The Extreme History Project: The Dirt on the Past: Recent Episodes
The Extreme History Project
Welcome to The Dirt on the Past from The Extreme History Project and Gallatin Valley Community Radio, KGVM. Whether digging up a site or dusting off the archives, we bring you some of the most fascinating and cutting edge research in history and archaeology, and discuss why it matters today. Join co-hosts, Crystal Alegria and Nancy Mahoney as we converse with professionals in the fields of history, archaeology, and anthropology who bring the past…into the present.
In this powerful episode of The Dirt on the Past, Nancy and Crystal sit down with Ian Campbell Wilson, author of Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck, and Bruce Brown, the talented producer and narrator of the audiobook edition. We dive into the harrowing story behind the 1938 Custer Creek disaster—the worst rail accident in Montana history—and explore what it was like to research and write about such a devastating tragedy, from uncovering personal stories of those on the train that fateful night to the community that helped survivors and family members in the aftermath of this tragedy. Their insights bring both the historical event and the process of telling its story to vivid life.
📘 Buy the book from Montana Historical Society Press: https://mhs.mt.gov/pubs/Books/
Or find more info on the Ian Campbell Wilson website: https://www.iancampbellwilson.com/post/book-now-available
🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Audible: https://www.audible.com/ (search Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck)
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past, hosts Nancy and Crystal take listeners deep into the heart of downtown Bozeman, MT for a look into the recent archaeological excavations in Bozeman's historic red-light district. They have a fascinating conversation about the excavations and show two artifacts that were recovered. This excavation took place in October of 2025 with a Montana State University Anthropology class. From unexpected artifacts to the stories those objects tell about Bozeman’s past, Nancy and Crystal bring both expertise and infectious curiosity to every turn, giving listeners an inside look at how history is literally being uncovered beneath their feet.
You can also watch the video version of this podcast on You Tube by following this link. https://youtu.be/JcW00yTfSwU
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past podcast, we sit down with archaeologist and author Doug MacDonald to discuss his fascinating new book, Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples. Doug takes us on a journey through Montana’s deep past, discussing where the first Montanans came from, migration routes, the Lindsey Mammoth site, the Anzick site, DNA research, and so much more. We delve into the evolving methods of studying ancient sites, and the cultural significance of this history to modern Indigenous communities. Join us for an engaging conversation that sheds new light on the deep human story rooted in the land we now call Montana.
In this episode we are joined by renowned archaeologist Ian Hodder to delve into his extensive work at Çatalhöyük, a 9,000-year-old Neolithic site in Turkey.
We explore the burial practices that shed light on social hierarchies, the role of food in shaping community identity, and how the unique architectural layout of Çatalhöyük reflects its complex social structure. Ian Hodder discusses the symbolism and ritual life of this early society, offering insights into one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the world. Ian Hodder is a British archaeologist known for his pioneering work in post-processual archaeology, which emphasizes the interpretation of cultural meaning in archaeological findings. He is a professor at Koç University in Istanbul and directed the Çatalhöyük Research Project for 25 years, transforming our understanding of early human settlements.
Çatalhöyük, one of the largest and best-preserved Neolithic sites, is known for its densely packed houses, art, and evidence of early communal living. The site provides key insights into the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, with elaborate burial practices and rich material culture reflecting a sophisticated, interconnected society.
We sat down with Anthony Wood to talk about his research focus on Black history in the west. We talk about his new research along with his book, Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877–1930. We dive into storytelling, history-making, and the stories that we tell about ourselves and what those stories and historical narratives can tell us about the past.
Anthony Wood is a historian of the American West. His work looks at race and place-making during the 19th and 20th centuries. He completed his PhD at the University of Michigan earlier this year and now serves as the senior historian on a new National Park Service project to survey and collect a comprehensive history of African Americans in the Parks of the Intermountain Region. His 2021 book, Black Montana, was a finalist for the Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize. His next writing project develops his dissertation, "Forty Years within the Veil: The Black West and Counternarratives of Race and Place in the Rocky Mountains.
Join us as we speak with author Sally Thompson about her new book, Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo: 23 Unexpected Stories That Awaken Montana's Past.
The past still lingers along old trails, and among the people who live here today. Some, such as anthropologist and storyteller Sally Thompson, are better equipped to notice the traces of history lurking in place names and written in cairns, carved in tree bark, etched into prairie boulders, or resting among well-knapped spear points.
In Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo, Thompson unearths new information and startling insights into Montana's untold history in twenty-three true stories. Along the way, she shares the challenges of groundbreaking research and the joys of finding hidden treasures. These stories connect past and present, bringing into focus a common heritage among many peoples in an uncommon land.
We explore a few of the 23 stories Thompson documented in her book, along with backstories, insight and revelations about her long career as an anthropologist in Montana and the west.
You can find Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo at your local book store or order through Farcountry Press.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the history of pockets! We delve deep into the fascinating history of pockets, exploring how these seemingly mundane accessories have shaped human lives and society over centuries. Drawing insights from Hannah Carlson's "Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close" and Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux's "The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives, 1660–1900," we uncover the evolution of pockets from their humble beginnings as tie-on accessories to their symbolic significance in fashion and gender roles. From the practicality of early pouches to the complex social messages conveyed by pocket size and placement, we unravel the intimate relationship between humans and their pockets, shedding light on a hidden aspect of history that speaks volumes about culture, identity, and everyday life.
April is Archaeology Month in Montana! In honor of this, join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss a significant archaeological site located in southwest Montana called the Barton Gulch site. The oldest occupation of the Barton Gulch site is dated to 9400 BP. Nancy and Crystal discuss the remains of earth ovens found at Barton Gulch, and talk about the possibly uses for these ovens and the plant remains recovered during archaeological excavation. The presence of these ovens and other cooking features implies that the people who lived and cooked at this place had detailed procedures for preparing plant and animal remains.
Join us for this discussion and to learn more about this important archaeological site and many others, read "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana" by Carl Davis.
Join us as we talk with Museum of the Rockies (MOR) Curator, Michael Fox, about historic photographs and cameras in the MOR collection. We look at two historic cameras dating to the late 19th century and 1930s time period. We then dive into a series of historic photographs that capture the historic west through photographic imagery. Historic photographs are an important way for historians and archaeologists to learn more about the past, providing a primary source of information about how people lived, showing how their lives and how they were similar or different from our lives today. They can answer questions we may have, but they can also cause us to ask more questions like why was this photo taken, who took it, why did they take it? But, by looking very closely at photos, we can see information and evidence that can answer our questions.
Join us as we talk with Mark Sullivan, a #1 New York Times bestselling author who wrote The Last Green Valley about a family, the Martels, that flee the Ukraine in 1944 to arrive and eventually settle in Bozeman, MT. We discuss the families harrowing journey as they, along with thousands of others make the Long Trek. Join us for this important conversation with Mark Sullivan.
Mark Sullivan is the acclaimed author of twenty novels, including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, which has been published in thirty-seven languages, and All the Glimmering Stars, which debuts in May. He has also written the #1 NYT bestselling Private Series with James Patterson and received numerous accolades for his writing. He grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. Upon his return to the United States, he earned a graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and began a career in investigative journalism. An avid skier and adventurer, he lives with his wife in Bozeman, Montana.
Join us as we talk with Museum Educator Ashley Hall about her career as a museum educator at the Museum of the Rockies, her research on Sauropod feet and her books including Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones and Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth and Prehistoric Worlds: Stomp Into the Epic Lands Ruled by Dinosaurs (due out at the end of March 2024).
