18. Carmen Gütschow: Archaeological conservation Carmen introduces the work of an archaeological conservator. She discusses the issues that arise in different materials, and the range of treatments and tools she uses. What are the pressures of conservation work on an archaeological site? And what does she do differently in Europe and the Middle East. As an expert in treating cuneiform tablets, Carmen explains about firing and salts. 3:03 what a conservator does 4:23 ceramics 7:38 organics and hu...
Jan 26, 2021•32 min•Ep. 18
17. Strahil Panayotov: Assyrian eye medicine Strahil explains how Assyrian medicine worked. Who were the doctors and what did they do? Would their treatments have been effective? He discusses the problems caused by taxonomy. Different ideas about the human body and the diseases affecting it make it more difficult for us to understand Assyrian medicine. One of our most important sources is a newly reconstructed reference work, The Nineveh Medical Encyclopaedia. 2:46 Assyrian doctors 5:24 how medi...
Jan 20, 2021•28 min•Ep. 17
Ilgi and Selim explain their collaborative project to document and eventually publish an important group of texts from Turkish-sponsored excavations at Sippar in the late 19th century. They discuss the number and content of these tablets, and how they came to Istanbul. What are the project’s aims and what progress has been made so far? 5:07 About the Project 5:47 Why Sippar? 7:27 About the tablets 9:25 How they came to Istanbul 13:15 Results and further goals 18:45 Wider dissemination 20:56 Meso...
Jan 07, 2021•28 min•Ep. 16
Daniel Nicky explains how he uses music to help teach school children about history. His Mesopotamia song has been incredibly successful. How does he do it, and what does it take? His work with youth groups in West Java may offer inspiration for engaging youth in the Middle East. 03:15 origins of the Mesopotamia Song 06:43 why it’s popular 10:00 the Mesopotamia Song 13:41 making the Song 16:22 researching the Song 23:37 plans for the future 27:09 working with youth groups The Mesopotamia Song Mr...
Dec 30, 2020•32 min•Ep. 15
Aaron discusses the ideas from his new book, The Idols of Isis: from Assyria to the Internet . The ISIS video of men smashing statues in Mosul Museum reminded him of a lost scene from Sargon’s palace. What are images? Why do we need them? Can they ever be anything other than incomplete and imperfect? And does that matter? 2:53 images, idolatry and iconoclasm 5:39 meanings of images in relation to Iraqi heritage 9:09 ISIS videos 12:44 Sargon of Assyria and ancient iconoclasm 17:52 virtuous iconoc...
Dec 23, 2020•29 min•Ep. 14
Nicolò discusses the work of the Iraqi-Italian team at the site of Nineveh in 2019 and 2020. What is the situation at Nineveh now? How has the site been affected in recent years? New research has revealed new information and insights. But far more importantly, Nicolò discusses the forms that archaeology can take, and why it is done. 2:24 about Nineveh 6:51 new work at Nineveh 9:55 what archaeology means at Nineveh 20:32 collaboration with SBAH 26:28 why this work, at Nineveh, now? 30:45 archaeol...
Dec 16, 2020•43 min•Ep. 13
Gojko reveals the amazing scale and scope of international trade in the ancient Middle East. And the incredible detail in which we can study it. The Assyrian trade network was not the exception we used to think it was. The traders’ business records document a system that has much to offer wider historical study. 2:39 what is trade? 5:10 about the Old Assyrian Colony Period 9:31 what the ancient archives tell us 12:49 was Assur normal or exceptional? 17:44 the significance of the scope and scale ...
Dec 09, 2020•35 min•Ep. 12
Carlos introduces us to the social setting of Mesopotamian maths. What form did maths take? Who used it and what for? Are Mesopotamian practices related to what we know from other ancient cultures, or from the modern world? Carlos explains how our understanding of Mesopotamian maths has changed over the years. Academia: https://usp-br.academia.edu/CGon%C3%A7alves 2:19 about Mesopotamian maths 5:34 the oldest maths 10:10 connections to other ancient cultures, and to the modern world 14:57 how the...
Dec 02, 2020•32 min•Ep. 11
Licia talks about her work at the Sumerian site of Abu Tbeirah in southern Iraq. She explains what the burials found there, and elsewhere in Iraq, tell us about the beliefs and practices of the Sumerians. Why are bodies oriented to the western horizon? And why are the heads sometimes missing? 2:25 about Abu Tbeirah 3:14 why excavate at Abu Tbeirah? 6:50 where were the dead buried? 14:56 the orientation of bodies 18:18 grave goods 21:10 after death 24:58 how burials are excavated Academia: https:...
Nov 24, 2020•30 min•Ep. 10
Elisa talks about terracottas as physical images. What different sorts are there? What images were popular? She tackles the difficult questions of who used them, and what for. What do broken examples tell us? And she explains how we understand the meaning of ancient images. 3:05 what is a terracotta? 9:24 what kinds of terracotta are there? 11:36 what images were popular? 13:11 how were terracottas used? 17:52 how do discover the meaning of terracottas? 22:51 what was the significance of breakin...
