Archaeology Books for Fun

Join us as we crack open a brand-new book—Ancient Brews: Rediscovered and Re-Created by Patrick McGovern! McGovern, a biomolecular archaeologist, takes readers on a journey through time as he analyzes ancient beverages from around the world. Using chemistry, archaeology, and a little bit of guesswork, he partners with Dogfish Head Brewery to recreate these drinks in the modern day as part of their...

In this episode, we wrap up The Nine Lives of Florida’s Famous Key Marco Cat with the story behind the cat’s discovery and the entertaining feud between the Penn Museum and the Smithsonian over who gets to keep it. From its moment in the archaeological spotlight to traveling the world in exhibitions, the Key Marco Cat has led quite a few adventurous lives—before finally returning (temporarily) hom...

New Episode! New Book! This time, we're diving into "The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Key Marco Cat". This 6-inch figurine—part cat (maybe), part man (maybe), part mystery (definitely)—is so iconic that it’s Florida’s official state artifact! Yet, despite its fame, so much about it remains unknown. How can such a small cat raise such big questions? Tune in to find out! Want to support this podca...

Here it is—the actual final episode of "The Lost City of the Monkey God"! After several episodes of critiques, we felt we owed it to you, dear listeners, to seek out other perspectives on the book. So, what did we find? Did new insights change our minds? Was the book redeemed in the end? Tune in to find out! Our next book will be "The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Key Marco Cat...

This is it—the conclusion to the challenging journey that has been this book! In this final episode, the expedition members are struck by a mysterious malady. Is it the curse of the "lost" city? Or just the result of spending a week in the jungle? For those who’ve been following along, it won’t come as a surprise that the book doesn’t redeem itself in the end. While it’s been a tough rea...

November has been intense, so we weren’t able to finish The Lost City of the Monkey God this month. But don’t worry—we’ve got something special for you instead! In this episode, we share our recent conference trip to Colonial Williamsburg. Both of us visited this historic interpretive town as kids, but this time, we approached it with the eyes of an archaeologist and an interpreter. How does it ho...

In this episode, we dive into part two of "The Lost City of the Monkey God". The team assembles and embarks on an expedition to the jungles of the Mosquitia region in Honduras to "discover" a "lost" city. Facing swarms of hungry insects and encounters with deadly snakes, they set out to confirm the site they identified using LiDAR. Last time, we had a few critiques. W...

A new episode, a new book! In "The Lost City of the Monkey God", daring adventurers use cutting-edge technology to brave the wild and dangerous jungles of Honduras in search of a city lost for centuries! At least, that's how the book presents itself. However, the story has sparked critiques from archaeologists, anthropologists, and native Hondurans. Will we be swept away by this thri...

David Drake was a skilled potter and an enslaved man, known for the poetry he courageously inscribed on his pots at great personal risk. Join us for a very special one-off episode as we discuss the children's book "Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave" and celebrate this remarkable individual. Next up, we'll be starting the book "The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story...

For the final episode of "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries" we explore how inventive ancient people were and we throw a little cold water on dowsing and psychics in archaeology. Looking ahead, our next episode will be a one-off with the fabulous kid's book "Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave". David Drake was a remarkable person who, despite the great danger, wrote poetry on...

In this episode, we dive into the peopling of the Americas, Vikings in North America, and the legend of Atlantis! Plus, we finally discuss the controversial idea that aliens helped ancient civilizations build some of the world's greatest structures. Our thoughts on the matter may surprise you (but probably won't). ___ Want to support this podcast? Check out the donation link below! https:/...

In this episode we kick off our discussion of "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology." Join us as we delve into the intriguing world of scientific inquiry versus pseudoscience. We'll explore the myths surrounding a supposed race of ancient giants, uncover the story behind the Cardiff Giant hoax, and unravel the infamous Piltdown Man fraud. Get ready f...

