Ancient Technology Podcast

Karoly Poka
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This channel is the home of the Ancient Technology Podcast, and my documentary work about ancient engineering, lost knowledge, and the open questions of human history. I’m Karoly Poka, a technology innovation research engineer. As a hobby, I use modern tools like 3D scanning, field research, and technical analysis to take a closer look at ancient structures, precision artifacts, and technologies that don’t fit neatly into simple explanations. Here you’ll find full podcast episodes, long-form conversations with researchers, and documentary-style investigations focused on evidence.

  1. 1d ago

    #28 - What He Found Inside the Great Sphinx | Robert Temple

    What did Robert Temple find inside the Great Sphinx—and why does he believe more than 450 ancient lenses have been misidentified in museums? In this episode of the Ancient Technology Podcast, the author of The Sirius Mystery and Egyptian Dawn shares his experiences exploring the Sphinx and descending into the Osiris Shaft. We discuss unusual stone sarcophagi beneath Giza, possible hidden chambers and lost libraries, and his research into the age of the Egyptian pyramids. We also explore ancient optical technology, the restoration of Esna Temple’s astronomical ceiling, and the Dogon people’s reported knowledge of Sirius B. Which mystery would you like us to investigate further? Share your thoughts in the comments. 🎧 Watch More Ancient Technology Podcast Episodes:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support the Podcast:Your support helps us keep these conversations going. YouTube Membership — join for member perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgM_Z6LX9upwutrJveOPSA/join Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal Tip Jar:https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut Tip Jar:https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 - Episode Highlights1:29 - Introduction2:02 - Who Is Robert Temple?10:10 - Robert Temple’s Background & Early Life25:10 - How Ancient Egypt Captured His Interest35:34 - The Sphinx Mystery: Origins & the Recarved Head42:43 - Are the Giza Pyramids Older Than We Think?55:56 - Inside the Osiris Shaft: Sarcophagi Beneath Giza1:09:45 - Could Hidden Structures Lie Beneath Giza?1:17:56 - The Great Pyramid’s Subterranean Chamber1:22:33 - Were the Egyptian Pyramids Really Tombs?1:30:31 - A Sealed Chamber Beneath the Valley Temple?1:37:59 - Esna Temple & the Rediscovery of Egyptian Astronomy1:53:18 - Sphinx Temple Channels: Clues to Hidden Chambers?2:04:19 - The Hall of Records & Lost Egyptian Libraries2:19:44 - Inside the Great Sphinx: Tunnels & the Risk of Collapse2:30:16 - Ancient Optical Technology: 450 Misidentified Lenses?2:50:46 - The Sirius Mystery: The Dogon & Sirius B3:04:50 - Closing & Outro 📚 Sources & Books: Selim Hassan — Excavations at Giza, Vol. X (PDF):https://d1g9lvwdq3dcse.cloudfront.net/images/MFA-images/Giza/GizaImage/full/library/hassan_giza_10.pdf#page=174 Robert Temple - The Sirius Mystery:https://www.amazon.com/dp/089281750X Robert Temple - The Sphinx Mystery:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GEAWOU Robert Temple - Egyptian Dawn:https://www.amazon.com/dp/071268414X Robert Temple - The Crystal Sun:https://www.amazon.com/dp/0712678883 Robert & Olivia Temple - Sphinx: The Ultimate Sphinx Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1913378152

    #28 - What He Found Inside the Great Sphinx | Robert Temple

  2. Sep 27

    #27 - Can Modern CNC Match Ancient Egyptian Precision? | Graham Van Zuilecom

    Graham Van Zuilecom is a machinist from Australia. In this episode, he shares how he recreated the “OG” Egyptian vase in aluminium using modern CNC technology. We discuss the machining process, the time and cost involved, the results of our 3D scans, and his plans to make a version in granite. Graham's business: https://cncroutersaustralia.com.au/ 🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/karolypoka/subscribe⁠ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:02 Graham’s Machining Background 5:38 What Is a CNC Router? 11:19 How Graham Got Into Ancient Technology 14:49 Measuring Ancient Stonework in Egypt 19:21 Ancient Saw Cuts, Core Drills & Abrasives 29:13 Serapeum & Abusir Measurements 34:28 The Precision of Ancient Egyptian Vases 36:24 Can Modern CNC Reproduce the OG Vase? 39:55 Making the Aluminium Vase Replica 48:55 Machining the Interior, Handles & Exterior 01:01:57 The Hardest Part & Cost of the Replica 01:13:50 Laser Scanning the Replica 01:27:29 Concentricity, Heat Maps & Tolerances 01:43:47 Comparing the Replica to the Original Vase 01:46:08 The History of Precision Machining 01:54:01 Could the Ancient Vases Be Modern Fakes? 01:59:33 The Next Challenge: Making It in Granite 02:04:24 Chinese Replicas & What “Accurate” Means 02:10:15 Final Thoughts & Outro

