The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast

Archaeology Pod Network
Archaeology Pod Network
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Join Professor Carlton Shield Chief Gover on an immersive journey through the heart of North America's Great Plains as we uncover the rich and fascinating histories buried beneath the prairie. In each episode, we delve into the latest archaeological discoveries, past cultures, and historical insights that shape our understanding of this vast and storied region. From ancient artifacts to the echoes of Indigenous civilizations, "The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast" brings you closer to the hidden past of the Great Plains, revealing the stories of the people who once called this land home. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, history buff, or curious mind, tune in to explore the mysteries of the Great Plains with us.

  1. 4d ago

    Around the Fire: Small Animals and Paleoindian Camps with Dr. McKenna Litynski - Ep 46

    In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. McKenna Litynski to discuss her recent article, “Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming.” While Paleoindian archaeology often focuses on mammoths and other large game, this study demonstrates how tiny animal remains can provide equally important insights into the lives of the first peoples of North America. Dr. Litynski explains how archaeologists distinguish natural from human-created bone accumulations, what burned microfaunal remains reveal about activities around Paleoindian hearths, and why these small bones likely represent everyday camp behaviors rather than food waste. The conversation highlights how careful analysis of overlooked evidence is transforming our understanding of Paleoindian lifeways and the complexity of daily life at one of the Great Plains' most significant Early Paleoindian sites. Article Citation: Litynski, McKenna L., Todd A. Surovell, K. McCarty, C. Bothwell, T. R. Murdock, S. M. BenChaabane, D. N. Walker, P. H. Sanders, Spencer Pelton, Robert L. Kelly, Madeline E. Mackie, and Matthew O'Brien 2026 Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 73:105849. Links Article Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X26002841 Plains Anthropological Society Website Plains Anthropologist Online Journal Access The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/46 Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  2. Jul 9

    Adornment and Exchange at the River Bend Site, Wyoming with Dr. Spencer Pelton and Alexis Hollander - Ep 45

    In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. Spencer R. Pelton and Alexis Hollander to discuss their recent article, “Early Eighteenth Century Plains Indian Adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming.” Together they explore one of the largest adornment assemblages ever documented in Wyoming, examining locally produced beads and pendants alongside exotic materials that reveal extensive Indigenous exchange networks during the early post-Contact period. The conversation highlights how new technologies, including the introduction of metal tools, transformed ornament production while Indigenous communities maintained long-standing traditions of craftsmanship and identity. Spencer and Alexis also discuss what archaeological collections can reveal beyond archaeology, including ancient freshwater mussel ecology, and how the River Bend site offers a unique window into technological innovation, trade, and Indigenous adaptation on the eighteenth-century Great Plains. Article Citation: Pelton, S. R., Eckles, D. G., Johnen, C. C., Shimek, R., Kirkwood, D. R., Hollander, A., & Buff, C. (2025). Early eighteenth century plains Indian adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 3–28. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/45 Links Early eighteenth century plains Indian adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website The APN Awards: The APN Awards - Nominations Open! Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  3. Jun 25

    Filling the Gap: New Evidence of Paleoindian Life in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa with Dr. Thomas Loebel and John Lambert - Ep 44

    In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by John M. Lambert and Thomas J. Loebel to discuss their recent article with Dr. David Easterla, “Addressing a Gap in the Late Pleistocene Record of the Midwest: Fluted Points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa.” The conversation explores why this region has long been underrepresented in Paleoindian research and how the documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including dozens of previously unreported specimens, helps illuminate the lives of some of North America's earliest inhabitants. Lambert and Loebel discuss the challenges and value of integrating museum collections, private collections, and published records, as well as what Clovis and Folsom projectile points reveal about technology, mobility, and land use across the Midcontinent and Great Plains. The episode highlights how overlooked collections and regional documentation projects continue to reshape our understanding of Paleoindian settlement, movement, and adaptation during the late Pleistocene. Article Citation: Lambert, J. M., Loebel, T. J., & Easterla, D. A. (2025). Addressing a gap in the late Pleistocene record of the Midwest: fluted points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 40–63. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/44 Links The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  4. Jun 11

    Who Gets Published? Gender Inequity in Plains Anthropology with Dr. Phyllis Johnson and Erica Carmody - Ep 43