Nov 20, 2020•29 min•Ep. 9
Saber talks about his work recovering the text of the Elamite version of the trilingual inscription at Behistun. This is cuneiform’s equivalent of the Rosetta Stone. It was created at the end of the 6th century BC for Darius the Great of Persia. It has long been famous, but there is still more to learn about it. 3:39 introducing Behistun 6:13 the 3 languages 9:23 Behistun or Bisitun? 10:34 knowledge of Behistun 13:21 why new work is needed 16:16 Saber’s work 20:09 future plans 23:43 Behistun and...
Nov 11, 2020•30 min•Ep. 8
Dahlia explains all about Anzu, the thunderbird. Who was he? How did his character change? Why was everyone so taken by the Tablet of Destinies? What does his story tell us about the Mesopotamian relationship to the world? 2:59 who is Anzu? 4:28 Anzu’s story 12:00 the Tablet of Destinies 15:59 how Ninurta defeated Anzu 17:30 the different Anzus 26:35 what’s new? Dahlia's university staff page: https://www.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/altorientalistik/team/shehata/ Dahlia's Academia: https://wue.academi...
Nov 04, 2020•35 min
Paul explains the thinking behind traditional displays. He then guides us through the new displays at the Ashmolean. What is he doing differently? What does the future of display look like? 2:09 traditional displays 4:55 the role of aesthetics 8:14 temporary exhibitions versus permanent displays 12:53 flexible displays 17:37 catering for senses other than sight 21:47 technology 24:18 terminology 25:51 Owning the Past: from Mesopotamia to Iraq 28:32 new galleries at the Ashmolean 37:41 skill-shar...
Oct 28, 2020•42 min•Ep. 6
Jacob and Rients discuss their collaboration on texts from a site housing soldier-gardeners. Who were they and what were they doing there? How can archaeology help make sense of tablets looted a century ago? What is the situation today? 03:12 Where is Tell Abu Antiq? 04:34 What does the name Abu Antiq, and the ancient name Pi-Kasi, mean? 07:09 Connecting tablets old and new. 08:50 The finds from Abu Antiq. 11:00 Progress so far. 11:45 “Gardeners”. 17:09 How to connect tablets to archives. 19:49 ...
Oct 21, 2020•29 min•Ep. 5
16/10/2020 Thin End of the Wedge Episode 4: Gina Konstantopoulos: A demon haunted world Gina guides us through the family of demons. Who were they? What did they do, and why? How could tell if a demon had possessed someone. And what could you do about it? Hear the words of anti-demon spells. 02:47 What was a demon? 07:04 Pandemonium! And demonic warfare. Pazuzu and Lamashtu. 13:26 Where they live. 15:10 Why demons attack. 18:37 How to fight demons. Exorcists and magic. 28: 49 Plans for the futur...
Oct 16, 2020•32 min•Ep. 4
12/10/2020 Thin End of the Wedge Richard explains what we know about music from Mesopotamia, and how we know it. Hear his reconstruction of a Hurrian song that’s more than 3000 years old. He talks about his work with colleagues in the Middle East, using music to drive positive change. 2:41 How do we know anything at all about music in Mesopotamia? 6:00 Babylonian system of music 12:10 What kind of music do we know about? Are they solo works or were there orchestras? 15:16 What kinds of instrumen...
Oct 12, 2020•34 min•Ep. 3
09/10/2020 Thin End of the Wedge Jana Matuszak reveals the secrets of ancient texts describing how not to be a woman. Some of these texts have lain unread for almost 4000 years. She brings Sumerian literature to life. What do they tell us about the expectations placed on women in ancient Iraq? 2:43 What do these texts sound like? 4:38 About Sumerian 7:12 Introducing the texts: how many are there, and what happens in them? 13:16 Why are they fragmentary? 15:41 Is this reality? 24:51 Who was the i...
Oct 08, 2020•35 min•Ep. 2
05/10/2020 Thin End of the Wedge Episode 1: Laith Hussein: Tell Harmal, heart of Eshnunna Laith Hussein talks about a key centre in the kingdom of Eshnunna. Eshnunna was one of several rival kingdoms fighting for supremacy in Iraq about 4000 years ago. What was found, and what work is being done? 3:06 about the site of Tell Harmal. Where is it? How big is it? When was it excavated? What was its ancient name? 7:54 what ancient texts have been found there? 13:01 how the archaeological remains and ...
Oct 05, 2020•29 min•Ep. 1
Hello! And welcome to Thin End of the Wedge. This episode explains what the podcast is about, and how and why I brought it to life. Thin End of the Wedge explores life in the ancient Middle East. There are many wonderful stories we can tell about those people, their communities, the gritty reality of their lives, their hopes, fears and beliefs. We bring you expert insights and the latest research in clear and simple language. We won’t talk to you like you’re stupid. But you won’t need any specia...
Sep 23, 2020•7 min