    #27 - Can Modern CNC Match Ancient Egyptian Precision? | Graham Van Zuilecom

  3. Sep 6

    #26 - What Sumerian Tablets Really Say About the Anunnaki | Dr. Mark Weeden

    Dr. Mark Weeden takes us through how cuneiform was deciphered, why Sumerian went unrecognised for decades, and what the Mesopotamian texts actually say about the Anunnaki. We also cover the flood myths, Göbekli Tepe, and whether the Hittites really invented iron. Dr. Mark Weeden: https://ucl.academia.edu/MarkWeeden 🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/karolypoka/subscribe%E2%81%A0 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:21 - Who is Dr. Mark Weeden 8:47 - How writing began 13:50 - The earliest tablets, seals, and bureaucracy 20:00 - What cuneiform is 24:54 - Behistun: three languages on one rock 36:06 - Hurrian, Urkesh, and the lion inscriptions 39:54 - The Tower of Babel 43:57 - Flood stories 46:50 - Atrahasis and the gods on strike 53:56 - The Anunnaki story & what the texts actually say about the Anunna 1:04:52 - Göbekli Tepe 1:09:22 - Did the Hittites invent iron? 1:22:48 - What is written on Mark's T-shirt? 1:26:52 - Closing and Outro Resources: Büklükale glass bottle study (Matsumura): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352338175_A_GLASS_PRODUCTION_CENTRE_IN_CENTRAL_ANATOLIA_BUKLUKALE_IN_RELATION_TO_ALALAKH_AND_MESOPOTAMIA The Egyptian (1954) video clip that Mark mentions: https://youtu.be/5y1ovnPT6wI?si=kccuN4siYani4WlT Cult as a Driving Force of Human History A View from Göbekli Tepe: https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/cult-as-a-driving-force-of-human-history/ Signlist: https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/osl/signlist/Overview/index.html The Sculptures and Inscription of Darius the Great on the Rock of Behistûn in Persia by L.W. King and R. Campbell Thompson: https://archive.org/details/the-sculptures-and-inscription-of-darius-the-great-on-the-rock-of-behistun-in-persia/page/n37/mode/2up Manuel d'épigraphie akkadienne by René Labat: https://archive.org/details/manueldpigraphie0000laba/page/n7/mode/2up Seals and signs: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/seals-and-signs-tracing-the-origins-of-writing-in-ancient-southwest-asia/B3C2D400F3F80A7A0162D9035C9C2804?utm_source

    #26 - What Sumerian Tablets Really Say About the Anunnaki | Dr. Mark Weeden

  4. Aug 16

    #25 - Ancient Egyptian Precision: What 3D Measurements Reveal | Marián Marčiš

    Marián Marcis is a surveyor and associate professor of photogrammetry who uses 3D measurement to test long-standing claims about ancient Egyptian stonework. In this episode, we discuss his peer-reviewed experiment in the Aswan quarry, how long the unfinished obelisk would really have taken, the saw marks on the Hordjedef sarcophagus, the famous "overcut" at Karnak, and the symmetry of Ramesses II. We also dive into how photogrammetry works, what it can and cannot tell us, and why a mobile phone is now a serious measuring instrument. Marián Marčiš: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marian-Marcis-2 https://x.com/mariusderomanu3 The problems of the obelisk revisited article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212054823000292 🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgM_Z6LX9upwutrJveOPSA/join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Chapters: 0:00 - Intro & Welcome 1:39 - Meeting in person and working together 3:58 - Who is Marián Marcis? Surveyor & photogrammetry specialist 7:28 - Why scan rocks? Marián's first trip to Egypt 13:45 - What is photogrammetry? 39:42 - Scanning Equipment: Cameras and softwares 54:22 - What limits accuracy and alternative scanning techniques 57:52 - Egypt, the unfinished obelisk, scoop marks & the competing theories 1:04:00 - How does the quarrying process look? & Engelbach's experiment 1:13:46 - Röder, Lehner & Kruglyakov studies 1:18:36 - Marián's own experiment in the Aswan quarry 1:24:25 - 15 minutes of quarrying, before & after 3D models 1:33:12 - Hatshepsut's obelisk &final remarks 1:46:18 - Citizen science & the unfinished sarcophagus of Hordjedef 1:51:40 - The circular saw claim 2:03:21 - Karnak's sixth pylon: the saw marks & the "overcut" 2:09:15 - The colossal Ramesses II hand at Karnak & the original statue 2:15:50 - Crown symmetry analysis in Luxor Temple 2:19:17 - The Ramesses head: photogrammetry vs LiDAR vs Luma AI 2:26:18 - The Serapeum box 2:32:24 - Closing thoughts & where to find Marián's work 2:35:00 - Members special & Outro

