And My Trowel

The Archaeology Podcast Network
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The realms between fantasy and reality have collided and only archaeologists can pave the way through the unknown. Ash and Tilly, armed with two trowels and a backlog of archaeological theory, navigate to new, thrilling worlds, filled with magic and mayhem to answer those burgeoning questions that only archaeologists can answer. “What do you do when you find vampire teeth in a bronze age burial?” “Can you sample ecto-plasm?” “And just how DO you study dragon bones?” With the occasional help of specialists guests they uncover a new realm of archaeology and find out if fantasy is really so far from reality.

  1. 14H AGO

    The Daub Towers (Part 2) - Ep 64

    Ash and Tilly continue their discussion on archaeo-construction with experimental archaeologist and living historian Caroline Nicolay. Together, they outline the details of how to complete their quest of reconstructing a Fallohide seasonal settlement for the Anduin Fallohide Fellowship of Museums and Antiquity. Listen in to hear all about upside-down baskets, thatching (at a pinch), and why you need to build a wall before you can paint it. Links Earth building UK and Ireland Heritage Craft Association Caroline’s website Vernacular thatching with Alan Jones, Wales "Retrofit", what's that about? Retrofit for old buildings Book recommendation from Caroline: Thatch: Thatching In England 1790-1940: Pt. 1 (English Heritage Research Transactions). Letts, John; Moir, James Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/64 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 Store Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min

  2. MAR 20

    The Daub Towers (Part 1) - Ep 63

    It’s time to get out our plastering trowels out, because this episode Ash and Tilly are (re)joined by experimental archaeologist and archaeo-construction expert Caroline Nicolay. Together, the three tackle the quest of reconstructing a Fallohide (hunter-gatherer hobbit) seasonal home for the Anduin Fallohide Fellowship of Museums and Antiquity. But all is not as simple as it seems… Listen in to hear why burnt clay is so important, what a vampire did tohis historic castle, and how you too can become a mud mason. Books mentioned: Den of Wolves (Juliet Marillier) The Bards of the Bone Plain (Patricia A. McKillip) The Viscount of Adrilanka (Steven Brust) Your Coffin or Mine (Jacklyn Hyde) Legends and Lattes (Travis Baldree) Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Rebecca Thorne) Carpe Jugulum (Terry Pratchett) Links The Scottish Crannog Centre Caithness Broch Project Article on experimental reconstruction of houses Cologne University daub project Caroline’s website Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/63 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 Store Affiliates 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. MAR 6

    Can't Make Dragons Without Clay (Part 2) - Ep 62

    In this second episode, Tilly and Ash continue their quest with archaeologist and potter, Emma Harrison, to catalogue the Pennykettle Dragon Sanctuary’s current collection of (alive) dragon figurines! Join them as they explore layers of archaeological clay, deep buckets of glaze, and ponder the question: ‘are you made of poo?’ Links The Myth of Prometheus Bogborn Website Bogborn instagram Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/XX For a transcript of this episode, tap the Zencastr icon on in the upper left corner of the Podcast image. 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 Store Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min

  4. FEB 20

    Trowel 61: Can't Make Dragons Without Clay (Part 1) - Ep 61

    This episode Ash and Tilly are scaling it down and looking at how to analyse tiny little clay dragons from the Pennykettle Dragon Sanctuary. The catch? They are alive! Which means that any destructive methods of analysis covered in previous episodes are no longer on the table. Luckily for our clay-ignorant duo, they are joined by archaeologist and professional potter Emma Harrison. Together, the three chat about playing around with clay, the diversity of sentient objects in fantasy fiction, and how a pair of socks can unveil Tilly’s childhood trauma. Books mentioned: Kiln people (David Brin)Paladin’s Strength (T Kingfisher)Swordheart (T Kingfisher)Nettle and Bone (T Kingfisher)The Fire Within (Chris O’Lacey)The Lord of the Rings (J. R.R. Tolkien)Foundryside (Robert Jackson Bennett)Foul Days (Genoveva Dimova)Blackthorn and Grim (Juliet Marillier)Buried Deep and Other Stories - “Seven” (Naomi Novik)LinksBogborn WebsiteBogborn instagramContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/61 ArchPodNetAPN 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 StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min

