Similar in technology and acoustic style to the xylophone, lithopones are rocks that have been used to make music and sounds for thousands of years and all over the planet. Long and usually skinny, lithophones are rocks that are either natural or have been shaped to produce certain sounds or notes. On today's episode we talk to Marilyn Martorano about her research into lithophones in the American Southwest.
April is back from field school! This was the 10th year anniversary of the Amache Field School, run by Dr. Bonnie Clark of the University of Denver. April is a Co-Director of the field school and she has a report on what the did, what they found, and what's next. Amache is a fascinating place with a complicated history. If you have questions, please reach out and we'll get them to the right people.
It's just Chris today! April is out on her field school. Chris talks about some current archaeology in the news and gives his take on the stories. He also talks about three great new shows coming to the Archaeology Podcast Network this summer.
On June 1st Chris Webster and Comedian Brian Woods did a live science and comedy show at the Reno Collective in Reno, Nevada. I'm posting it here because it's very relevent to this group.
Chris saw a video several months ago that really challenged his preconceived notions of what the past was like. That video was a promotional video about New York City shot in 1911. There is no commentary, it's not scripted, and it just looks like cut-together scenes of life in the big city in that year. It's fascinating. April and Chris spend most of the show talking about that video, what it means, and what we can learn from it. They also talk about the rephotography movement and other represen...
Massive technological innovations now allow scientists to extract and analyze ancient DNA as never before, and genomics is emerging as important a means of understanding the human past as archeology, linguistics, and the written word. In his new book Who We Are and How We Got Here (Pantheon), David Reich describes how the human genome provides not only all the information that a fertilized human egg needs to develop but also contains within it the history of our species. Join Reich as he discuss...
Sir Barry Cunliffe returns for the third time to The Archaeology Show! On today's show, we talk to him about the Ancient Celts and the second edition of the book with the same name. Archaeologists have learned a lot about the ancient Celts since the first edition of the book was released and we scrape the surface on this show.
Historian Billy Griffiths has written a very interesting and unique book related to the historical and ancient past of Australia. Quite a few people came together to create the narrative of history that we know today and their stories are told in this book. Before they did their work the history of Australia was very misunderstood. Check out his podcast then go read the book and learn something new about an amazing place.
Why do textbooks cost so much? Part of the reason is that for one person to do it they need to be compensated. Another reason is that books are big, have lots of color pages, and are expensive to produce. That's why this Open Textbook idea is interesting. Today we talk to Katie Kirakosian - a professor at UMASS that is leading a team that is making a North American Archaeology textbook that will be free to download and use for everyone! It's a very interesting idea and we explore a lot of topics...
We're joined on today's show by historian and author Justin Jacobs. Jacobs wrote "Indiana Jones in History: From Pompeii to the Moon". It's a great read about the real circumstances in history that produced Indiana Jones-like behavior regarding the acquisition of antiquities across the world. In the final chapter, Jacobs gives an academic breakdown of the franchise and says what he things the 5th movie (Out in 2020) could be about.
Triblism developed out of actual tribes and the need to defend your family - since you were likely related to everyone in the tribe. It's also evolutionary and helps protect your genes. Those early tribes would eventually evolve into societies that lived in larger towns and cities. This has developed into nationalism on a larger scale. Also, things within our lives that we think are benign might not be. Students yelling to kill or crush the other team at college sporting events, for example....
The American Veterans Archaeological Recovery project, or, AVAR provides a great opportunity for veterans to gain experience in a new skill and work with a team again like they did in the military. It's therapeutic, instructional, and awesome for all involved and Stephen Humphreys joins us to tell us all about AVAR.
Much of archaeological site interpretation is based on a bias of not only typical male and female responsibilities, but also, activities that take place during the day time. Both of those are assumptions that need to change. Editors Nancy Gonlin and April Nowell produced a book called, "Archaeology of the Night" to get other archaeologists to consider their work from the perspective of the night. What are we missing by not considering special artifacts and features that may be designed for use a...
Chasing Earhart is an upcoming multi part documentary film series that will explore Amelia Earhart's life, times, family, friends, and all the lore and theories that have sprung up in the wake of her disappearance.