Ashley is a dynamic paleontologist, naturalist, and museum educator. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, she grew up loving dinosaurs from an early age and was inspired by holiday trips to Chicago’s Field Museum to pursue a career in natural history.
Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology (focus: Zooarchaeology) and animal behavior from Indiana University, Bloomington. After graduation, she spent nearly a decade working as a science educator for various educational institutions in southern California, including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the La Brea Tar Pits. During this time, Ashley also served as the assistant curator of paleontology at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, California. While with the “Alf,” she managed the fossil collection and participated in fieldwork including Late Cretaceous dinosaur excavations in the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah and Miocene mammal reconnaissance paleontology in the Mojave Desert’s Rainbow Basin.
Ashley relocated to Ohio where she worked as a naturalist for the Cleveland Metroparks reservation system before taking a position with the Cleveland Museum of Natural as the adult programs coordinator.
When Ashley is not educating the public in person, she is an active science communicator on social media. Ashley has presented several invited workshops on communicating science through social media at professional, scientific meetings, including the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology annual conferences. Her scientific research has focused on sauropod claw morphology and function and the evolution of birds from deposits at the La Brea Tar Pits.
We talked with Historian Sarah Keyes about her new book, "American Burial Ground: A New History of the Overland Trail." We delve into the history of the Overland Trail, discussing the 6,600 migrants who perished along the treacherous journey westward, their final resting places often marking the landscape of Indigenous land. Keyes' explains how the graves of these migrants emerge not just as tragic markers of a treacherous journey but as pivotal sites that shaped the course of U.S. expansion into the West. With death at the forefront, the Overland Trail transforms from a tale of triumph to one of profound struggle, where Indigenous resilience and resistance intersect with white settlers' ambitions. Keyes' reimagining of this historic touchstone challenges conventional narratives, revealing a complex history of migration, dispossession, and the indelible imprint of death on the American landscape. We highlight two artifacts from the Museum of the Rockies collection including a spur, that possible belonged to trailblazer, John Bozeman and a Log Cabin design quilt made before the Civil War and transported west to Montana Territory by the Lucy Nave Tinsley family. Join us for this important conversation. To purchase a copy of American Burial Ground, follow this link. https://www.pennpress.org/9781512824513/american-burial-ground/.
Join us as we talk with the author of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America, Betsy Gaines Quammen. We discuss her book and what she learned about America as she spent time in small towns and big cities throughout the West, talking with people about their beliefs on land, politics, liberty, and self-determination. Betsy tells us about some of her conversations, and what she learned about the West’s enduring myths and complex history from militia members, Montana ranchers, and grassroots organizers.
Dr. Betsy Gaines Quammen is a historian and writer. She received a PhD in environmental history from Montana State University where she studied religion, history and the philosophy of science. Her dissertation focused on Mormon history and the roots of armed public land conflicts occurring in the United States. She is fascinated with and examines the intersections of extremism, public lands, wildlife, and western communities. She is the author of American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West and True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America. Betsy lives in Montana with her husband, writer David Quammen.
Join us as we discuss the Hagen Site, a National Historic Landmark located on a bluff above the Yellowstone River north of Glendive, Montana. This archaeological site is significant because it documents the establishment of a permanent village by a people in transition from the Eastern Woodlands to a Plains bison culture. We dive into the Museum of the Rockies collections to view artifacts from the Hagen Site including pottery, lithic material, bone tools and fish bones.
Join us as we talk with Michael Fox, the curator of history at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT about John Bozeman. Bozeman is the namesake for the town of Bozeman, Montana and instrumental in creating the Bozeman Trail, an overland route in the Western United States, connecting the gold rush territory of southern Montana to the Oregon Trail in eastern Wyoming from roughly 1863 to 1868. Crystal, Nancy and Michael discuss John Bozeman's life and death and view artifacts related to John Bozeman from the Museum of the Rockies collection including his revolver, powder horn, letters, and his gold pocket watch. To watch this on YouTube, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwg1awH-Z6c.
Here's more resources to learn more about John Bozeman:
The Bloody Bozeman by Dorothy Johnson
John M. Bozeman, Montana Trailmaker by Merrill Burlingame
Join us for a discussion on historic red-light districts in Butte and Bozeman, MT with guest Chelsea Hogan. Chelsea is the Museum of the Rockies Director of Education and Programming and she is the co-producer of the Museum's Haunted Mountain Theatre. We discuss how Haunted Mountain Theatre is incorporating a story about a Butte Madam into their show this year. We also discuss historic red-light districts in general, specifically those in Butte and Bozeman, MT. This is the first episode of our The Dirt on the Past Podcast: Museum Edition where we will also feature artifacts from the Museum of the Rockies collections. If you would also like to watch this on your YouTube channel, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N73xdwUV9s&t=612s.
Join us this week as we talk with Kerri Maher about her new novel, All You Have to do is Call. This story honors the heroines of the Jane collective, a group of women who provided safe, clandestine health services in the pre-Roe v. Wade era. We discuss the book, but also dive into the history of this time and the real women of the Jane Collective in the early 1970s. Kerri Maher is the USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller, The Girl in White Gloves, The Kennedy Debutante, and, under the name Kerri Majors, This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and lives with her daughter and dog in a leafy suburb west of Boston, Massachusetts.
Join us for our conversation with historic preservation architect, Lesley Gilmore on the National Register of Historic Places process. We discuss what it takes to nominate a property for listing, the rigorous evaluation process, and the immense value that this recognition brings. We also highlight some misconceptions of the National Register process and listings. Have a listen and we hope this episode inspires you to get involved in preserving your local heritage. Thank you to the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for sponsoring this episode!
Join us as we talk with Pete Brown about all things Montana SHPO! Pete Brown has been Montana’s State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) since 2019. His work at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) began in 2002 when he served as the Historic Architecture Specialist. We talk with Pete about his job as SHPO and what that entails on a daily basis. We also talk more broadly about the National Historic Preservation Act, historic preservation in Montana, the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), and current initiatives and projects. Join us for this conversation and learn more about the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. Thank you to the Montana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for sponsoring this episode of The Dirt on the Past. The Montana SHPO works together with all Montanans to promote the preservation of our state's historic and cultural places, from archaeological sites to homestead farms. The Montana SHPO is responsible for protecting Montana’s historic places and paleontological resources under the Montana Antiquity Act and assisting Federal Agencies when assessing the impact their actions will have on Historic places under the National Historic Preservation Act. We are grateful for all they do to protect and preserve our State's cultural heritage. To find out more about the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, check out their website at https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/.
Join us as we discuss women who followed medieval mercenary armies with Dr. Danielle Mead Skjelver. During the late medieval period, it was not uncommon for women to travel with mercenary armies, either as wives or as camp followers. These women often provided essential support services to the soldiers, such as cooking, cleaning, and nursing. Some women also took on more active roles, such as selling goods or even participating in battles. Dr. Skjelver has found in her research that these women had more agency and autonomy while engaged with these military campaigns. Dr. Danielle Mead Skjelver is a Professor of History at the University of Maryland Global Campus, which was founded to serve the U.S. Military. Skjelver serves as lead editor of History of Applied Science and Technology. The first of its kind, this open access textbook is digital, living in nature, and global in approach and authorship. She has produced scholarship on the intersection of gender, language, and power in 16th-century Europe. Join us for this fascinating discussion and learn more about the lives of women in late medieval Europe!
