Pratt Institute) and Sayed Gul Kalash (Archaeologist, Museum Professional, and Cultural Preservationist from the Kalash Valley, Chitral, Pakistan). The two discuss their discovery of archaeology as a field and their subsequent journeys to become archaeologists. As a result, Gul Kalash became the first and only Kalash community woman archaeologist/anthropologist. The two then discuss how they came to work together and describe some of the important work each of them has focused on, including the importance of using legacy collections, sharing da...

This week, we’re exploring three archaeology articles in the news this week. First, we head to Rapa Nui, where new research into the mysterious Rongorongo script could reshape our understanding of when and how writing developed on the island. Then, we examine an Etruscan ritual well filled with offerings to the goddess Uni—and later, human remains. Finally, we travel to Denmark, where plans for an underground parking garage led archaeologists to the unexpected discovery of a long-lost medieval convent.

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Today we’re reviewing Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women (1968), the story of a cool Russian sci-fi movie about an exploratory mission to Venus which an American studio dubbed and re-cut to include telepathic “prehistoric” women, for some reason. In truth there’s very little prehistory in this one, so we get to talk about space travel for forty minutes! (Astronomers and engineers, please send your complaints and corrections to screensofthestoneage@gmail.com)

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In this episode of Ethnocynology, I sit down with dog science communicator Alexandra the Average for a wide-ranging conversation about dogs, science, identity, and the ways our own cultural biases shape how we understand dogs themselves.

Alexandra discusses her approach to navigating misinformation in the dog and animal-welfare world, including why she relies on multiple studies rather than individual papers. But also the importance of reading beyond the abstract, and how scientific findings can become messy once they reach social media.

The conversation dives into some of the most persistent debates surrounding dogs, including pit...

Dr. Alan Garfinkel talks with archaeologist Robert Yohe about their long collaboration and new insights from Yohe’s work at the Rose Spring site. Yohe describes using many radiocarbon dates from a deep, stratified deposit to refine local chronology and estimate the bow-and-arrow’s introduction around 1,600 years ago, along with a rare ritual feature involving a bighorn sheep skull. They also discuss challenges and progress in dating rock art, including AMS radiocarbon dating of a South Fork Kern River painting to about 1,000 years old, and Yohe previews a major upcoming Rose Spring monograph that revises earlier views on subsistence, sett...

Part one of my Archaeologist commentary on the 2013 Tomb Raider game. The working title is Tomb Raider vs The Storm Queen: The Yamatai Cage Grudge Match. Let’s dive in as we cross the Dragon’s Triangle and raid some tombs to save our friends.

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Join the APN crew for a monthly discussion of recent news articles. This month we look into two very different questions about archaeology and how we interpret the past. First, we dig into the growing role of AI and large language models in archaeological research, discussing hallucinations, data ownership, consent, open access, and why critical thinking is more important than ever. Then, we examine the case of a man who survived a severe facial injury roughly 100,000 years ago—and ask whether the more interesting story is really ancient violence, or the care and community that allowed him to survive.

In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Magdalena Lewandowska to discuss her article, “Trade, Conflict, and Alliance – Relationship Between the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande Pueblos in the Protohistoric Period.” Together they explore the dynamic relationships that connected Indigenous communities across the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The conversation examines how trade in goods such as bison hides and Pueblo pottery fostered economic partnerships while also creating competition, political alliances, and occasional conflict. Drawing on archaeological and historical evidence, Lewandowska explains why Plains–Pueblo interactions cannot be understo...

Can what we face as a discipline now be an opportunity for reflection and growth that leads to a transformation? Could this period lead to a revolution of understanding? There are a lot of opinions, information, interpretations, and assumptions swirling but above all, the most effective and impactful strategy is a measured mission of action based on facts unencumbered by the emotions of the moment.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/337

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In this episode, host Stephanie Rice kicks off a series on landscape archaeology, beginning with the study of what could be seen from ancient tombs and where those tombs were visible from within the surrounding region.

Journey across three distinct ancient landscapes: The Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth at Brú na Bóinne in Ireland; Norse burial cairns of late Iron Age Norway and Iceland; and the Ojoka Kofun (おじょかこふん/王女丘古墳) from the Yamato Period in Japan.

