The Archaeology Show

News from the English Countryside is dominating the podcast today! We've got a 4,800 year old stone circle on top of a henge and two from Stonehenge. The first is about the parasites that the early builders of Stonehenge suffered from and the second is about ancient pits, lots of them, found in the area around Stonehenge. Those ancients really DID love their stones in circles! Interested in sponso...

This week we interview Dr. Spencer Pelton, the Wyoming State Archaeologist, about his work on the Powers II red ochre quarry site. He recently co-authored a paper about that site, and in it they reveal that the dating results make the Powers Site potentially the oldest quarry site in North America. It's a fascinating and unique site and Dr. Pelton graciously shares his expertise on red ochre, how...

Randomly, there were lots of shipwreck stories in the news this week, so we decided to do a themed episode! First up, we have a story about a shipwreck recovery off the coast of Oregon. Then we move over to a viking age shipyard that was discovered in Sweden. And finally, the excavation of a ship from the middle ages presents a unique challenge to archaeologists. Interested in learning about how t...

MEMBERS: CHECK YOUR AD-FREE DOWNLOADS FOR THIS EPISODE'S BONUS SEGMENT! We've got a lot to cover in this news episode. We start with a tale of the Swiss Army Knife of southern Africa. Then we talk about a site in Iraq visible now because of drought and being recording in a rapid way. Then we go to Turkey to talk about the most famous site in the world: Gobekli Tepe. But wait, there's more! For mem...

There's a lot in the archaeology news as field seasons around the world kick off into high gear! This week we've got stories about the quantifying inequality among past societies, the conservations efforts around the last ship to bring slaves to the United States, and giant statues in Sardinia. That's giant statues, not statues of giants! Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar...

ENCORE: We recently had the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza in Yucatán, Mexico. It was an incredible experience, but, being archaeologists, we of course came away with more questions than were answered! In this episode we give a brief overview Mayan civilization, including Chichen Itza, and then talk about our experience on an incredibly touristy tour! The take away is, do a little research ahea...

There have been many foundational people in archaeology and the life and achievements of one are now fully coming to light with a new book from Oxford University Press. "The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert" (Oxford University Press 2022), written by Dr. John W. I. Lee is a fascinating tale of an archaeologist that paved the way for so many that came after him. Join us as w...

As with most times archaeology is represented in fiction there are some major inconsistencies in this movie. However, it's a fun comedy and at least you won't be bored watching it. We discuss what they got right and what they got wrong about archaeology, anthropology, and lost cities. There's even a bonus segment with a real lost city! Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar tec...

We've got a few articles that are all over the place - literally - this week. The first is about a re-analysis of what was thought was an ancient harbor in Italy. Turns out there's more to it. Next we talk about, well, the prehistoric world in general as it pertains the role of women. As with everything, there's more to that story and it's way more complex than early researchers would have liked....

This week we have a timelines episode focused on 2200 BCE. At that time, Stonehenge as we know it today was just completed in the UK. Conversely, the Akkadian empire began to fall in Mesopotamia, and the impressive Old Kingdom in Egypt also came to an end. Join us for a discussion about what was happening in 3 world powers in year 2200 BCE! Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and simila...

2022 marks the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of Tutankamun's tomb, and in celebration Dr Daniela Rosenow and Oxford Professor Richard Parkinson have helped create a museum exhibit that tells the story of its discovery and excavation. This unique approach highlights the people that did the excavation rather than the artifacts themselves for a unique approach to one of the most famous Egypti...

Paul Zimmerman took his microphone along with him on a trip to Iraq over March and April. While there he recorded with the team at the beginning of the project, around the middle, and then at the end - from the airport! It's a great journey through an archaeological project and you learn a lot about this amazing site in Iraq. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in...

This week we take a look at 3 archaeology news stories. First up is a recent study that looks at the deterioration of the Pueblo Bonito Great House at Chaco Canyon using historic photos of the structures. Second, is a new study that looks at the health defects and deficiencies found in the skeletal remains of a colonial era cemetery in Australia. Finally, new evidence shows cut marks on dog bones...

Surgery has been performed throughout ancient history to varying levels of success. In this episode, we cover a brief history of surgery sound the world, as well as some specific techniques like trepanation and blood letting. Additionally we discuss several examples of surgery in the archaeological record. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check...

It's a news episode! We've got desert kites in the Middle East (so, game fences?), a return to the Miami Circle and associated sites, and finally some illicit antiquities getting pulled from an auction in New York. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot! Start your own podcast with Zencastr an...

This week we discuss some interesting archaeology news articles. First up is a new algorithm that can read and restore Ancient Greek texts. Second, a researcher claims to have found approximately 65 previously unknown British royal burials. We definitely have a lot of questions about that statement! And finally, a beautiful reconstruction of a Stone Age woman by both artists and archaeologists is...

We’ve got another timelines episode! This time we look at 1100 CE in North America. We decided to focus on some of the most iconic sites at that time and look at what caused them to succeed and ultimately fail. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot! Start your own podcast with Zencastr and ge...

We've started a new show! Join Chris and Rachel LIVE every other Wednesday at 4pm PST/7pm EST. Find the schedule and sign up for each show at www.kulturomedia.com/live-events. On this episode of TAS we present you the first show with an interview with A Life In Ruins Host Carlton Gover, a game show called Archaeology or Aliens, and Pop Culture Archaeology! There's a few more segments and we have f...

We've got FOUR news articles for you today. The first is about the oldest ear surgery that took place over 5,000 years ago. She lived! For a little while anyway. Then we go to London where one of the best Roman mosaics to be found in the last century was uncovered. They had all the best things! Finally (sort of) we go to China and look at the oldest pants, or trousers, ever found. We have a fourth...

The intersection of Neanderthals, and modern Homo Sapiens is a very unique and super interesting time period. Wedecided to do a deep dive on the origins of Homo Nenaderthalensis, how they ended up in Europe and were able to inter breed with modern humans and have a lasting genetic imprint on the human genome. Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Che...

This week we have three super interesting news stories that grabbed our attention. First, a beautiful carved chalk drum was found with a Neolithic child burial in the UK. Second, new evidence shows the entry of Homo Sapiens into Europe may have been 10,000 years early than researchers previously realized. And finally, an archaeologist in Arizona claims to have found evidence that re-maps the route...

This week we have 3 interesting archaeology news articles. First, spines excavated in the Chincha valley of Peru are threaded on reeds posthumously. Archaeologist speculate this may have been done by the family members of the data after looting by the Spanish occurred. In segment 2 we take a look at a cemetery in the UK with an unusually high number of decapitated bodies. And finally, it turns out...

Everyone knows that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE buried the Roman town of Pompeii in volcanic ash, abruptly ending its time as a flourishing port city on the Bay of Napes. But, what what else was happening in the ancient world at the same time? In this Timelines episode, we begin by chatting about Pompeii and it's unfortunate demise in segment one. Then we move over to Central America,...

This week we discuss a 4,000 year old board game that was discovered in Oman. Then in segment two, we head over to the UK where a Roman market town has been excavated in advance of the HS2 railway construction. And finally, LIDAR has uncovered more structures in association with Machu Picchu. Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code TAS. Click this mes...

We’ve got some interesting articles from the news media to discuss today. We start with a massive dig in the UK that’s been going on since 2018. The HS2 Rail Project has unearthed thousands of artifacts. This time, we’re talking about a carved wooden Roman figure with amazing preservation. Then we go to Arabia to learn about ancient highways. Finally, we see what can be found on the Cape Cod Natio...