The Speaking Archaeologically Podcast

Ever wondered what it actually means when someone says the word "authentic"? What exactly is authenticity when looking at heritage? Can there be multiple meanings of the same word? Who gets to decide what heritage site is authentic and what is not? In this episode, join Ms. Simran Kaur as she delves deeper into the concept of authenticity while looking at the various stakeholders that go...

Join Dr. Shriya Gautam and Ms. Simran Kaur for an exciting conversation with Prof. Susmita Basu Majumdar (University of Calcutta), a leading numismatist and epigraphist. Following from her recent talk at Speaking Archaeologically about early Indian coinage in the collections of UK museums, this episode brings to you the Q&A session where we talked more about how to approach the study of Indian...

Public archaeology is one of those terms that sounds self-explanatory: until you try to define it. It's not simply outreach. It's not just digging with volunteers or making documentaries. At its core, it's a question about who the past belongs to, and who gets to decide what it means. In this episode, we unpack the field a little: where the idea came from, how its definition has shifte...

You have probably heard a theory about the ancient world that sounded just plausible enough. It seemed intriguing. Perhaps, even pulled you in further into the world of alternative archaeologies. In this episode, we explore how pseudoarchaeology conquered the internet, why professional silence is not neutral, and what is actually at stake when myths about the past get weaponised in the present. Th...

What happens when a historic building can no longer serve its original purpose? Should it be preserved exactly as it is, or adapted for new uses? In this episode of the Speaking Archaeologically Podcast, Simran Kaur explores the concept of adaptive reuse in heritage conservation. From medieval churches and industrial complexes to stepwells, palaces, and forts in India, the episode examines how his...

In this episode, join Simran Kaur as she explores the role of recording and sketching in preserving endangered heritage. Focusing on her doctoral fieldwork in Farrukhnagar, Haryana, the episode reflects on the discovery and subsequent demolition of a forgotten Mughal-period city gate, and asks what it means to document history that may soon disappear. Through discussion of the sketch walk organise...

In this episode, we up where we last left off: the step wells of Delhi! Built in 1506 and tucked away in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park, the Rajon ki Baoli was the site that set the entire Baolis of Delhi project in motion. But this episode isn't about its history or architecture. It is about what our team found when we got there, and what that visit revealed about a city-wide crisis hiding...

What began as a routine site visit in December 2019 soon turned into a race against time. When members of the Speaking Archaeologically Delhi Research Wing encountered the stepwells of Rajon ki Baoli and Gandhak ki Baoli, they uncovered a larger, urgent story: one of disappearance, neglect, and fading memory. Once numbering around 100, Delhi’s baolis have dwindled to just 14–15 surviving structure...

Join Mr. Diptarka Datta as he delves into how Sunder Nursery has continued to captivate artists through history. The episode will unpack how the monuments within this historic complex have been perceived in art and how archaeological illustrations are an important tool to uncover a site's story!

Every excavation tells a story. Every artwork does too. Art allows archaeologists to trace the shifts that a monument goes through across time. In this episode, join panelists Diptarka Datta and Simran Kaur Saini as they explore Skhédíos, an art competition that aims to bring artists and archaeologists together, and ask what each discipline sees in the other. Tune in to know more about why Skhédío...

Are museums slowly drifting into irrelevance? In an age of shrinking attention spans and endless digital content, many institutions face a pressing concern: disinterested visitors. At the same time, collections themselves tell a fractured story. Objects from a single site, culture, or historical moment are often scattered across institutions, sometimes across continents, making it nearly impossibl...

In this episode of Speaking Archaeologically , we explore the Piprahwa Relics Exhibition at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex and its significance in India’s decolonisation journey. Tracing the relics’ discovery by William Claxton Peppe, their dispersal under colonial rule, and their dramatic 2025 return following an attempted auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong, join Research Wing members Keerthana...

What does decolonisation actually mean in museums and what does it look like beyond rewritten labels? In this episode of Speaking Archaeologically , Senior Research Panelist Simran Kaur explores how colonial histories continue to shape museum narratives, particularly around South Asian artefacts. From silences embedded in gallery labels to the politics of visibility, this conversation asks how ins...

The National Museum, Delhi holds some of India’s most significant archaeological collections but how effectively do these objects speak to the public today? In this episode, we take a closer look at visitor engagement in Indian museums through the lens of the National Museum. Join Research Wing member Avighna Parul Pande as she discusses gaps between curatorial intent and visitor experience, the r...

How effective are our laws in protecting the past, and where does public responsibility begin? In this episode, we examine the protection of tangible heritage through the lens of legislation and public awareness, focusing on the UNESCO-listed Sanchi Stupa. Join Dr. Shriya Gautam as she unpacks the the challenges of enforcing legal frameworks on the ground, and the crucial role of public engagement...

Last episode, we unpacked the challenges Indian museums face when it comes to visitor engagement. This time, we’re going a step further and asking the uncomfortable questions. Are museum exhibitions really what they claim to be? When museums showcase high-profile loans or speak the language of decolonisation, are they creating meaningful public engagement… or simply polishing their institutional i...

India’s past is anything but boring so why do so many museum visits feel that way? This episode takes a critical look at the state of museums in India, asking why artefacts often sit behind dull labels and disconnected displays. We unpack what’s holding museums back, how visitor experience can be transformed, and what it would take to make these spaces truly engaging for the public.

What does it mean to conserve heritage that cannot be displayed in a case? This episode examines how the Bindu Sarovar Museum in Siddhpur, Gujarat, engages with intangible heritage, beliefs, practices, and living traditions, and the challenges and opportunities of preserving cultural memory beyond monuments.

In our last episode, we discussed how the Taj Mahal has been embroiled in the battle between conservation and pseudo-archaeology. In this year-end special episode, we take the discussion a little further and discuss how exactly is the Taj Mahal and similar monuments in India protected in the first place. Join us as we explore the world of heritage laws and what it mean actually means to protect a...

What happens when one of the world's most famous monuments becomes a site of ideological conflict? In this first episode of our brand new series, we explore how pseudo-archaeology, popular culture, and politics are reshaping the meaning of Taj Mahal in contemporary India.

Join us as we explore the three fundamental pillars of evolutionary psychology: mating, cooperation, and conflict. Uncover how each one has influenced the way we think, feel, and interact today. From the strategies we use to attract partners, to the deep roots of our social bonds, to the age-old patterns that spark rivalry and aggression, we connect the dots between our evolutionary past and our m...

Why does a single emotion make us recoil from spoiled food, wrinkle our noses at foul smells, and even judge other people? In this episode, we dive into the evolutionary psychology of disgust, a powerful behavioural immune system shaped to protect our ancestors from parasites, pathogens, and social threats. If you’ve ever wondered why some things feel “gross” on instinct, or how an ancient emotion...

Humans have always had a complicated relationship with food. In this episode, we explore the foundations of evolutionary psychology to understand why our brains crave sugar and fat, why we’re drawn to variety, and how ancient survival mechanisms still shape our choices today. From feast-or-famine instincts to comfort eating, we uncover how evolution influences our appetite, behaviour, and emotiona...

Join us as we unpack the evolutionary origins of anger, revealing how this powerful emotion helped our ancestors navigate threats, negotiate resources, and maintain social cohesion. Unpack how those ancient mechanisms still influence us today!

How do scientists actually test ideas about human evolution? In this episode, we explore the diverse toolkit researchers use to investigate evolutionary hypotheses: from cross-species comparisons that reveal shared adaptations, to cross-cultural studies that uncover universal versus variable behaviour. We also dive into psychological experiments, brain imaging, and genetic methods that connect evo...