The Rock Art Podcast

Archaeology Pod Network
  • 5.0 (28)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Rock art is one of those things that just captivates your attention. The ancient carvings, drawings, and paintings tell a story. Sometimes we can interpret what that story is and sometimes we can't. World renowned rock art expert, Dr. Alan Garfinkel joins APN founder Chris Webster and a cast of expert guests to talk about rock art: what is it, how do we know how old it is, who made it, and much more. Join us as we take you on a journey through space and time via pictures on rock.

  1. 5D AGO

    Dr. John Bellezza on Exploring Pre-Buddhist Tibet and Its Rock Art - Ep 164

    Host Dr. Alan Garfinkel interviews Dr. John Bellezza about his path from traveling in India and Tibet in the 1980s to focusing on Tibetan prehistory, archaeology, cosmology, and rock art, later earning a PhD at the University of Kent based on prior publications. Bellezza stresses learning Tibetan languages and working in the field as Tibet opened to travelers in 1984, then turning to pre-Buddhist traditions often erased or absorbed by Buddhism and long neglected by scholars. He describes discoveries at Lake Namtso, evidence for high-altitude pastoralism and hunting, and key finds in rock art and monuments, including chariots and standing-stone complexes. He previews ongoing rock art volumes and future work on bronze talismans and Old Tibetan texts. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/164 Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  2. APR 24

    Dr Jayc Sedlmayr and Supernatural Gamekeepers - Ep 163

    In this episode, Alan speaks with Dr Jayc Sedlmayr about his research into indigenous theology and animal ceremonial traditions. Drawing on interdisciplinary backgrounds, Sedlmayr discusses his “Embodied Essence” project, which explores how many cultures understood spiritual essence as residing in bodily substances—especially bone marrow. He explains how this perspective helps interpret ritual practices involving bones, such as their treatment as regenerative “seeds,” their placement in ceremonial contexts, and their role in maintaining relationships between humans, animals, and the spiritual world. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/163 Links Embodied Essence sessions (SAA 2024 collection) The Ensouled Body (co-authored by Jayc Sedlmayr) Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min

  3. APR 10

    Mobile Artifacts and Conventional Signs with Dr Christian Bentz and Dr Ewa Dutkiewicz - Ep 162

    In this episode, Alan speaks with Dr Christian Bentz and Dr Ewa Dutkiewicz about their research on early systems of conventional signs. They explore how recurring symbols in rock art and mobile artifacts may reflect shared visual communication as far back as 40,000 years ago, and what this reveals about early human cognition and culture. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/162 Links SignBase, a collection of geometric signs on mobile objects in the Palaeolithic Humans 40,000 years ago developed a system of conventional signs Dr Ewa Dutkiewicz Profile Dr Christian Bentz Profile Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    39 min

  4. MAR 27

    PROMO - BREAKING NEWS - Monte Verde is no longer a pre-Clovis site, with Dr. Todd Surovell - Ethno 33

    In this special episode, I sit down with Dr. Todd Surovell, professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming, to discuss new research that re-examines Monte Verde using modern geoarchaeological methods. The results suggest that the famous site may actually be much younger than previously believed, dating to the Holocene rather than the Ice Age. If true, this would mean that Monte Verde is not evidence for pre-Clovis humans in South America, and it could force archaeologists to reconsider one of the most influential discoveries in American archaeology. We discuss: The history of the Monte Verde discovery Why it reshaped textbooks in the 1990s How new geological and dating analyses challenge the original interpretation What this means for Clovis-first vs. pre-Clovis models Why independent verification and skepticism are essential in science This episode explores how science evolves—and how even the most famous discoveries can be re-examined. Links Video Version to follow along Surovell’s Study Surovell’s UW Page davidianhowe.com Davidianhowe.com/store Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    50 min

  5. MAR 13

    Decolinization and Understanding Cultural Perspective - Ep 161

    In episode 161, Chris Webster and Dr. Alan Garfinkel discuss decolonization in archaeology and rock art studies, arguing that researchers must take Indigenous perspectives seriously as Native communities gain more political and intellectual influence. They emphasize that Indigenous cosmologies often frame rock art meaning through interconnected energy, reciprocity, and life-death cycles rather than “gods” and rigid categories, and they highlight the value of shared vocabulary, cultural humility, and collaboration in interpretation. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/161 Transcript Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  6. FEB 27

    America's Oldest Rock Art? with Dr George Harold Nash - Ep 160

    In this episode, Alan welcomes back Dr George Harold Nash to the podcast to discuss his article on Serra da Capivara National Park, one of the most important archaeological regions in South America. Together, they explore the park’s extraordinary rock art, controversial early dates, and what the evidence might mean for long-standing models of migration into the Americas. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/160 Links Serra da Capivara: America’s Oldest Rock Art? Dr George Harold Nash profile Contact Dr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.com Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates and Sponsors Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min

  7. FEB 13

    The Living Traditions of Rock Art with Dr Joakim Goldhahn - Ep 159

    In this episode, Alan speaks with Dr Joakim Goldhahn about his journey through archaeology and rock art, from Scandinavia to Australia. Together, they explore the cosmology of Scandinavian burials linked to rock art, as well as the living traditions of rock art in Kakadu National Park and the lifeways of Indigenous Australians. Central to the discussion is a reflection on archaeological responsibility: how working outside these cultural traditions requires humility, accountability, and a commitment to building genuine, impactful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities. TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/159 LinksDr Joakim Goldhahn’s BiographyIntroduction to Scandinavian Rock ArtKakadu National Park Rock Art‘This is my father’s painting': a first hand account of the creation of the most iconic rock art in Kakadu National ParkContactDr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.comDr. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  8. JAN 30

    Obsidian Conveyance Systems of the Pacific Northwest - Ep 158

    Episode 158 of the Rock Art Podcast steps beyond rock art to explore “obsidian conveyance systems”—how volcanic glass moved through travel, trade, and social ties, and what that reveals about prehistoric lifeways. Host Dr. Alan Garfinkel is joined by co-host Chris Webster for a conversation on obsidian sourcing, chemical fingerprints, and why big datasets can reconstruct connections even when stratigraphy is mixed. Alan draws from a major post-wildfire cultural project in southern Oregon’s North Umpqua River Basin, where cleared forests exposed dense artifact scatters and a surprising pattern: heavy reliance on obsidian despite sources 100+ miles away, including biface caches dated to around 4,000 years ago. TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/158 ContactDr. Alan Garfinkel avram1952@yahoo.comDr. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min
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About

Rock art is one of those things that just captivates your attention. The ancient carvings, drawings, and paintings tell a story. Sometimes we can interpret what that story is and sometimes we can't. World renowned rock art expert, Dr. Alan Garfinkel joins APN founder Chris Webster and a cast of expert guests to talk about rock art: what is it, how do we know how old it is, who made it, and much more. Join us as we take you on a journey through space and time via pictures on rock.

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