Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality and 21st Century Archaeology: Recent Episodes
Dr. Joseph Schuldenrein
This show targets an audience interested in archaeology. It explores myths surrounding this exotic, often misunderstood field and acquaints listeners with the contemporary practice of unearthing the human past. Themes range from Dr. Schuldenrein’s own “Indiana Jones”-like adventures in the land of the Bible to his team’s archaeological forensics effort to unearth Kurdish mass graves in Iraq. That undertaking helped convict Saddam Hussein in 2006. Topical issues contribute to the evolution vs. creationism controversy based on updated fossil records and innovative DNA studies. An episode highlights the main funding source for archaeology in the U.S. (Hint: the oil and gas industry). Experts reveal the latest high-tech approaches to buried archaeological landscapes that provide clues to understanding climate change, past, present and future.
With over 70% of the earth’s surface covered in water, much of the world is inaccessible to archaeologists employing traditional, land-based archaeological techniques. Employing new procedures and methodologies, the father of underwater archaeology, Dr. George Bass, revolutionized the field in the 1960's by demonstrating that rigorous scientific analysis could be conducted under water. Journey into the fascinating and unique world of underwater and nautical archaeology with our very special guest, Dr. James P. Delgado, one of the foremost experts in the field of underwater archaeology. Throughout his distinguished career, and as the host of the underwater archaeology-themed television show “The Sea Hunters,” Dr. Delgado has worked on some of the most famous shipwrecks of our time. He joins the program to provide an overview of the history of nautical archaeology, the future of the field, and its evolving relationship with conservation and heritage management.
In this episode we explore the role of archaeology in climate science, examining contemporary and ancient climate change. Our guests, Assistant Professor Dr. John Marston at Boston University’s Department of Archaeology and the Director of the BU Environmental Archaeology Laboratory, and Dr. Catherine West, Research Assistant Professor and the Director of the BU Zooarchaeology Lab, join Dr. Schuldenrein to discuss their cutting-edge research and methodologies. Pertinent and illuminating, Drs. Marston, West and Schuldenrein explore archaeology’s value to climate science and the affect contemporary climate change is having on archaeological sites, funding and research. Join in and learn more about fascinating conclusions being wrought from the study of human adaptation to climate and environmental change over time.
What do we really know about the Vikings? In this episode, Dr. Steve Ashby, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at the University of York, discusses his fascinating research into the archaeology of everyday life in Viking-Age England, Scotland and Scandinavia. Dr. Ashby’s research on everyday hair combs found in many urban Viking-age sites illuminates details about social identity, craft, and trade heretofore poorly understood. Join in as Dr. Ashby explains his novel approach to artefact studies, using scientific and biomolecular techniques to help answer larger cultural and economic questions, including the date of the first contact between Scandinavia and the British Isles, the social drivers behind Viking raids, and the role of food culture in building identity groups. Join in as Drs. Schuldenrein and Ashby investigate the everyday objects that help to elucidate a people and a bygone age.
Archaeologist and museologist Dr. Asma Ibrahim joins the program to discuss the state of archaeology and heritage preservation in Pakistan. As one of the only female archaeologists operating in Pakistan, Dr. Ibrahim discusses her career path and the hardships she has had to overcome in pursuit of her goals. Though her work and research has spanned the globe, she has dedicated much of her professional life to advancing the preservation efforts of archaeological sites and traditional arts and crafts in Pakistan. She is the director and founding member of the Centre for Archaeological and Environmental Research and has carried out extensive research at various sites in the Indus Delta Area in Pakistan. Currently, she is serving as the Director of the State Bank Museum & Art Gallery Department in Karachi, Pakistan, a museum she helped create. Join the conversation to learn about this accomplished and inspiring archaeologist.
The prevalence of pipeline projects in CRM is bringing archaeologists into increasing contact with the material remains of industry and technology. However, as a field of inquiry, industrial archaeology is woefully understudied and underappreciated. In this episode, Dr. Timothy J. Scarlett of the Industrial Heritage and Archaeology Program at Michigan Technological University -- one of the only programs of its kind in the US – joins the program to discuss the current state of industrial archaeology. Inherently multi-disciplinary, industrial archaeology is noted for its ability to frame identity in both global and local contexts. The study and preservation of the industrial past links workers and their communities to the capitalist system, while at the same time grappling with individual adaptations largely absent from documentary record. Listen in as Drs. Schuldenrein and Scarlett discuss the necessity of industrial archaeological research to our evolving understanding of the past.
The Town of New Philadelphia, Illinois was founded by ex-slave Frank McWorter in 1836, making it the first town legally registered by an African American in the US. Frank and his wife Lucy bought, worked and sold acres of land to help raise the enormous sums needed to purchase the freedom of family members. Since 2002, excavations and public archaeology programs have helped to resurrect the story of New Philadelphia, implicating America’s fraught racial past and giving voice to African American actors largely absent from official histories. Currently, The National Park Service is conducting a special resource study to evaluate the site’s national significance and the feasibility of adding it a national park system slim on African American sites. Dr. Schuldenrein is joined in conversation by Dr. Christopher Fennell, Tara Pettit and Tokey Boswell to discuss the site and the NPS special resource study.
Joining Dr. Schuldenrein in this week's episode is award-winning author and George Washington University Classics and Anthropology professor Eric H. Cline. Specializing in biblical archaeology and the Mediterranean world of the Late Bronze Age (1700-1100 BC), Dr. Cline discusses his recent book, “1177: The Year Civilization Collapsed” and his current research as co-director of the Tel Kabri project in Israel. Drs. Schuldenrein and Cline journey back into the world of the Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean, resurrecting the Egyptian, Minoan, Mycenaean and Babylonian civilizations, among others, to provide the context for one of the world’s first catastrophic collapses. Improving upon the prevailing Sea People invasion theory popularized in the late-19th century, Dr. Cline provides ample archaeological and textual evidence for a multi-causal explanation. Listen in to discover what events lead to the collapse and what happened to the Mediterranean world in the ensuing centuries.
Everything you have ever wanted to know about Southeastern archaeology, but were too afraid to ask. Dr. David G. Anderson, a practitioner and academic with decades of experience in the Southeastern US and Caribbean, talks with Dr. Joe Schuldenrein about current research, new methodologies, and recent advances in the archaeology of the southeastern United States. Using synergistic approaches to archaeological research and collaborative digital resources, Dr. Anderson explores the development of cultural complexity in Eastern North America, climate change and its effect on human society, and other important topics. Importantly, the application of Dr. Anderson’s methodologies to the broader discipline allows practitioners to synthesize data in real time, enhancing the construction of regional archaeological timelines and our understanding of North America’s past. Listen in as Drs. Schuldenrein and Anderson discuss the fascinating history of the Southeastern US and its archaeology.
In 2016, the Buffalo Trace Distillery hired Kentucky archaeologist Nicolas Laracuente to lead an excavation of the remains of a late-19th century production facility buried and long forgotten underneath the floor of the active distillery. Dubbed the “Bourbon Pompeii,” these largely intact structural remains offer a unique glimpse into the heritage and history of bourbon production in Kentucky. Laracuente, in addition to his official job with the Kentucky Heritage Council, volunteers much of his time to the Jack Jouett Archaeology Project-a public archaeology and oral history program- and to excavations of farm and abandoned distilleries around the state. Emphasizing the importance of tailoring research to regional interests and history, Laracuente’s work provides a template for the efficacy of archaeology to local communities. Listen in as Dr. Schuldenrein and Laracuente discuss Bourbon Pompeii and Laracuente’s extracurricular work as the self-styled Bourbon Archaeologist.
The world’s largest organization dedicated to the archaeology of the modern world turns 50 in 2017. Join us as Dr. Schuldenrein talks with Society for Historical Archaeology President Dr. JW Joseph about the importance, history and future of the SHA. In a reflection of the value of professional organizations like the SHA to the discipline, Dr. Joseph provides a necessary critique of archaeology’s relationship with African-American history, research and descendant communities. In particular, he offers a mandate for practitioners to uphold our unique position as stewards of all American pasts and to reaffirm our commitment to protect and herald histories of the disenfranchised. Listen in as Dr. Schuldenrein and Dr. Joseph discuss African-American archaeology as well as public interest in African-American sites and the issues involved in trying to create a new NPS park.
In the lead up to the presidential inauguration on Jan 20, 2017, Dr. Joe Schuldenrein and special guest Dr. Kimball Banks explore the role the federal government plays in archaeological compliance and legislation. Starting with the Antiquities Act of 1906, the US government has been in the business of enacting legislation aimed at protecting America’s cultural and archaeological heritage. But how does it work? What are the various agencies that regulate projects in the US and how do they operate? With 26 years of experience working as a federal archaeologist in a variety or agencies and positions, Dr. Banks offers his expertise in negotiating this complicated and oftentimes confusing bureaucratic landscape.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 drastically changed archaeology by creating new and novel ways of building a career. Where once the blueprint of success was rooted in academia, now archaeologists are employed in a variety of jobs in applied anthropology and cultural resource management. Instructive for students and professionals alike, Dr. Joe Schuldenrein and frequent contributor Dr. Stanton Green discuss changes in career paths, job opportunities, funding and educational training in archaeology over the past 50 years. Perhaps most importantly, Drs. Schuldenrein and Green assess the efficacy of current teaching methods in graduate programs, asking if academia is providing sufficient training for today’s archaeologists.
Happy end of the year holiday's Indy Fans! Tonight mere days away from Christmas we have a themed show to further the spirit of the holidays! We are joined by Dr. Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist based in Wisconsin. The connection may not seem clear between maritime archaeology and Christmas, but there is a phenomenal story we about to be told. Gather round and listen to the true story of the schooner Rouse Simmons, the lumber trade in Wisconsin, Captain Santa, and the (re)discovery of the ship and her captain.
A special episode devoted to the Dakota Access Pipeline. The DAPL, Energy Transfer Partners 1,170 mile pipeline traversing parts of North and South Dakota, threatens water sources and culturally significant sites in and around the Standing Rock Reservation. Protests over the placement of the pipeline through tribal land is but the most recent episode in almost 200 years of strife between the Great Sioux Nation, or Oceti Sakonwin, and the US government regarding native sovereignty and rights. Dr. Schuldenrein, in conversation with archaeologist Dr. Thomas F. King, discusses archaeology's role in the DAPL and larger issues surrounding historic preservation's relationship to native groups and their cultural interests. Dr. King has over 50 years of experience in federal and CRM archaeology and his firm, Thomas F King, PhD, regularly consults with native and local communities. Join in as Drs. Schuldenrein and King assess archaeology in Native America.
The 2016 presidential election and the Dakota Access Pipeline are two key issues facing American archaeology today. Join Dr Schuldenrein as he explores how the Trump administration and a republican controlled congress may impact archaeology and historic preservation, including threats to federal legislation. Currently, cultural and environmental protections are at the forefront of the protests levied by the Standing Rock Sioux and their advocates against the Dakota Access Pipeline, Energy Transfer Partner’s 1,172-mile crude oil pipeline threatening water quality and native sites in the Dakotas. Though the recent easement denial order by the Army Corp of Engineers has successfully halted construction of the DAPL for the time being, Trump’s alleged infrastructure plan may again force the issue come January. Listen in as Dr. Schuldenrein takes on archaeology’s role in the DAPL controversy and what we can expect to happen to the pipeline in 2017.
While pirates have always been a source of public fascination, piracy has seen a recent surge in both news headlines and popular culture, including the newly-released film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. While the term pirate readily conjures up a variety of images, including peg-legs, nefarious skull and cross bone flags, and squawking parrots, pirates cannot be separated from treasure. But what do we really know about pirates? Most of our understanding comes from popular fictional characters like Long John Silver or Captain Hook. Such images, however beloved, have complicated our understanding of these already mysterious historical figures. So who were these figures and what kind of “treasures” did they leave at the bottom of the sea? Join us and Dr. Frederick Hanselmann, from Texas State University, as we discuss his work on shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the difficulties of archaeological excavation underwater.
The crusaders who launched a bloody holy war against the pagan societies of the Eastern Baltic left a profound legacy – the construction of spectacular castles that still exist today as ruins or preserved as historical monuments, and the development of towns that reorganized the region into a uniquely European society and brought it under Christendom. But the effect that these crusading armies had on the landscape goes even further than architectural changes. Dr. Aleks Pluskowski and Dr. Alex Brown are members of a project team using zooarchaeological, palaeobotanical, geoarchaeological and historical data to study the environmental impacts of the Baltic Crusades and the role they played in this transformative time in history. What effect would these have had on the pre-Christian tribes whose belief systems were tied closely into the natural landscape? Tune in tonight, and find out how the ecological transformations that took place as a result of the Crusades were closely tied with the cultural changes that accompanied them.
Researchers recently conducted radiocarbon tests on the bones of 30 scarlet macaws, originally excavated in 1897, stored at New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Their findings are causing the previous theories about the development of civilization in Mesoamerica to molt away. The macaw skeletons were much older than previously thought. While no one is ruffled by the data, a different understanding of trade and society is being hatched. The result of the findings suggests that Chaco Canyon economic growth and reach may actually have been the driving force behind its cultural and religious sophistication and not vice versa. Joining the Indy Team today is Dr. Adam Watson, lead author of this new study, and he will explain the importance of the fledgling discovery and bring the details of the project to roost with you our listeners.
Almost 900 hundred years ago, hundreds gathered at North America’s only city, Cahokia, to take part in a funeral. As the crowds gathered, two bodies were carefully prepared and laid to rest on top of a cloak, while dozens of ritual human sacrifices were arranged in surrounding pits. Finding the remains in 1960 revolutionized archaeologists’ understanding of Native American groups, but current research carried out by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey has transformed our understanding of this major urban center. Join us as we talk with Tom Emerson, Kristin Hedman, and Eve Hargrave about their recent research on these burials, and how it has dramatically altered our understanding of the roles of class and gender in early Native American groups. We’ll be discussing who was buried in the mounds, where they came from, the evidence for increasingly violent ritual burials, and what this tells us about the power and downfall of North America’s largest pre-European center.
Almost 900 hundred years ago, hundreds gathered at North America’s only city, Cahokia, to take part in a funeral. As the crowds gathered, two bodies were carefully prepared and laid to rest on top of a cloak, while dozens of ritual human sacrifices were arranged in surrounding pits. Finding the remains in 1960 revolutionized archaeologists’ understanding of Native American groups, but current research carried out by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey has transformed our understanding of this major urban center. Join us as we talk with Tom Emerson, Kristin Hedman, and Eve Hargrave about their recent research on these burials, and how it has dramatically altered our understanding of the roles of class and gender in early Native American groups. We’ll be discussing who was buried in the mounds, where they came from, the evidence for increasingly violent ritual burials, and what this tells us about the power and downfall of North America’s largest pre-European center.
As excavators carefully brushed away the dirt, the eyes of Alexander the Great stared back at them unblinking. For many archaeologists it would have been the find of a lifetime, but by 2015 Dr. Jodi Magness and her team were used to finding unexpected. Since 2012 their team has returned to the site of Huqoq, unearthing an unexpected cultural fusion of Biblical and Classical figures and stories. Most surprising has been the finds at the heart of the site’s spiritual center. Excavations in the synagogue have revealed a number of stunning mosaics that extraordinarily depict mythical and historical figures among the religious scenes. Join us tonight at 6 PM EST as we talk with Dr. Magness about the latest finds from the site of Huqoq, and discover a site where archaeology and apocrypha converge.
As excavators carefully brushed away the dirt, the eyes of Alexander the Great stared back at them unblinking. For many archaeologists it would have been the find of a lifetime, but by 2015 Dr. Jodi Magness and her team were used to finding unexpected. Since 2012 their team has returned to the site of Huqoq, unearthing an unexpected cultural fusion of Biblical and Classical figures and stories. Most surprising has been the finds at the heart of the site’s spiritual center. Excavations in the synagogue have revealed a number of stunning mosaics that extraordinarily depict mythical and historical figures among the religious scenes. Join us tonight at 6 PM EST as we talk with Dr. Magness about the latest finds from the site of Huqoq, and discover a site where archaeology and apocrypha converge.
While pirates have always been a source of public fascination, piracy has seen a recent surge in both news headlines and popular culture, including the newly-released film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. While the term pirate readily conjures up a variety of images, including peg-legs, nefarious skull and cross bone flags, and squawking parrots, pirates cannot be separated from treasure. But what do we really know about pirates? Most of our understanding comes from popular fictional characters like Long John Silver or Captain Hook. Such images, however beloved, have complicated our understanding of these already mysterious historical figures. So who were these figures and what kind of “treasures” did they leave at the bottom of the sea? Join us and Dr. Frederick Hanselmann, from Texas State University, as we discuss his work on shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the difficulties of archaeological excavation underwater.
Special Encore: When asked to be a judge on 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty Dr. Todd Disotell said yes. Cryptozoology—the search for animals that may not exist, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster—isn’t one of his key research interests, but TV appearances enable him to talk about science in front of a huge audience. Working on the show also forced him to create new methods. Because the Bigfoot show was filmed at remote campsites, Disotell had to develop a portable DNA lab and figure out the best way to quickly analyze a high volume of samples. “It led to a technique we had never done before called environmental DNA sampling,” he says. Join us tonight as we talk with Dr. Disotell about his work with DNA, the quest for Bigfoot,and what it can tell us about ourselves!'
When asked to be a judge on 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty Dr. Todd Disotell said yes. Cryptozoology—the search for animals that may not exist, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster—isn’t one of his key research interests, but TV appearances enable him to talk about science in front of a huge audience. Working on the show also forced him to create new methods. Because the Bigfoot show was filmed at remote campsites, Disotell had to develop a portable DNA lab and figure out the best way to quickly analyze a high volume of samples. “It led to a technique we had never done before called environmental DNA sampling,” he says. Join us tonight as we talk with Dr. Disotell about his work with DNA, the quest for Bigfoot,and what it can tell us about ourselves!'
About a year ago the Iowa Dept. of Transportation discovered a sinkhole near Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. They found the sinkhole was the site of a 150 year old beer cave. Back in the 1850s Cedar Rapids built extensive beers caves to age and store beer under the breweries. The caves were abandoned following Prohibition. While the interstate has not been damaged, the Iowa DOT is planning to seal up the cave. The space is partially filled with debris and poses safety risks to people. Most importantly, officials don’t want the sinkhole to get bigger. Researching Iowa's beer caves is exciting because it enables archaeologists to study the community’s past. The brewery caves, the history of their use, and their construction provides information about 19th century industries, immigrant lifeways , and the ongoing social and the economic evolution of Iowan cities. For our interview today, the Indy team is joined by Brennan Dolan, from Iowa DOT, to tell us about the project.
It’s an election year in the U.S. and many are anxiously wondering what November will bring. While the presidential race is in full swing (or sling—and you thought OUR jobs were dirty!) archaeologists, like the rest of the nation, are wondering whether the new president will REPresent their values or DEMonstrate a commitment to their goals. The past is a hot topic in the political realm right now: even as archaeology, along with other science, funding has been systematically cut and undermined by proposed legislation, representatives from both sides are calling upon visions of the past to inspire and influence the voters. Join us tonight as Dr. Schuldenrein discusses whether the current political climate can Make Archaeology Great Again or if the future will trump the past. And May the Odds Be Ever in Our Favor.
One of the key issues in the debate of Evolution vs. Creationism centers on antiquity of events and the ability to determine them without “reasonable doubt”. Over the past half century plus, and especially in the last 20 years archaeological science has established and trial tested numerous dating techniques with various degrees of success. Dating is absolute, meaning it can be measured accurately and precisely or relative, that is linked to events in a comparative sense. The former is scientific by any measure, while the latter is based on logic and reason, yet still very reliable and scientific. For absolute dates, the older techniques (pardon the pun) have been through numerous trials and have been perfected to a large degree. New techniques are emerging and are fine tuned by specialists every day. Today’s episode reviews some of these techniques and asks the listener to judge if they are compelling or not.
