The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast

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...

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...

In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. Spencer R. Pelton and Alexis Hollander to discuss their recent article, “Early Eighteenth Century Plains Indian Adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming.” Together they explore one of the largest adornment assemblages ever documented in Wyoming, examining locally produced beads and pendants alongside exotic materials that reveal extensive Indigenous exchange networks during the early post-Contact period. The conversation highlights how new technologies, including the introduction of metal tools, transformed ornament production while Indigenous communities maintained long-standing traditions of craftsmanship and identity. Spencer and Alexis also discuss what arch...

In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by John M. Lambert and Thomas J. Loebel to discuss their recent article with Dr. David Easterla, “Addressing a Gap in the Late Pleistocene Record of the Midwest: Fluted Points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa.” The conversation explores why this region has long been underrepresented in Paleoindian research and how the documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including dozens of previously unreported specimens, helps illuminate the lives of some of North America's earliest inhabitants. Lambert and Loebel discuss the challenges and value of integrating museum collections, private coll...

In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Phyllis Johnson and Erica Carmody about their recent open-access (no subscription required) Plains Anthropologist article, “Patriarchy Persists: Gender Inequities in Plains Anthropologist Publishing from 1954 to 2023.” Drawing on nearly seventy years of publication data, they examine persistent gender disparities in archaeological publishing, discuss why women's authorship rates have remained disproportionately low and, in some cases, declined since the early 1990s, and explore the structural factors that shape scholarly visibility and career advancement. The conversation considers what these patterns reveal about the history of Plains archaeology, how representation influences the...

In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Robert Hoard and Zachary Day to discuss their recent article, “Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 — evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site.”

Together, they explore the significance of the Tobias site within Great Bend aspect archaeology and the broader ancestral Wichita world of the Central Plains. The conversation examines the Little River focus, the goals of the 2019 excavations, and the surprising discoveries revealed through ceramic compositional analysis. Although pottery was likely produced locally at Tobias...

Hey everyone! It is that time of year again: graduation events, graduate degree defenses, final exams, and the hacking of major collegiate learning platforms. So Carlton is taking a quick break, and we will be back with our regular scheduled programming next episode. Please enjoy this episode of the Ethnocynology Podcast, where Carlton was a guest.

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On this week’s episode, Carlton breaks down his recent Kansas Archaeology Month event at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, titled: Field Explorers: Archaeology Edition. Carlton talks about the events and planning leading up the event and the importance of science communication to younger audiences.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/41

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Christopher Nicholson, Director of the Center for Digital Antiquity, about the role of digital archives in preserving and accessing archaeological data.

In the first half, Chris introduces tDAR (the Digital Archaeological Record) and explains how it serves as a centralized repository for archaeological reports, datasets, and other research materials. He discusses the challenges of inaccessible or “lost” data, especially gray literature, and how tDAR helps ensure that valuable information from past projects remains available for future research.

In the second half, the conversation turn...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by Aaron Brien (Apsáalooke), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Crow Tribe, for a powerful conversation on history, memory, and responsibility. Grounded in Aaron’s experiences growing up with Crow oral traditions, the discussion explores how storytelling serves as a living practice, one that maintains relationships across generations and keeps the past present.

Aaron reflects on how memory and identity are carried through stories shared by his grandmothers and community, emphasizing that these narratives are not simply about the past, but are central to cul...

On this week’s episode, Carlton recounts his recent trip to the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation is the home of the Three Affiliated Tribes: Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. While recounting his recent trip, Carlton dives back into Middle Missouri Archaeology.

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/38

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In this episode, Carlton continues with a discussion on Myths brought to his attention from a listener’s email! But this time they’re not on Vikings but of alleged early Irish/Gaelic occupations from the Southeast to the Great Basin.

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Carlton is back on the mic after the holiday break to talk about the Moundbuilder Myth, the Kensington Runestone, and the Heavener Runestone. Are they legit? Well tune in to this weeks episode to find out!

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/36

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Dave Williams to discuss the intellectual and professional journey that brought him from Mesoamerican archaeology in Oaxaca, Mexico, back to working across the Central Great Plains. Rather than focusing on institutional roles, this conversation centers on how archaeological training, regional perspective, and lived field experience shape how archaeologists understand place and the past.

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/35

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by Dr. Spencer Pelton, Wyoming State Archaeologist, to explore what some of the oldest archaeological sites in Wyoming reveal about Paleoindian life. The conversation focuses on two areas of Spencer’s research: the Powars II hematite quarry and Locality IV at the Hell Gap site.

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/34

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While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Please enjoy this episode of And My Trowel! In this episode, Tilly and Ash have been tasked with covering holiday leave for the Norns, the weavers of fate, life and destiny from Norse mythology. However, there’s a problem they don’t have the first clue about weaving! Luckily the know someone who does, prehistoric archaeologist and textile specialist, Ronja Lau! With Ronja’s help, will the trio be able to weave the fates of Gods and...