  5. FEB 6

    Archaeology of Discworld (Part 2) - Ep 60

    It’s part two of Ash and Tilly’s archaeological survey of the Discworld (as popularised through the written works of Sir Terry Pratchett), and if you thought Tilly had rambled enough in the last episode, you have underestimated her ability to spout information about this fantasy book series! Listen in to hear about the significance of material culture, the impact of belief systems, and why comedic writing is comparable to archaeological research. Books mentioned: Godkiller (Hannah Kaner)LinksStone of SconeMonotheism and AkhenatenSanctuary of Asklepios at EpidaurusContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor transcripts of this episode, head over to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/60 ArchPodNetAPN 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 StoreAffiliatesMotion 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. JAN 23

    Archaeology of Discworld (Part 1) - Ep 59

    The day has finally arrived, where Tilly can ramble on to her heart’s content about her obsession with Terry Pratchett’s writing, because Ash and Tilly are conducting an archaeological survey of the Discworld! Listen in to hear Ash frantically trying to keep her co-host on track and they navigate the landscapes and societies of the Disc, marvel at the complexity of the archaeological theory, and generally prove that Tilly has read these books far too many times. Books mentioned: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld seriesCrocodile on the Sandbank (Elizabeth Peters)LinksGoing Postal filmEntanglement Theory by Ian HodderConcept of stratigraphyEdinburgh underground streetsContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/59 ArchPodNetAPN 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 StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    38 min

  7. JAN 9

    PROMO - The Past Macabre - Ep 17

    While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Please enjoy this episode of The Past Macabre! In this first of a two-part series, The Past Macabre travels back to Late Iron Age Britain before the Roman conquest to explore the world that shaped one of history’s most famous warrior queens: Boudica. Her story has been told many times for nearly two millennia, but what is the truth behind the Celtic warrior queen who stood against Rome? Uncover the archaeology of her tribe the Iceni, from sacred sites, workshops, and homesteads. We’ll explore the first contacts between Rome and Britain as early as the 2nd century BCE to Caesar’s failed invasion in 54 BCE and the uneasy alliances that turned native leaders into Roman client-kings. Then we'll look at how growing disunity amongst the Celts paved the way for Emperor Claudius' invasion in 43 CE. Learn about the hoards of treasure, settlements, burials, and hillforts found across England and what they can tell us about the world Boudica was born into at a time of rapid social, economic, and political change. LinksThe Past Macabre PodcastContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelArchPodNetAPN 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 StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min

  8. 12/26/2025

    PROMO: Tea Break Archaeology Ep 37

    The APN is taking a holiday break. We’re using this opportunity to present you with something you may not have heard from another episode on the network. Tea Break Archaeology Ep 37: The Archaeology of Notebooks I hope that you have a writing utensil handy, because you’ll want to make some notes for this one! In this episode, Matilda takes a dive into the origins and archaeology of the simple notebook. But what actually is a notebook? What materials have they been made from throughout history? And did an ancient Egyptian king really predict AI? Listen in to find out! Tea Break Archaeology Links:The Archaeologist’s Teacup blog post on notebooks Archaeology magazine article on the history of writing Smithsonian article on world’s oldest papyrus Article on wax tablets Article on clay tablets Clay tablet example Article on paper making Article on book binding Matilda’s Contact DetailsEmail: matilda@thearchaeologiststeacup.com Website Instagram Newsletter The intro and outro music is royalty and copyright free: “Best buddies 12609” by Kinemesis_Musica (sourced through pixabay) ArchPodNetAPN 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 Store AffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
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About

The realms between fantasy and reality have collided and only archaeologists can pave the way through the unknown. Ash and Tilly, armed with two trowels and a backlog of archaeological theory, navigate to new, thrilling worlds, filled with magic and mayhem to answer those burgeoning questions that only archaeologists can answer. “What do you do when you find vampire teeth in a bronze age burial?” “Can you sample ecto-plasm?” “And just how DO you study dragon bones?” With the occasional help of specialists guests they uncover a new realm of archaeology and find out if fantasy is really so far from reality.

Information

  • Creator
    The Archaeology Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (c)2025 Archaeology Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    And My Trowel

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