Science and religion are often at ideological loggerheads concerning natural and human history. In this episode, Dr. Schuldenrein argues that archaeology is uniquely able to provide a bridge between traditional biblical understandings of the creation of the world and scientific theory and data. Using personal experience as an archaeologist in the Holy Land, Dr. Schuldenrein examines some of his most influential projects to demonstrate the remarkable way archaeology can illuminate the historical and scientific foundation for many of the bible’s stories. Was there an actual flooding event that archaeologists can isolate that corresponds to the story of Noah’s Arc? What other events might be present in the archaeological record? Join in as Dr. Schuldenrein appeals to people on both sides of the ideological spectrum, providing a middle ground where science and religion intersect.
In Madagascar today, and in the recent past, the dead are understood to inhabit the world alongside the living. Accounts of the 19th century tell of people possessed by the dead, of ghosts roaming abroad, and of the care that must be taken around them. How can archaeologists and anthropologists provide space in historical narrative for entities that we might consider to be imaginary or nonexistent? How do we acknowledge the agency of the dead for people in the past? For Columbia University’s Dr. Zoë Crossland, this means attending to the material signs of the dead – whether tombs and standing stones, or the patterns of inhabitation that people left behind in the landscape. Archaeology is often called the discipline of things, but Dr. Crossland argues that our work is semiotic in nature – that is, it is primarily concerned with material signs, and with the interpretation of those signs. Archaeology is a fascinating discipline for the way in which it pulls together empirical data with the enlivening interpretation through which it becomes meaningful, but we’ve tended to think about interpretation as something that happens in people’s heads. Join us tonight and learn how Dr. Crossland draws upon the semiotic philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce in her forthcoming book to rethink how we approach the signs of the dead and their interpretation.
Although pipeline projects are often surrounded by controversy, archaeological survey and excavation is playing an increasingly vital role in project development. Federal regulations require that pipeline projects consider not just their environmental impact, but the cultural impact as well. Because archaeologists and pipeline projects have very different goals, the question becomes how can archaeologists work with pipeline developers to ensure the protection of the past without impeding development and progress? Join us and our guests, Chris Bergman, Jim Bloemker, and Bill Chamberlain as we discuss how archaeologists can effectively work with developers and what sorts of challenges arise.
Imagine that you are an archaeologist carrying your equipment to site only to meet a polar bear along the way! Once you’ve arrived at site, weather conditions may mean the ground is too frozen to dig or you have a chance of getting hypothermia if you try waterscreening. While Indiana Jones is well known for his travels to far off places and harrowing recovery of artifacts, what are the dangers of archaeology in less desirable destinations? Our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, has over 30 years experience working in Barrow, Alaska, the ninth northernmost city in the world! Although remote, the climate of Alaska’s north coast allows for the recovery of some remarkable items including ivory harpoons, plank floors, and even seal oil. Join our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, and us as we discuss her archaeological work in this far-flung part of the world and how her findings challenge the idea that such environments are inhospitable for human occupation.
Whether it is faerie circles, nighttime rituals, or pretty much Celtic ANY-thing, the public perception of Irish archaeology has a healthy dose of myth and mystery mixed in. In fact, the allure of Irish archaeology is often its seeming mysteriousness.
So what do archaeologists actually know about Ireland and its Celtic inhabitants? On today's show we will be talking with Dr. Susan Johnston, an Irish archaeologist specialist who has worked at the royal site of Dún Ailinne, southwest of Dublin. The site has yielded evidence of wooden circular structures, as well as ritual feasting and ceremony from the pre-Christian period. Join us as we attempt to de-mistify Irish archaeology, and find out what really happened.
Whether it is faerie circles, nighttime rituals, or pretty much Celtic ANY-thing, the public perception of Irish archaeology has a healthy dose of myth and mystery mixed in. In fact, the allure of Irish archaeology is often its seeming mysteriousness. br So what do archaeologists actually know about Ireland and its Celtic inhabitants? On today's show we will be talking with Dr. Susan Johnston, an Irish archaeologist specialist who has worked at the royal site of Dún Ailinne, southwest of Dublin. The site has yielded evidence of wooden circular structures, as well as ritual feasting and ceremony from the pre-Christian period. Join us as we attempt to de-mistify Irish archaeology, and find out what really happened.
Despite Indiana Jones' order to get out of the library, archaeological training involves a fair amount of school work. At school, archaeologists must both intensively train in a particular focus, but must also gain a good understanding of areas of expertise outside their specialty. Recently, shifts in the archaeological job market have led many to ask whether traditional training methods are still relevant and how we can better train new archaeologists. Join us tonight with our guest Dr. Victor Thompson, as we discuss how the demands of contemporary archaeology and what that means for education.
The largest budgets and advanced research technologies in today’s archaeology are furnished by pipeline construction. While the construction of pipelines has not been without controversy, the growth of the oil and gas industries and the construction of pipelines accounts for a significant portion of archaeological projects in the U.S. In today’s episode we discuss the influence of pipeline archaeology and how federal regulations have changed the relationship between pipelines and archaeological research. Join us and our guests, Chris Bergman, Don Weir, and Carol Weed as we discuss the history of pipeline archaeology, how it has changed CRM archaeology, and what benefits it can offer archaeologists.
In just under 2 weeks, archaeologists from all over the world will be converging on Orlando, FL for the annual Society for American Archaeology Meeting. In anticipation of the meeting, tonight’s episode is focused on the archaeology of Florida and the state’s public outreach program known as the Florida Public Archaeology Network. FPAN works to promote awareness about archaeological resources and protection, while creating partnerships that encourage public participation and education. Join us, and our guests Mike Thomon and Nicole Grinnan, as we discuss the rich archaeological record in Florida, both on land and underwater, as well as how FPAN works to promote and protect these important sites!
In a world of sensationalist headlines the Aztec would appear to be the ultimate players. But what do we really know and how do we reconcile contradictory trends and traditions? The archaeological record has provided compelling evidence for human sacrifice and brutal warfare in the interests of conquest and expansion. By the same token, magnificent city-states with pyramids, monumental architecture, and complex trading networks bespeak infrastructures that may be the precursors of contemporary administrative structures. But despite their unchallenged dominance in the region, they fell under the pressure of the Spanish conquistadors who directly accounted for the Aztec collapse. How carefully can archaeology sort out fiction from reality in the Aztec legacy? Our special guest this week is Dr. Michael Smith, a leading expert on Aztec archaeology. Dr. Smith adds his unique insights to these and other questions that may help explain the developmental trajectory of an early complex society.
In just under 2 weeks, archaeologists from all over the world will be converging on Orlando, FL for the annual Society for American Archaeology Meeting. In anticipation of the meeting, tonight’s episode is focused on the archaeology of Florida and the state’s public outreach program known as the Florida Public Archaeology Network. FPAN works to promote awareness about archaeological resources and protection, while creating partnerships that encourage public participation and education. Join us, and our guests Mike Thomon and Nicole Grinnan, as we discuss the rich archaeological record in Florida, both on land and underwater, as well as how FPAN works to promote and protect these important sites!
Before the Enterprise boldly “went where no person had gone before” or Indiana Jones shouted “THAT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!” there was the National Geographic Society. For over 100 years it has embodied a sense of adventure in faraway locales with the goal of changing the world through science and exploration. From the heights of Macchu Picchu to Mayan underwater caves, the Society has a strong commitment to archaeological discovery, preservation, and most importantly, education. The rich experience with cultural heritage demonstrated by the Society is particularly important today when the looting and destruction in Syria by ISIS has pushed cultural heritage issues into the mainstream media. Join us, and our guest Dr. Chris Thornton, as we discuss his own experiences working in cultural heritage with the National Geographic Society as well as director at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bat in Oman as we attempt to determine how we can preserve the past in a constantly developing world.
Before the Enterprise boldly “went where no person had gone before” or Indiana Jones shouted “THAT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!” there was the National Geographic Society. For over 100 years it has embodied a sense of adventure in faraway locales with the goal of changing the world through science and exploration. From the heights of Macchu Picchu to Mayan underwater caves, the Society has a strong commitment to archaeological discovery, preservation, and most importantly, education. The rich experience with cultural heritage demonstrated by the Society is particularly important today when the looting and destruction in Syria by ISIS has pushed cultural heritage issues into the mainstream media. Join us, and our guest Dr. Chris Thornton, as we discuss his own experiences working in cultural heritage with the National Geographic Society as well as director at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bat in Oman as we attempt to determine how we can preserve the past in a constantly developing world.
Picture it. Chicago. 1893. Twenty-six million people from all over the world flooded into the city to puzzle over the newest fashions trends including zippers, taste innovative new cuisines like brownies, and some even attempted the daredevil feat of riding the world’s first Ferris wheel. Over 100 years later, these “innovations” may seem like the quaint offerings of a remote past, but their once futuristic status invites us to look around us and ask “what will stand the test of time?” Will President Obama’s library be the site of a major archaeological investigation? Will archaeologists ever unearth a Commissioner’s Trophy on the North Side? Will the Illinois State Museum finally be reopened? Will future generations be able to know the pure satisfaction that is Chicago-style pizza? Join us, and our guest Dr Rebecca Graff, as we discuss the explore the origins of the future in Chicago’s past, and dare to wonder what the archaeology of the future will look like.
Picture it. Chicago. 1893. Twenty-six million people from all over the world flooded into the city to puzzle over the newest fashions trends including zippers, taste innovative new cuisines like brownies, and some even attempted the daredevil feat of riding the world’s first Ferris wheel. Over 100 years later, these “innovations” may seem like the quaint offerings of a remote past, but their once futuristic status invites us to look around us and ask “what will stand the test of time?” Will President Obama’s library be the site of a major archaeological investigation? Will archaeologists ever unearth a Commissioner’s Trophy on the North Side? Will the Illinois State Museum finally be reopened? Will future generations be able to know the pure satisfaction that is Chicago-style pizza? Join us, and our guest Dr Rebecca Graff, as we discuss the explore the origins of the future in Chicago’s past, and dare to wonder what the archaeology of the future will look like.
Not many have heard of Etzanoa. Not yet that is. Researchers believe they have discovered the “great settlement,” described by the explorer Don Juan de Oñate. Etzanoa was said to stretch for 5 miles and house 20,000 ancestors of the Wichita tribe near the confluence of two rivers. In a study led by our guest today, Dr. Don Blakeslee, they confirmed that Etzanoa once straddled the banks of the Walnut River in modern Arkansas City, Kan. Findings suggest that the size of this settlement rivals that of Cahokia, a site considered to be the largest Native American settlements in the U.S. Get cozy and settle in while we hear about the details of this monumental discovery.
Humans are obsessed with the future and the technology that comes with it. Whether it's finding out when the new iPhone will be released, wondering when our hoverboards will REALLY fly, or scanning the skies for our new robot overlords, the idea of unplugging completely from life seems to be a thing of the past. As modern day people interested in the past archaeologists are often caught in the middle of the past/future divide.
Although archaeologists work in a thoroughly modern world, issues of location and budget can often force archaeologists to rely on old-school tools in their surveys and excavations. How then does one DO archaeology in the 21st century, especially with limited budgets and resources? Tonight's guest, Mr. Chris Webster, has devoted much of his professional career to developing technology and applications to help transition archaeology into the future. Join us as we discuss all things digital with Chris, and prepare for the technological revolution!
Humans are obsessed with the future and the technology that comes with it. Whether it's finding out when the new iPhone will be released, wondering when our hoverboards will REALLY fly, or scanning the skies for our new robot overlords, the idea of unplugging completely from life seems to be a thing of the past. As modern day people interested in the past archaeologists are often caught in the middle of the past/future divide. br Although archaeologists work in a thoroughly modern world, issues of location and budget can often force archaeologists to rely on old-school tools in their surveys and excavations. How then does one DO archaeology in the 21st century, especially with limited budgets and resources? Tonight's guest, Mr. Chris Webster, has devoted much of his professional career to developing technology and applications to help transition archaeology into the future. Join us as we discuss all things digital with Chris, and prepare for the technological revolution!
What do ghost hunters and archaeologists have in common? More than you might imagine! Archaeologists and ghost hunters are both interested in exploring long forgotten places in search of the people that once inhabited them. Data may be important as supporting evidence, but it is the story of these sites and their long gone inhabitants that captures the minds and the hearts of us today.
Ghosts and the stories that accompany them bring the past alive for people in a very real, if sometimes terrifying way. Archaeologists have the same goal, but sometimes the desire to bring the past to life can get mired in the data. Today's guest, Dr. April M. Beisaw, has explored how archaeologists can use ghost stories to teach people about the past, and how they connect with it. Join us as we discuss how archaeology can harness the power of ghosts, and in so doing, change history!
Gather 'round Indy Fans. Today we go historical and fantastical with our guest and subject matter. The topic? Count Byron de Prorok, famous archaeologist in 1925 and disgraced scalawag just 6 months later. The Indy Team has hosted many shows illuminating the day-to-day practicalities of archaeology and dismantling the Indiana Jones fable. This week Wayne Turmel joins us to discuss a real pirate of an archaeologist. We explore this story through Mr. Turmel's new book The Count of the Sahara. Be sure to bring enough water and salt for this week's hot interview.
The holidays are coming to a close for the year. As a happy new year to all of you, Indy Fans, our final show for 2015 is related to the holy land where so many of our holidays are centered. Dr. Morag Kersel is joining us to tell us about her ‘Follow the Pots’ research program. Based in Israel the project aims to both investigate of the emergence of prehistoric urbanism in the Early Bronze Age of the southern Levant and the contested values of this archaeological heritage. This is an archaeologically themed discussion about what is valued and important in terms of public history and heritage. Just in time for New Years' reflections!
As in many other professions, the proportion of women entering the field of archaeology has increased substantially since the latter 20th century. Some statistics indicate that their numbers have actually exceeded those of their male counterparts in several areas, specifically in college enrollments and graduate programs. Is this changing demographic reflected in the archaeological hierarchy, specifically in numbers of senior professors, in decision-making roles in governmental agencies, and in the ownership and management roles at cultural resource companies? Those data yield more equivocal results and point to slower rates of change in the upper tiers of archaeological organizations and professional influence. While the arrow is generally pointing upwards, old stereotypes tend to die hard. This program debates the evolving status and roles of women in archaeology with two leading representatives in the university and private sectors.
The holidays are coming to a close for the year. As a happy new year to all of you, Indy Fans, our final show for 2015 is related to the holy land where so many of our holidays are centered. Dr. Morag Kersel is joining us to tell us about her ‘Follow the Pots’ research program. Based in Israel the project aims to both investigate of the emergence of prehistoric urbanism in the Early Bronze Age of the southern Levant and the contested values of this archaeological heritage. This is an archaeologically themed discussion about what is valued and important in terms of public history and heritage. Just in time for New Years' reflections!
Happy end of the year holiday's Indy Fans! Tonight mere days away from Christmas we have a themed show to further the spirit of the holidays! We are joined by Dr. Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist based in Wisconsin. The connection may not seem clear between maritime archaeology and Christmas, but there is a phenomenal story we about to be told. Gather round and listen to the true story of the schooner Rouse Simmons, the lumber trade in Wisconsin, Captain Santa, and the (re)discovery of the ship and her captain.
The Salmon Ruins, located near the four corners region in New Mexico, is notable both for the breadth of archaeological materials present and for the collaborative efforts that have been the hallmark of the site since it was first excavated in the 1970s. Associated with 11th century Chaco Canyon and Puebloan culture, Salmon Ruins is also one of only two Chacoan colonies know to exist in the American Southwest. Thus far, over 1.5 million artifacts have been recovered. Unusual for historic preservation efforts in America, the funding, planning and historic preservation efforts of this project result from creative and significant interactions between government agencies and the private sector. Tune in as Dr. Schuldenrein talks with BLM archaeologist Geoffrey Haymes and San Juan County Archaeological Research Center and Library at Salmon Ruins Executive Director Larry Baker about collaboration and community at this amazing site.
This week we are looking at archaeology and activism with the executive director of Sustainable Preservation Initiative (SPI), Dr. Larry Coben. Active since 2010, SPI is a non-profit that offers sustainable business and entrepreneurial opportunities to economically disadvantaged communities as a way to aid the historic preservation of archaeological sites. SPI accomplishes its goal by instituting sustainable economic incentives that offer alternatives to the economic uses of archaeological sites, such as looting and grazing. As archaeology moves away from academia and into the applied field, efforts to build connections and empower local communities in the service of historic preservation are becoming increasingly important to the future of the discipline.
Happy Thanksgiving Indy Fans. Today we have a belly full of information for you about TURKEYS! Yes, we are joined by Dr. Tyr Fothergill who studies turkey domestication. The study of the domestication of various animals is important because it is a means to measure the development of society as well as health.The Indy Team presents a clucky interview with the archaeologist herself to tell us what has been found and conjectured about this full coop of a discovery.
Gather 'round Indy Fans. Today we go historical and fantastical with our guest and subject matter. The topic? Count Byron de Prorok, famous archaeologist in 1925 and disgraced scalawag just 6 months later. The Indy Team has hosted many shows illuminating the day-to-day practicalities of archaeology and dismantling the Indiana Jones fable. This week Wayne Turmel joins us to discuss a real pirate of an archaeologist. We explore this story through Mr. Turmel's new book The Count of the Sahara. Be sure to bring enough water and salt for this week's hot interview.
The rise of archaeology as a profession has done much to enrich our understanding of prehistoric eras, which had been a long misunderstood chapter in the human story. But what can the pursuit of archaeology contribute to our knowledge of more recent historical time periods, which already provide textual clues about the way people lived? It turns out that archaeological research often reveals quite a different story than the one passed down to us by the written word. Join our guest Dr. Charles Orser, Jr., who will be discussing his research on the daily life of the rural Irish on the eve of and during the Great Famine of 1845-50. From 1994-2007, Dr. Orser excavated at 6 house sites in counties Roscommon, Sligo, and Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. This was the first sustained archaeological effort to investigate the lives of the common families who suffered through the Famine and who eventually came to the United States (as well as to Canada and Australia) as a result. His research there has documented that the people were not peasants but were tied into the British market as much as anyone else at the time.
California State Parks contain a breadth and depth of cultural resources that are truly impressive. The organization's tasks range from protecting and preserving natural and cultural resources and involves engagement with tribal groups. On the heels of our interview with Dr. Bond from October 21st, this show about CA State Parks also highlights the threats of climate change and the responses of this department, other state agencies and their partners, has for dealing with events that are affecting our cultural resources. The region in the spot light tonight is California and the topics will cover drought as well as site maintenance (such as dealing with vandalism). Joining us tonight is Dr. Leslie Hartzell and she will be shining an interesting light on this Golden State.
It's that time of year again Indy fans. Have no fear though, this week's show will not horrify you. If fact, we are going to treat you to some of the anthropological thoughts behind the appeal of horror films. There is not trickery here. The horror film genre is popular. Psychologists cite multiple theories of the appeal of horror: psychodynamic, catharsis, excitation transfer, curiosity/fascination, sensation seeking, dispositional alignment, gender role socialization, and societal concern. Anthropologists and archaeologists can also unmask the importance of horror films with the discussion of history of what scares us, how we develop practices to protect ourselves, and what the horror may represent in reality. We are joined by Dr. Kendall Phillips to explore the crypt of things frightening. Happy Halloween Indy Fans.
The National Park Service (NPS) is just about to celebrate its 100th anniversary (August 25, 2016!). It seems only fitting we take a moment, park it, and take a proverbial hike through its history. The NPS is a land management, preservative, educational, and protective body for the United States parks and historical sites. Joining us today is Dr. Stanley Bond. Together we will get into the details of how the NPS handles public outreach, archaeological site and materials management, and the laws in place the protect our nation's wild places and historic legacy.
Some researchers achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them...and some find it spelunking in the bowels of a cave in South Africa. The news exploded in September and it was out of this world (more accurately beneath it). Currently, more than 1,550 fossil elements have been recovered from the Rising Star cave and many more are expected to be unearthed. Rising Star has yielded the largest sample for any hominin species in a single African site to date. Not only is the find huge, the hominin fossils were unique enough to be classified as a new species: Homo naledi (“naledi” means “star” in the local Sesotho language). Given the growing surfeit of fossils, this find may be the best-known/best represented anatomically fossil member of our lineage. To discuss our new family member with us and Rising Star is a member of the research team and New York University professor Dr. Scott Williams. Turn on your head lamps and belay on down as we learn about Rising Star.