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the most recent Montana Archaeological Society Annual Meeting, highlighting presentations and awards. The Montana Archaeological Society (MAS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, study, and understanding of Montana's rich archaeological heritage. The society was founded in 1958 and is made up of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including professional archaeologists, students, and interested members of the public. One of the key activities of MAS is its annual meeting, which brings together members from across the state and beyond to share their research and insights. The meeting features a series of presentations, posters, and workshops, as well as opportunities for networking and socializing. In addition to its regular events, MAS also sponsors archaeological research projects and provides funding for student scholarships and research grants. The society is also involved in outreach and education activities, working to increase public awareness and understanding of Montana's archaeological heritage. The Montana Archaeological Society is a vibrant and active organization that plays an important role in promoting the study and preservation of Montana's rich archaeological heritage. If you are interested in archaeology or Montana's history, joining MAS is a great way to get involved and learn more. To join, visit the website at mtarchaeologicalsociety.org.
Join us as we talk with Tim Urbaniak about his new book, Men of the Cave: The Excavation of Empty Gulch. We discuss the 1937 archaeological excavation of Empty Gulch, now known as Pictograph Cave State Park. This project was financed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and employed a group of men, and one woman, to excavate this significant archaeological site. We discuss the key players including Oscar Lewis, William Mulloy, Mel Sayre, and others involved in this excavation. We also talk about the importance of the artifacts documented by Oscar Lewis and his team and what the artifacts can tell us about the people who lived in Pictograph Cave. If you would like a copy of this book, please contact Tim Urbaniak at turbaniak@bresnan.net. A BIG thank you to the Museum of the Rockies for sponsoring this episode of The Dirt on the Past.
Join us as we have a wide-ranging conversation about the history of red-light districts, including the Los Angeles Red-Light District during the 1920's and 1930's. AnneMarie Kooistra is a historian who has conducted extensive research on the history of prostitution in Los Angeles during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her research has focused on the red-light district of the city which was located in the heart of downtown LA and was home to a thriving underground economy centered around sex work. Kooistra's work has shed new light on the lives of the women who worked in the LA district, many of whom were immigrants or women of color who faced significant discrimination and marginalization in wider society. She has also explored the social and economic factors that contributed to the growth of the sex trade in LA during this period, as well as the efforts of reformers and social activists to combat prostitution and regulate vice in the city. The conversation wraps up with a discussion about why this history matters today in light of the MMIW and sex trafficking.
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute where they discuss how Bronze Age women had stronger arms than today's elite female rowers, due to grinding grain for hours a day. "This is the first study to actually compare prehistoric female bones to those of living women," said lead researcher, Dr Alison Macintosh.
Join us as we talk with Amanda Hendrix-Komoto about her new book, Imperial Zions: Religion, Race, and Family in the American West and the Pacific which was published in 2022. We discuss the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, focusing in on the women of the historical narrative including the wife of Joseph Smith. We talk about polygamy within the church, and when the practice started to take shape, and we talk about how the Latter-day Saints created their understandings of polygamy at the same time they tried to change the domestic practices of Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto is Assistant Professor of History at Montana State University.
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!
Join us as we speak with Micah Chang about his time working on the first joint archaeological field school between the University of Montana and Montana State University. This field school, initiated by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, was held to immerse students in federal archeology. Students conducted field surveys and carried out archival research on an African American mining and homesteading community east of Butte, MT currently called the Camp Caroline Mining District. Professional and practicing archeologists and historians worked alongside students to survey, uncover, and interpret this community that left behind scant evidence of their presence and history. The story of Montana’s African American community and their lived experiences has seldom been examined archaeologically. The intention of this field school was twofold: to teach students federal archeology and to elevate African American history in Montana. Micah Chang is a PhD candidate in the Department of History and Philosophy at Montana State University. He is defending his dissertation in April. His research focuses on race, agriculture, and environment on the Northern Great Plains and the American West.
Join us for our conversation with Sarah Rosenberg, the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Bozeman, MT. We discuss all things historic preservation with Sarah including her vision to tell stories of the underrepresented communities and promote the protection of intangible heritage. We do a little myth busting about what you can, and cannot, do to your house if you live in a historic district or if your house is listed on the National Register. We also discuss historic preservation in the face of growth and how the two can be compatible. Join us for this riveting conversation with Sarah!
Join us as we talk with filmmaker, Kimberly Hogberg about her film, The Story of Us: The Women who Shaped Montana. This short film was a collaboration with The Extreme History Project, so we are so excited to talk about the film and its debut on Montana PBS! We discuss the film and what goes into creating a historical documentary including the fundraising, the filming, the editing, and the post-production processes. A big thank you to the the organizations that funded this film including The Greater Montana Foundation, the Montana History Foundation, Humanities Montana and the Montana Film Office.
Join us for a conversation with Francesca Pine-Rodriguez, the Director of the nonprofit, Mountain Time Arts that is based in Bozeman, MT. We discuss a program led by MTA, Yellowstone Revealed, a series of place-based projects led by a group of inter-tribal Indigenous artists and scholars that happened in Yellowstone National Park during the summer of 2022. We also discuss Indigenous Peoples' Day and the importance of this holiday, because everyone is indigenous to somewhere! For more information on Mountain Time Arts, visit their website at www.mountaintimearts.org.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the mythology and true archaeology surrounding the Runestones in the Americas and archaeological evidence of early Norse Settlements before Columbus. We use the series America Unearthed on the History Channel as an example of how to spot entertainment versus scientific evidence that supports archaeological or historical theories.
Join us as we talk with Kate Moore, a New York Times Bestselling Author about her new book, The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear. This is a narrative, non-fiction page-turner about Elizabeth Packard who was a housewife and mother of six in 1860, when her husband of 21 years has her committed to an insane asylum solely because she has differing religious beliefs. It's a fascinating story of one woman's battle to change the system and laws concerning coverture, the treatment of those with mental illness, and women's rights. Author Kate Moore is a natural storyteller and we loved talking with her about this book, but also the history of women's rights in America from the 1860s to present.
Caleb Gayle talks with us about his new book, We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power. This book tells the story of the Creek Nation, a group that historically owned slaves and accepted Black people as full citizens. The story is told through the lens of a few people, but most prominently a man named Cow Tom, a Black Creek citizen who rose to become chief of the Creek Nation, and his descendants who were stripped of their Creek citizenship in the 1970s. We discuss how this happened with an examination of racial and ethnic identity, challenging our preconceptions of identity as it shines a new light on white supremacy, and marginalization that continue to hamper progress for Black Americans today. Caleb Gayle is an award-winning journalist who writes about race and identity. A professor at Northeastern University, he is a fellow at New America, PEN America, Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Studies, and a visiting scholar at New York University. Gayle’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Guernica, and other publications. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Gayle is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, the University of Oxford, and has an MBA and a master’s in public policy, both from Harvard University. He lives in Boston. Join us for this fascinating discussion and then go out and buy We Refuse to Forget!
Mark Johnson recently published, The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana. We discuss the book, including experiences of Chinese women in Montana. We also talk about Mark's new project in collaboration with the Mai Wah Museum, to translate Chinese headstones in cemeteries located in Helena, Bozeman, Billings, and Butte. The translations will identify the individuals commemorated, and hopefully give us more information about their lives in Montana but also in China. For more information on Mark's book and upcoming project visit his website at bigskychinese.com.
