And My Trowel

There’s something glinting in the bookshelves, but what can it be? This episode Ash and Tilly are joined by archaeologist and jewellery historian Dr Sigrid van Roode to talk all about magical amulets. Together they discuss the importance of ancient jewellery and dive into the world of fantasy to see how the concept of magical amulets has developed over time, and ask that age-old question: why woul...

It’s part two of our quest to conserve the portrait of Gorian Dray, with special guest and professional conservation expert Jessica van Dam. But should we actually be conserving this portrait at all? After all, you could argue that it is itself a person. So what are the ethics around working with human remains in archaeology? How would we approach this particular fantastical example? And where in...

Ash and Tilly have discovered an old and dilapidated painting in the corner of their office, although arguably the most dilapidated part is the man pictured in it - a Mr Gorian Dray. Could it be a soul-bound object? And if so, how can they possibly go about conserving it? Luckily, they are joined by professional art conservator Jessica van Dam, and together they look at the world of fantasy and ba...

Why have Tilly and Ash been turned into potted plants? Maybe it’s because they were trying to categorise an ancient and (apparently) wrathful god. But how does one classify a god? How can we identify them archaeologically? Are they people or objects? And most importantly, how will Ash and Tilly stop this recording? Listen in to find out! Books Mentioned: Small Gods (Terry Pratchett) Bound to the B...

This episode, Ash and Tilly have been so buried in quests that they didn’t have time to record! Luckily their fellow APN hosts over on The Archaeology Show have released a very timely episode about time travel, so we decided to share that here too. So listen in as Chris and Rachel review the surprisingly historically accurate Apple TV+ reboot of the movie Time Bandits. The new TV show, Time Bandit...

The Wizards have been in touch again, and so this episode Ash and Tilly have been tasked with finding the one who can save the world and bring all of humanity together - The Chosen One. The catch is, all they know is that The Chosen One is a child, but they have no idea where to find them. Luckily, they can use their archaeological knowledge to identify the presence of children in the past, and ap...

Our hosts Ash and Tilly face a tough quest this episode, because they’ve been tasking with dating zombies. Discovering how long they’ve been dead, that is! To do this, they discuss the different methods of dating bodies in the archaeological record, and answer all those burning questions like “what is an isotope?” “What is voodoo?” And “what would happen if you took a zombie shopping?” Links A Zom...

It's the 25th episode of And My Trowel, and to celebrate, Ash and Tilly decided to have a battle of wits in order to see who could remember the most from the last 24 episodes. There can only be one! (Or can there...?) Links https://discord.com/invite/HMmrsAtqP3 Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.arch...

Ash and Tilly are about to embark on their biggest quest yet - trying to find archaeological evidence for the origins of magic! But how can you identify magic in the archaeological record? Listen in to hear a discussion about what defines a wand, how to tell if someone’s used magic, and what the link is between witches and beer. Links Intangible and tangible knowledge in Open-Air Museums (article)...

This episode, Ash and Tilly are on a bit of a side quest that becomes much bigger than they ever thought possible, as they try to help a student from Lothlorien University critique the concept of a “damsel in distress” using gender archaeology. But what exactly is gender archaeology? What’s the difference between feminist and gender archaeology? And why do we need it? Listen in to find out! Links...

It’s part two of a discussion all about hoards! Ash and Tilly are joined by Dr Adrián Maldonado in their quest to identify a hoard of objects recently stumbled across in the middle of the redevelopment of Khazad-dûm . But how do you identify a hoard? What kind of research can be done on them? Are were Viking silver rings just a medieval form of friendship bracelet? Listen it to find out! Links Alm...

Deep in the heart of Khazad-dûm , changes are being made. Caverns are being restored, bridges are being rebuilt, and there’s even plans for a new shopping centre… But when a huge hoard of objects is discovered in a hidden chamber, Ash and Tilly are called in to investigate! And helping them in their quest is Dr Adrián Maldonado - archaeologist, author, and expert on hoards. Together, they discuss...

After the physical labour of episode 19, Ash and Tilly decide to put their interpretative skills to work in this episode, and discuss how to research a certain magical mirror that has been dropped in their office. To do that, they chat about the history of mirrors, the symbolism of mirrors, and try to work out how exactly you would classify a magical mirror. Links Mirrors in Literature Paper on mi...