Joining the Indy crew today is writer and anthropologist, Dr. Richard Currier, here to discuss his newest book “Unbound: How Eight Technologies Made Us Human, Transformed Society, and Brought Our World to the Brink” (2015). In his book, Dr. Currier addresses some of the more revolutionary adaptations and technologies that allowed humankind to transcend its animal origins. Dr. Currier’s analysis and conclusions force listeners and readers alike to view our everyday objects and interactions in a new light. Perhaps the confluence of seemingly unrelated and unrecognized daily behaviors and objects is more important to our evolution than we give credit to. Uncoil your bones and unravel your mind as we journey through eight of the most transformative technologies in human history.
Researchers recently conducted radiocarbon tests on the bones of 30 scarlet macaws, originally excavated in 1897, stored at New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Their findings are causing the previous theories about the development of civilization in Mesoamerica to molt away. The macaw skeletons were much older than previously thought. While no one is ruffled by the data, a different understanding of trade and society is being hatched. The result of the findings suggests that Chaco Canyon economic growth and reach may actually have been the driving force behind its cultural and religious sophistication and not vice versa. Joining the Indy Team today is Dr. Adam Watson, lead author of this new study, and he will explain the importance of the fledgling discovery and bring the details of the project to roost with you our listeners.
Conflict Archaeology or the Archaeology of Battlefields is a sub-discipline that has risen to the forefront since the 1980s. Despite a growing national fascination with wartime chronicles and military strategies the archaeology of the actual sites of conflicts remains fairly unknown to the public. What can we learn from site excavations that are not documented by written accounts and broadly researched academic studies? What types of material remains are characteristic of battlefield sites and do they inform on events in ways that research and eyewitness accounts cannot? This week's guest, Dr. Douglas Scott, a renowned expert in the field, whose work on the Little Big Horn (“Custer’s Last Stand”) revolutionized formerly accepted interpretations of that dark chapter in American history. Dr. Scott explains how archaeological method and theory can be applied to battlefield excavation sites and considers how we can apply archaeological perspectives to modern and current world conflicts.
UNESCO’s Underwater Cultural Heritage program “encompasses all traces of human existence that lie or have lain underwater and have a cultural or historical character.” This is an active scientific group that seeks to support research and preservation effects around the globe. With the changeability in the weather and coastal areas longevity uncertain the work UNESCO does is of paramount importance. Joining us today is the Programme Specialist of the Cultural Heritage Protection Treaties Section, Dr. Ulrike Guerin. Join us Indy fans as we get in the deep end and find out what underwater heritage is all about.
Indiana Jones Myth Reality and 21st Century Archaeology is driven to interest and inform its audience. The realities of working as an archaeologist can floor you and sometimes shift your interests into neutral. One of the most exciting aspects of archaeology is literally getting into history. The future of professional archaeology may be the union between project work and public outreach. Today the Indy Team is joined by an archaeologist who does exactly that. Pull over and set your engines in park because we have quite a story revving up for you: the CT Dept. of Transportation and archaeological outreach!
Not many have heard of Etzanoa. Not yet that is. Researchers believe they have discovered the “great settlement,” described by the explorer Don Juan de Oñate. Etzanoa was said to stretch for 5 miles and house 20,000 ancestors of the Wichita tribe near the confluence of two rivers. In a study led by our guest today, Dr. Don Blakeslee, they confirmed that Etzanoa once straddled the banks of the Walnut River in modern Arkansas City, Kan. Findings suggest that the size of this settlement rivals that of Cahokia, a site considered to be the largest Native American settlements in the U.S. Get cozy and settle in while we hear about the details of this monumental discovery.
The Hart Island Project is a public charity that assists family in locating people who disappear onto Hart Island. Toward that end, we host an on-line database of burials since 1980 in an on-line museum called the Traveling Cloud Museum.The museum has interactive features assigning each person buried a clock of anonymity that can be stopped by a visitor who adds a story, photo, link or epitaph. Each person’s profile lists a plot that takes the visitor to a map of the island and displays where that person is buried.
The week of July 6th, a class action lawsuit was settled permitting families to visit grave sites. The Hart Island project is hoping to get New York City to rethink the burial process and develop a landscape plan for Hart Island to become a public park. Burials on Hart Island are natural burials where human remains decompose within 25 years returning nutrients to the land.
- Melinda Hunt https://www.hartisland.net/about
About a year ago the Iowa Dept. of Transportation discovered a sinkhole near Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids. They found the sinkhole was the site of a 150 year old beer cave. Back in the 1850s Cedar Rapids built extensive beers caves to age and store beer under the breweries. The caves were abandoned following Prohibition. While the interstate has not been damaged, the Iowa DOT is planning to seal up the cave. The space is partially filled with debris and poses safety risks to people. Most importantly, officials don’t want the sinkhole to get bigger. Researching Iowa's beer caves is exciting because it enables archaeologists to study the community’s past. The brewery caves, the history of their use, and their construction provides information about 19th century industries, immigrant lifeways , and the ongoing social and the economic evolution of Iowan cities. For our interview today, the Indy team is joined by Brennan Dolan, from Iowa DOT, to tell us about the project.
On July 20th the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation filed a civil rights action in federal court against the state of New Jersey. The case was brought forward because the Christie administration was attempting to rescind the State recognition of the tribe whose recognition has been established since 1980 and 1982. A key issue of the case is that the State may be motivated by an irrational, stereotype-driven prejudice of an Indian casino, despite the Tribe's charter explicitly prohibiting gaming. Representing the Tribe and joining us today is Greg Werkheiser. Together we will discuss the intricacies of the case and the legal processes used to protect Tribe's identities in the United States.
While pirates have always been a source of public fascination, piracy has seen a recent surge in both news headlines and popular culture, including the newly-released film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. While the term pirate readily conjures up a variety of images, including peg-legs, nefarious skull and cross bone flags, and squawking parrots, pirates cannot be separated from treasure. But what do we really know about pirates? Most of our understanding comes from popular fictional characters like Long John Silver or Captain Hook. Such images, however beloved, have complicated our understanding of these already mysterious historical figures. So who were these figures and what kind of “treasures” did they leave at the bottom of the sea? Join us and Dr. Frederick Hanselmann, from Texas State University, as we discuss his work on shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the difficulties of archaeological excavation underwater.
~Big Apple City jeans/ Routes with the LIRR/ The LES lookin’ so blurrrr/ They looked below/They looked below/Next thing you know/ RAAD went low low low low low low low~
New York City is scheduled for some seriously exciting changes. A new public park space in one of the least green parts of the City, The Lower East Side. James Ramsey and RAAD is looking to open up the city with an entirely unique space. They’re going to convert the underground Williamsburg Trolley Terminal into an underground park. Being interviewed today is Mr. Ramsey himself to clue us in on the project and the research of the historic site they plan to rejuvenate.
The hills are alive, with the sound of music! With songs they have sung with a history or thousands of years actually! Music, the instruments, and its impact on daily life has left a mark throughout time and it is archaeomusicologists that study that history. Though music itself is intangible there are those who reconstruct the texts and objects left behind. Tuning life back into the legacy of music. Joining the Indy Team today is Dr. Richard Dumbrill the founder of International Conference of Near Eastern Archaeomusiocology. Together we will pluck out particular points of interest in the field of study. Get ready to jam.
Mayan collapse? Why did they not take a sit down break? Perhaps the famed collapse of this ancient empire is not what researchers previously believed. Dr. Anne Pyburn certainly thinks so. The research of Mayan Archaeology and Culture has increased greatly over the past decades. With this research comes new or better understanding of how that society worked. And Dr. Pyburn's point is that the empire did work, and our preconceived notions of the collapse are not quite correct. Pull up a chair, pour a glass of spiced coco, and perhaps some maize and hear what this past society may have really been about!
Generally, archaeologists like to not be equated with Indiana Jones. That's just not Reich. The field of archaeology is vast and only a few archaeologists research Nazis; most (if not all) archaeologists do not fight them. A few months ago the research of one archaeologist was shared via The Washington Post. Was he a Nazi fighter? No, but Dr. Daniel Schavelzon has conducted research on the route some Germans fleeing Nazi Germany after its fall took in the wilds of Argentina. Heil-ing for the hills so to speak. He has uncovered some bunkers that indicate how far into Argentina's interior Nazi or Nazi sympathizers fled and based on the buildings and artifacts he has uncovered how they lived. Goose step over and tune in to our special interview with Dr. Schavelzon!
Be it Nazis, religious artifacts, and whips, or scales, snarls, and beasts movies capture the imagination of audiences. They also direct attention to the fantastic side of archaeology and paleontology. Nearly thirty years ago Indiana Jones inspired and infatuated audiences with archaeology and the field expended with public interest. In a similar way, interest was also increased in paleontology on the heels of the Jurassic Park franchise. This type of hype and attention does have its drawbacks. The realities of the work archaeologists and paleontologists do (i.e. glorified construction work, rough environmental conditions, and vagrant lifestyle at times) is overlooked or portrayed inaccurately for the sake of a good plot line. Joining us today is Dr. Mark Loewen, paleontology research associate at the University of Utah. He can speak to the awesomeness and pitfalls of Jurassic World and illuminate the realities the study of paleontology, a sister field of archaeology.
Archaeologists are constantly looking for materials and evidence of land use to illuminate past human activity. One aspect of archaeological research that has been gaining attention is the evidence of resistance and power among those previously assumed to be powerless. Some have assumed those who were enslaved or indentured were static within those roles. In so assuming, those oppressed peoples were (and are) denied their agency and the gravity of their experiences glazed over. Studies of African Diaspora and ethnographic study have brought forward forgotten histories and experiences that have been neglected in American history. Today we talk with none other than Dr. Terrance Weik, who addresses these particular issues in his book The Archaeology of Antislavery Resistance, and get a better idea of agency, culture, behavior, and ability that is not generally attributed to enslaved or otherwise oppressed peoples.
Past episodes have demonstrated that archaeology overlaps with broader questions of contemporary life. Our recent programs considered the obvious links between archaeology and religion as well as ethics. The question of evolution vs. creationism is an obvious arena in which the human fossil record can be drawn upon to question traditional Judaeo-Christian concepts of our origins. Religion is also not taboo, as archaeological remains of the Biblical period document a material culture consistent with Old and New Testament descriptions but cast doubt on the veracity of specific events and the identities of charismatic figures. Archaeology has also been swept up in political conflicts in a variety of places, scenarios, and venues. Findings have been used in situations ranging from local development conflicts (as a wedge pitting economic vs. preservation interests) to more global venues leading, in extreme cases, to outbreaks of wars and the destruction of cultures and populations.
Herring Run Park is an urban oasis in Northeast Baltimore—375 acres of woodlands that is. This area is of particular interest to us today because some exciting excavations have taken place there. Archaeologists Lisa Kraus and Jason Shellenhamer organized a nine-day dig and uncovered the remnants of an estate owned by Baltimore merchant and politician William Smith. Smith bought the land in 1770 and the manor burned down in 1865. Urban digs are rare, so this project has been particularly exciting. Truly uncovering history close to home...more or less literally in some people’s back yards. Joining the Indy Team today are Dr. Kraus and Mr. Shellenhamer to share their findings and comment on the importance of community archaeology!
Before Europeans arrived on the North American continent, the central Mississippi River Valley formed the core of an extensive prehistoric urban network. Villages and cities flourished in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., extending north to Canada and south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Native Americans built extensive ceremonial and burial mounds that rivaled the cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Their culture, known as the Mississippian, thrived in urban complexes where archaeological research has unearthed the evidence of a complex agrarian society with unique funerary practices and a sophisticated socio-economic structure. Monks Mound rises 70 ft. above the Mississippi River floodplain in East St. Louis, Illinois and stands as a testament to those whose civilization remains as enigmatic as it is monumental. In this episode, we explore the foundations of the Mississippian culture, its rise, florescence and eventual demise in the wake of the Euroamerican conquest of the Americas.
What’s your favorite commodity? Various researchers have explored the impact certain goods have had historically, culturally, economically, socially, religiously etc. Today pull up a chair and stuff your pipe because we are chatting about tobacco and smoking. The Indy Team is joined by three guests Drs. Rafferty, Fox, and Tushingham who have all spent time researching different aspects of tobacco use throughout history and pre-history. Tobacco was used in the America for religious, shamanic, or spiritual purposes. After the European discovery of the Americas, tobacco spread as far as Asia and was used as a trade item. Tracking the use and trade of this particular commodity really can inform our understanding of past (pre-historic and historic) communities and their cultural organization. Inhale this conversation and see how this commodity has shaped our world!
In this week's episode, the Indy Team takes a look at the archaeology of alcohol and its impact on society and culture. We are joined by professor Dr. Frederick H. Smith, who speaks with us about the role of alcohol in the Caribbean and specifically Barbados. In particular, we discuss alcohol's relationship to capitalism and the fostering of colonial agendas, as well as its use as a stimulant by communities and people confronting the anxieties of the a rapidly modernizing world.
The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) remains the largest and most influential archaeological organization in the United States, with a membership in excess of 6000 that embraces academic, applied, and avocational archaeologists. The SAA was founded in 1934 to foster the understanding of the past by highlighting contemporary archaeological methods and theories. Since the 1970’s, as commercial archaeology’s profile grew, the organization has placed a strong emphasis on professional education, outreach and the involvement of indigenous groups. Over the past 20 years, the SAA has made its voice known in the political sphere by lobbying for stronger enforcement of preservation laws, establishing platforms on ethics and enforcement of anti-looting legislation. Today’s program is devoted to the past, present and future directions of the SAA with an interview of the organization’s newly appointed President, Dr. Jeff Altschul, and its long-standing Executive Director, Ms. Tobi Brimsek.
Hello Indy listeners! Joining us today are members from MARS, not the planet, but their work is certainly out of this world. The Military Archaeological Resources Stewardship Interest Group is a group organized to bring together professional archaeologists who have interests in military lands archaeology and organize discussions concerning the protection cultural and historic resources during military operations. The collective work of military personnel and archaeologists working for the government cannot be understated. The Department of Defense alone is responsible for the management of 21 million acres of domestic lands, which holds over 111,000 known archaeological sites in public trust. We get to sit down today and hear about the initiatives and goals of the group and how CRM works at the federal level.
Have you ever wondered how the criminologists popularized in such TV shows as “CSI” developed their investigative techniques and deductive strategies? Many of their methods and approaches are derived from archaeological science. The emergence of forensic anthropology and archaeology is largely traceable to the efforts of the American military in recovering the remains and establishing the identities of missing soldiers (MIA’s) during the Vietnam war in the 1970’s. This week’s episode introduces the nuts and bolts of forensic archaeology through the mission of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is a military command dedicated to repatriating the remains of soldiers lost in our nation’s past conflicts. Join the discussion with the Deputy Director of the JPAC, Dr. William Belcher, who recounts the history of this unique military operation. Learn how forensic recovery operations are conducted in some of the most remote corners of the world.
This week’s episode is dedicated to one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, which fascinates millions around the world to this day – 100th anniversary of Titanic’s sinking. Its maiden journey to the New World was designed as state-of-the-art technological seafaring vessel believed to be unsinkable. However, harsh reality and human arrogance not only took lives of thousands of passengers, but it casted doubt on the infallibility of technological progress, which gave us airplanes, motor cars, and mass communication. Our special guest, bestselling author and historian Hampton Sides, who contributed an article to National Geographic Magazine’s April issue, dedicated to the tragedy, will embark us on a journey of the emerging story of Titanic from the time of its discovery by Robert Ballard in 1985 through recent discoveries made by underwater archaeology and innovative remote sensing techniques, and examine how these discoveries revise the existing interpretations of the wreck.
Located between southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina there is a swamp, The Great Dismal Swamp. This swath of land has a provocative social and economic history and Dr. Dan Sayers has spearheaded the ongoing research that takes place there. Dr. Sayers has conducted landscape studies exploring the history of communities that existed in the swamp interior. These people, also known as maroons, formed resistant and generally self-reliant communities in the swamp interior (primarily Indigenous Americans and African-Americans who permanently removed themselves from conditions of enslavement). A surfeit of information is buried in the Swamp’s interior. Today we invite this Swamp veteran to discuss what the landscape surveys have revealed about these maroon societies and the impacts of historical processes of colonialism, race-based enslavement , and profitable development of natural resources of the swamp.
Who doesn’t love Vikings? Perhaps most of the communities and countries they violently invaded…Between the 8th to late 11th centuries Viking raiding and trading spearheaded an expansion of culture that had profound developmental implications for many parts of the world. This epic time is captured in the History Channel’s series Vikings. We follow the story of Ragnar Lothbrok and glimpse at how his exploits could have shaped the world. With the Indy Team today is Mr. Tom Conroy creator of the series. We get to hear first hand how this chunk of history is revived and in watching the show get to witness how the archaeology that is left behind may have been created.
Over two hundred years in the making? Not quite, but the three-night scripted mini-series “Sons of Liberty” does depict the period that built up to the independence of what would become the United States of America. The series is riveting and for those that are historically minded you will find the recreation of the late 1700s astounding. Joining the Indy Team this week are Zach Hermann and Jordan Rosenblum two authors of the series. We delve into a different side of archaeology by talking about the research that goes into recreating events from the past and its portrayal in popular media.
Geophysics is an important component of the archaeological survey toolkit. Be it a survey of a pipeline or historical cemetery, covering a small area like a crime scene or a large swath of land near the North Pole, geophysics can give us a picture of what is going on with the site of interest. As archaeology becomes more important to development, so does survey work, which informs how exploratory or excavation projects may proceed. Joining the Indy Team today is Dr. Rob Stewart! We are going to dig deep and discuss archaeology and geophysics coming together.
Megiddo is a sight and a site of incredible importance to biblical archaeology. It is located by one of the most important trading and traveling route of the ancient Near East— from ca. 7,000 B.C.E. through to biblical times. Beyond its importance to trade, Megiddo also has the reputation for being the site of the worlds end, Armageddon. This status is related to its being a proverbial hot bed of violence and fighting for centuries. From the Byzantines, Crusaders, and Mongols to Napoleon, the British in World War I and Israelis and Arabs, this site has been the background for a lot of warring. Why would this place be of interest to the Indy Team? Because the director of the expedition, Dr. Israel Finkelstein joins us today. He will enlighten us with the multi-layered archaeology of Megiddo and the points of overlap and conflict between biblical text and archaeological investigations and the future of this site of Armageddon.
To be called a Philistine is to evoke an image of one that is hostile or indifferent to culture and arts. The real story of these ancient people may suggest the contrary. The last thirty years has produced an abundance of new archaeological information about the Philistines during the biblical period. The Indy Team focuses on one area today, Goliath’s hometown Gath. Most scholars believe that biblical Gath was located at the site known as Tell es-Safi, one of the largest biblical sites in Israel. We start our interview today with the findings at Gath, a veritable mine of archaeological evidence ranging from the Chalcolithic period (5th mill. BCE) until modern times, and delve into the recent developments in biblical archaeology. Dr. Aren Maeir, director of the Gath/Tell es-Safi Project, shares with us the discoveries of this biblical site and how they may clarify or change our understanding of the history mythologized in scripture.
Mounds State Park Anderson, IN has nine to twelve unique earthworks, (ceremonial mounds) built by the prehistoric Adena culture and also used centuries later by the Hopewell culture. Some of the mounds are believed to be more than 2,000 years old. A truly impressive site of (literally) monumental North American prehistory. Recently, the Anderson/Madison County Corporation for Economic Development has proposed the construction of a $450 million reservoir that will dam the White River. The dam may pose a serious erosion threat, but it may also create a new habitat for a local endangered species. Today we have a interview panel with Senior Principal Investigator Beth McCord and Indiana Archaeology Council Representative Dr. Christopher Moore. They will discuss the shared and conflicting interests that are at play with the proposed Mounds Reservoir Project.
