The Speaking Archaeologically Podcast

Why do we think, feel, and act the way we do? In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of Evolved Psychological Mechanisms , the mental adaptations shaped by natural selection to solve challenges faced by our ancestors. From fear responses and mate choice to cooperation and moral judgment, we uncover how evolution has hardwired our minds for survival.

We are back again after a break with the Evolutionary Psychology series! In this episode, we revisit the basic structures necessary to understand human evolution. Join us as we take a brief journey to explore the architecture of evolution!

What happens when ancient tombs meet modern streaming? In this episode, we dig into Netflix’s Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb and explore how public archaeology is reshaping the way we understand and access ancient history. From the tombs of Egypt’s forgotten priests to the global reach of popular media, we discuss the ethical, educational, and emotional impact of making archaeology public.

Cleopatra has been portrayed as everything from a cunning seductress to a brilliant political strategist. In this episode, we dive into the world of televised archaeology to examine how Cleopatra is framed: what evidence is emphasised, what mysteries are spotlighted, and how modern narratives influence the portrayal of an ancient queen. From underwater excavations to the search for her tomb, how d...

In this final episode of our Heritage At Crossroads series, we explore the growing tension between preservation and progress. We look at how historic landmarks, ancient ruins, and cultural treasures vanish under the weight of modern development and economic ambition. Why are we so quick to trade centuries of history for short-term profit? What is truly at stake when heritage becomes a commodity? J...

As cities expand and economies grow, heritage sites often find themselves caught in the crossfire between progress and preservation. In this episode, we explore the complex relationship between development and cultural conservation. What does it take to protect our historical landmarks in the face of rapid urbanization? Join us as we explore this question through the story of the cities of Ctesiph...

How do communities protect their cultural heritage while embracing modern development? In this episode, we explore the tensions and synergies between conserving historic places and meeting today’s needs. Join us as we look at the challenges and opportunities of heritage conservation in a rapidly changing world.

Archaeological sites attract millions of visitors each year: But what does tourism mean for the sites themselves? What is at stake when the past becomes a destination? In this episode, we explore how archaeology and tourism intersect, balancing preservation with popularity. Join us as we dig into the delicate relationship between cultural heritage and the tourism industry!

In this episode, we look at an issue that makes every archaeologist wince with sadness: the loss of heritage sites! Join us as we discuss the challenges that one faces while looking at conservation of historical sites, especially when looking at collaborative public archaeology projects.

Join Dr. Shriya Gautam as she unpacks the basics of evolutionary psychology in this new series! Discover how the brain and the body influence each other. In this exciting follow up episode to the first part, dive into the world of the evolution and understand why humans behave in a certain manner.

Join us for a very interesting conversation about the role of the digital in public archaeology with Dr. Sara Perry (UCL). In this episode, Dr. Perry reflects on the paradoxes her team has experienced in recent digital participatory work that they have been doing at different international sites. Herein, the idea of public participation is embraced, and digital practices and technologies are seen...

Join Dr. Shriya Gautam as she unpacks the basics of evolutionary psychology in this new series! Why do people behave in a certain way? What about unlikely, unexpected behaviour? What is the role of biology in terms of influencing human behaviour? Tune in to know more about this interesting field of evolutionary psychology!

Why do we really drink alcohol? Why is male violence so prevalent across human history? And how much of our behavior is shaped by ancient instincts we don’t even realize we have? In this explosive episode of Speaking Archaeologically , we crack open the world of evolutionary psychology — the science that explores how our minds evolved to solve the challenges of survival and reproduction. 

You have heard us talk about the misidentified sculptures and paintings in the last episodes. But how does one break the cycle of the wrong provenance? Tune in as Ms. Shriya Gautam brings our 'Provenance in Museums' series to a close by discussing the ways in which all of us can contribute towards tackling the case of the wrong provenance!

Our saga of the wrongly identified objects continues in this special episode. Join us as we take a look at a painitng depicting Rustum and Sohrab from the famous Persian epic, Shahnama. But is it Rustum and Sohrab? Or perhaps a different scene altogether? Tune in to unravel the mystery of the provenance of this particular museum object!

In this special episode, we take a closer look at the figure of the crying woman. Or is she crying really? Let's find out! Join Ms. Shriya Gautam as she unpacks the Ashtanayikas, the heroines, in Indic Art. Discover how the nayikas are often wrongly identified and why is that so.

A lot of people mispronounce it, a lot of people misspell it, a lot of people have no idea what it means. Meet provenance. A thing without which archaeology and research is not possible. For everything that is archaeologically relevant, we need to have context.  In this special episode, join Ms. Shriya Gautam as she talks about the importance of provenance and why wrong provenance of objects in mu...

Join us in our latest episode where we talk to Dr. Vidhu Gandhi (WSP India) about the Aboriginal Australian Heritage and decolonisation. Be a part of the engaging conversation that followed Dr. Gandhi's talk in our recent Talk with an Expert Session!

What does it really mean to “decolonise”?Is it just about returning stolen objects? Rewriting museum labels? Or is it something much deeper—something that shakes the very foundations of how museums and heritage institutions operate? Join Simran and Shriya as they dive deeper into the concept of decolonisation and discuss what it truly means!

Curious about motherhood, loss, and death in the ancient world? Ever wondered how women dealt with motherhood and loss in the Classical world? Hear Ms. Jana Nedelkoska (University of Oxford) as she talks to us about her research on the funerary stelae and motherhood in the Classical world!

On our 10th anniversary this year, join Simran Kaur Saini (Panelist, Speaking Archaeologically) and Shriya Gautam (Founder and Director of Research, Speaking Archaeologically) as they discuss how it all really began! Hear us speaking all things archaeological and more in this special episode.

On our 10th anniversary this year, join Simran Kaur Saini (Panelist, Speaking Archaeologically) and Shriya Gautam (Founder and Director of Research, Speaking Archaeologically) as they discuss how it all really began! Hear us speaking all things archaeological and more in this special episode.

Sometimes the gap is the monument. In the tug of war between who gets named and remembered and who does not, lies a story of inheritance, loss, mourning, and hope. We are in conversation today with Prof. Dan Hicks (Professor of Contemporary Archaeology at the University of Oxford and Curator at the Pitt-Rivers Museum), where we unpack what it truly means to let monuments fall once in a while. Join...