In episode nineteen, Tilly and Ash accidentally volunteer to help out the Butterbur Bree Historical Society with recording their most famous inn, the Prancing Pony. Armed with a measuring tape and a frosty pint, they go about discussing the biggest trope in all fantasy: the Tavern! Links Hall, T. (2018) Tropes and taverns, oh my! , BOOK RIOT Survey and recording at Historic Environment Scotland He...

It’s time for part two of our discussion with forensic anthropologist, osteoarchaeologist, and conservator Jessica van Dam, as we discuss the issue of vampire teeth. Are there archaeological examples of vampires in the real world? (Spoiler: yes) Can we look at bones to see what happened to that person in life? (Spoiler: yes) Do vampire teeth and hair continue to grow once they become vampires? (Sp...

In their latest quest, Tilly and Ash have to deal with quite a delicate situation, as construction of the latest housing project by Helsing Homes uncovers the burials of possible vampire hunters, including bags of vampire teeth… Luckily, they can enlist the help of special guest Jessica van Dam - an ex-osteoarchaeologist who researched teeth in particular. Together, they discuss the difference bet...

Are you ready for another use(wear)ful episode? Then listen to part two of Ash and Tilly’s chat with special guest Dr Amber Roy, as they tackle the issue of how to classify a polished stone axe from the Bazkardum Society of Dwarfish History. How long have axes been used in human history? How can you tell what an axe was used for? And why is Tilly waiting for a carrier pigeon? Tune in to find out!...

It’s time for an axe-tremely axe-citing episode! Ash and Tilly have to deal with a tricky situation over at the Bazkardum Society of Dwarfish History, who want to know how to classify a recently donated polished stone axe. Luckily, they have help from special guest Dr Amber Roy - experimental archaeologist and microwear analyst who specialises in prehistoric axes. In this first of two episodes, th...

Ouch! In episode 14, Tilly and Ash confront the Magisterium of Malintent, the Grand Council of Dark Lords to talk about their power dynamics and how the archaeological record isn’t always as clear cut when it comes to understanding hierarchy and power. Links DNA Study of female warrior grave (Birka) Elven Quest "Dark Lord" in The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (eds. John Clute & John Grant: First St. Mar...

What do you do when you encounter two wizards throwing balls of fire at each other? Soothe them with archaeological theory of course! In this episode, Ash and Tilly have a slightly different task ahead of them as they discuss the history of processual versus post-processual archaeology, all in an attempt to deal with the intricate politics of academic research. Links Michael Shanks and Ian Hodder...

In episode 12, like archaeological paladins, Tilly and Ash have been given a divine quest: find the Cailleach of Celtic Myth and…deliver her washing. Oh. On their journey, they discuss the best strategies to locate the ancient hag and ask the tough archaeological question: what even is a landscape? Links Routledge Guide to Landscape Studies (Google books) Landscape Archaeology (Chapter in Encyclop...

Time for something completely different this episode, as Ash and Tilly discuss their plans for the upcoming year. Spoiler alert: it includes live shows, a readalong, and more exciting quests! Listen in to find out more. Links: Discworld Podcast: The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret Austen Podcast: Pod and Prejudice Tolkien Podcast: The Tolkien Professor Upcoming archaeology fiction: Even If We’re Broken A...

We’re back for part two of our discussion with our zooarchaeological expert guest Alex Fitzpatrick, to talk all about dragons. There’s a tricky situation on our hands this month, but luckily we can chat with Alex about all the different methods possible for investigating it. Tune in to hear all about how to date a burial, whether dragons are classified as ‘sentient’, and why you should never get o...

In this episode Ash and Tilly are joined by zooarchaeologist Alex Fitzpatrick to talk all about the mythology of dragons. Why do dragons pop up in nearly every culture around the world? How has their mythology developed over time? And what does any of this have to do with orangutans wielding sticks? Tune in to part 1 of our two-part special to find out! Links Archaeoanimals episode on fossils and...

In this episode, Ash and Tilly delve into the completed scenarios surrounding Time Travel. How would you react if you colleagues brought you back a box of objects fresh from the past? How would you work out if they are the genuine article? And why do scientists like to bombard materials so much? Tune in to find out! Links Forgery in the ancient world Richelieu Venus Transcripts For rough transcrip...