Archaeology is romantic for some, monotonous for others. It is always the case that the preservation of information from excavations is of the utmost importance. With the advent of better technologies, how the accumulated of data are collected and stored is changing in an extraordinary way. The Federated Archaeological Information Management System (FAIMS) Project has developed a system that makes data more easily saved and accessible later. FAIMS is an eResearch Tools project funded by the Australian Government. The goal of the project is to create a comprehensive and applicable information system for archaeology. From apps on mobile devices to new tools for data processing and analysis the entire project is geared toward facilitating archaeological research to be saved and exchanged in a meaningful way. Today we get to talk about how archaeology may be revolutionized through digitization.
If last weeks Valentine's Day show was not satiating enough, this week we have bookended Valentine's Day with another show dedicated to exposing more sex in archaeology! Sex and sexuality are not new issues. There are multiple instances throughout the archaeological record where materials, art, and other remnants show how people demonstrated their identities. Joining us is Dr. Rosemary Joyce to discuss the instances where sexuality and gendered identity show up in the archaeological record and how it is deciphered...or unsheathed.
This week our show is for adults only! Just kidding. Joining the Indy Team is none other than Dr. Peter Sinelli. Together we will undress the topic of archaeology of sex. Sex is an important topic of archaeological study and not just because it is intellectually titillating. How people lived and related to each other is a central question to archaeological and anthropological research and sex has always been integral to human relations. On our show today we will interrogate how well material culture may or may not represent past attitudes and practices as they pertain to sex.
On January 20th, 2015 the New York Times published an exciting development in the research of the Herculaneum library’s carbonized papyrus scrolls. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius that decimated Pompeii in A.D. 79 also impacted Herculaneum. The super hot gases and ash from the eruption preserved the papyrus documents. Since their excavation in 1752, researchers have been trying to find a way to read the scrolls. This goal is finally becoming reality thanks to the work of Dr. Vito Mocella and his team at the Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems. With the use of a laser-like beam of X-rays they are able to pick up the very slight contrast between the carbonized papyrus fibers and the ancient ink. Today the Indy Team is pleased to have Dr. Vito Mocella and Dr. Richard Janko join us to talk about the the scrolls and their proverbial unraveling and translation.
Today Indiana Jones Myth Reality and 21st Century Archaeology unlocks the proverbial shackles to talk about an increasingly common feature of conflicts in the 20th and 21st century: Interment and incarceration. Though many internment, detention, or prison camps are temporary structures they leave their mark both in the space they were constructed and on the people who were incarcerated there. We talk about the importance of archaeologies of internment as a relatively new field in archaeology and as a politically sensitive endeavor archaeologists are taking on. With us is Dr. Bonnie Clark who has done work at Amache, the site of Colorado's WWII era Japanese American internment camp, and Ms. Judy Thomas who has conducted Archaeological Investigations of Second World War Prisoner of War Camps at Fort Hood, Texas. Together the Indy Team and our guests will discuss how people coped with confinement, how the materials are interpreted, and how descendent communities are involved.
Previous programs have explored the changing realities of graduate student training in the age of applied archaeology. Our surveys and interviews concentrated on professors and principals in the applied and academic worlds. This week we take the pulse of active graduate students. What are their thoughts on training programs, the training they receive in graduate school and the pathways they see themselves following as they pursue career tracks? Do contemporary graduate programs satisfy their projected career goals? How do they project their career choices and what are their visions of a future in archaeology? Our guests are Erin Baxter, PhD student from the University of Colorado, Esteban Fernandez, a recent M.A. graduate at the University of Colorado and Kyle Bocinsky, PhD student at Washington State University and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
Indiana Jones Myth, Reality, and 21st Century Archaeology addresses the question of where archaeology “fits” in the modern world. This week we approach the meaning and value of archaeology from another angle: from the point of view of archaeology graduate students. Today we ask how do students find themselves “fitting” into the world of archaeology. What kind of opportunities are made available to graduate students? Which opportunities are not? Our two guests share their impressions and realizations of the academic system they are a part of. Let’s get down and dirty and see where our fledgling archaeologist colleagues lead us.
This week the host explores a true Indiana Jones theme, which fascinated not only scholars, but also the general public for centuries - the quest for discovery of the Tomb of Jesus. Since 1980s discoveries of a series of ossuaries buried beneath a condominium complex in Jerusalem have provoked controversy about the relationship between suspected remains of Jesus and their presumed placement by his early Christian followers. Ongoing explorations by filmmakers and scholars have revised interpretations and offer new perspectives on the Jesus story based on a variety of sources. Our guest this week is Dr. James Tabor, professor and chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, who have been recently working on these tombs with the filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici using very specialized, custom-built high-tech cameras, which allowed to examine the tombs, ossuaries and everything associated with them without going into the tomb.
There are multiple movies such as Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Tomb Raider, and The Exorcist that depict archaeologists and archaeology. In these films, archaeologists serve as the connection that allows the past to interact with the present, usually in fantastical ways. These archaeologically themed fictions bring popularity to the field, but how is the real story and the importance of the research really conveyed to non-archaeologists? Mr. Samir Patel is the deputy editor of Archaeology magazine and part of his job is communicating the real and fantastical findings happening in the field. He connects the research with the mainstream and he is here today to talk about what it is like to interview archaeologists and communicate important information while delivering a story people will read. We get to the non-romanticized version of the archaeologist with Mr. Patel and find out whether archaeologists bite. Stay tuned!
This year marks the centenary of the First World War. With the arrival of the hundred year anniversary of the War, battlefield archaeology of World War One sites has been gifted with a new popularity. One of the favorite anecdotal stories of the Great War is the truce that took place between the Allied and German forces during Christmas in 1914. Today Indiana Jones hosts Mr. Martin Brown, a battlefield archaeologist who has spent many years excavating the Western Front, to talk about the No Man’s Land archaeology group and the Plugstreet Project. We will discuss how the memory of the Christmas truce has made its way into mainstream media, the importance of battlefield archaeology, and Great War heritage education.
Two years ago Indiana Jones Myth, Reality, and 21st Century Archaeology interviewed Dr. Tom King about the famed Amelia Earhart. We discussed the ongoing and long-standing research to solve the historically captivating mystery of her disappearance over the Pacific in 1937. This fall it was made known that a piece of aluminum aircraft debris found on a remote, uninhabited South Pacific atoll came from Earhart’s Lockheed Electra aircraft. We take off with her story again with Mr. Richard Gillespie, Executive Director of International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR), and discuss the newest developments in her saga. Amelia’s story is gaining altitude thanks to the ongoing interdisciplinary efforts of TIGHAR and revitalized attention from the media. In addition to sharing new data, we touch on role of the media and the use of famous tales in archaeology, and how that colors the public’s understanding and appreciation of archaeology.
An important part of archaeology is recording the context materials are excavated from. Sometimes collections get disorganized or lost after a project concludes and become unusable to researchers due to the lack of contextual information. Dr. Barbara Voss’ research has addressed this issue of collections getting left on the proverbial doorstep and begun to outline potential practices to find homes for “orphaned collections”. Since the early 2000s Dr. Voss has adopted the Market Street Chinatown Project and has dedicated time to figuring out ways to make that site and collection useful to researchers once again. Her work in giving the collection a home has enabled her and others to address questions about the daily life, such as food consumption, and social roles of Chinese immigrants in California. Join us as we talk about the significance of the collection itself and importance of addressing orphaned archaeological collections.
The idea of performance has become increasingly interesting to archaeological inquiry. Performance is a significant part of social activity and examining the remnant structures and materials of a culture provides a context from which we may infer the rituals that shaped daily life. The material culture of a society may explain how an individual or individuals maintained and manipulated social organization. This week Dr. Pam Crabtree joins us to talk about Dún Ailinne, a large ceremonial Irish Iron Age site. She has conducted extensive research at Dún Ailinne exploring the importance of “Royal Sites” and the geophysical techniques used to reveal that realm. Together we delve into how ritual performance can be uncovered through geophysical analysis and excavations as well as what political and social goals the symbolic structures may have served.
Archaeology in major cities can serve a supportive role in the development of the city as well as making accessible its archaeological heritage. This week we delve into the City Archaeology Program in Boston with City Archaeologist Joe Bagley. The City of Boston has a large archaeological collection and this week’s episode touches on the history of the city’s archaeological program and the curation of its surfeit of materials. Our episode will discuss some of the artifacts and history of Boston and what archaeology of a major city entails.
With over 70% of the earth’s surface covered in water, much of the world is inaccessible to archaeologists employing traditional, land-based archaeological techniques. Employing new procedures and methodologies, the father of underwater archaeology, Dr. George Bass, revolutionized the field in the 1960's by demonstrating that rigorous scientific analysis could be conducted under water. Journey into the fascinating and unique world of underwater and nautical archaeology with our very special guest, Dr. James P. Delgado, one of the foremost experts in the field of underwater archaeology. Throughout his distinguished career, and as the host of the underwater archaeology-themed television show “The Sea Hunters,” Dr. Delgado has worked on some of the most famous shipwrecks of our time. He joins the program to provide an overview of the history of nautical archaeology, the future of the field, and its evolving relationship with conservation and heritage management.
Last week you learned about the ancient Egyptian police force under the Ptolemies. This week, delve back a century before the Ptolemaic Dynasty to the city of Elephantine. There thrived a substantial Jewish population who maintained their own temple and left their own texts in Aramaic. When we think of societies where people of many different backgrounds coexist, often what comes to mind is a modern city like New York. But what would life have been like in an ancient metropolis with a multicultural society? Join our host and special guest Dr. Jitse Dijkstra, who has been involved in the excavations at Elephantine since 2001 as a member of the Swiss-German-Egyptian mission. Learn how historical texts and archaeological remains have been connected to better understand the ancient inhabitants of the island.
Throughout the years of Ptolemaic rule, victims of crime in all areas of the Egyptian countryside called on local police officials to investigate wrongdoings. What was this ancient police force like - would it have seemed familiar to someone used to modern law enforcement? Drawing on a large body of textual evidence for the cultural, social, and economic interactions between state and citizen, Dr. John Bauschatz of the University of Arizona demonstrates in his recent book that the police system was efficient, effective, and largely independent of central government controls. No other law enforcement organization exhibiting such a degree of autonomy and flexibility appears in extant evidence from the rest of the Greco-Roman world. Examining the activities of a broad array of police officers in Ptolemaic Egypt (323–30 BC), Dr. Bauschatz argues that Ptolemaic police officials enjoyed great autonomy, providing assistance to even the lowest levels of society when crimes were committed.
Did you ever wonder what happens to the finds that are retrieved in archaeological excavations? How extensively are they studied and what happens to them once the researchers conclude their analysis? Professionals often discuss the Curation Crisis or the problems attendant to too many artifacts, too little room. Today's program offers an in depth discussion of the disposition of archaeological collections and helps chart a pathway that integrates curation procedures with the overall aims of specific archaeological projects. Our panel includes three experts in the field. Join Daniel Benden, Curator of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin, Francis P. McManamon, the Executive Director of the Center for Digital Antiquity, and Chris Pulliam, an archaeologist and team leader in the St. Louis District Curation and Archives Analysis Branch and assistant director of the Corps' Mandatory Center.
A Mesolithic site in Cornwall provided evidence of human habitation along a marshy streambed in Cornwall. Its spring-fed waters preserved a sustained record of human occupation through the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. However, the site is best known for a series of animal pits whose contents vary but are characterized by similar shapes and contents for the interval A.D. 1640-1970. The earliest pits were lined with swan feathers and small stones. The latter were imported from a source 15 miles away. Through time, the remains changed and included cats, pigs, and dog teeth, with eggs and the typical small stones as well. The most recent of these pits contained plastic artifacts dated to the 1970's, suggesting that these practices are still in force in Cornwall. Our special guest is Dr. Jacqui Wood who runs an archaeological field school in Cornwall dedicated to uncovering the secrets of the pits and tracking their contemporary analogues.
Sinope was the most important pre-modern port on the south coast of the Black Sea, located at the center of the Turkish coast directly opposing the Crimean peninsula to the North. As of 2012, the Sinop Region Archaeological Project has completed eight seasons of archaeological survey and environmental research in the hinterland around Sinope, and has recorded more than 400 archaeological sites ranging from Paleolithic to Ottoman periods. Project director Dr. Owen Doonan is currently preparing a proposal to commence a major international excavation in the heart of the ancient Greco-Roman colony of Sinope. Tune in tonight to hear Dr. Doonan's vision for the project and learn different ways he has utilized it as a way of promoting archaeology for the many audiences often neglected by academics: the local host communities in which we live and work, the communities who support our work, and the young people who can be engaged and captivated by archaeological research.
Archaeologists often confront the paradox of reconciling seminal events and larger than life figures with facts on the ground. Where is Noah’s Ark? Where are Jesus’ bones? Previous episodes have addressed specific cases in rigorous detail, but often with results tinged with variable measures of uncertainty. Yet, every so often spectacular finds can be readily tied to dramatic historic events. Today’s episode is a case in point. A team of British archaeologists from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services discovered the body of King Richard III. Armed with accurate historical documentation, and state of the art testing methodologies, the team confirmed that the body located within the church choir of a Franciscan friary was in all likelihood that of Richard III. That probability was confirmed by DNA testing. Our guest this week, Richard Buckley, Project Manager of the Greyfriars project, recounts the details of this remarkable discovery and its implications for archaeology.
Many of you are interested in the way archaeology is presented in the media to the general public - with television networks like National Geographic churning out increasingly questionable series, it's easy to see why the topic inspires concern in the archaeological community. The Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI) was originally founded to address a number of important issues in the field, one of them being the shallowness and inaccuracy of media news items shown to the public. Its founder, tonight's special guest Dr. Richard Pettigrew, has established himself as one of the word's leaders in public education about archaeology and cultural heritage. In this episode, Dr. Schuldenrein interviews Dr. Pettigrew about his experience making cultural heritage films, problems with mainstream media in handling the subject of archaeology, and the Archaeology Channel, ALI's popular news and media outlet.
You've heard from some of our guests about the Mayan calendar and the civilization's rise and collapse - this episode is devoted to the Maya Research Program, which is a non-profit corporation that sponsors archaeological and ethnographic research in Middle America. Special guest Dr. Thomas Guderjan tells us about this extended family of worldwide experts, students, and volunteers, and their role in uncovering and conserving sites throughout the region. Find out what the goals of the project are, and what it's like excavating and conducting research in Central America. Learn how you can get involved with their projects, travel for a cause in order to raise money for the program's scholarships, or even adopt a Maya site in order to directly aid in its conservation!
Global warming on your mind this summer? It turns out we're not the first society forced to deal with the effects of climate change. Cool off in front of the fan this evening and join our host Dr. Joe Schuldenrein and special guest Dr. Miriam Belmaker, who studies the adaptations of past human societies to their climate. Using both zooarchaeological and paleontological methods, she tracks climate change through both space and time to answer a number of research questions. What influence did ancient changes in the world's climate have on the evolution of our earliest ancestors? How do ancient methods of dealing with climate change compare with those of our modern society? Discover the answers to these and more during tonight's episode!
European travelers from as early as the time of Columbus have remarked upon the central role tobacco played in the lives of the Native Americans they encountered. Far more than a leisure activity, the smoking of tobacco played a large role in Native American spiritual and ritual life. What are the practice's prehistoric origins, and how do we know? SUNY Albany's Sean M. Rafferty specializes in residue analysis, a technique that uses chemicals to extract and identify traces of plant and animal materials from pottery. Join us tonight to learn about these fascinating methods and discover the earliest evidence of pipe smoking technology, and its social and religious significance to the prehistoric inhabitants of North America.
If you’re concerned with the way that archeology is presented in the media,, then “reality” shows like Diggers, Nazi War Diggers, and Relic Hunters probably inspire a shudder. According to these programs, archaeology seems to be less about science and knowledge and more about digging up profitable treasures as fast as possible in a way that all but destroys our cultural heritage. But Time Team America, airing its second season on PBS August 19, gives its viewers a glimpse into some of the most fascinating sites in the US while educating them about authentic and ethical archaeological practices. Join our host and Time Team members Chelsea Rose, Allan Maca, and Meg Watters, who will discuss their own views on science and the media and what goes into creating a real reality TV show that portrays responsible methods.
Our series on Archaeology and Relevance has unique applications to the very real issues of contemporary conflict and war. The 21st Century was ushered in by the horrific events of 9/11 in New York City. Subsequent disasters including the tsunami in the South Pacific and the London bombings drew the attention of archaeologists whose traditional and not-so traditional approaches offer unique perspectives for optimizing data recovery at disaster sites. Initiatives to examine the archaeology of Holocaust era concentration camps and mass graves in Eastern Europe and Iraq underscore the unique contributions that our field has to make in adapting site formation (and destruction) studies to locations that highlight the darkest side of the human condition. Our special guest is Dr. Richard Gould, Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at Brown University, who had the perspicacity to mobilize the first and only systematic excavations at the World Trade Center site immediately after the tragedy.
When Spain, the 16th century European superpower, spread into the Americas it created a plethora of “situations of contact, transforming all groups involved. Foreign items are often appropriated as luxury goods in sociopolitical struggles for power, and European colonialists realized they could use trade goods to manipulate local politics and loaded their ships with such items. Indigenous peoples often transformed desired trade goods into inalienable objects, which played critical roles in local political systems. The competition of local elites for these goods and their subsequent use as power objects transformed political systems and, in some cases, encouraged the formation of internal factions. Dr. Timothy Pugh and his team of researchers from universities in the United States and Guatemala is exploring the shifting role of European objects in the Itza Maya socio-political system during the Contact period (A.D. 1525-1697). They believe that European “trade good politics” with the Maya resulted in increased internal competition as well as the reconfiguration of networks of power, and are testing this hypothesis through archaeological research at Nixtun-Ch’ich’ and Muralla de Leon in Petén, Guatemala. Learn more about their work in tonight's episode!
“Space Archaeology” may sound like the stuff of science fiction – an archaeologist’s attention is usually focused beneath the earth rather than towards the stars. But the preservation of our cultural heritage in outer space has actually become a very pertinent issue in recent years. Human-made artefacts such as satellites, orbital debris, and launch complexes here on earth all document the story of our first ventures into space, and the increase of national interests in space and the development of commercial spacecraft (i.e. space tourism) present challenges in international preservation. Pioneering archaeologists such as Dr. Beth O’Leary are leading the way in preserving these objects and structures for future generations. Her work includes the evaluation of the significance and future protection of important material culture on Earth, the moon, and in orbit. Join Dr. O’Leary and our host as they discuss the preservation efforts so far and how the protection of space artefacts falls into a legal gray area – what are some of the threats to their conservation? Find out on tonight’s episode, in honour of the anniversary of the first manned spaceflight to the moon in 1969.
Two trends in contemporary archaeology will forever change the direction of the field. First, the reduction in pure research funding is forcing the profession out of the academy and into the domain cultural heritage management. Second, development and expansion projects are reducing the pristine landscapes that have been the focus of traditional survey and excavation. We no longer work where we want but apply our skills to where development occurs. What happens when our professional interests run counter to the timelines and financial constraints imposed by developers? Are we witnessing a move towards methodological advancement at the expense of growth and creativity in archaeological theory? Is this a bad development and does it even matter? Can we, or must we, find common ground with development interests? Public relations will assume greater influence as development interests and the heritage preservation ethic form a symbiotic dynamic whose ultimate resolution remains uncertain.
How do archaeologists know what they do about life thousands of years ago? One way is by studying the diseases our ancestors had. This has much to teach us about not only people’s state of health, but also their diet and lifestyle. The study of paleopathology also has much to contribute to our understanding of diseases that are common today, and has corrected many modern misconceptions about ancient peoples, such as the belief that their lives were much shorter than ours. Dr. Kate Pechenkina studies how changes through time in human behavior transform patterns of disease distribution and severity and affect community health in different populations. In this context, technological innovations affecting diet are of particular importance – for example, agricultural societies tend to exhibit different diseases than their hunter-gather counterparts. Join Dr. Pechenkina and host Dr. Joe Schuldenrein as they discuss the study of paleopathology, what it brings to the table in an archaeological discussion, and what it has to contribute to our knowledge of modern maladies.