Archaeologist, Bisserka Gaydarska, discusses Ukranian Mega Sites with us this week. The Trypillia megasites of Ukraine are the largest known settlements in 4th millennium BC Europe and possibly the world. With the largest reaching 1.2 square miles in size, megasites raise questions about their origins and purpose. Current theories assume maximum occupation, with all houses occupied at the same time, and a military focus. But recent research suggests alternative views of megasites, suggesting smaller long-term occupations or seasonal assembly places, creating a sustainable settlement rather than military encampment. Listen to our fascinating discussion with Bisserka as we discuss new ideas and research diving into the understanding of these urban centers. Bisserka Gaydarska is an Honorary Research Fellow at Durham University in Durham, England. To Learn More: Early Urbanism in Europe https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110664959/html?lang=en Article on Megasites https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-archaeological-journal/article/trypillia-megasites-in-context-independent-urban-development-in-chalcolithic-eastern-europe/C33D85AF4EE4BA2D61AAB77D3E399E4D
Betsy Gaines Quammen discusses her book, American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God & Public Lands in the West. Our discussion explores how the Bundy family mix spiritualism, patriotism, and wild places to assert possession over western federal lands. We discuss the myth of the cowboy, militia conceptions of public land in the west, wilderness, and Mormon history. Dr. Betsy Gaines Quammen holds a doctorate in Environmental History from Montana State University, her dissertation focusing on Mormon settlement and public land conflicts. She has studied various religious traditions over the years, with particular attention to how cultures view landscape and wildlife. Join us for this fascinating conversation.
Join Nancy and Crystal for a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Hill as we discuss her new book, Birthing the West: Mothers and Midwives in the Rockies and Plains. This book delves into the history of childbirth and reproduction in the west, focusing on the mid-1800s through the 1940s in the Dakotas, Wyoming, and Montana. We talk about Jennifer's research methodology, untold histories of birth on the western prairies, the idea of "social birth," and so much more. Dr. Hill is an assistant teaching professor of American studies at Montana State University. She serves as the executive director of the Women's Reproductive History Alliance, a digital museum dedicated to educating the public on reproductive history. She is passionate about interdisciplinary scholarship, and bringing untold and undocumented histories to the public.
Join Nancy and Crystal as we talk with author and geneticist, Jennifer Raff, on her new book, ORIGIN: A Genetic History of the Americas. We discuss the genetic history of the first peoples in the Americas, who they were, current theories on how they arrived, and why they made the crossing. We delve into how they dispersed south and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. We also discuss the myths surrounding the peopling of the Americas, specifically the myth of the Moundbuilders, and how myths persist today in fringe theories about the origins of Indigenous people. Jennifer explains how genetics is currently being used to construct narratives that profoundly impact Indigenous peoples of the Americas and how genetics has become entangled with identity in the way that society addresses the question "Who is indigenous?" Join us for this riveting discussion with settler scientist Jennifer Raff!
Echo-Hawk, Roger (2011) "Summer Soltice," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2011 : Iss. 33 , Article 14.
Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2011/iss33/14
Join us as we talk with Dr. Julie Schablitsky about the recent discovery of the spot where Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross, had his home, and where Harriet would have spent some of her childhood. Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross in March 1822 on the Thompson Farm in Maryland. She and her mother were enslaved by the Brodess family and moved away from the farm when she was a toddler. Ben Ross felled and sold timber, which was transported by free black mariners to Baltimore shipyards and used to build ships. Harriet Tubman learned to navigate difficult terrain while working with her father. Interacting with mariners also provided knowledge of waterways on the East Coast, which may have helped her lead people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Julie Schablitsky is Chief of the Cultural Resources Division at the Maryland Department of Transportation. She graduated with her doctorate from Portland State University in Oregon with an emphasis in archaeology. After graduation, Julie carried out research on the Donner Party of California and the medieval estate of Amisfield in Scotland. Her Maryland research includes African America, cemeteries, and the recovery of DNA from artifacts.
Join us as we talk with Dr. Laura Arata about her book, Race and the Wild West: Sarah Bickford, The Montana Vigilantes, and the Tourism of Decline, 1870-1930. We discuss the life of Sarah Bickford, a black woman who grew up enslaved in Tennessee and then traveled to Montana Territory after she was emancipated. Sarah settled in the gold rush town of Virginia City where she lived out the rest of her life. She married twice, both times to white men. When her second husband died, she inherited his shares of the Virginia City Water Company and eventually acquired sole ownership, which she ran until her death in 1931. In addition to Sarah, we discuss Mattie Castner and Mary Fields, two black women who grew up enslaved but moved to Montana in the late 19th century and made lives for themselves in Montana.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the new series, 1883. This is a prequal to the popular, Yellowstone series that premiered in 2018. Yellowstone is an American drama created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson that follows the fictional Dutton family, owners of the largest cattle ranch in Montana. The prequal, 1883, follows the origins of the Dutton family on a a journey from Texas to Montana is another Taylor Sheridan creation. Nancy and Crystal share their insights surrounding the historical context of the show. Join us as we take a deep dive into the first five episodes of 1883!
Who owns the past and the objects that connect us to history? We discuss this and so much more with Chip Colwell as we talk about his book, Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America's Culture. Our conversation revolves around NAPRA, repatriation of human remains, and ultimately human dignity and the importance of relationships. Chip Colwell is the founding Editor-in-Chief of SAPIENS, an online magazine about anthropological thinking and serves as co-host of the SAPIENS podcast. He served as the Senior Curator of Anthropology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for 12 years and has published many academic articles, book chapters, and 12 books. Join us for this fascinating conversation, and a peek into the world of museums and repatriation.
Join us for this timely conversation with Doug MacDonald on his book, Before Yellowstone: Native American Archaeology in the Park. As Yellowstone National Park celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022, we discuss the deep history of people living in this region. The archaeological research done by Doug and his team of students from the University of Montana shows that the wild landscape has a long history of human presence. In fact, Indigenous people have hunted bison and bighorn sheep, fished for cutthroat trout, and gathered bitterroot and camas bulbs here for at least 11,000 years, and twenty-six tribes claim cultural association with Yellowstone today. We talk with Doug about the significance of archaeological areas such as Obsidian Cliff, where hunters obtained volcanic rock to make tools, and Yellowstone Lake, a traditional place for gathering edible plants. We also discuss the complicated history of Yellowstone and the controversial preservation of the wilderness idea. We debunk the myth that Yellowstone National Park was a wilderness untouched by humans. Join us for this important discussion! To Learn More: Before Yellowstone: Native American Archaeology in the Park by Doug MacDonald The Lost History of Yellowstone: Debunking the myth that the great national park was a wilderness untouched by humans
Join us as we recap our year of podcast episodes. We discuss what we've learned from our amazing guests, and some highlights from our second season of podcasting. We dive into the why we think this podcast is important and our take-aways from the year. Join us for this final conversation of 2021!
Join us as we talk with Chris Tomlinson about his new book, Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, co-written with Bryan Burrough and Jason Stanford. Every nation needs its creation myth, and since Texas was a nation before it was a state, it's no surprise that its myths bite deep. There's no piece of history more important to Texans than the Battle of the Alamo, when Davy Crockett and a band of rebels went down in a blaze of glory fighting for independence from Mexico, losing the battle but setting Texas up to win the war. However, that version of events, as Forget the Alamo definitively shows, owes more to fantasy than reality. Just as the site of the Alamo was left in ruins for decades, its story was forgotten and twisted over time, with the contributions of Tejanos--Texans of Mexican origin, who fought alongside the Anglo rebels--scrubbed from the record, and the origin of the conflict over Mexico's push to abolish slavery papered over. In our conversation, Chris explains the true story of the battle and walks us through the creation of the Alamo myth in the Jim Crow South of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. As uncomfortable as it may be to hear for some, celebrating the Alamo has long had an echo of celebrating whiteness. Join us for this riveting and important conversation.