Through these sacred sites, discover how ancient people viewed and interacted with their funerary landscape.

Offline sources used:
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This week we cover three new archaeology news stories! First up, a new LiDAR study in Brazil is revealing that the Amazonian ancient civilization of Aquiry may have been much larger than previously known. Then, a tomb in Poland that was opened in 1973 harbored a deadly fungus that caused the deaths of many of the researchers that worked on it, like a modern day Mummy’s Curse! And finally, archaeologists at Pompeii are reconstructing a ceiling mosaic piece by painstaking piece.

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Today we’re reviewing the feminist classic, The Wild Women of Wongo (1958), which tells the story of two prehistoric tribes: one where all the women are beautiful and all the men are brutes, and the other vice versa. But don’t worry – social norms are upheld in the end and everyone is married off to an equally attractive partner.

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In this episode of the Ethnocynology, David talks with long time friend, Dr. Devin Pettigrew, the leading expert in the history and ballistics of the atlatl.

After a recent paper came out by Eren et al, claiming that Clovis hunters were only scavengers, Devin and David dive into the paper and discuss the role of hunting in human history as well as the history of the Atllatl, and how the Clovis people would’ve hunted across the North American landscape.

They also then discuss Devin’s future research and what this means for the field.

Half way between Joe Versus the Volcano and Tropic Thunder lies The Lost City. That is a good location. I suggest you go there with me!

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/pseudo/189

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It’s time for the main course, and the most surprisingly complicated of cutlery items covered so far in the podcast: the fork! Jessica and Matilda dive into the history and archaeology of the fork, and discover that it’s not quite such a simple tool as they originally thought. Why do Americans and Germans hold their forks so differently? What’s the difference between a fork and a fork-like object? And who was using a spork in the 4th century? Tune in to find out!

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https...

In today’s archaeology news episode, we discuss three articles, starting with a discovery at the Maya city of Xiulán, Guatemala: a small room interpreted as a scribe/astronomer workspace with 11 hieroglyphs naming Sak Ton Wax (“white-chested fox”) and more than 50 mathematical “micro texts” tracking Venus and Mars as the author. We then cover a report that President Trump reduced Grand Staircase–Escalante and Bears Ears by nearly three million acres, opening lands to mining and ending the Bears Ears Commission’s tribal co-stewardship. Finally, we discuss a report on an executive order to post warnings outside the Smithsonian’s N...

Part 2 of my Historical commentary

We not only dive deep into the travel montage and the details of the flashbacks, but also get a bit nitpicky about real facts that contradict the logic of the movie and the story being told. Hope we can have a few laughs along the way.

Watch The Mummy Returns HERE (for free with ads - YouTube)

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Ash and Tilly have finally made it through the front door of Bag End! In this episode, they discuss the archaeology of buildings, and talk about how the physical structure of a hobbit hole (or smials) can be used to learn more about hobbit culture. Tune in to hear all about window tax, historic palimpsests, and why a round door just doesn’t make sense!

Books mentioned:

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. McKenna Litynski to discuss her recent article, “Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming.” While Paleoindian archaeology often focuses on mammoths and other large game, this study demonstrates how tiny animal remains can provide equally important insights into the lives of the first peoples of North America. Dr. Litynski explains how archaeologists distinguish natural from human-created bone accumulations, what burned microfaunal remains reveal about activities around Paleoindian hearths, and why these small bones likely represent everyday camp behaviors rath...

Managing Expectations: Career growth is often misunderstood. Is it your manager's job to develop your career, or is it ultimately your responsibility? What is the balance in the investments both make? How does this play out as you progress in your career? In this episode, we discuss the balance between what you should expect from your employer and what you need to own yourself.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/336

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On this month’s episode, Jessica speaks with Stacy Coleman (Assistant Director for Tribal Affairs with Colorado's Department of Natural Resources). First, the two cover how Stacy ended up focusing on law and then her fifteen years working for the Department of Justice’s Environmental Enforcement Section. Next Stacy describes what drew her to her current position and the many different aspects of such a large dynamic role. Some highlights she discusses for this role include the Colorado Outdoor Strategy and its Guidance Framework for Tribal Consultation, as well as the recent Colorado Parks and Wildlife Community Listening Sessions and...