This Friday, Americans celebrate the independence of their nation and what it means to be American. Join our host as he explores the ways in which archaeology has informed and been informed by national identities, not only in North America but in other parts of the world as well. Think of the objects that embody the values of a particular society – the liberty bell for the US, the Stone of Scone for Scotland, etc. Dr. Schuldenrein also considers the historical tendency of nationalism to influence research questions and interpretations of finds and how modern nationalistic agendas influence the teaching of history and archaeology in primary schools. Finally, we wrap up with a discussion of the role nationalism plays in popularizing archaeology, and the question of whether making archaeology relevant to society might compromise its scholarly value.
In our series on ancient civilizations we have highlighted the sophisticated methodologies and novel discoveries emerging in the Mesoamerican heartland. Significantly, major discoveries and interpretive perspectives are generated by native-born Mexican archaeologists. However, the infrastructure of Mexican archaeology is slow to adapt to the changing platforms of archaeological research and exploration in the developing world. Additionally, political turmoil, associated with the ongoing drug-wars, has placed a serious damper on the ability of Mexicans to design survey and excavation programs in certain parts of the country. Today’s interview with Dr. Sandra Lopez Varela, previews the more progressive thinking currently emerging in Mexico’s archaeological community. She discusses the potential for CRM to gain a foothold in the country as the Mexican government faces the challenges brought on by the needs to balance heritage preservation with economic development and national security.
As an archaeologist and father to Becky, a teenager who was diagnosed with autism as a child, Tom Penders was well-positioned to realize the connection between archaeology and people on the autism spectrum. Out of the desire to help Becky and other children on the autism spectrum improve the quality of their lives as much as possible and have fun in the process, Tom founded Archaeologists for Autism, which is currently based in Titusville, Florida. Through free events that feature fun activities related to archaeology, AFA aims to spread awareness about autism, promote research, and encourage the children to develop their potential and show their families what they’re capable of. Tom hopes AFA will one day expand to include nation-wide events that allow children and families struggling with autism to experience archaeology in a fun and low-stress environment. Find out more about the program and how you can help on tonight’s episode!
In this episode, Dr. Schuldenrein and special guest Dr. Kenneth Feder deal with an assumption that underpins a lot of pseudoarchaeology: the notion that the archaeological record is full of evidence of technological achievements that “primitive” people would not have been capable of on their own. By this reckoning, the native people of North America were not capable of constructing the burial and temple mounds that are found in the American midwest and mid-south, and the pyramids were too big an achievement for the ancient people of Egypt or Mexico. Therefore, they must have been taught the requisite technology by folks from Atlantis…or maybe it was an extraterrestrial peace corps that visited Earth and taught ancient people how to build them. Again, the underlying libel is that ancient people (almost always non-white, non-Europeans) were too dumb to progress without some outside help. Why do these assumptions lead to bad archaeology? How does pseudoarchaeology effect the perception of archaeology as a field? Find out the answers to these questions and more on tonight’s show.
On a fundamental level, the decision to try and preserve a historically-important site is a public one. And yet, the recent discovery and excavation of a Tequesta village in downtown Miami led to a controversy that pitted the developer and the public against each other in a drawn-out argument over the question of its preservation – or so it appeared. As it turns out, a variety of misunderstandings contributed to this unnecessary controversy that would have been an easy and routine process elsewhere in the United States. Join our host and special guest Dr. Christopher Dore, who was hired as an expert by MDM Group, and explore what factors led to the situation getting out of hand. Were these events really the good vs. evil story we read about in the media?
The crusaders who launched a bloody holy war against the pagan societies of the Eastern Baltic left a profound legacy – the construction of spectacular castles that still exist today as ruins or preserved as historical monuments, and the development of towns that reorganized the region into a uniquely European society and brought it under Christendom. But the effect that these crusading armies had on the landscape goes even further than architectural changes. Dr. Aleks Pluskowski and Dr. Alex Brown are members of a project team using zooarchaeological, palaeobotanical, geoarchaeological and historical data to study the environmental impacts of the Baltic Crusades and the role they played in this transformative time in history. What effect would these have had on the pre-Christian tribes whose belief systems were tied closely into the natural landscape? Tune in tonight, and find out how the ecological transformations that took place as a result of the Crusades were closely tied with the cultural changes that accompanied them.
With the advent of online markets such as eBay and Craigslist, the antiquities market has entered a whole new playing field in the past few decades. One unexpected side effect is a marked increase in the number of forgeries being made and sold across the world - to tourists, dealers, collectors, and experts alike. What effects do these fake artifacts have on the antiquities market? We can all think of negative ones, such as an increased tendency of fakes turning up in museum collections. However, it may surprise you to learn that there are quite a few positive ones too! Join our host and special guest Dr. Charles Stanish, who will recount his experiences in South America with forgers and his thoughts on the circulation of fake artifacts in online forums.
Ever notice the sheer number of archaeologists who are into punk rock music? What effect has this had on the practice of archaeology? It turns out that when you think about it, there exists a surprising amount of similarities between punk rock and archaeology as both practical and creative processes! Join us with special guest and co-founder of the “Punk Archaeology” movement Dr. William Caraher and explore the dialogue between these two fields – one a musical form, the other an academic discipline. Find out how what began initially as an inside joke among archaeologists developed into a neat summation of a series of methods, approaches, and commitments in the discipline. In the spirit of punk, discover the appeal of the movement not as a neatly bounded box, but a swirl of DIY methods, cultural criticism, and subversive questioning of traditional practices.
Have you ever wondered how an archaeologist knows where to dig? Traditional methods include surveying, which involves combing entire landscapes for indications of past habitation and a good deal of difficult work. Some archaeologists, like tonight’s special guest Dr. Jason Ur, are making life a little easier by consulting satellite imagery and aerial photographs for clues of ancient civilizations. Find out what role these recently developed techniques may have in cultural heritage management, and learn how scholars are using these tools not only to pinpoint site locations, but to answer big questions about the relationship between ancient humans and their environment.
Gold, Gucci handbags, a Malibu beach house – all are examples of what we value as a society. Ever step back and wonder, rules of economics aside, what the social reasons are for ascribing such value to these objects in the first place? What is the place of these items in the wider context of our modern social rituals? Join our host Dr. Schuldenrein and special guest Dr. Rowan Flad, who looks for the answer at an ancient salt production site in the eastern Sichuan Basin of China. It turns out that this narrow industry has much to tell us about how effective the standard models of economic anthropology are in understanding specialization at the emergence of complex societies. Explore the significance of this and other specialized industries in a broader economic and social context and learn how specialized craft production, ritual activity such as divination, and the social construction of value in ancient China were all closely intertwined.
Conflict Archaeology or the Archaeology of Battlefields is a sub-discipline that has risen to the forefront since the 1980s. Despite a growing national fascination with wartime chronicles and military strategies the archaeology of the actual sites of conflicts remains fairly unknown to the public. What can we learn from site excavations that are not documented by written accounts and broadly researched academic studies? What types of material remains are characteristic of battlefield sites and do they inform on events in ways that research and eyewitness accounts cannot? This week's guest, Dr. Douglas Scott, a renowned expert in the field, whose work on the Little Big Horn (“Custer’s Last Stand”) revolutionized formerly accepted interpretations of that dark chapter in American history. Dr. Scott explains how archaeological method and theory can be applied to battlefield excavation sites and considers how we can apply archaeological perspectives to modern and current world conflicts.
More and more archaeologists these days are catching on to the idea of using social media as a tool for public engagement. Major archaeological organizations like the Society for Historical Archaeology use it to promote their events and court the interest of amateurs and professionals alike, while students and academics find it useful for their own personal fieldwork and research. Why use social media for public engagement and what are its benefits and drawbacks? If the idea of creating a blog or using other social media platforms to promote your archaeological research appeals to you, join our host with special guests Terry Brock and Doug Rocks-Macqueen to find out what you should consider before designing your own social media strategy! As we come up on the SAA session on Blogging in Archaeology, discover how social media and blogging can be used for heritage awareness and activism, and learn how our guests have used these tools effectively.
In Madagascar today, and in the recent past, the dead are understood to inhabit the world alongside the living. Accounts of the 19th century tell of people possessed by the dead, of ghosts roaming abroad, and of the care that must be taken around them. How can archaeologists and anthropologists provide space in historical narrative for entities that we might consider to be imaginary or nonexistent? How do we acknowledge the agency of the dead for people in the past? For Columbia University’s Dr. Zoë Crossland, this means attending to the material signs of the dead – whether tombs and standing stones, or the patterns of inhabitation that people left behind in the landscape. Archaeology is often called the discipline of things, but Dr. Crossland argues that our work is semiotic in nature – that is, it is primarily concerned with material signs, and with the interpretation of those signs. Archaeology is a fascinating discipline for the way in which it pulls together empirical data with the enlivening interpretation through which it becomes meaningful, but we’ve tended to think about interpretation as something that happens in people’s heads. Join us tonight and learn how Dr. Crossland draws upon the semiotic philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce in her forthcoming book to rethink how we approach the signs of the dead and their interpretation.
Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization, has long been the focus of archaeologists studying the origins of domestication and farming. The latest in food based studies in this area (contemporary southern Iraq), centers on a unique project that merges some of the earliest Bronze Age texts with advanced geochemical techniques and residue studies to examine the origins of beer brewing. The project was initiated by several graduate students at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, together with the owner of the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. While this study is sure to capture the attention of the beer drinking public, it also has ramifications bearing on patterned changes in food and drink production, consumption, and distribution through time. Our special guest is PhD student Tate Paulette, one of the chief architects of this study who offers a unique perspective on the evolution of a key recreational libation that is much older than many of us ever imagined.
Enjoy the Winter Olympics this year? Join us and special guest Dr. Thomas Scanlon to learn about the Games’ ancient roots! Peer into the history of the ancient Olympics and the events surrounding them, as well as the religious and cultic aspects of the games and how they related to sport. Of particular interest will be the topic of sport and gender in Greek athletics – learn about the women’s Games for Hera at ancient Olympia that took place at the same stadium as the men’s games, with its own special running events and its own ideology for women. Hear about Dr. Scanlon’s latest theory regarding the site at Olympia, how the religious space related to the athletic space, and how athletes lived the legend of Homeric heroes and were boosted by Homer’s epic. And of course, find out how the ancient Games compare to the Olympics we now celebrate today, in terms of the economics and politics behind them, the role of gender in both, professionalism vs. amateurism, and more!
Recently, archaeologists have felt pressured to prove that their discipline is not just a purely academic pursuit, but rather a practically relevant and useful profession. As it happens, during the Depression Era archaeology did prove to be just that. New Deal work relief programs were designed to spend more funds on labor than equipment, to provide minimal competition with businesses in a normal economy, and, for the most part, to invest in American culture. All of these criteria made archaeology a perfect candidate for inclusion in work relief programs, and the field would gradually transform from a hobby into a profession. During this time, archaeology was done on a scale unprecedented in the US and rivaled some of the larger excavations in the Old World, such as those in Egypt, the Near East or Europe. Join our host and special guest Dr. Bernard Means and find out how New Deal archaeology set changes in motion that affected the way we do archaeology in the US – from the development of standardized procedures to the founding of the SAA – as well as the research potential for the collections obtained through work relief investigations.
Can the archaeological record be summoned to verify the stories of the Bible? Religious faith remains strong in many parts of the world and the foundations of Judeo-Christian theology are arguably gaining steam in many parts of the West (and East) as the economic downturn leaves many segments of the populations looking for answers to their economic woes. Does religion as refuge obfuscate the lessons of science and evolutionary thought? Are there grounds for overlap? Is there a logical foundation for Biblical tales that can be supported by scientific examination of archaeological sites and remains? We propose that there is a nexus between the two---faith and science---that is considerably more complex than extreme proponents of either side care to admit.
Fed up with the outbreaks of Arctic weather lately? Imagine that you are an archaeologist carrying your equipment to site only to meet a polar bear along the way! Once you’ve arrived at site, weather conditions may mean the ground is too frozen to dig or you have a chance of getting hypothermia if you try waterscreening. While Indiana Jones is well known for his travels to far off places and harrowing recovery of artifacts, what are the dangers of archaeology in less desirable destinations? Our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, has over 30 years experience working in Barrow, Alaska, the ninth northernmost city in the world! Although remote, the climate of Alaska’s north coast allows for the recovery of some remarkable items including ivory harpoons, plank floors, and even seal oil. Join our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, and us as we discuss her archaeological work in this far-flung part of the world and how her findings challenge the idea that such environments are inhospitable for human occupation.
As we come up on President Obama’s State of the Union Address and evaluate where we stand as a nation, it’s fascinating to ponder how human society has evolved. Twenty thousand years ago everyone was living in small, mobile bands – today, everyone is living within a large, bureaucratic, market-oriented state. How did that happen? There have historically been two answers. One (going back to Darwin and Malthus) is that population growth forces cultural innovation and change. The other (going back to Marx and Morgan) is that technological innovations have allowed cultural change (and population growth) to take place. Both are simplistic, and there is supporting and refuting evidence for both. Join our guest Dr. Peter Neal Peregrine as he discusses cultural evolution and the importance of understanding it, explores its relationship with population and technology, and reconsiders these two factors as prime movers in the evolutionary process.
Miss the SHA conference this month? Join our host Dr. Joe Schuldenrein and recently elected president of the Society for Historical Archaeology Dr. Charles Ewen as they discuss Public Archaeology and the importance of communicating what we do as archaeologists with the general public. Everyone agrees that engaging the public to make archaeology relevant to society and promote stewardship of the past is a good idea, but how we go about it is a different matter. On the one hand, many criticize academics for talking over the heads of a general audience; on the other, many archaeologists feel that popularizing archaeology with shows like National Geographic’s Diggers compromises our ethics. The task of finding a balance between the two is a challenging one. As we come up on the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, what do we have to show for the billions that have been invested in Cultural Resource Management? What do we have to show that the general public will think was worth it?
The rise of archaeology as a profession has done much to enrich our understanding of prehistoric eras, which had been a long misunderstood chapter in the human story. But what can the pursuit of archaeology contribute to our knowledge of more recent historical time periods, which already provide textual clues about the way people lived? It turns out that archaeological research often reveals quite a different story than the one passed down to us by the written word. Join our guest Dr. Charles Orser, Jr., who will be discussing his research on the daily life of the rural Irish on the eve of and during the Great Famine of 1845-50. From 1994-2007, Dr. Orser excavated at 6 house sites in counties Roscommon, Sligo, and Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. This was the first sustained archaeological effort to investigate the lives of the common families who suffered through the Famine and who eventually came to the United States (as well as to Canada and Australia) as a result. His research there has documented that the people were not peasants but were tied into the British market as much as anyone else at the time.
Do you ever wonder what the ancients would say to our modern understanding of their customs and beliefs? Well, imagine what future scientists might make of our civilization! Picture Manhattan as an archaeological site in the distant future. With modern technological developments and the mass consumption of goods, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that we would leave behind a wealth of material remains. What sorts of artefacts would future excavators find amidst the ruins of this once bustling, towering city? Will your apartment building survive? Your ipod? These may sound like questions more appropriate for a novelist to ask than a scientist, but based on our knowledge of modern refuse patterns and how archaeological sites form, it is possible to speculate what the future site of Manhattan would yield. Join our host Dr. Joe Schuldenrein as he considers these questions and discusses what archaeologists might conclude about us as a society based on the artefacts we leave behind.
Sad the holidays are almost over? Missed the Holiday special or can’t get enough of Yuletide-related archaeology? Then tune in for a repeat of the Archaeology of Christmas with guest Dr. Michael Laughy and welcome in the New Year! He’ll discuss the surprising number of continuities exist in the archaeological record between ancient wintertime celebrations, from Neolithic solstice observances to Roman Saturnalia, and our own Christmas pastimes. What can archaeology tell us about Christmas prior to Charles Dickens’ popularization of the holiday with his novel, A Christmas Carol? What might future archaeologists infer from the material remains of our society’s seasonal shopping sprees? Before you finish the last of the eggnog and all the gingerbread cookies disappear, join us tonight at 6pm ET to learn how our ancient ancestors partied during the winter months and discover how these rites and rituals evolved over thousands of years into our modern Christmastime traditions.
The lights are up, the shopping’s (hopefully) done, and Santa’s on his way – yep, it’s finally Christmas! With the growing emphasis on gift-giving and commercialism during the holiday season, it can be hard to remember that Christmas has origins far beyond the rise of Christianity; people have been celebrating winter solstice since the Stone Age and well into antiquity. In fact, a surprising number of continuities exist in the archaeological record between ancient wintertime celebrations, from Neolithic solstice observances to Roman Saturnalia, and our own Christmas pastimes. What can archaeology tell us about Christmas prior to Charles Dickens’ popularization of the holiday with his novel, A Christmas Carol? What might future archaeologists infer from the material remains of our society’s seasonal shopping sprees? Before you finish the last of the eggnog and all the gingerbread cookies disappear, join us tonight at 6pm ET to learn how our ancient ancestors partied during the winter months and discover how these rites and rituals evolved over thousands of years into our modern Christmastime traditions.
Is the December chill getting to you already? The next time you wish you were warmer, just imagine what life must have been like wintering at a Viking camp in 9th Century England! Tune in tonight at 6pm ET as Viking Age England specialist Dr. Julian Richards discusses his work at sites like Torksey, where the Great Viking Army whiled away the winter months. Learn about the role of this project and others in illuminating Viking Age England, as well as the pursuit of Norse Archaeology in the modern UK. If you’re familiar with films like Valhalla Rising and How to Train Your Dragon, then the common stereotypes and misconceptions concerning everything from Viking fashion and speech to the nature of Viking society are readily apparent. You’ll find that Norse archaeology is less about beefy blond men running around with horned helmets and axes, and more about a complex society of people whose presence contributed to the growth and development of urban settlements in England.
Were you feeling anxious last year because of the impending holiday shopping? Or were you resting easy knowing that the Mayan apocalypse meant you didn’t have to sit in traffic at the mall? Although we know now that the reports were based on a misunderstanding, we’re still left wondering, if the Mayans didn’t predict the end of the world, what did they write down? Turns out, they left us a rich history of births, deaths, wars, feasts, and conquest—if we’ve got the translation right. Tonight we will be taking a closer look at the cryptic world of Mayan hieroglyphs. Join us and our guest, Dr. Marc Zender, as we discuss the issues surrounding the interpretation of a writing system that developed over the course of 2,000 years! Whether you’re an art historian, an archaeologist, an epigrapher, or an Indiana Jones enthusiast, you won’t want to miss our latest archaeological discussion tonight at 6 PM ET.
The complex of Mes Aynak represents one of the most spectacular archaeological treasures in the world. Situated in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Mes Aynak is South Asia's earliest mining complexes and distribution centers. This 2,600 year old city was also the center of Buddhist monasteries that flourished at around the time of Christ. Today the entire site is in danger of destruction because of pressure to develop this ancient mining site into the most profitable copper mine in a country. Archaeologists have been working on the site for several years, but their efforts have been uneven, often disjunct, and discontinuous. Today's guests, Brent Huffman, a documentary film maker who has visited the site on numerous occasions, and well-known South Asia archaeologist, Dr. Rita Wright, provide new insights into the potential cultural tragedy that may seal the site's fate unless large scale appeals to save the site are championed by concerned diplomats, politicians, and the public at large.
Thanksgiving calls to mind a series of foods whose origins are assumed to be uniquely North American or European. In addition to the turkey, native to North America but domesticated in Europe, the balance of the traditional Thanksgiving diet consists of roots, berries, and plant foods whose origins are as exotic as they are diverse. Archaeology provides insights into former diets and environments because the remains of foods and plants are often preserved at ancient sites. They include burnt seeds, fossil grasses, and ancient pollen (yes, the kind that cause spring sneezing!). Their presence is readily detectable on ancient house floors and within sediments that often contain plant matter indicative of former vegetation and climates. One of the best dietary indicators is fossilized human waste that preserves a wide range of ingested foodstuffs. Our guest is Dr. Linda Scott-Cummings a recognized authority in reconstructing natural vegetation histories and ancient human dietary patterns.