    In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Phyllis Johnson and Erica Carmody about their recent open-access (no subscription required) Plains Anthropologist article, “Patriarchy Persists: Gender Inequities in Plains Anthropologist Publishing from 1954 to 2023.” Drawing on nearly seventy years of publication data, they examine persistent gender disparities in archaeological publishing, discuss why women's authorship rates have remained disproportionately low and, in some cases, declined since the early 1990s, and explore the structural factors that shape scholarly visibility and career advancement. The conversation considers what these patterns reveal about the history of Plains archaeology, how representation influences the production of archaeological knowledge, and what journals, institutions, and professional organizations can do to create a more equitable future for the discipline. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/43 Links Johnson, P. S., & Carmody, E. (2026). Patriarchy persists: Gender inequities in Plains Anthropologist publishing from 1954 to 2023. Plains Anthropologist, 1–20. The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website Plains Anthropologist Online Journal Access Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  5. May 28

    Clay and Connection: New Insights from the Tobias Site with Dr. Bob Hoard and Dr. Zachary Day - Ep 42

    In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Robert Hoard and Zachary Day to discuss their recent article, “Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 — evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site.” Together, they explore the significance of the Tobias site within Great Bend aspect archaeology and the broader ancestral Wichita world of the Central Plains. The conversation examines the Little River focus, the goals of the 2019 excavations, and the surprising discoveries revealed through ceramic compositional analysis. Although pottery was likely produced locally at Tobias, the clay sources near the site were not used, raising new questions about resource procurement, mobility, and technological choices among Plains communities. How do archaeologists distinguish trade from migration or cultural influence? What can pottery tell us about ancient interaction networks stretching hundreds of miles across North America? This episode explores how even small ceramic fragments can reshape our understanding of Great Plains connectivity, identity, and exchange. Article Citation: Hoard, Robert J., and Zachary R. Day (2026) Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 - Evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site. Plains Anthropologist, 1–25. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/42 Links Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 — evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site Plains Anthropologist Journal Access The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  6. May 14

    PROMO - Monte Verde Discussion Panel with Drs. Shane Miller, Spencer Pelton, Jesse Tune, and Carlton Gover - Ethno 34

    Hey everyone! It is that time of year again: graduation events, graduate degree defenses, final exams, and the hacking of major collegiate learning platforms. So Carlton is taking a quick break, and we will be back with our regular scheduled programming next episode. Please enjoy this episode of the Ethnocynology Podcast, where Carlton was a guest. Links The Ethnocynology Podcast - Episode 34 The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  7. Apr 30

    Kansas Archaeology Month Event at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center - Ep 41

    On this week’s episode, Carlton breaks down his recent Kansas Archaeology Month event at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, titled: Field Explorers: Archaeology Edition. Carlton talks about the events and planning leading up the event and the importance of science communication to younger audiences. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/41 Links Kansas Children’s Discovery Center’s Website The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

  8. Apr 16

    The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) with Chris Nicholson - Ep 40

    In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Christopher Nicholson, Director of the Center for Digital Antiquity, about the role of digital archives in preserving and accessing archaeological data. In the first half, Chris introduces tDAR (the Digital Archaeological Record) and explains how it serves as a centralized repository for archaeological reports, datasets, and other research materials. He discusses the challenges of inaccessible or “lost” data, especially gray literature, and how tDAR helps ensure that valuable information from past projects remains available for future research. In the second half, the conversation turns to the relevance of tDAR for Great Plains archaeology. Chris highlights the types of regional resources available on the platform and how researchers, students, and professionals can use these materials to support new research and teaching. He also reflects on the future of digital archaeology and the importance of long-term data preservation and open access for the discipline. Transcripts For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/40 Links Dr. Chris Nicholson ASU Profile tDAR Website The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN 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 Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Join Professor Carlton Shield Chief Gover on an immersive journey through the heart of North America's Great Plains as we uncover the rich and fascinating histories buried beneath the prairie. In each episode, we delve into the latest archaeological discoveries, past cultures, and historical insights that shape our understanding of this vast and storied region. From ancient artifacts to the echoes of Indigenous civilizations, "The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast" brings you closer to the hidden past of the Great Plains, revealing the stories of the people who once called this land home. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, history buff, or curious mind, tune in to explore the mysteries of the Great Plains with us.

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