Join us as we talk with Utah State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) with the Utah Division of State History, Christopher Merritt, about his work as a SHPO and his interest in historic Chinese communities in the West. We talk specifically about a ghost town called Terrace, UT. Terrace was once a bustling town located along the transcontinental railroad, but has long since been dismantled and abandoned. The only evidence that remains are scattered bricks, glass and porcelain shards where buildings once stood. Terrace grew to about 1,000 residents at one time and was also the second-largest population of Chinese individuals in Utah (behind Corrine). In 2020 and 2021, archaeology was done at the townsite of Terrace to better understand the individuals that once called this place home, including the historic Chinese community. Chris talks with us about this archaeological excavation and what was learned from the artifacts and structures left behind. If you would like to volunteer to help with this project, follow this link. http://www.passportintime.com/available-projects.html.
Join us as we talk with archaeologist Jack Fisher about his career as an archaeologist. We discuss his ethnoarchaeological research among the Efe people in the Ituri Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, his work at First People's Buffalo Jump in Montana, his research partnership with John Parkington of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and his work on an antelope kill site called Lost Terrace. For further reading, be sure to read Jack's chapter in Pisskan: Interpreting First Peoples Bison Kills at Heritage Parks. His chapter, co-written with Tom Roll, is entitled "First Peoples Buffalo Jump Archaeology: Research Results and Public Interpretation." Dr. Jack Fisher taught anthropology at Montana State University (Bozeman) for 30 years and now serves as an Emeritus Associate professor at Montana State University. During his career, his archaeological research focused on the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains of Montana. He also did archaeological research in the Western Cape of South Africa in collaboration with archaeologists at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. At the beginning of his career, he did ethnoarchaeological research for one year among Efe people, part-time hunter-gatherers, in the Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Lilly White on her work as a forensic anthropologist. We talk about how she became interested in the field, the cultural and historical traditions around death and dying, Lilly's work during the pandemic as a condolence specialist, and what her work as a forensic anthropologist entails. Lilly received her PhD in Anthropology in 2019 from the University of Montana and currently owns Bone & Stone Anthrosciences with her husband, Stocky White. Follow Bone and Stone on Instagram @deathphd.
Join us as we talk with historian Ellen Baumler about her new book, The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries. We talk about burial customs, headstone symbolism, the history of cemeteries in the west, boot hills, and cultural identity reflected in western cemeteries. Ellen Baumler was the interpretive historian at the Montana Historical Society from 1992 until her retirement in 2018. She is the author or editor of numerous books, including Spirit Tailings: Ghost Tales from Virginia City, Helena and Butte, The Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan, and Dark Spaces: Montana's Historic Penitentiary at Deer Lodge. Ellen is a master storyteller and public historian that makes history relevant through her writing, public appearances, radio spots, and historic walking tours. To Learn More: Check out Ellen's new book, "The Life of the Afterlife in the Big Sky State: A History of Montana's Cemeteries."
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Matthew Bennett, the lead scientist on a recently published article in the Journal Science that examined a set of human footprints preserved on an ancient lakeshore in New Mexico's White Sands National Park that date to between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. We discuss the fossilized human footprints, but we also talk about footprints of other animals including camels, mammoths, and giant sloths that are intermixed with the human prints at this site. We discuss how Matthew and his team determined that the footprints were those of children and teenagers, and how Matthew and his team have consulted with the 32 indigenous nations in the area and his commitment to an indigenous archaeology framework. Dr. Bennett brings this topic to life with his "evidence-based storytelling" so have a listen and enjoy our conversation about these ancient footprints that have pushed the evidence for the peopling of Americas back to at least 21,000 years ago. For Further Reading: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040381802/ancient-footprints-new-mexico-white-sands-humans https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58638854 https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/fossil-footprints/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/a-prehistoric-hunt-preserved-in-incredible-fossilized-tracks/558797/ https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/first-americans-how-and-when-were-americas-populated
On this podcast, Crystal and Nancy dig deep into the history of a historic structure in downtown Bozeman. This building is significant because it currently houses Nancy's boutique, Moka, along with three other businesses including Alara Jewelry, Plume Bridal and Visions West Gallery! We explore the history of this building through the historic characters and businesses that have occupied this space through the years. We talk about the history, but also talk with current tenants including Babs Noell that owns and operates Alara Jewelry. Babs has occupied her space in the building for 17 years. We talk with her about the history of her space, along with the ups and downs of having a shop within a historic structure. Join us for this "in the field" podcast as we explore downtown Bozeman and the Bon Ton Building! A big thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Steep Mountain Tea and The Western Heritage Center.
Join us as we talk with Anthony Wood about his new book, Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877-1930. Anthony talks with us about his work on the Montana African American Heritage Resources Project and how this inspired him to delve deeper into the history of Montana's Black communities. His book explores the entanglements of race, settler colonialism, and the emergence of state and regional identity in the American West during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By producing conditions of social, cultural, and economic precarity that undermined Black Montanans’ networks of kinship, community, and financial security, the state of Montana, in its capacity as a settler colony, worked to exclude the Black community that began to form inside its borders after Reconstruction. We unpack this to better understand why Montana's Black community, and much of Montana's diverse early communities, left Montana before 1930. Anthony is a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of Michigan. He worked as a historian for the Montana Historical Society on Montana’s African American Heritage Places Project. For further reading: Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877 - 1930 by Anthony Wood What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America by Peggy Pascoe Montana’s African American Heritage Resources Project https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/AfricanAmericans/ Race and the Wild West: Sarah Bickford, the Montana Vigilantes, and the Tourism of Decline, 1870–1930 By Laura J. Arata
Join us for our conversation with Lisabeth During about her recently published book, The Chastity Plot. During tells the story of chastity through time, how it has been honored and despised and how the obsession with chastity has played a powerful and disturbing role enforcing patriarchy’s double standards. Chastity is imbedded in Western culture, a myth of gender that has long been contested by feminists. We talk about how chastity has been portrayed through literature, religion, and cultural history from antiquity to the present and why it is relevant today. Find this book at The University of Chicago Press. The Chastity Plot https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo68652053.html#:~:text=In%20The%20Chastity%20Plot%2C%20Lisabeth,loved%2C%20honored%2C%20and%20despised.
Join us for a fascinating discussion with Fiona Greenland about her new book, "Ruling Culture: Art Police, Tomb Robbers, and the Rise of Cultural Power in Italy." Greenland reveals the contemporary actors in this tale, taking a close look at the Art Squad and state archaeologists on one side and unauthorized excavators, thieves, and smugglers on the other. Control over its cultural heritage through a famously effective art-crime squad that has been the inspiration of novels, movies, and tv shows. In its efforts to bring their cultural artifacts home, Italy has entered into legal battles against some of the world’s major museums, including the Getty, New York’s Metropolitan Museum, and the Louvre. It has turned heritage into patrimony capital—a powerful and controversial convergence of art, money, and politics. Ruling Culture: Art Police, Tomb Robbers, and the Rise of Cultural Power in Italy https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/R/bo72232678.html
Join us as we talk with Marsha Small about her work to locate and document Indian boarding school cemeteries. Marsha leads the Indigenous Peoples' Day Montana movement and her work with the preservation and conservation of sacred sites and places using GPR, GPS, and GIS, specifically in boarding school cemeteries is internationally known. Marsha uses ground-penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves, including at the Chemawa Indian School cemetery in Salem, Oregon. Marsha has a master’s degree in Native American Studies from Montana State University and is currently working on a PhD. Marsha was the distinguished visiting Native American Studies professor in Anthropology at Willamette University in 2019. We discuss Marsha's work at the Chemawa Indian Boarding School cemetery, along with the work she has been doing to establish protocols to document boarding school cemeteries. This is hard history and very difficult to discuss. Our thanks to Marsha for her continued dedication to this work and her mission to locate and document the graves of these children. To follow Marsha on social media use #aVoicefortheChildrenInIndianBoardingSchoolCemeteries.