Most Sci-Fi movies warn of the dangers of technology for the future of mankind. But if the number of people glued to their phones at a restaurant, on the subway, or in line at the store is any indication, technology has become an integral and necessary part of our daily lives. So how do archaeologists concerned with the past make their way in this new cyber world? At the 9,000 year old site of Catalhoyuk in Turkey, archaeologists are experimenting with 21st century technologies and archaeological excavation. The initial results seem to be directly out of the future! Tonight, our guest Dr. Maurizio Forte will discuss his work with the latest virtual reality and 3D visualization tools at Catalhoyuk, and the exciting opportunities these new technologies afford archaeologists and the public. Join us tonight at 6 PM ET as we welcome our new cyber overlords!
On September 30, 2013 House Representatives Eric Cantor and Lamar Smith published an article in USA Today that criticized government funding of science research through the National Science Foundation (NSF). Many of the projects they questioned were from the social and behavioral sciences. The article generated an outcry in the academic community, including archaeologists, of whom several published replies via personal blogs and professional websites. The article even generated a Twitter hashtag #WhyArchMatters. The debate generated by the Congressmen’s short article is indicative of a larger question facing society today: With the current economic situation and the need to curtail government spending, what types of projects should taxpayers’ money go towards? On our show tonight, we will be discussing this issue with Dr. Rosemary Joyce, Dr. Adam Smith, and Dr. James Doyle. Join as we discuss the importance of archaeological research in the modern world and answer the Representatives’ question: Why does NSF choose “...to fund research on Mayan architecture over projects that could help our wounded warriors or save lives”?
“Archaeology…what are you going to do with that?” If you’re an archaeologist, or thinking about becoming one, you’ve heard this sentence at some point in your career. For many their love of archaeology began with Indiana Jones. You may have bought the hat, taken bull-whip lessons, or even watched the 4th installment of the movies! But what’s next? What kind of opportunities are there for fedora-wearing intrepid explorers and how do you train to take Indy’s place? Join us and our guest, Dr. Stanton Green, as we discuss academic and professional archaeological careers, the anthropological training you’ll need in college, and how archaeological training can translate into NON-academic careers. If you’re a student considering archaeology, or an archaeology student contemplating the job market, you’ll want to tune in!
Imagine that you are an archaeologist carrying your equipment to site only to meet a polar bear along the way! Once you’ve arrived at site, weather conditions may mean the ground is too frozen to dig or you have a chance of getting hypothermia if you try waterscreening. While Indiana Jones is well known for his travels to far off places and harrowing recovery of artifacts, what are the dangers of archaeology in less desirable destinations? Our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, has over 30 years experience working in Barrow, Alaska, the ninth northernmost city in the world! Although remote, the climate of Alaska’s north coast allows for the recovery of some remarkable items including ivory harpoons, plank floors, and even seal oil. Join our guest, Dr. Anne Jensen, and us as we discuss her archaeological work in this far-flung part of the world and how her findings challenge the idea that such environments are inhospitable for human occupation.
Archaeological discoveries and the lives of archaeologists have long captured the public’s imagination. However, few people realize that archaeology exists as close as their back door, or that they do not have to be an expert to be involved with archaeological projects and objects. Have you always been interested in archaeology but unsure how to find out more? Do you pick up National Geographic at the newsstand or subscribe to Archaeology magazine? Do you wish you could learn more about archaeology in your area? Turns out you’re not alone! Over 60,000 people participated in last year’s National Archaeology Day hosted by the Archaeological Institute of America. This year is expected to be even bigger requiring an entire month of celebration and including an international component. Tune in as we talk to Ben Thomas, the Director of Programs for the AIA, and discuss the events International Archaeology Day has inspired. You’ll be able to learn more about the 300 events planned in celebration and find out how you can participate in your area!
While pirates have always been a source of public fascination, piracy has seen a recent surge in both news headlines and popular culture, including the newly-released film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. While the term pirate readily conjures up a variety of images, including peg-legs, nefarious skull and cross bone flags, and squawking parrots, pirates cannot be separated from treasure. But what do we really know about pirates? Most of our understanding comes from popular fictional characters like Long John Silver or Captain Hook. Such images, however beloved, have complicated our understanding of these already mysterious historical figures. So who were these figures and what kind of “treasures” did they leave at the bottom of the sea? Join us and Dr. Frederick Hanselmann, from Texas State University, as we discuss his work on shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the difficulties of archaeological excavation underwater.
Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization, has long been the focus of archaeologists studying the origins of domestication and farming. The latest in food based studies in this area (contemporary southern Iraq), centers on a unique project that merges some of the earliest Bronze Age texts with advanced geochemical techniques and residue studies to examine the origins of beer brewing. The project was initiated by several graduate students at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, together with the owner of the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. While this study is sure to capture the attention of the beer drinking public, it also has ramifications bearing on patterned changes in food and drink production, consumption, and distribution through time. Our special guest is PhD student Tate Paulette, one of the chief architects of this study who offers a unique perspective on the evolution of a key recreational libation that is much older than many of us ever imagined.
In a city that never sleeps, the constant push for progress can sometimes collide head on with the remnants of the past. In 1991, construction on a federal office building was halted when several skeletons were uncovered. The skeletons represented not just a forgotten burial site, but a forgotten history as well. Over two decades, researchers uncovered the remains of more than 400 individuals, of both African and African American descent. The controversy surrounding the discovery, analysis, and interpretation of the burial ground was a hot topic in the press and led to the development of the African Burial Ground Monument and Museum. How has the analysis of the remains changed our understanding of African American history in the U.S.? How can archaeology play a role in human right arguments? Does this role affect the interpretation of the past? We talk to Dr. Michael Blakey about the African American Burial Ground Monument and the struggle for human rights.
Are you upset about the cancellation of BBCAmerica’s TV drama “Copper”? Maybe you’re a fan of Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York” or Caleb Carr’s “The Alienist”? If so, then you’re undoubtedly familiar with New York’s most infamous slum, the Five Points neighborhood. But how dangerous and depraved was this historical intersection? Archaeological research by Dr. Rebecca Yamin has shown that despite its dark reputation, Five Points was a neighborhood where the American Dream could and did prosper. Who were the people that lived here? What conditions did they live in? Which ones succeeded, and which ones didn’t? What does an overcrowded, unsanitary tenement neighborhood from the 19th century tell us about our history and ourselves? Join us as we talk with Dr. Yamin, who will tell the stories of several residents in the 19th century neighborhood. How has she overcome the difficulties such a famous site poses and what has new work in the city told us about this key time in New York’s history? Tune in, and listen, as the dark and gritty streets of fiction are transformed into the bustling and vibrant streets of 18th century New York City.
This week marks the two year anniversary of the show, and while we have come a long way since the first episode (Indie’s Footprint), was broadcast on September 21, 2011 there is always room for change and improvement. We asked listeners to complete a short survey and give feedback on their experience with the show so far, and received a variety of answers. In this episode, Dr. Schuldenrein will discuss these findings and talk about how your ideas and suggestions will be incorporated into the show going forward. Tune in to see if your response makes it on air, and hear what the future of Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality, and 21st Century Archaeology holds!
In our last episode we looked at the antiquities trade and the destruction of cultural property through the trade of artifacts. This week we continue with a similar theme and look at the dangers to the archaeological sites themselves. Do you like to travel? Do you visit World Heritage and other archaeological sites while travelling? As archaeologists, we like to visit these important pieces of history while abroad. However, we are not the only ones, and with the rise of cultural tourism, an unintended consequence is that many of these sites are becoming irreparably damaged. Which sites are especially at risk? How can we protect these sites? With close to 1000 World Heritage sites, this can be an especially difficult task. Join us as we interview an expert on the subject, Dr. Douglas Comer, currently Co-President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management.
If you’ve ever been to a museum with artifacts on display, chances are that you’ve seen the product of the illicit antiquities trade. Unfortunately, this practice is more widespread than one might believe, especially in politically and economically unstable regions. Archaeological sites are destroyed as looters search for artifacts that they then sell for a profit. Why does the connection between the antiquities trade and instability in general exist? What are the consequences of the illicit antiquities trade? Join us and guest Dr. Sam Hardy, research associate at the University College London Institute of Archaeology, as we discuss this global issue.
21st century archaeology is all about making use of the latest technology in order to access and analyze sites and artifacts in new and unique ways. Although archaeologists may be focused on learning from the past, they are constantly developing new ways to do so using today’s newest technological innovations. Examples of this include using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map sites in three dimensions, remote sensing underground to discover new sites, and as we will discuss in this segment, 3D scanning of artifacts. Digital curation involves a scanner that uses lasers to create a 3D model of artifacts in order to make them available to researchers, educators, and students across the country. Join us and special guest Dr. Bernard Means, director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University, as we discuss digital curation, 3D archaeology, and the use of technology in archaeology.
This episode goes right to the heart of the show’s beginnings with the emergence of the mythical figure of Indiana Jones and his character’s connections to the Oriental Institute (OI) at the University of Chicago. Today’s program begins with a discussion of the Indiana Jones character, his connections to the OI and the impacts of the world’s most famous archaeologist. The Oriental Institute is probably the most venerated research institute for Near Eastern archaeology. Both a museum and research facility, the OI was founded in 1919 and focuses on the ancient Near East, which includes modern day Egypt, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. In recent years the OI has modernized its exhibits, established major public outreach programs both to the profession and the local (Chicago) community while expanding its research venues across the greater Near East. Join our special guest, Dr. Jack Green, chief curator at the Oriental Institute, as we discuss Indiana Jones, the Oriental Institute, and the intersection of the archaeology as portrayed on the big screen and ‘real’ archaeology.
Mesopotamia, known as the cradle of civilization, has long been the focus of archaeologists studying the origins of domestication and farming. The latest in food based studies in this area (contemporary southern Iraq), centers on a unique project that merges some of the earliest Bronze Age texts with advanced geochemical techniques and residue studies to examine the origins of beer brewing. The project was initiated by several graduate students at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, together with the owner of the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. While this study is sure to capture the attention of the beer drinking public, it also has ramifications bearing on patterned changes in food and drink production, consumption, and distribution through time. Our special guest is PhD student Tate Paulette, one of the chief architects of this study who offers a unique perspective on the evolution of a key recreational libation that is much older than many of us ever imagined.
Perhaps no sub-field in Anthropology has witnessed more dramatic advances that the study of human origins. From the astounding discoveries in the area of mitochondrial DNA to the accelerated pace of hominid finds, the interpretive potential of the hominid fossil record is expanding exponentially. Researchers continue to revise the chronology and complexity of the human origins puzzle. We can track our ancestry to such early forms as the 2 million year old Australopithecus sediba, which is not quite human, yet shares some significant characteristics. This key fossil has drawn the attention of physical anthropologists since its discovery in South Africa in 2008. What can we learn from this enigmatic fossil? How does it and other recent discoveries contribute to what we know about bipedalism? Join us with this week’s featured guest, paleoanthropologist Dr. Jeremy DeSilva, as we discuss recent advances in reconstructing the locomotion of early apes and the pathway to bi-pedalism.
Special Encore Presentation: Indiana Jones.....Myth's, Realities and 21st Century Archaeology 07.03.13
Conflict Archaeology or the Archaeology of Battlefields is a sub-discipline that has risen to the forefront since the 1980s. Despite a growing national fascination with wartime chronicles and military strategies the archaeology of the actual sites of conflicts remains fairly unknown to the public. What can we learn from site excavations that are not documented by written accounts and broadly researched academic studies? What types of material remains are characteristic of battlefield sites and do they inform on events in ways that research and eyewitness accounts cannot? This week's guest, Dr. Douglas Scott, a renowned expert in the field, whose work on the Little Big Horn (“Custer’s Last Stand”) revolutionized formerly accepted interpretations of that dark chapter in American history. Dr. Scott explains how archaeological method and theory can be applied to battlefield excavation sites and considers how we can apply archaeological perspectives to modern and current world conflicts.
Happy Independence Day! Join Dr Schuldenrein and professor Dr. Jeff Hantman as they discuss the American colonial period, paying particular attention to Thomas Jefferson. In 1783, while the Rev War was raging and he was serving as Virginia’s Governor, Jefferson lead the first scientific archaeological excavation in the United States, digging a Monacan native mound in Monticello. Jefferson held a complicated and often contradictory view of native peoples, at once extolling their virtues in an effort to counteract derogatory views of America held by many Europeans, while also advocating for Native assimilation into white-American culture and society. While much has changed, archaeology’s continuing failure to integrate Native histories and worldviews into established understandings of the past has lead Dr. Hantman to employ a collaborative archaeology. Listen in and learn how and why the history of the Monacan people is important to early colonial history and the Jamestown colony.
Previous programs have explored the changing realities of graduate student training in the age of applied archaeology. Our surveys and interviews concentrated on professors and principals in the applied and academic worlds. This week we take the pulse of active graduate students. What are their thoughts on training programs, the training they receive in graduate school and the pathways they see themselves following as they pursue career tracks? Do contemporary graduate programs satisfy their projected career goals? How do they project their career choices and what are their visions of a future in archaeology? Our guests are Erin Baxter, PhD student from the University of Colorado, Esteban Fernandez, a recent M.A. graduate at the University of Colorado and Kyle Bocinsky, PhD student at Washington State University and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
The progressive decline in funding has reached epidemic proportions in North American archaeology. However, this decline is almost inversely proportional to the expanded role of applied archaeology and the concomitant acceleration of private sector influence. One of the most striking trends in this regard is the recognition that “scientific archaeology” goes hand in hand with cost-efficient management of cultural resources. The largest budgets and advanced research technologies in today’s archaeology are furnished by pipeline construction. Collaborative efforts between oil and gas engineers and Cultural Resource Management (CRM) professionals has resulted in quantum leaps in the discovery and understanding of the archaeological record. In today’s episode prominent consulting archaeologist Dr. Chris Bergman, a veteran private-sector consultant, evaluates the pivotal roles that pipeline distribution roles are playing to enhance our understanding of North American history and prehistory.
In our series on ancient civilizations we have highlighted the sophisticated methodologies and novel discoveries emerging in the Mesoamerican heartland. Significantly, major discoveries and interpretive perspectives are generated by native-born Mexican archaeologists. However, the infrastructure of Mexican archaeology is slow to adapt to the changing platforms of archaeological research and exploration in the developing world. Additionally, political turmoil, associated with the ongoing drug-wars, has placed a serious damper on the ability of Mexicans to design survey and excavation programs in certain parts of the country. Today’s interview with Dr. Sandra Lopez Varela, previews the more progressive thinking currently emerging in Mexico’s archaeological community. She discusses the potential for CRM to gain a foothold in the country as the Mexican government faces the challenges brought on by the needs to balance heritage preservation with economic development and national security.
The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) remains the largest and most influential archaeological organization in the United States, with a membership in excess of 6000 that embraces academic, applied, and avocational archaeologists. The SAA was founded in 1934 to foster the understanding of the past by highlighting contemporary archaeological methods and theories. Since the 1970’s, as commercial archaeology’s profile grew, the organization has placed a strong emphasis on professional education, outreach and the involvement of indigenous groups. Over the past 20 years, the SAA has made its voice known in the political sphere by lobbying for stronger enforcement of preservation laws, establishing platforms on ethics and enforcement of anti-looting legislation. Today’s program is devoted to the past, present and future directions of the SAA with an interview of the organization’s newly appointed President, Dr. Jeff Altschul, and its long-standing Executive Director, Ms. Tobi Brimsek.
Two trends in contemporary archaeology will forever change the direction of the field. First, the reduction in pure research funding is forcing the profession out of the academy and into the domain cultural heritage management. Second, development and expansion projects are reducing the pristine landscapes that have been the focus of traditional survey and excavation. We no longer work where we want but apply our skills to where development occurs. What happens when our professional interests run counter to the timelines and financial constraints imposed by developers? Are we witnessing a move towards methodological advancement at the expense of growth and creativity in archaeological theory? Is this a bad development and does it even matter? Can we, or must we, find common ground with development interests? Public relations will assume greater influence as development interests and the heritage preservation ethic form a symbiotic dynamic whose ultimate resolution remains uncertain.
Applied archaeology in the past two decades has placed archaeologists in real-world situations. Formerly, the primary ethical issues confronting the field involved looting, repatriation of artifacts, and irregularities in the antiquities trade. However, there are new ethical dilemmas that have arisen, a still emerging preservation ethic, heritage management programs, and controversial military conflicts that endanger archaeological resources. Should we proceed working for developers and corporations whose economic aims may conflict with regulatory protocols? Should archaeologists cooperate with military and protect heritage sites in war zones around the world? Can we advocate for the resource while fulfilling contracts and commitments to clients? This week we discuss these and other questions with our guests, Dr. Peter Stone, Professor of Heritage Studies at Newcastle University and Dru McGill, a PhD candidate at Indiana University and Board Member of the World Archaeological Congress.
The Inca presided over the largest empire in the Western hemisphere in pre-Columbian era. Ever since Hiram Bingham brought Machu Picchu (the most famous of all Inca sites) to the spotlight about a century ago, our fascination with this expansive indigenous culture has grown exponentially. Advances in archaeological methodologies over the past decade are casting new light on the settlement systems and social and economic organization of the Inca Empire. Researchers are unraveling the nature of complex infra-structures and unique administrative and organizational hierarchies. Our guest this week, Dr. Terry D'Altroy, of Columbia University is one of the most innovate thinkers in the field and he provides an account of the latest developments in Inca research. Dr. D’Altroy’s most recent work extends into the realm of Inca cosmology and metaphysics and he explores the unique Inca concepts of time and space based on newly integrated archaeological finds and interpretations.
Informal surveys of archaeological professionals shows that they ultimately chose this profession because their fascination with the past was so overwhelming that it superseded nearly all other aspirations. It is almost a calling, in many cases. However, the road to success is fraught with pitfalls and challenges. The educational trajectory is very steep and the apprenticeship even more daunting. Pay is neither commensurate with education, experience, and even professional achievement. In this program the host provides tips on training and vocational options, which are considerably lower-profile than media images project. However, most professionals will readily cede that the trip was completely worth the effort. Whether you are a student, or an inquisitive supporter of the discipline, this program will help you understand the varied aspects of the field beginning with education, and extending through vocational options and fulfillment of a productive and gratifying professional life.
Archaeologists often confront the paradox of reconciling seminal events and larger than life figures with facts on the ground. Where is Noah’s Ark? Where are Jesus’ bones? Previous episodes have addressed specific cases in rigorous detail, but often with results tinged with variable measures of uncertainty. Yet, every so often spectacular finds can be readily tied to dramatic historic events. Today’s episode is a case in point. A team of British archaeologists from the University of Leicester Archaeological Services discovered the body of King Richard III. Armed with accurate historical documentation, and state of the art testing methodologies, the team confirmed that the body located within the church choir of a Franciscan friary was in all likelihood that of Richard III. That probability was confirmed by DNA testing. Our guest this week, Richard Buckley, Project Manager of the Greyfriars project, recounts the details of this remarkable discovery and its implications for archaeology.
In a world of sensationalist headlines the Aztec would appear to be the ultimate players. But what do we really know and how do we reconcile contradictory trends and traditions? The archaeological record has provided compelling evidence for human sacrifice and brutal warfare in the interests of conquest and expansion. By the same token, magnificent city-states with pyramids, monumental architecture, and complex trading networks bespeak infrastructures that may be the precursors of contemporary administrative structures. But despite their unchallenged dominance in the region, they fell under the pressure of the Spanish conquistadors who directly accounted for the Aztec collapse. How carefully can archaeology sort out fiction from reality in the Aztec legacy? Our special guest this week is Dr. Michael Smith, a leading expert on Aztec archaeology. Dr. Smith adds his unique insights to these and other questions that may help explain the developmental trajectory of an early complex society.