Unscientific. Meandering. Silly. Actively ignorant. Super long and BRUTALLY boring. Yes friends, this book doth suck.

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Michael Page of the Wyoming State Archaeologist’s Office to explore a lesser-known side of Wyoming archaeology, its rich and varied ceramic traditions. While Wyoming is often defined by its iconic Paleoindian kill sites, Michael’s work reminds us that the region’s history is far more diverse than the stone tools and bison jumps that dominate public imagination.

This episode highlights the vital role of ceramic research in understanding the Northwest Plains and offers a fresh perspective on Wyoming's deep human history.

Tran...

In this episode, Carlton sits down with archaeologist Amy Gillaspie to revisit their shared time working with the remarkable Jones-Miller Bison Kill Site collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They begin by exploring the archaeological significance of Jones-Miller, one of the most important Paleoindian bison kill and processing sites on the Great Plains. Amy discusses the site’s history, why it remains foundational to understanding communal hunting practices, and what makes its collection so unique.

Together, Carlton and Amy reflect on their experiences working side by side with the Jones-Miller materials, offering insight into wh...

For this episode, Carlton discusses Prey (2022) with Jaquelyn Sparks. They dive into themes of the film, including likes and dislikes, beavers, horses, and a lack of trade goods. Both Carlton and Jacquelyn recently watched the film to get Carlton ready for his hour-long interview on the Screens of the Stone Age Podcast. Definitely check out Carlton’s episode over there to get a full dive into the movie.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/31

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In this episode, I sit down with Nebraska archaeologist Nolan Johnson to talk about his work uncovering and interpreting the state’s rich historic past. We begin with the Beaver Creek Trail Crossing, a site that offers a glimpse into the experiences of travelers along the overland trails and the material traces they left behind. Nolan shares the story of how the site was investigated, what artifacts reveal about life on the move, and why these places remain important today.

In the second half, our discussion broadens to post-1492 archaeology across Nebraska, what makes it distinct, what ch...

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Bozell, who served the Nebraska State Historical Society for more than three decades and retired as State Archaeologist after a career that began in the 1980’s. Rob reflects on his journey through some of the most transformative decades in American archaeology, including the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and its lasting impact on the field.

In the first half of our conversation, Rob takes us back to the 1990s—sharing how he stepped into leadership just as NAGPRA and the Nebraska Unmarked Human Buri...

This episode continues my conversation with Tyrel Iron Eyes (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) and Chance Ward (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe). We turn to the stories and lessons from the field—where archaeology is practiced on the ground and in real time. Tyrel and Chance reflect on the growing presence of Native archaeologists, the ways Tribally informed practices are reshaping fieldwork, and how their own experiences demonstrate the importance of centering Native voices in research.

Transcripts

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/28

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In the first of this two-part conversation, I’m joined again by Tyrel Iron Eyes (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) and Chance Ward (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe). Rather than revisiting their individual career paths, we dive into the shared experiences of being Plains Native archaeologists working within institutions not designed for Native voices. Tyrel and Chance reflect on the balance between professional responsibilities and community obligations, the pride and challenges of representing their Nations in archaeology, and why mentorship and representation are so crucial for future generations of Indigenous professionals.

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For rough transcripts of this ep...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with Chance Ward, NAGPRA Coordinator for the State of Colorado and enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Together they explore what it means to oversee NAGPRA implementation at the state level—what the role involves and how Colorado approaches the repatriation process. Chance also reflects on his own perspective as a Lakota professional working in a state with historic ties to more than 48 Tribal Nations, including his own. Through this conversation, listeners gain insight into both the mechanics of NAGPRA and th...

The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast is taking a break this week, so please enjoy this episode of Heritage Voices, another excellent show on The Archaeology Podcast Network.

On today’s episode, Jessica chats with Martha Only a Chief [Pawnee (Chawi) and descendant of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe; NAGPRA Coordinator for the Pawnee Nation] about her experiences working on NAGPRA and for the Cultural Resources Division of the Pawnee Nation. She explained what the basic NAGPRA process is like, Pawnee’s specific approach, and how it has changed since she started this work. We also talked about what approaches she...

In this solo episode, Carlton breaks down five of the most common misconceptions about Great Plains archaeology—from the myth of an “empty” landscape to the oversimplification of bison jumps and arrowheads.

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Dr. Madeline Mackie, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Michigan State University, to explore the archaeology of mammoth kill sites in the Northwest Plains.

Dr. Mackie walks us through what makes a site a “kill site” and how archaeologists determine whether mammoths were hunted by humans or died naturally. She shares insights into the types of tools, bone modifications, and site features that point to deliberate human activity—offering a glimpse into the complex and skilled lifeways of Paleoindigenous peoples.

The...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with Matt Reed, Chief and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. Matt shares how his role as THPO serves as both a cultural and regulatory responsibility—protecting sacred sites, ancestral landscapes, and Pawnee heritage through a tribally driven preservation program.