Join us for this thoughtful conversation with Dr. Tiya Miles about her new book, All that She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, A Black Family Keepsake. Dr. Miles is a renowned historian who, in this book, traces the life of a single object handed down through three generations of Black women to craft an extraordinary testament to people who are left out of the archives. We dive into the book, and why Tiya felt compelled to write about this significant object. All That She Carried is a poignant story of resilience and of love passed down through generations of women against steep odds. It honors the creativity and fierce resourcefulness of people who preserved family ties even when official systems refused to do so, and it serves as a visionary illustration of how to reconstruct and recount their stories today. We talk with Tiya about her process and why this story is important today as we, as a nation, struggle with how to understand our hard histories and reconcile our past in a way that can help us move forward together. Tiya Miles is professor of history and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and director of the Charles Warren Center for Studies in American History at Harvard University. She is a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation fellowship and the Hiett Prize in the Humanities from the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Miles is the author of The Dawn of Detroit, which won the Frederick Douglass Book Prize, among other honors, as well as the acclaimed books Ties That Bind, The House on Diamond Hill, The Cherokee Rose: A Novel of Gardens and Ghosts, and Tales from the Haunted South, a published lecture series.
Join us this week as we talk with Dr. Mary Murphy, a Distinguished Professor of History at Montana State University Bozeman and the Director of the Ivan Doig Center for the Study of the Lands and Peoples of the North American West. She teaches courses in American history with a special focus on gender and the North American West. Among her books are Hope in Hard Times: New Deal Photographs of Montana, 1936-1942 and Mining Cultures: Men, Women, and Leisure in Butte, 1914-41. We discuss how Mary came to history, and how her research interests landed in Butte, MT. We discuss her early research on women's leisure in Butte and her more recent work on the history of food, focusing in on the history of Chinese food in America. Join us for this fascinating conversation with our favorite professor and good friend, Dr. Mary Murphy.
This week Nancy interviews co-founders of The Extreme History Project, Marsha Fulton and Crystal Alegria. We discuss the origins of Extreme History, a public history organization dedicated to making history relevant. Marsha and Crystal talk about how Extreme History started and why. Marsha explains the early philosophy of the organization including founding projects and Crystal talks about where the organization is headed in the future. Join us for this conversation and learn more about The Extreme History Project!
Join us for a deep dive into gender and feminism in archaeology with archaeologist, Meg Conkey. Meg is professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley and is known for introducing feminist perspectives into archaeology. We discuss her early work with Janet Spector, Joan Gero, and others to bring women and gender into the study of archaeology and what it means to do archaeology as a feminist.
To learn more:
Engendering Archaeology: Women and Prehistory edited by Margaret Conkey and Joan Gero What this Awl Means: Feminist Archaeology at a Wahpeton Dakota Village by Janet Spector Archaeologies of the Heart by Kisha Supernant, Jane Eva Baxter, Natasha Lyons, and Sonya Atalay Reindeer Moon by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Join us for our conversation with author Michael Punke on his new book, Ridgeline, a novel that details the story of the Fetterman fight or the Battle of One-Hundred-in-the-Hands. In 1866, with the country still reeling from the Civil War, the U.S. Army established Fort Phil Kearny in the home of the Lakota Nation. In his book, Punke tells the story of the months leading up to this battle between the U.S. Army and the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe. The result was what we now know as the Battle of One-Hundred-in-the-Hands. Michael talks with us about the book, his processes, the characters, the diversity of the west at this time, and why this story is still important today. Michael is the author of several books including The Revenant, a #1 New York Times bestseller and basis for the Academy Award–winning film. To Learn More: We highly recommend Michael's other books including The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, Last Stand: George Bird Grinnell, The Battle to Save the Buffalo, and the Birth of the New West, and Fire and Brimstone: The North Butte Mining Disaster of 1917.
Join us for this fascinating conversation with Lara Maiklem who is a mudlark. She searches for lost and forgotten objects on the foreshore of the river Thames in London. She has been mudlarking for almost 20 years, searching and finding lost items including Tudor shoes, medieval pins, Roman pots, Georgian wig curlers and modern wedding rings. We talk with Lara about objects she has found along with her collection, research, and curation processes. She has written, Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames and can be found on Facebook and Twitter (@LondonMudlark) and on Instagram (@London.Mudlark). Her book is now available in paperback with a color plate section and a gorgeous new cover! To learn more: Mudlark: In Search of London's Past Along the River Thames https://wwnorton.com/books/mudlark?fbclid=IwAR1U_ExZnU7-W3g-ziM1n9q_-Y7bH7bTXuLMlFfPxNdm_s5y6nionnSk3QY
Join us as we talk with archaeologist Scott Carpenter about his career, including his time as Chief of Cultural Resources at Yosemite National Park, the excavation of a cache of obsidian artifacts, his work with indigenous communities, and his documentation of a portion of the Lewis and Clark trail.
To learn more: Return the National Parks to the Tribes https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/05/return-the-national-parks-to-the-tribes/618395/ From Cliff to Cache: Analysis of a Middle Archaic Obsidian Cache from Southwestern Montana lithics-chapter10 (2).pdf Dispossessing the Wilderness: Indian Removal and the Making of the National Parks https://www.amazon.com/Dispossessing-Wilderness-Indian-Removal-National/dp/0195142438
Join us for this lively conversation with Dr. Kelly Dixon, an archaeologist who studies boomtowns, colonization, colonialism, extractive industries, human-environment interactions, landscape transformations, and marginalized populations. We discuss her work excavating the Boston Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada and the resulting book, Boomtown Saloons: Archaeology And History In Virginia City where Kelly discusses the excavation of four historic saloons in Nevada’s Virginia City and how the artifacts from this handful of drinking establishments, affiliated with a range of ethnic and socioeconomic groups, offers a new perspective on everyday life in the mining West. To Learn more: Boomtown Saloons: Archaeology and History in Virginia City by Kelly Dixon The Materiality of Freedom: Archaeologies of Postemancipation Life by Jodi A. Barnes
Join us as we talk with archaeologists, Matt Stirn and Rebecca Sgouros about how they have followed their love of archaeology, photography and tea (yes tea) to interpret and bring archaeology to the public. Matt Stirn holds an MSc in Environmental Archaeology and Paleoecology, and specializes in understanding how humans adapted to high elevation landscapes around the world. He has directed several archaeological research projects in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and has been involved in excavations on four continents. He is a member of the Sigma Xi Research Society, a National Fellow for The Explorer’s Club and currently has ongoing archaeological research in Wyoming, Greece, and Italy. Rebecca is an environmental archaeologist and educator. She is a freelance archaeologist focusing on projects in the Rocky Mountains, specifically the Tetons, Gros Ventre, and Wind River Ranges in Wyoming. Current projects include investigating life and food choices at high altitudes, paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Tetons, ice-patch archaeology survey along the Continental Divide, and an ancient food & diet study using biomolecular and experimental archaeology techniques . . . and Rebecca owns an online tea company called Tea Hive! We have a conversation about the importance of bringing history and archaeology to the public, through all the methods Matt and Rebecca bring to the table in their work and their research. Join us for this fun and fascinating conversation! To Learn More: Tea Hive https://www.myteahive.com/ Matt Stirn Photography https://www.mattstirnphoto.com/ In the Land of Kush https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/sudan-land-kush-meroe-ancient-civilization-overlooked-180975498/ Yaupon: the Rebirth of Americas Forgotten Tea http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210223-yaupon-the-rebirth-of-americas-forgotten-tea Sabu-Jaddi: The Site Revealing the Sahara's Verdant Nast http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200607-sabu-jaddi-the-site-revealing-the-saharas-verdant-past
Join us as we discuss historic inscriptions, ghost signs, rock art, DStretch, petroglyphs and pictographs. During the 19th and 20th centuries, emigrants on the Northern Plains engaged in a communication behavior that left messages carved, incised, and painted onto the physical landscape. Often mingling with indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs, the emigrants' messages are called "historic inscriptions" and exist in the form of names, dates, text, and ideographs. Historic inscriptions relay information on identity and cultural value and are a new way of interpreting how people reacted to the landscape of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century west. Tim Urbaniak is a Professor Emeritus at Montana State University (MSU-Billings). Join us for this fascinating conversation!