Stonehenge remains a source of endless fascination for archaeologists and the general public. The most compelling interpretations have been a maze of fact and, more commonly, speculation and intrigue. The astronomical aspects of the site are typically cited in elaborate explanations of the advanced achievements of the unique Neolithic populations that descended upon the Salisbury Plain after 3000 B.C. Recent advances in research suggest that the site’s surface manifestation, the Megaliths, represent a more evolutionary pathway that follows its function as a ceremonial burial ground, and earlier, as a habitation site. Today’s guest, Dr. Mike Parker Pearson, is the Principal Investigator of Stonehenge Riverside Project. Our interview explores how our concepts of Stonehenge have evolved in response to changing theories of cultural evolution and how the recently exposed material cultural record reflects an increased understanding of Neolithic adaptations to landscape and geography.
Archaeological organizations not only provide a sense of community and broad exchange forums for professional archaeologists, but they also play major role in promoting the message of archaeology to the lay community. The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) is perhaps the most inclusive and extensive organization of its kind in the world. A critical component that surfaces in the WAC’s various venues is the range of geo-political themes that emerge as professionals from a variety of archaeological backgrounds exchange their ideas on the profession’s aspirations and missions. This week we bring in Drs. Claire Smith and Anne Pyburn, president and vice-president elect of WAC respectively. They will explore the potential of the organization to promote international co-operation at a time when the goals and aims of traditional archaeology have been questioned and the need for more co-operation is becoming paramount to secure the field’s survival well into the future.
The archaeology of northern, cold climate environments is often considered a world onto itself. Recently, the regions of the North Atlantic have emerged as critical barometers in assessing patterns of human adaptation to climatic and landscape change. This is because of the unique utility of such environments to preserve records of ecological transition. The Greenland ice cores have arguably furnished the most complete archive of climate change in the world. Human settlements in these stark landscapes are diagnostic indicators of whether humans could survive climatic stress or not. The question of the initial Euroamerican settlement of the New World, by the Vikings or Columbus, continues to fascinate professionals and laypeople alike. In this episode we interview Dr. Thomas McGovern, one of the leading experts in the field of North Atlantic eco-systems and settlement geography to get a contemporary view on the state of the field.
New York City is considered the cultural and commercial capital of North America. Was it always this way? How did the city evolve into such an active hub where diverse peoples and cultures mixed and mingled to produce this dynamic metropolis? This episode explores the practice of “urban archaeology”, documenting the city’s emergence from prehistoric times (15,000 years ago) through the period of Euroamerican contact (commonly A.D.1492), and on to the present. We discuss the history of local archaeological practice and the novel applications of archival research and scientific techniques to “dig” in the complex maze of subsurface utilities and structures beneath city streets. We learn how historic preservation law accommodates protection of cultural resources from development interests. Some of the more recent finds and projects are discussed with professionals from private and university archaeologicalsectors, as well as the regulatory agencies that oversee this work.
The progressive decline in funding has reached epidemic proportions in North American archaeology. However, this decline is almost inversely proportional to the expanded role of applied archaeology and the concomitant acceleration of private sector influence. One of the most striking trends in this regard is the recognition that “scientific archaeology” goes hand in hand with cost-efficient management of cultural resources. The largest budgets and advanced research technologies in today’s archaeology are furnished by pipeline construction. Collaborative efforts between oil and gas engineers and Cultural Resource Management (CRM) professionals has resulted in quantum leaps in the discovery and understanding of the archaeological record. In today’s episode prominent consulting archaeologist Dr. Chris Bergman, a veteran private-sector consultant, evaluates the pivotal roles that pipeline distribution roles are playing to enhance our understanding of North American history and prehistory.
Past episodes have demonstrated that archaeology overlaps with broader questions of contemporary life. Our recent programs considered the obvious links between archaeology and religion as well as ethics. The question of evolution vs. creationism is an obvious arena in which the human fossil record can be drawn upon to question traditional Judaeo-Christian concepts of our origins. Religion is also not taboo, as archaeological remains of the Biblical period document a material culture consistent with Old and New Testament descriptions but cast doubt on the veracity of specific events and the identities of charismatic figures. Archaeology has also been swept up in political conflicts in a variety of places, scenarios, and venues. Findings have been used in situations ranging from local development conflicts (as a wedge pitting economic vs. preservation interests) to more global venues leading, in extreme cases, to outbreaks of wars and the destruction of cultures and populations.
Egyptian civilization for centuries has been a source of inspiration and curiosity for academic scholars, treasure hunters, grave looters, and the general public. Our image of Egyptologists is that their investigative techniques are traditional and focus on refining Dynastic sequences, architectural elements, and hieroglyphics. However, the field has been transformed over the years and is addressing more anthropological questions, ranging from settlement geography to social organization, using technologies such as GIS, geoarchaeology and remote sensing. Of critical import at present, is the transformative direction Egyptological research will take in the wake of the Arab Spring and the re-organization of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage Management infrastructures. Today’s guest, Dr. Donald Redford, has witnessed the evolution of Egyptological research over the course of half a century and will share his insights on the changing landscape of Egyptian studies over the years.
The science of Maritime Archaeology has been widely practiced in the South Pacific and neighboring regions. Today's episode examines how a sophisticated international infrastructure has developed around this fascinating sub-discipline of archaeology. Does underwater archaeology inform on ancient tsunamis and catastrophic events, which appear more common in this part of the world than elsewhere? We discuss the history and development of maritime archaeology in this unique part of the world with one of its best know practitioners. Dr. Mark Staniforth has pioneered some of the major techniques in underwater archaeology and has worked extensively off the coast of his native Australia as well as in some of the more fascinating off shore environments in Southeast Asia, most recently in Vietnam
While the contributions of the ancient Egyptians to Western Civilization are familiar to the general public, this brilliant culture's seafaring technology is little known. Recent investigations have revealed that a sophisticated and efficient shipbuilding industry thrived in Pharaonic Egypt. River and seafaring vessels were locally and regionally built that facilitated commerce and transportation along the Nile and beyond. This episode examines how terrestrial and maritime archaeology enables researchers to reconstruct the ancient technology of Egyptian shipbuilding. Maritime archaeologist Cheryl Ward (Coastal Carolina University) and Egyptologist Kathryn Bard (Boston University) together with a team of experts have successfully reproduced and sea-tested an ancient Egyptian vessel on the Red Sea. They discuss the implications of their findings, which expand the reach of Egyptian civilization in the Mediterranean Basin and elsewhere.
There are unofficial estimates that on the order of 90% of the archaeology undertaken in the United States are attributable to applications of preservation law. Specifically Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966) requires that federal agencies take into account the effects of their undertakings on properties listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Similar legal guidelines are in force in many other parts of the world. In this broadcast, we provide an overview of how the complex matrix of legislation and archaeological compliance is manifested in the United States. We discuss the roles of key federal agencies responsible for such preservation programs. We also examine1 some key projects and the nature of heritage management in other countries. Finally, we look at the sources and the interests that account for most of the development related archaeological funding across the U.S. The answers to these questions will surprise you!
Dr. Schuldenrein is joined by special guest Dr. Harrison Eiteljorg, classical archaeologist and the founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Architecture, to discuss computers and archaeology. Dr. Eiteljorg, who helped pave the way for the use of computers in classical archaeology, was at the forefront of the technological revolution that brought computers into widespread use in archaeological research and methods over the past 40 years. Dr. Eiteljorg gives us his personal and professional account of the birth of computerized archaeological excavation and its impact on excavation and post-excavation procedures. Dynamic and interactive, Drs. Schuldenrein and Eiteljorg discuss the past, present and future of computers and technology in archaeology.
This week the host explores a true Indiana Jones theme, which fascinated not only scholars, but also the general public for centuries - the quest for discovery of the Tomb of Jesus. Since 1980s discoveries of a series of ossuaries buried beneath a condominium complex in Jerusalem have provoked controversy about the relationship between suspected remains of Jesus and their presumed placement by his early Christian followers. Ongoing explorations by filmmakers and scholars have revised interpretations and offer new perspectives on the Jesus story based on a variety of sources. Our guest this week is Dr. James Tabor, professor and chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, who have been recently working on these tombs with the filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici using very specialized, custom-built high-tech cameras, which allowed to examine the tombs, ossuaries and everything associated with them without going into the tomb.
Dr. Schuldenrein responds to representations of the Mayans and their calendar that have emerged in recent months in anticipation of the supposed end of days on December 12, 2012. In particular, our host explores how concepts deriving from the world of archaeology and grounded in scientific fact are misinterpreted, misunderstood and misapplied by the media and consumed by popular culture. Instead, learn what archaeologists really know about the Mayans and their culture, including their sophisticated understanding of astronomy and their complex notions of life cycles and time. Stay tuned to find out what the supposed armageddon date of 12/12/12 actually signifies on the Mayan Calendar and how popular culture got it so wrong.
Classical archaeology is often integrated with art history in university and college departments across the world. Dr. Rachel Kousser, professor of Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology at the CUNY Graduate Center and Brooklyn College, explains to Dr. Schuldenrein and listeners how and why archaeology and art go hand in hand when studying the classical world of Greece and Rome. Instead of solely focusing on the creation and aesthetic of a piece of art, archaeology allows the materiality and biography of an object to be considered in its interpretation. In other words, the anthropological concept of context allows researchers to contemplate where the object was used, who was using it, and what it meant to the people consuming it. Classical Art can now be seen, much like today, to serve political purposes, reveal gender identities, and provide social commentaries. Enriching and revealing, the integration of archaeology and art history opens up ancient Greece and Rome like never before.
Archaeology is often perceived as an obscure discipline, understood and practiced by the few. Despite the inherent appeal of the field, archaeologists remain notoriously poor communicators to the broader public. Brian Fagan remains a unique exception to the rule. He has uniquely succeeded in parlaying and synthesizing the message of archaeology across a range of public venues. Dr. Fagan assesses the problems modern-day archaeology confront in the rapidly developing world of new technologies and business, and why it is important to make archaeology a “user-friendly” discipline with an emphasis on public outreach. Our guest combines meticulous research on various archaeological themes with the enjoyable and fascinating language of literary fiction.
Even the strongest climate change skeptics are aware of the cyclical nature of sea level rise. Encroachment of the sea is related to the melting of the ice sheets and the associated elevation of global water lines along our coasts. However, the earliest Americans populated the New World at the end of the Ice Age, at least 15,000 years ago. At that time sea level was depressed by about 30 meters since the ocean waters were locked up as frozen ice sheets. In recent years the search for evidence of the late glacial hunters and Stone Age man in the Americas has concentrated on explorations along the submerged continental shelf of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. These searches have been quite fruitful and have expanded our knowledge on the ancient geography of the coastlines. Today's guest, Dr. Michael Faught of Panamerican Consultants, is an expert on submerged archaeological sites. He shares his unique insights on underwater archaeology and the quest for the earliest New World settlers.
A Mesolithic site in Cornwall provided evidence of human habitation along a marshy streambed in Cornwall. Its spring-fed waters preserved a sustained record of human occupation through the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages. However, the site is best known for a series of animal pits whose contents vary but are characterized by similar shapes and contents for the interval A.D. 1640-1970. The earliest pits were lined with swan feathers and small stones. The latter were imported from a source 15 miles away. Through time, the remains changed and included cats, pigs, and dog teeth, with eggs and the typical small stones as well. The most recent of these pits contained plastic artifacts dated to the 1970's, suggesting that these practices are still in force in Cornwall. Our special guest is Dr. Jacqui Wood who runs an archaeological field school in Cornwall dedicated to uncovering the secrets of the pits and tracking their contemporary analogues.
The complex of Mes Aynak represents one of the most spectacular archaeological treasures in the world. Situated in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Mes Aynak is South Asia's earliest mining complexes and distribution centers. This 2,600 year old city was also the center of Buddhist monasteries that flourished at around the time of Christ. Today the entire site is in danger of destruction because of pressure to develop this ancient mining site into the most profitable copper mine in a country. Archaeologists have been working on the site for several years, but their efforts have been uneven, often disjunct, and discontinuous. Today's guests, Brent Huffman, a documentary film maker who has visited the site on numerous occasions, and well-known South Asia archaeologist, Dr. Rita Wright, provide new insights into the potential cultural tragedy that may seal the site's fate unless large scale appeals to save the site are championed by concerned diplomats, politicians, and the public at large.
Over the past half century the domain of archaeology has increasingly migrated into the natural sciences. Geology, in particular, is a likely avenue for examining the nature of archaeological remains, since the earth and soil preserve cultural remains. It follows that an understanding of the composition and transformation of the geological layers that contain archaeology goes a long way in explaining why people lived in certain places and how the evidence of their activities is preserved. Geoarchaeologists can tell us about the processes and environments that account for an archaeological site. The reach of geoarchaeology extends into environmental reconstruction, dating of key events associated with human and natural events, and the climates in which various cultures thrived. Today's special guests, Dr. Vance Holliday and Dr. Sarah Sherwood, discuss the unique perspectives that geoarchaeologists bring to a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary archaeology.
Archaeological organizations function in a variety of different ways to promote the message of archaeology to the greater public and to serve the common interests of professional archaeologists. We are launching a series of programs to acquaint the listenership with the role and function of these organizations. Our initial program examines the emergence and significance of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), one of the oldest and most venerated archaeological fraternities in the country. We present an interview with Dr. Paula Lazrus, President of the New York Chapter of the AIA, the largest local society of the parent organization in the country.
Scholars and the general public alike are fascinated by the ancient Maya, a people whose culture and domain extended from southern and eastern Mexico into Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. We are collectively captivated by theories of the predicted demise of civilization and the ostensible secrets of the Mayan calendar. But truth can sometimes be more intriguing than fiction. Much of what we know about the Maya has been culled by our understanding of their unique wetlands landscape and the adaptations they made to that tropical and forested environment. Mayan engineering technologies account for their ability to survive in settings that were challenging, to say the least. Our discussion is led by Drs. Timothy Beach and Sheryl Luzzadder-Beach, who discuss their recent work in the Mayan heartland and report on new archaeological technologies that shed light on the survival and eventual disappearance of this ancient civilization.
In the wake of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, the extent of a systematic campaign of mass exterminations was exposed by the United States and subsequent Iraqi authorities. Shortly after the occupation began, the Iraq Mass Graves Team (IMGT) was mobilized by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Regime Crimes Liaison Office in Baghdad to undertake a large-scale exhumation and forensic analysis mission. The objective was to collect evidence in support of the prosecutions of former regime leaders. The 2007-8 trial of Saddam Hussein was structured, in large part, by the results of those efforts. Our special guest, Dr. Michael (Sonny) Trimble was the project director for this effort and he provides his perspectives on the excavations, analyses, and ultimate disposition of the results of the campaign for the prosecution's case.
Our series on Archaeology and Relevance has unique applications to the very real issues of contemporary conflict and war. The 21st Century was ushered in by the horrific events of 9/11 in New York City. Subsequent disasters including the tsunami in the South Pacific and the London bombings drew the attention of archaeologists whose traditional and not-so traditional approaches offer unique perspectives for optimizing data recovery at disaster sites. Initiatives to examine the archaeology of Holocaust era concentration camps and mass graves in Eastern Europe and Iraq underscore the unique contributions that our field has to make in adapting site formation (and destruction) studies to locations that highlight the darkest side of the human condition. Our special guest is Dr. Richard Gould, Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at Brown University, who had the perspicacity to mobilize the first and only systematic excavations at the World Trade Center site immediately after the tragedy.
Dr. Schuldenrein is joined by SUNY-Stony brook professor Dr. Elizabeth Stone. With over 30 years of experience excavating and researching in and around Iraq, Dr. Stone is uniquely qualified to offer listeners an overview of one of humankind's first civilizations, Mesopotamia. This episode delves into current methodologies and emerging perspectives and includes a frank discussion of the realities of conducting research in a war zone.
With the exception of a not insignificant minority of revisionists and Holocaust deniers the record of this most tragic event in human history is extensively documented and well established. In recent years, however, archaeologists have begun to investigate what is left of the material record of the extermination centers. The reality is that the archaeological record is fragmentary and our knowledge of these centers is based on oral histories, maps and numerous written sources. Do we need to learn more? What can archaeology provide in terms of acquainting us with more detail and, perhaps more significantly, in learning about other sites of genocide whose records are even more fragmentary and unrecognized. Our special guest is Dr. Isaac Gilead, Professor of Archaeology at Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel. Dr. Gilead has been involved in the archaeology of the Nazi extermination centers at Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka and shares his experiences with the listenership.
Intensive archaeological surveys of The Ridges Basin Valley of Colorado has uncovered 70 new archaeological sites. These sites, mostly pre-contact settlements of the Pueblo I period (725-825 CE), have provided critical new information on urban organization and lifeways. The village of Sacred Ridge, the largest site found thus far in the region, appears to have been abruptly abandoned after a massacre. Analysis of the human remains of victims offers new hypotheses about war and conflict during the latter part of the first millennium AD. Join our host, Dr. Schuldenrein, and special guest and archaeologist, James Potter, as they discuss the Ridges Basin Valley Project and the roles of the media, Native Americans, and local communities in archaeological studies and outreach programs.
Our survey of the listenership has established the Human Origins theme as the most provocative and captivating area of archaeological research. It has also inspired some of the most controversial exchanges on our Social Media networks, drawing the attention of scientists and creationists alike. Today's topic provides an overview of the history of Human Origins research. We track developments in human evolutionary science beginning in the 19th century and culminating in human genetic research, now viewed as pivotal for explaining the evolutionary trajectory of the human form. Our very special guest is Dr. Geoff Clark, Regents' Professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University, will share with the host and listenership all the latest developments in the field of Human Origins research.
Past episodes have demonstrated that archaeology overlaps with broader questions of contemporary life. Our recent programs considered the obvious links between archaeology and religion as well as ethics. The question of evolution vs. creationism is an obvious arena in which the human fossil record can be drawn upon to question traditional Judaeo-Christian concepts of our origins. Religion is also not taboo, as archaeological remains of the Biblical period document a material culture consistent with Old and New Testament descriptions but cast doubt on the veracity of specific events and the identities of charismatic figures. Archaeology has also been swept up in political conflicts in a variety of places, scenarios, and venues. Findings have been used in situations ranging from local development conflicts (as a wedge pitting economic vs. preservation interests) to more global venues leading, in extreme cases, to outbreaks of wars and the destruction of cultures and populations.
Dr. Schuldenrein is joined by Dr. Joe Watkins, one of the foremost voices and leading advocates for indigenous and native affairs and involvement in American archaeology. Dr Watkins, a member of the Choctaw tribe of Oklahoma, reflects on the beginning of his career and his personal development as one of the only Native American Ph.D-holding archaeologists in the 1960s and 1970s. During his early days as an archaeologist, when native involvement in archaeology was in a very nascent form and there were no established career pathways for native archaeologists, Dr. Watkins carved out a career and a mission that has spanned decades. Join in as Drs. Schuldenrein and Watkins discuss the evolution of Native American involvement in archaeology and the increasing role native and indigenous rights are taking in the legal system of archaeology and historic preservation in North America.
Can the archaeological record be summoned to verify the stories of the Bible? Religious faith remains strong in many parts of the world and the foundations of Judeo-Christian theology are arguably gaining steam in many parts of the West (and East) as the economic downturn leaves many segments of the populations looking for answers to their economic woes. Does religion as refuge obfuscate the lessons of science and evolutionary thought? Are there grounds for overlap? Is there a logical foundation for Biblical tales that can be supported by scientific examination of archaeological sites and remains? We propose that there is a nexus between the two---faith and science---that is considerably more complex than extreme proponents of either side care to admit.
This week the host explores a true Indiana Jones theme, which fascinated not only scholars, but also the general public for centuries - the quest for discovery of the Tomb of Jesus. Since 1980s discoveries of a series of ossuaries buried beneath a condominium complex in Jerusalem have provoked controversy about the relationship between suspected remains of Jesus and their presumed placement by his early Christian followers. Ongoing explorations by filmmakers and scholars have revised interpretations and offer new perspectives on the Jesus story based on a variety of sources. Our guest this week is Dr. James Tabor, professor and chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, who have been recently working on these tombs with the filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici using very specialized, custom-built high-tech cameras, which allowed to examine the tombs, ossuaries and everything associated with them without going into the tomb.