    #25 - Ancient Egyptian Precision: What 3D Measurements Reveal | Marián Marčiš

  5. Jul 26

    #24 - The Ancient Structures We Still Can’t Explain | Michael Button

    Michael Button is an ancient history graduate and YouTube creator who explores the mysteries, unanswered questions, and alternative interpretations of our ancient past. In this episode, we discuss lost civilizations, Göbekli Tepe, Hawara, ancient engineering, human origins, and how much of our prehistory may still be missing. We also dive into how Michael built a successful YouTube career, the techniques he uses to create compelling videos, and how he researches and develops his topics. Michael Button's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelButton1 Members-only Q&A video with Michael Button: https://youtu.be/OiJR7474C8U 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgM_Z6LX9upwutrJveOPSA/join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Welcome 2:45 Visiting the British Museum 5:23 Who Is Michael Button? 9:01 From YouTube to Joe Rogan 11:59 Studying Ancient History at University 19:46 Graham Hancock and Alternative Archaeology 23:43 Kalambo Falls Structure & Human Species 28:41 Who Built the Great Pyramid? 32:21 Ancient Sites Michael Wants to Visit 34:21 Discoveries Changing the Human Timeline 39:20 Neanderthals vs Homo sapiens 42:13 How Advanced Was Ancient Human Technology? 45:48 White Sands footprints in New Mexico 48:57 Göbekli Tepe and the Dawn of Civilization 56:57 What Came First: Religion, Astronomy or Engineering? 1:01:52 Lost Technology and Ancient Egyptian Precision 1:11:26 The Lost Labyrinth Beneath Hawara 1:17:07 Is the Egyptian Timeline Wrong? 1:23:33 Are Civilizations Cyclical? 1:31:55 Flood Myths 1:35:16 How Michael Researches For His Videos 1:39:32 Building a Successful YouTube Channel 1:44:12 Michael's Career Before YouTube 1:46:44 Future Videos and Finding New Topics 1:53:13 The Mystery of the Longyou Caves 1:57:24 The Underwater Pyramids of Cuba 2:02:37 What Discovery Could Rewrite Human History? 2:05:08 Predynastic Egyptian Stone Vases 2:06:05 Where to Find Michael Button 2:06:47 Closing & Special Message to Members Sources: Tooth Morphology Research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6520022/ Homo heidelbergensis Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_heidelbergensis Yunxian Skulls: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/press-office/press-releases/analysis-of-reconstructed-ancient-skull-pushes-back-our-origins-.html

    #24 - The Ancient Structures We Still Can’t Explain | Michael Button

  6. Jul 5

    #23 - Egyptology Is Changing Its Mind About Ancient Lathes | Dr. Martin Odler

    This is Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Martin Odler, Egyptologist and leading expert on ancient Egyptian copper tools. We dig into topics like: the Petrie core and the feed rate debate around its spiral drilling marks, how ancient Egyptians may have used a lathe to produce stone vases, the Giza iron plate and whether it's actually ancient, the Labyrinth of Hawara, and the evidence behind who really built the Great Pyramid. Along the way, we also cover the mysterious empty sarcophagus of Queen Hetepheres, the Sabu disc, and what modern archaeological science can still uncover about Old Kingdom technology. 🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTgM_Z6LX9upwutrJveOPSA/join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u 0:00 - Intro 2:29 - Old Kingdom Giza 7:40 - Abu Rawash 9:55 - The Heit el-Ghurab copper workshop excavation 15:16 - Was arsenic added to copper on purpose? 21:04 - The speiss discovery at Elephantine 33:11 - Experimental archaeology - recreating ancient tools and cuts 42:06 - Early iron in Egypt 51:53 - The Giza iron plate 59:51 - Who built the Great Pyramid? 1:08:08 - Underground shafts, satellite scans, and the aliens question 1:13:25 - The labyrinth of Hawara 1:17:10 - Ancient Egyptian gold & tomb of Hetepheres 1:22:20 - Stone quarrying and the myth of primitive technology 1:29:52 - Stone tools in the Bronze Age toolkit 1:38:40 - The Petrie core & the feed rate debate 1:52:20 - Stone vase workshop at Hierakonpolis 1:56:26 - Evidence for a lathe 2:12:59 - Djoser's 40,000 vases 2:17:42 - The Sabu disc and Egypt's lost craft secrets 2:26:54 - Martin's opinion on the vase scans 2:31:10 - Closing and announcement Resources: Petrie quotes: https://gizapower.com/petrie/chris8.htm