We are very excited for this one! In this special episode, we sit down with the talented Mary Anna Evans, author of "Artifacts: A Faye Longchamp Mystery." Join us as we delve into her fascinating writing process, her meticulous research, and how she so masterfully represents archaeology in her work. Don't miss this chance to get an insider's look at Mary Anna's inspirations a...

Join us for the thrilling finale of "Artifacts: A Faye Longchamp Mystery"! In this last episode, stakes are high as Faye faces a heart-stopping dilemma. Will Faye reveal her illegal activities and go to prison to stop a killer? Who is the killer? Will Joyeuse be saved? What the heck is a palmetto? All these questions will be answered! Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Mary Anna Eva...

Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of twists and turns as we navigate both real and fictional landscapes in the captivating backdrop of the Florida Panhandle. With a missing body, and the discovery of two more, this episode promises to keep you on the edge of your seat! Don't forget to cast your vote in our poll to help us choose our next adventure. The options are: "Frauds, Myths, and My...

We take a break from looting, the black market, and murder by starting a new mystery novel about... looting, the black market, and murder. What a refreshing change! This time, however, we're reading our first fiction novel about archaeologists and murder mysteries that takes place right in our local area in the Florida Panhandle. We're already really enjoying this one! "Artifacts&quot...

As a special episode follow-up interview to "Stealing History" we're joined by archaeologist Dr. Andres Garzon-Oechsle! Andres has a unique perspective on the issue of site looting in his home country Ecuador. He has also personally visited the Lords of Sipán museum in Peru. Tune in to hear all about it! YouTube: https://youtu.be/ns21PoYH-Ko Follow us on Goodreads: https://www.goodre...

This is it, the conclusion to Stealing History! It's been a pretty wild ride with grave robbing, FBI stings, and murder. This time the tale gets a bit more hopeful with on the ground efforts to protect sites and, at last, the opening of the Sipán museum. We also take issue with some of the author's proposals to fight the antiquities black market. There's a lot going on in this one!&quo...

As we take a break from Stealing History, we use this time to discuss some archaeology news, review the podcast over the last 14 episodes, and talk a little about what exactly it is that we do. Do you have a favorite book that we covered? Let us know! We will be back next month with the concluding episode on Stealing History. See you then!___Articles discussed: German Authorities Repatriate 75 Art...

In this episode, we finally get to see the conclusion of the FBI sting operation. Additionally, we will delve into the significant role that many museums play in contributing to the black market trade of antiquities. Next time, we will provide a recap of our favorite books and episodes. If you have a favorite of your own, let us know!"Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting...

This episode has a little bit of everything you could want from a crime drama! Smuggling rings, FBI stings, informants, double crosses, and foul play. This time we focus on some of the artifacts that were stolen from the ancient Moche culture tomb/temple site Huaca Rajada located in Sipán, Peru and efforts to recover them. Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient W...

Starting a new book, we dive into the seedy underworld of the black market antiquities trade. We take a look at the people who do the looting of ancient sites and what drives them as well as the distributors who buy from them. This book mostly focuses on the ancient Moche culture tomb/temple site Huaca Rajada located in Sipán, Peru. Though not a happy story, we are enjoying the narrative style of...

Finishing up this book, we take a close look at how historical archaeology can tell us a lot about African American history. We start off with what an excavation taught us about the lives of the residents of the Parting Ways site in Massachusetts. Then we take discuss what archaeology teaches us about African American architecture, foodways, and ceramics. Next Book "Stealing History: Tomb Rai...

Winged death head grave markers, architecture, and forks! We look at how changes in gravestone art and architecture, and to a lesser degree, furniture, tools, and table utensils all reflect cultural changes happening in New England in the 17th and 18th centuries. "In Small Things Forgotten: An Archaeology of Early American Life" by James Deetz is a remarkable book because it is informati...

With a new Indiana Jones movie just released, what archaeologist could resist the temptation to talk about it? We discuss why we love Indiana Jones, our problems with it, and generally gush about how much we enjoyed this movie. We plan to release the next episode of "In Small Things Forgotten" on the first of August as usual. ___ Want to support this podcast? Check out the donation link...