Advanced archaeological science techniques currently supplement traditional pedestrian survey and excavation. In the age of sustainability, supplementation may transform into displacement, as the accuracy of high tech mapping, remote sensing and sophisticated sampling turn out to be uniquely accurate and productive methods for discovering archaeological sites. Science provides efficiency for archaeological exploration at a time when budgets are tight, access to archaeological sites is limited by geo-political concerns, and the ability to mobilize large staffs and crews is restricted by both money and logistics. By the end of the 21st century archaeological practice will change significantly, de-emphasizing large scale excavations and highlighting the effectiveness of mapping and sub-surface exploration through geophysical survey and satellite mapping. Data base management and GIS platforms offer new ways for assimilating, analyzing and interpreting huge and diverse data sets.
The information age and the emergence of social networking have given archaeology an unprecedented public education platform. Our previous programs have underscored the difficulties that the professional community has in transmitting the message of archaeology to the public. We have also stressed the urgency of propounding this message, as funding from traditional venues dries up and the profession is increasingly dependent on the public for fiscal support. We have often heard that an informed public is our greatest ally but our instructional clumsiness often betrays that objective. In this episode, Dr. Stephen Black discusses his program, Texas Beyond History, which is dedicated to expanding archaeological awareness in a way that is meaningful and maximizes high technology and user-friendly venues. This emerging outreach pathway is fast becoming the wave of the future for spreading the message of archaeology to the greater public.
What is involved in pursuing a professional archaeological career in this day and age? How does it vary from a traditional career path in previous decades? The host discusses the rigorous training involved in this challenging profession and examines the unique opportunities that have emerged for archaeologists in the commercial and applied sphere. Special emphasis is placed on the training protocols that will be required for archaeological professionals as the reach of the discipline breaks out of a strict research and academic based-model and expands into broader, more applied spheres. Shrinking research and development budgets require new funding sources from public and private sources. There is a growing trend to public outreach, accountability on the part of researchers, and a demand to make the lessons of the past applicable to the survival and sustainability of the human species in the future.
A common refrain amongst archaeologists is that they often manage to make an exciting topic remarkably mundane. The fact is that a number of archaeologists have moonlighted as fiction writers, imbuing their research with a flare that makes their work spring to life. We discuss this theme with Michael Gear and his partner Kathleen O'Neal Gear, two best-selling authors and award-winning archaeologists whose fictional works dominate the field. They offer their insights into the world of archaeological novels and discuss the role of ancient cultures at the nexus of reality and imagination.
The current fascination with human origins is all about changes in human evolution, the shape of the human form and the adaptations early peoples made in response to environmental succession. However, the roles of tool making and application may represent the pivotal element to understanding how people endured for well over 99.9% of human time on the planet, irrespective of our notions of the (now outdated) missing link hypothesis. This episode derives from curious listeners who posted queries about the connections between stone tools and the emergence of the human condition.
This week’s episode is dedicated to one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, which fascinates millions around the world to this day – 100th anniversary of Titanic’s sinking. Its maiden journey to the New World was designed as state-of-the-art technological seafaring vessel believed to be unsinkable. However, harsh reality and human arrogance not only took lives of thousands of passengers, but it casted doubt on the infallibility of technological progress, which gave us airplanes, motor cars, and mass communication. Our special guest, bestselling author and historian Hampton Sides, who contributed an article to National Geographic Magazine’s April issue, dedicated to the tragedy, will embark us on a journey of the emerging story of Titanic from the time of its discovery by Robert Ballard in 1985 through recent discoveries made by underwater archaeology and innovative remote sensing techniques, and examine how these discoveries revise the existing interpretations of the wreck.
The Impact of Cable TV on Archaeology's Image
Two recent television series have thrust archaeology's image into the public domain in ways that have been roundly criticized in traditional archaeological circles. These programs have called attention to the mercenary aspect of digging for dollars and raise serious ethical concerns. While the professional community's response has been strong and pointed, will their voice be heard beyond a cloistered circle? What are the ethics behind the indignation felt by many professionals and can they unequivocally claim the moral high ground? Today's program explores the many facets of archaeological ethics and underscores the disconnect between the professional community and the interested public. The panel includes prominent archaeologists in the public eye who consider strategies to promote archaeology's image through the powerful prism of mass media.
Archaeology was typically viewed as an academic, often esoteric pursuit until the latter 20th century. The emergence of the environmental movement of the late 1960’s and ‘70’s gave rise to a preservation ethic that targeted cultural as well as natural resources in response to accelerated natural resource exploitation and land development. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites as well as historic buildings and monuments were now classified cultural resources in North America or heritage sites elsewhere in the world. Over the past half century legislation has been in force to mitigate the effects of development on these irreplaceable vestiges of ancient cultures. This program examines the backdrop to preservation law and the evolution of cultural resource practice in response to changing political and economic realities. Our guests are nationally respected authorities who helped fashion the law and are active in applying its principles in classic as well as controversial cases.
Two recent television series, American Diggers and Diggers, have thrust archaeology's image into the public domain in ways that have been roundly criticized in traditional archaeological circles. These programs have called attention to the mercenary aspect of digging for dollars and raise serious ethical concerns. While the professional community's response has been strong and pointed, will their voice be heard beyond a cloistered circle? What are the ethics behind the indignation felt by many professionals and can they unequivocally claim the moral high ground? Today's program explores the many facets of archaeological ethics and underscores the disconnect between the professional community and the interested public. The panel includes prominent archaeologists, Ray Karl, John Doershuk and Tom King, who consider strategies to promote archaeology's image through the powerful prism of mass media.
Did you ever wonder what happens to the finds that are retrieved in archaeological excavations? How extensively are they studied and what happens to them once the researchers conclude their analysis? Professionals often discuss the Curation Crisis or the problems attendant to too many artifacts, too little room. Today's program offers an in depth discussion of the disposition of archaeological collections and helps chart a pathway that integrates curation procedures with the overall aims of specific archaeological projects. Our panel includes three experts in the field. Join Daniel Benden, Curator of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin, Francis P. McManamon, the Executive Director of the Center for Digital Antiquity, and Chris Pulliam, an archaeologist and team leader in the St. Louis District Curation and Archives Analysis Branch and assistant director of the Corps' Mandatory Center.
In this episode, Dr. Schuldrenrein investigates the process of archaeological compliance in New York City by going behind the scenes of the Foley Square and Peck Slip projects in Lower Manhattan. Joining him are Deputy Commissioner for the NYC Department of Design and Construction Tom Foley, Archaeologist and President of Chrysalis Archaeological Consultants Alyssa Loorya, and Director of Archaeology at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Amanda Sutphin. All three of these people play integral roles in archaeological assessment and planning in the city. Tune in to learn how and why New York City is considered to be at the forefront of archaeological project integration and compliance in the nation.
This week’s show is a follow up to the previous episode wherein we reached out to the audience to address the topics that they thought were most intriguing and provocative. This week we generated a questionnaire, which offered up rather interesting and even unexpected results. This questionnaire will also serve as a guideline to generate topics of discussion for future episodes. We hope to address not only what are considered “professional interests” in archaeology, but also to encourage the dialogue between professionals, enthusiasts of the field and a general public, which has, at best, only a passing connection to archaeology.
Archaeology is viewed as an esoteric pursuit by (professional) academics and a broad range of field enthusiasts and antiquities buffs. Professional archaeologists are so accustomed to speaking amongst themselves that they are uncomfortable discoursing on key professional issues. They remain challenged in communicating their message to the general public. Our canvassing of the listenership suggests that the communication gap between professionals and the public only seems to grow bigger. This week we attempt to address archaeological questions of “message”, “relevance”, and even “interest to our listenership. Our program and others are mobilizing social media outlets to find out what interests our audience have and how they view the field of archaeology. We recorded a number of very provocative and intriguing questions from our audience. Host Dr. J. Schuldenrein attempts to summarize the results of our very informal listener-feedback sample on this week's show.
Have you ever wondered how the criminologists popularized in such TV shows as “CSI” developed their investigative techniques and deductive strategies? Many of their methods and approaches are derived from archaeological science. The emergence of forensic anthropology and archaeology is largely traceable to the efforts of the American military in recovering the remains and establishing the identities of missing soldiers (MIA’s) during the Vietnam war in the 1970’s. This week’s episode introduces the nuts and bolts of forensic archaeology through the mission of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). JPAC is a military command dedicated to repatriating the remains of soldiers lost in our nation’s past conflicts. Join the discussion with the Deputy Director of the JPAC, Dr. William Belcher, who recounts the history of this unique military operation. Learn how forensic recovery operations are conducted in some of the most remote corners of the world.
Preservation of cultural heritage is one of the main concerns for nations worldwide. Yet, the maintenance and promotion of cultural patrimony poses unique concerns in areas of war and conflict. More specifically, monuments and sites symbolizing cultural heritage are often at the core of conflicts in nations embroiled in ethnic or religion-based transitions in hegemony. Afghanistan currently embodies a national struggle for identity as various groups struggle for power and dominance. The most visible aspect of cultures in conflict is their grand architecture and monuments attesting to the historic passage from Buddhism to Islam. The destruction of the Buddhist statuary at Bamyan by the Taliban in March 2001 arguably precipitated the cycle of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Join our discussion with Omar Sultan, former Deputy Minister of Culture in Afghanistan, and Dr. Laura Tedesco, current Cultural Heritage Resource Manager for the US State Department for Afghanistan.
What is the connection between archaeology and aviation technologies? How can archaeology be applied to the field of aviation forensics? This week’s episode examines the most recent findings of ongoing and long-standing research to solve the historically captivating mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance over the Pacific in 1937. The quest to reconstruct the final days of Earhart’s life and to establish the chronology of her and her partner’s probable short-term survival and eventual tragic fate is the subject of an enduring, privately funded research campaign. Find out how archaeology contributes to an inter-disciplinary effort in which the possible material evidence of Earhart’s existence on a Pacific Island is linked to possible remains of the airplane’s wreckage as suggested by old photographs and more sophisticated digital and remote sensing imagery. Well-known archaeologist Dr. Thomas King provides updates on the recent work in the vicinity of the crash site.
What does it take to become an archaeologist? What is it that archaeologists do? And why is it important? These questions are posed not only by the greater public, but also by archaeological practitioners and students. Our host tracks how the archaeological profession has changed over time and assesses prospects for its future development. Archaeology has undergone over the past quarter of a century substantial changes of theories of cultural change and practical methods of archaeological discovery. The field has become increasingly more scientific and technical. It has also transitioned from a largely academic pursuit to a more practical vocation that extends into the regulatory environment and the world of business. Finally, we stress the need to communicate the message of archaeology, its significance and relevance, to the general public. The need for public support is factoring into the ability of archaeology to sustain itself as a profession in the 21st Century.
This episode expands our discussion of the Early Peopling of the North America to the West Coast. When did people first appear in the region? How did climates and environments diverge from the present? How did early peoples adapt to nearshore and interior environments and when did these landscapes change? Answers to these questions have broad implications for understanding the human ecological dynamic in the present age of sustainability. Late glacial and post-glacial events along the Pacific margins diverge significantly from those discussed earlier for the East Coast. Patterns of deglaciation, tectonics, and climate change resulted in surfaces that were significantly different, but can still be reconstructed with increasing accuracy with new geoarchaeological methods. We discuss these reconstructions and theories with guests Dr. Loren Davis and Dr. Matthew Des Lauriers, renowned West Coast researchers and Ms. Amy Gusick, PhD candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Over 60 years ago a Bedouin boy had made a remarkable discovery in the caves of Qumran that captivated the imagination and curiosity of people around the world ever since. The Dead Sea Scrolls changed our perception of the Bible, shed light on life during the biblical times, and opened a unique window into the spiritual world at the time of the Second Temple. What is the historical and cultural significance of these documents and how have interpretations changed since they have been made available to scholars and broader audiences? A new exhibit at the Discovery Center in mid-town Manhattan gives renewed life to these rarest and oldest manuscripts. Be a part of our discussion of these exceptional artifacts with Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Dr. Schiffman explains how interpretations have evolved, in part as a result of the increasing exposure of the scrolls to a new generation of scholars.
Career paths in all professions reflect adjustments to changing times and conditions. Archaeology is no different. In this episode we look at how archaeological training and vocational directions have shifted in a world centered on practical adaptation. Two synchronous trends in the archaeological career pathway are explored. First, specialization is now pivotal to career advancement. For archaeologists specialization is not so much regional as it is methodological. In other words, certain technical skills are in growing demand for archaeological employment. Second, venues for practicing archaeology have shifted from the academic to the applied stage, as preservation planning, heritage management, and government regulation afford greater employment opportunities. Our guest, Dr. Curt Larsen, combined a specialty in geoarchaeology across an evolving employment landscape to fashion a distinguished career. He chronicles his own professional history as a sign of the times.
Thanksgiving calls to mind a series of foods whose origins are assumed to be uniquely North American or European. In addition to the turkey, native to North America but domesticated in Europe, the balance of the traditional Thanksgiving diet consists of roots, berries, and plant foods whose origins are as exotic as they are diverse. Archaeology provides insights into former diets and environments because the remains of foods and plants are often preserved at ancient sites. They include burnt seeds, fossil grasses, and ancient pollen (yes, the kind that cause spring sneezing!). Their presence is readily detectable on ancient house floors and within sediments that often contain plant matter indicative of former vegetation and climates. One of the best dietary indicators is fossilized human waste that preserves a wide range of ingested foodstuffs. Our guest is Dr. Linda Scott-Cummings a recognized authority in reconstructing natural vegetation histories and ancient human dietary patterns.
As in many other professions, the proportion of women entering the field of archaeology has increased substantially since the latter 20th century. Some statistics indicate that their numbers have actually exceeded those of their male counterparts in several areas, specifically in college enrollments and graduate programs. Is this changing demographic reflected in the archaeological hierarchy, specifically in numbers of senior professors, in decision-making roles in governmental agencies, and in the ownership and management roles at cultural resource companies? Those data yield more equivocal results and point to slower rates of change in the upper tiers of archaeological organizations and professional influence. While the arrow is generally pointing upwards, old stereotypes tend to die hard. This program debates the evolving status and roles of women in archaeology with two leading representatives in the university and private sectors.
The overwhelming majority of archaeological work in the United States is performed under the umbrella of Cultural Resource Management. The term refers to the legal basis mandating historic preservation and the steps undertaken for regulatory compliance. Our program documents the emergence of compliance archaeology from the perspective of professionals who work as consultants in the private sector. We examine how private companies grew in conjunction with the florescence of the preservation ethic. Our guests are pioneers in the field, the first wave of entrepreneurs who matched their professional skills with business principles to form companies now at the forefront of the industry. We explore the industry’s early years, its direction, and why the education of future archaeologists must be oriented to conform to the needs of an increasingly commercial profession that requires business and communication skills as much as expertise in archaeology and scientific inquiry.
Archaeology was typically viewed as an academic, often esoteric pursuit until the latter 20th century. The emergence of the environmental movement of the late 1960’s and ‘70’s gave rise to a preservation ethic that targeted cultural as well as natural resources in response to accelerated natural resource exploitation and land development. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites as well as historic buildings and monuments were now classified cultural resources in North America or heritage sites elsewhere in the world. Over the past half century legislation has been in force to mitigate the effects of development on these irreplaceable vestiges of ancient cultures. This program examines the backdrop to preservation law and the evolution of cultural resource practice in response to changing political and economic realities. Our guests are nationally respected authorities who helped fashion the law and are active in applying its principles in classic as well as controversial cases.
This first decade of the 21st century has witnessed two major wars resulting in serious injuries to numerous American soldiers. Returning veterans have come home to a depressed economy and uncertain futures. They confront job markets often out of reach to those with skills not readily transferable to the civilian world. As part of the American Recovery and Repatriation Act (ARRA) the Obama administration allocated funds to rehabilitate veterans by teaching them to curate artifact collections, stored in dusty facilities for decades. The project was initiated and administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (St. Louis District) who merged veterans’ rehabilitation with curation of archaeological collections, considered to be a pivotal part of our nation’s patrimony. In this episode we discuss the emergence and achievements of this program with the archaeologists who initiated and administered it as well as with the program directors and veterans who have contributed to its success.
Archaeologists and scientists have been fascinated with human migrations to the New World since the early-mid 20th century discoveries at Clovis and Folsom (New Mexico) and somewhat later findings at Cueva Fell in Chile and elsewhere in South America. These sites gave rise to what is known as Paleoindian research and were taken as evidence for earliest human arrivals because of broad distributions of a limited, but elegant group of spear point types. Many sites were associated with the slaughter and meat processing of now extinct mammals such as mammoths and mastodons. Until relatively recently, Clovis and Folsom were considered the oldest New World cultures. However, recent advances in DNA testing, ancient climate reconstructions, radiometric dating, and diverse artifact types call into question traditional models of human migrations to the New World. This episode discusses the state of research in “early American migration theory” with two of the topic’s best-known exponents.
Before Europeans arrived on the North American continent, the central Mississippi River Valley formed the core of an extensive prehistoric urban network. Villages and cities flourished in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., extending north to Canada and south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Native Americans built extensive ceremonial and burial mounds that rivaled the cities of the Incas and Aztecs. Their culture, known as the Mississippian, thrived in urban complexes where archaeological research has unearthed the evidence of a complex agrarian society with unique funerary practices and a sophisticated socio-economic structure. Monks Mound rises 70 ft. above the Mississippi River floodplain in East St. Louis, Illinois and stands as a testament to those whose civilization remains as enigmatic as it is monumental. In this episode, we explore the foundations of the Mississippian culture, its rise, florescence and eventual demise in the wake of the Euroamerican conquest of the Americas.
New York City is considered the cultural and commercial capital of North America. Was it always this way? How did the city evolve into such an active hub where diverse peoples and cultures mixed and mingled to produce this dynamic metropolis? This episode explores the practice of “urban archaeology”, documenting the city’s emergence from prehistoric times (15,000 years ago) through the period of Euroamerican contact (commonly A.D.1492), and on to the present. We discuss the history of local archaeological practice and the novel applications of archival research and scientific techniques to “dig” in the complex maze of subsurface utilities and structures beneath city streets. We learn how historic preservation law accommodates protection of cultural resources from development interests. Some of the more recent finds and projects are discussed with professionals from private and university archaeologicalsectors, as well as the regulatory agencies that oversee this work.
In this episode we explore the most spectacular archaeological region in the United States, the Southwest. Sites like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon are international monuments. But this vast area’s archaeological richness tells a much more complex story. Native societies in southern Arizona built enormous canal irrigation systems as early as 1200 BCE. 11th century artists of New Mexico’s Mimbres region painted brilliant ceramic pots that grace museum collections everywhere. Southwest sites have been excavated since the late 1800s, with scientists and the public benefiting from favorably dry preservation environments, largely unaltered landscapes, and the living descendants of prehistoric societies that have occupied this terrain for over 10,000 years. Renowned experts Steve Lekson (University of Colorado) and Cory Breternitz (Paleowest Archaeology, Inc.) join us in discussing the latest findings at famous Southwestern sites and their importance for archaeological research everywhere.
Our inaugural episode examines the enduring popularity of the Indiana Jones films and their impact in elevating archaeology’s image over 30 years. While the films exemplify tongue and cheek genre, many fans are convinced that the adventures are grounded in reality. Was Indiana Jones a real person? Was he a composite of several famous archaeologists? A central theme in the films is the quest for material clues that legitimize the Bible, historic accounts of classic western civilization (Greece, Persia, and Rome), and the epigraphy of the prehispanic New World. Can we prove the existence of the Patriarchs? Noah’s ark? What about the search for Atlantis? Is there an archaeological basis for the Battle of Armageddon? More generally, can archaeology confirm or refute ancient texts and the mystique surrounding oral accounts? We explore these questions and more with special guest Dr. Eric Cline, Associate Professor of Classics, Anthropology, and History at George Washington University.