    #23 - Egyptology Is Changing Its Mind About Ancient Lathes | Dr. Martin Odler

  7. Jun 11

    #22 - Leading Egyptologist Finds Egypt's Lost Drill Tech | Dr. Martin Odler

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Martin Odler, an Egyptologist and leading expert on ancient Egyptian copper tools, to discuss his newest discovery: the earliest confirmed metal drill ever found in Egypt, dating back roughly 5,300 years. This is Part 1 of our conversation. In Part 2, we get into topics such as the Petrie core, stone vases and lathes, the Giza iron plate, the Hawara Labyrinth, and who really built the Great Pyramid. Part 2 is coming soon, subscribe so you don’t miss it. Dr. Martin Odler's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@martinodler 🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/karolypoka/subscribe⁠ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Dr. Martin Odler's books mentioned in the podcast: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Copper-Tools-Archaeopress-Egyptology/dp/1784914428 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Connections-Archaeometallurgical-University-Archaeopress/dp/1789697409 https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Ancient-Egypt-Pyramid-Culture/dp/9004524088 Sources: Middle Kingdom: papyrus Reisner II, published in Simpson, William Kelly. Papyrus Reisner II: Accounts of the Dockyard Workshop at This in the Reign of Sesostris I. Transcription and Commentary. Museum of Fine Arts, 1965. New Kingdom: notebook of Dhutmose, published in Hölzl, Regina, Michael Neumann, and Robert J. Demarée. The notebook of Dhutmose: p. Vienna ÄS 10321. Probleme der Ägyptologie 37. Brill, 2018. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:36 - Who is Dr. Martin Odler? Background & specialization 8:14 - Martin's recent research in Egypt 14:35 - Should artifacts go back to Egypt? 22:28 - Martin's presentation starts 24:21 - The earliest metal drill of Naqada 28:55 - Bow drill evidence under the microscope 36:39 - Analyzing ancient metals – microscope & XRF setup in the Petrie Museum 44:09 - Flinders Petrie – his museum, his methods & the pyramid theory he debunked 51:34 - Mark Lehner, the Edgar Cayce Foundation & the Hall of Records 54:47 - What does it mean to be a "mainstream" Egyptologist? Martin's path to copper tools 1:02:55 - The life cycle of Egyptian copper – from ore to recycling 1:09:44 - Saws and tube drills 1:12:21 - 3 books from Dr. Martin Odler & the earliest Egyptian mirror 1:16:06 - Scanning tombs & finds from the Abusir excavation 1:22:55 - Interdisciplinary research & working with archaeometallurgists 1:29:38 - Dr. Martin Odler's YouTube channel 1:30:33 - Martin's recent project at Newcastle University 1:34:02 - Myths about Egyptian copper tools, provenance & forgeries 1:37:02 - Hidden inscription on a Vienna vase everyone missed 1:40:26 - Provenance research 1:43:41 - Ancient battle axe blades & inscriptions under the microscope 1:51:38 - Outro & a teaser from Part 2

    #22 - Leading Egyptologist Finds Egypt's Lost Drill Tech | Dr. Martin Odler

  8. Apr 27

    #21 - Machining Expert on Egyptian Vase Scan Results | Chris King, Adam Young

    In this episode, precision manufacturing expert Chris King joins us to analyze the 3D scan results of ancient Egyptian vase scans from the Petrie Museum. The data reveals levels of circularity and roundness that are below what the human eye can even detect. According to Chris, simply cannot be explained by hand tools alone. The evidence points to some form of rotational, spindle-based technology that has no place in the current historical record. So who actually made these and how? Artifact Research Fundation: https://www.artifactfoundation.org/ Chris' gear: https://chrisking.com/ More in-depth scan results here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7GRmKVBiGuyphCYseciM7k?si=70raUhLTRg28IfqvlcyB7w Shining 3D: https://www.shining3d.com/metrology-solutions 🙏 Support Links: Join this channel to get access to perks: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/karolypoka/subscribe Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u Chapters: 0:00:00 - Intro 0:01:41 - The Petrie Museum Scanning Project & First Results 0:08:30 - Were These Vases Made by Hand? 0:18:55 - Heat Maps, Polishing Patches & the Lip Feature 0:22:38 - The Precision of the Vases, Who Made Them & When? 0:38:50 - 3D Printer or CNC Machine Replicate Them? 0:46:18 - Evidence of Hand Tools & Spindle Technology 0:51:10 - Ending & Outro

    #21 - Machining Expert on Egyptian Vase Scan Results | Chris King, Adam Young
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About

This channel is the home of the Ancient Technology Podcast, and my documentary work about ancient engineering, lost knowledge, and the open questions of human history. I’m Karoly Poka, a technology innovation research engineer. As a hobby, I use modern tools like 3D scanning, field research, and technical analysis to take a closer look at ancient structures, precision artifacts, and technologies that don’t fit neatly into simple explanations. Here you’ll find full podcast episodes, long-form conversations with researchers, and documentary-style investigations focused on evidence.

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