Where DO archaeologists present there work? Conferences. Often, prior to an article publication, book, or other format an idea or research is presented at a professional conference. Sometimes, this is the ONLY place a site is talked about. How can you go to a conference? Do you need to be an archaeologist? Once you're there, how do you dress and act? All this and more on today's episode.
Interested in learning about archaeology or working at a fantastic site? Then a field school might be just the thing! Whether you want an extended working vacation, are starting your career, or are trying to figure out whether you chose the right major, an archaeology field school could be the answer. April and Chris talk about what to expect out of a field school, who can go, where they happen, and how much they cost.
On today's episode, Chris and Paul sit on the National Mall in the middle of the United State's most prestigious museums. They talk about the current state of museums, what they like and don't like, and offer up some suggestions for the museum of the future.
It's a solo show today! I talk about the upcoming Arch365 season, other shows on the APN, and our membership system. I also talk about public archaeology and podcasts as digital preservation. This is the topic of my, Chris Webster's, paper at the 2017 AAA conference in Washington D.C.
Archaeologist and author Dr. Paul Bahn joins us on this episode to talk about the latest edition of his book, "Images of the Ice Age" from Oxford University Press. The book covers the history of rock art and rock art discovery mostly in Western Europe. This fascinating discussion will leave you thirsting for more rock art, and, wondering about the controversies mentioned at the end of the show!
Writing about archaeology shares similarities with other scientific writing but it also can show it's own style. Archaeologists have to be able to not only tell other scientists about their research, but, have to be able to convey that to the public in a number of ways. On this episode we talk about the different places you'll find archaeological writing, what it takes to create it, and how to find the original sources of articles you're reading.
Ever wondered how those clothes in the past were created and worn? Well, Abby Cox of American Duchess and Royal Vintage Shoes did. She studied dress-making in the 18th century and has recreated those styles using the techniques of the period. This is a fascinating discussion about experimental historic archaeology. We even talk about hair care and how people kept clean in a time that seems so dirty when compared to modern times. The discussion might surprise you!
Today we talk to Sir Barry Cunliffe, a British archaeologist and Oxford University professor. Sir Barry has worked all over the UK and Europe, written many books, and influenced British archaeology. This is an awesome chat about his career and directions in British archaeology.
On today's show we talk to two archaeologists that have organized an amazing outreach system that they're using in the mid-west. It's called the Artifact Roadshow and it's a place where people can bring in their finds and have them recorded and evaluated. It's a great tool for public outreach and can be modeled anywhere.
New from Oxford University Press - On the Ocean by Sir Barry Cunliffe. On the Ocean talks about seafaring vessels and the people that used them from prehistoric times through 1500 AD. It's a fantastic read shows the ingenuity of people across many cultures.
On today's episode, we interview Tom King, the senior archaeologist for the International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery, or, TIGHAR. They just finished their most recent expedition to the island where they think Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan landed their Lockheed Electra. It's still uncertain what happened after they landed, but, the evidence is building. This episode covers the most recent expedition to Nickamororo Island.
On today's episode, Chris and April are joined by APN co-founder Tristan Boyle to talk about his recent experiences in Italy and his revelations about archaeology. Archaeology and history are everywhere you look. Take a look around you and see - really see.
On today's show, we talk to Dr. Shara Bailey about what ancient teeth can tell us about human evolution and ultimately about ourselves. What is paleoanthropology? What can we learn from the shape of teeth and how they are worn? All this and more on this episode of the Archaeology Show.
On today's show, April and Chris interview Kaibab National Forest Service archaeologist Neil Weintraub. We talk about fire archaeology, vandalism in the forest, and public outreach.
On today's show we talk with ArchaeoGaming pioneer and expert, Andrew Reinhard. We find out what archaeogaming is and why it's important to the public. It's not just about the ethics of archaeology as represented in games, but, the games themselves.
On today's show we talk to Dr. Geoff Smith of the University of Nevada, Reno about a paper he co-authored in a recent issue of American Antiquity. It's all about dating sandals from a famous cave in northern Nevada, Last Supper Cave, and what they can tell us about the last 11,000 years of history and occupation in that area.