To Learn More:
Historic Inscriptions https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4410/
3D Scanning https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e9ELzAWIII
Carbon County Historical Society presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7RRoNYb7J8
Join us this week as Crystal interviews Nancy about her research on the history of archaeology in Montana through the lens of three men including amateur archaeologist Oscar Lewis, academic William Mulloy, and advocate Melville Sayre. We discuss their work to bring archaeology to Montana and the significant archaeological sites they excavated in the 1930s and 1940s, including Pictograph Cave and the Hagan Site.
Join us as we take a deep dive into the science of human origins with Dr. William Kimbel, Director of the Institute of Human Origins based at Arizona State University. We discuss Dr. Kimbel's research on human origins, specifically the period between 2.5 and 4 million years ago - during which our own genus Homo emerged from smaller-brained ancestors. We talk specifically about Lucy (Lucy is a hominin ancestor that lived in east Africa between 3 and 3.9 million years ago, and she is “famous” because her skeleton is remarkably complete – 40 percent – and because she changed the way we understood the evolution of bipedalism. She is a member of the species known as Australopithecus afarensis. We also talk about another well-known Australopithecine species found in South Africa – A. africanus – which lived between 2.7 and 2.3 million years ago. And last but not least, we focus in on Ardi (Ardipithicus ramidus), a remarkably complete skeleton, which also came from Ethiopia and dates to 4.4 million years ago. This is a fascinating discussion about our deep genealogy, join us and learn more about how we became human.
To Learn More: Institute of Human Origins https://iho.asu.edu/ Fossil Men by Kermit Pattison Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - What does it mean to be human?
In this episode, we talk with Jerry Williams about a television series he has created called, Bozeman, that features the history of Bozeman's town founder, John Bozeman and his good friend, William McKinzie. We discuss his research in Georgia and Montana, and how this story plays out on the national stage at a critical time in our country's history from the 1860s to the 1870s.
Join us as we discuss a myriad of topics with Extreme History Project board member, Shane Doyle. Shane is a member of the Crow Nation and is a life-long educator. He's a scholar and an activist, working to bring indigenous knowledge to the forefront in every project he does. We talk about his involvement with the Anzick archaeological site, the peopling of the Americas, and indigenous people in Yellowstone National Park. Join us for this fascinating conversation! To learn more: The Last Indian War by Elliott West The Lost History of Yellowstone https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lost-history-yellowstone-180976518/
Join us for our conversation with Nikki Manning and Kate Gonzales as we discuss urban archaeology in Missoula, Montana. Kate and Nikki have both been involved in recovering artifacts from a vacant lot in the heart of Missoula's red-light district through their capacity as graduate students within the Department of Anthropology at the University of Montana. These artifacts tell us about the women and men who worked and lived in this district. Through the archaeological record, they have learned about women's hygiene and birth control methods used in the district by studying the bottles coming out of the ground. We discuss these artifacts and their uses, you'll be surprised what lysol was used for in the 19th century! We also discuss Nikki's book, Underground Missoula and her continued look at underground spaces and what they can and cannot tell us about Missoula's historic Chinese community. Kate's master's thesis work at the University of Montana focuses on female prostitution through the lens of historical archaeology methods and a feminist theoretical perspective to explore intersections of gender, class, ethnicity, and age. archaeology of historic red-light districts. Nikki is currently working towards a doctorate studying an interdisciplinary approach to historic preservation that includes research in the fields of urban archaeology, architectural history, and heritage conservation. Join us for this fascinating conversation on urban archaeology and the importance of community outreach and education.
To Learn More:
Underground Missoula by Nikki Manning https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/beneath-missoula-remnants-19th-century-red-light-district-and-chinatown-180974230/ https://www.archaeology.org/news/8462-200218-montana-missoula-chinatown https://missoulian.com/news/local/archaeologists-uncover-pieces-of-missoula-s-red-light-district-chinese/article_f0e8d9dd-a6dd-595a-9ce2-e3e1d9ed709d.html
Join us for our fascinating conversation with Jan Zauha, librarian extraordinaire. We discuss the role of libraries in this digital age and how they have changed over time. We dive into the space of archives and talk about issues of accessibility and how these places are becoming more public and welcoming to everyone. We also talk about archival collecting and the push to expand the focus to make it more inclusive. Jan is passionate about her work and her love of learning and her enthusiasm shines through in this conversation.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they delve into women's history month and talk about vice districting during the 1890's in relation to red-light districts and prostitution in the west! They also talk about what's coming up this summer for the Extreme History Project, the new podcast logo, and upcoming podcast interviews.
Join us as we discuss rock art in Montana with archaeologist, Sara Scott. Our conversation revolves around the Hellgate Pictograph Site in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. This rock art site has an extensive area of finger lines, hand prints, geometric designs, dots, and animals such as snakes, turtles, and lizards. There are representations of human-like figures with distended bodies that may represent shaman figures in trance and soul flight. Many of the figures show evidence of prehistoric scraping and scratching which was deliberate and concentrated in the center of the rock art motifs. We also talk about Pictograph and Ghost Caves, located within Pictograph State Park. We discuss the archaeological context of these two caves and how we have come to know more about these important places and the people who used them. For more information, Hellgate Pictograph Site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hlcnf/learning/history-culture/?cid=stelprdb5373556 Pictograph Cave State Park: https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/pictograph-cave/ Fremont Culture: https://www.crowcanyon.org/index.php/archived-news/691-meet-the-fremont-the-ancestral-pueblo-people-s-northern-neighbors
Join us as we talk with Laurel Angell about her research on America's twentieth century conservation movement and the missed opportunities that led it to become both exclusionary and politically polarizing. Laurel grew up in Yosemite National Park, and has herself worked as a Park Ranger before obtaining a degree in environmental law and working on conservation policy initiatives under the Obama administration. Laurel is currently a doctoral candidate in History at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and remains active in local and national policy initiatives targeted at creating broader and more inclusive conservation goals.