The conversation explores how Pawnee worldviews and values shape historic preservation efforts, highlighting the spiritual and cultural importance of place. Matt also discusses what it means to lead as both a traditional leader and a THPO, an...

So Chance and Carlton were unable to get a recording together with the Federal Funding threats to the Historic Preservation Fund keeping their schedules incredibly busy into the evening. So, instead, here’s an ENCORE episode from A Life in Ruins Podcast featuring Chance and Carlton back in graduate school.

In this episode, Carlton is joined by Chance Ward, an M.A. student in Museum and Field Studies at CU Boulder and a Tribal Citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The two start the episode with a discussion on how Chance got into Anthropology at Fort Le...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Tyrel Iron Eyes, Tribal Archaeologist for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Tyrel shares what it means to serve in this role and offers listeners an in-depth look at how archaeology is practiced through a Lakota lens.

From day-to-day responsibilities and the structure of Standing Rock’s Tribal Historic Preservation program to the core Lakota values that guide decision-making, Tyrel discusses the importance of protecting sacred sites, cultural landscapes, and the integrity of Indigenous knowledge.

Tyrel offers reflections on wh...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover speaks with Stacie Laravie, citizen of the Northern Ponca of Nebraska and former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Stacie shares insights into the deep history and enduring resilience of the Ponca people, with a focus on the legacy of Chief Standing Bear—whose 1879 court case established, for the first time in U.S. law, that Native people are “persons” under the Constitution.

Together, they explore the archaeology of Ponca homelands, the impacts of forced removal, and how material culture and oral history work together to tel...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with Dr. Alex Craib, Adjunct Professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and recent PhD graduate from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Craib shares insights from his doctoral research at Alm Rockshelter in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming—a site that offers a rich archaeological record spanning thousands of years.

Together, they discuss the cultural materials uncovered at Alm, the site's stratigraphy, and what these findings reveal about patterns of human occupation, mobility, and resource use in the region. Dr. Craib al...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with public archaeologist and science communicator David Ian Howe for a wide-ranging conversation on the cultural, spiritual, and archaeological significance of wolves and other canids across the Great Plains. From ancient burials of domesticated dogs to the symbolic power of the wolf in Indigenous cosmologies, Carlton and David explore how Plains societies understood and related to their four-legged companions and wild kin. Whether you're a dog lover, a zooarchaeology nerd, or someone curious about the deep-time connections between humans and animals on the...

Hey everyone! KU just returned from Spring Break where Carlton gave a talk at the Chicago Field Museum and he has students defending their M.A. Theses. So he needs to focus on getting the next generation of Anthro/Museology students across the finish line! So for episode 17, we are releasing an Encore episode from the A Life in Ruins Podcast.

Also! Carlton is hosting a Live Show on the APN Discord Channel on Sunday, April 20th at 12pm U.S. Central Time. The topic of the show will be “Cultural Heritage Sovereignty in North America’s Grea...

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, we examine the shift from the Late Plains Woodland Period to the emergence of the Early Plains Village tradition in the Central Plains. We explore the changes in settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and social organization that accompanied this transition, from increased maize agriculture to the development of more permanent villages. What drove these transformations, and how did they set the foundation for later Central Plains societies? Join us as we unpack the archaeological evidence and discuss what this pivotal period reveals about the resilience and adaptability of Plains communities.

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, we explore the Plains Woodland Period and the vast networks that connected the Great Plains to the Midwest and Southeast. Focusing on the Kansas City Hopewell, we examine the evidence for long-distance exchange, ceremonial traditions, and social ties that linked Plains communities with broader cultural movements. We also discuss Late Woodland feasting events and their role in setting the stage for later interactions with Mississippian cultures. Join us as we uncover how these early connections shaped the cultural landscape of the Plains before the rise of the Mississippian world.

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, we explore the Plains Woodland Period and the vast networks that connected the Great Plains to the Midwest and Southeast. Focusing on the Kansas City Hopewell, we examine the evidence for long-distance exchange, ceremonial traditions, and social ties that linked Plains communities with broader cultural movements. We also discuss Late Woodland feasting events and their role in setting the stage for later interactions with Mississippian cultures. Join us as we uncover how these early connections shaped the cultural landscape of the Plains before the rise of the Mississippian world.

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, we dive into the history of Indigenous representation in the Sid Meier’s Civilization series. From early portrayals to the groundbreaking collaboration with the Shawnee for Civilization 7, we explore how gaming has shaped public perceptions of Indigenous histories. Our discussion unpacks the importance of authentic representation, the role of Indigenous-led initiatives in game development, and how community engagement can create more accurate and meaningful narratives. Tune in as we examine what this means for archaeology, public education, and the future of Indigenous storytelling in digital spaces.

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover unpacks the history and evolution of the Great Plains taxonomic system—the framework used by archaeologists to categorize and understand cultural periods in the region. From the early development of typologies to modern refinements, this system has shaped how researchers interpret the archaeological record of the Plains.

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