Join us for our conversation with Diana Hernández and Dr. Portia Hopkins as we discuss their work through the National Collective Memory Institute to validate and reconcile history of places that have been neglected and undervalued. We focus on their work to preserve historic sites belonging to communities of color and their mission to develop spaces to reconcile our nation’s past in an effort to rehabilitate our collective memory. To learn more: https://www.nationalcollectivememory.org
Join us as we talk with archaeologist Joe Watkins about Indigenous Archaeology and his current role as President of the Society for American Archaeology. We discuss experimental archaeology in the form of building and living in a pit house for a year, his research with the Ainu of Japan, and so much more!
For more information,
Indigenous Archaeology: American Indian Values and Scientific Practice - https://www.amazon.com/Indigenous-Archaeology-American-Scientific-Archaeologies/dp/0742503291
The Story of the Choctaw Indians: From the Past to the Present - https://www.amazon.com/Story-Choctaw-Indians-Present-American/dp/1440862664
Join us this week as we talk with graduate student, Kerri Clement, about her participation in a research project on the persistent spatial structure of inequality in urban neighborhoods, specifically in Denver, Colorado. We discuss redlining, inter-generational wealth inequality, and spatial segregation - all a result of the Jim Crow era that has persisted to the present. For more information: Mapping Inequality Website https://dsl.richmond.edu/panorama/redlining/#loc=5/39.1/-94.58
Join us for our fascinating discussion with Stanford scholar, Adrienne Mayor, about her book, The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World. We discuss the realities and myths behind these legendary women recently popularized by the popular Wonder Woman films. We get to the heart of the word, Amazon, discussing its origins. We have a meaningful conversation around Scythian burials and the archaeological evidence presented in these tombs, that of women warriors buried with quiver and arrows, iron spearheads and lance points , knives, and pebble missiles for a sling buried next to them in these Kurgan mounds. The skeletal remains of these women show they actively participated in battle with the grisly evidence marking their bones in the way of arrowheads burrowed in long bones, battle-ax marks cleaved into their skulls, and ribs slashed by swords. We also talk about Amazon tattoos, often depicted in Greek vase painting and on mummified individuals depicting geometric patterns and animal motifs.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they travel back to the ancient world and discuss Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic female figurines and how scholars have interpreted these curvaceous ladies through time. They talk specifically about the male gaze and how this has influenced the way we see these figurines and statues today. They talk specifically about the Venus of Willendorf, the Venus of Malta, Maltese Temples, the Goddess Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, archaeologist Marija Gimbutas and her influence and research, and the backlash to the Goddess movement.
To learn more,
https://stratigraffiti.com/2019/03/23/the-venus-myth/
Join us for a conversation with Aaron Brien as we discuss his views on Indigenous Archaeology, his life-changing experience viewing historic Apsáalooke/Crow War Shields at Chicago's Field Museum, his new job as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Crow Nation, and so much more.
To learn more, see the additional resources below.
Tribal Research Specialists Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS85NTMxNTIucnNz Ishbinnaache Chikituuk: An Examination of a Crow War Shield at the Chicago Field Museum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgl4D4OibfQ&t=5s Apsáalooke Woman and Warriors Companion Book - https://store.fieldmuseum.org/products/apsaalooke-women-and-warriors-book
Join us as we talk with Mark Johnson about his research on Montana's historic Chinese community. He is working to uncover this important history and present it through a global lens and in the voice of the Chinese people who lived and died in Montana. In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about the historic Chinese experience and Mark's work to document the long-silenced voices.
To learn more,
Follow this link to watch a presentation by Mark Johnson on the 1905 Special Chinese Census in Montana/Idaho. This was a presentation given at the Western History Association 2020 Annual Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4X4x90a_HE In Their Own Words: Translating Documents from Montana's Chinese Community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNngOlHpMY Becoming Chinese in Montana: The Chinese Empire Reform Association & National Identity among Montana's Chinese Communities. https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/public_lectures_mtech/104/
Join us as we talk with Craig Lee, Shane Doyle, and Ian Van Coller about their collaboration and friendship around high-altitude archaeology. They have worked together on many different projects over the past 10 years, each bringing their own unique perspective to the work. Craig Lee is a high-altitude archaeologist, Shane Doyle is a member of the Apsaalooke Nation and an educator, and Ian Van Coller is a photographer and professor at Montana State University.
Visit these links for more information,
https://instaar.colorado.edu/meetings/frozenpasts5/index.html https://www.ianvancoller.com/
Welcome to this week's edition of The Dirt on the Past as we speak with Dr. Kathleen Brown about her research on early America. Dr. Brown's research focuses on the 17th and 18th centuries, and the ways in which historical constructions of gender, race, and the human body were foundational to the institutions of slavery and of human rights.
Our latest podcast episode is a timely conversation with Kevin Kooistra as we discuss the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment through the lens of the suffragist, Hazel Hunkins. Hazel grew up in Billings, MT and joined the National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul, as a young woman. Hazel demonstrated with the Silent Sentinels, chaining herself to the White House gates in 1917, for which she was jailed. We also discuss women of color, including Ida B. Wells, who were extremely important to the women's suffrage movement but were often excluded from the national groups.
To learn more: Huzel Hunkins, Billings Suffragist. A Primary Source Investigation, https://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/education/Women/HH_LessonPlan_Final2.pdf Vangard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha Jones, http://marthasjones.com/vanguard/ Women's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss, https://elaineweiss.com/ PBS The Vote documentary, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/vote/
Join us for our engaging conversation with retired U.S. Forest Service Archaeologist, Carl Davis. We discuss his new book, "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana." We cover all things archaeological and why they matter today!
Join the "Dirt on the Past" hosts, Crystal and Nancy, as they discuss mortuary customs through time. From the earliest evidence of human burial ceremonies to historic headstone symbolism. They speak to Scythian burial mounds, Egyptian mummification practices, and the importance of "ghost stories" at this time of year. Join us for our special Halloween/Samhain episode!
In this episode, Dr. Riley Augé, the curator of the University of Montana's Anthropological Collections Facility, discusses her book, "The Archeology of Magic: Gender and Domestic Protection in 17th Century New England". In addition to her book, we discuss other fascinating topics including witch bottles, apotropaic magic, and the Salem witch trials.
Listen to our fascinating discussion on Neanderthal dental morphology with Dr. Shara Bailey. She is a professor and associate chair in the Department of Anthropology at New York University and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and a book on dental morphology and human evolution.
Join us as we talk with Jill Falcon MacKin about Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Jill is a member of the Anishinaabe: Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, Bear Clan and is dedicated to working for the revitalization of Buffalo Nations' Food Systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and re-integration of traditional land practices.
Join us as we talk with Tom Rust, a professor at Montana State University Billings, about his new book, "Watching Over Yellowstone: The US Army's Experience in America's First National Park, 1886-1918." We will discuss the book, his thoughts on the symbolism of Yellowstone National Park, and chapter that was left out of the book, and why.
Join us with Dr. Billy Smith as he discusses his project on "Mapping Inequality and Resistance: The Story of Ona Judge and Martha Washington." Ona Judge, the enslaved servant of Martha Washington, escaped from the President's Mansion in Philadelphia to New Hampshire, where she lived the rest of her life free. Dr. Smith uses mapping to explore inequality, resistance, and possible solutions in early Philadelphia.
Welcome to The Dirt on the Past. Whether digging up a site or dusting off the archives, we bring you some of the most fascinating and cutting edge research in history and archaeology, and discuss why it matters today. Join co-hosts, Crystal Alegria and Nancy Mahoney as we converse with professionals in the fields of history, archaeology, and anthropology who bring the past…into the present.