
120 episodes

The Archaeology Show Archaeology Podcast Network
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- Science
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4.1 • 34 Ratings
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The Archaeology Show is produced by the Archaeology Podcast Network. It's hosted by a archaeologist's Chris Webster and Rachel Roden. We will interview people from around the world in a variety of topics. Enjoy the ride.
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Repatriation of the Benin Bronze with Neil Curtis
This is a special episode of The Archaeology Show hosted by Tristan Boyle.
Recently it was announced that a Benin Bronze, a statue head of an "Oba" or king, would be returned from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland to Nigeria.
Head of Special Collections, Neil Curtis describes the process of repatriating the item as well as what that means for other items in the collection.
Recently a number of books have been published that talk about the punitive expedition of 1897, where the British razed the city of Benin (modern day Nigeria) and looted various items from the people of Benin. Over the years, these cultural items were bought or taken into many museums, including the British Museum, National Museum of Scotland and Berlin Museum. Dan Hicks' recent book The Brutish Museums (Interviewed on Modern Myth) and Barnaby Philip's Loot both describe the violent removal of the Benin Bronzes by the British and where they are held today.
Neil, however, makes the point that repatriating items back to communities is not a reactive process, and that this item in question had been in discussion for a while.
Links
The University of Aberdeen's Museums
News Article about repatriation
Neil Curtis
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
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Two archaeologists visit Chichen Itza
We recently had the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza in Yucatán, Mexico. It was an incredible experience, but, being archaeologists, we of course came away with more questions than were answered! In this episode we give a brief overview Mayan civilization, including Chichen Itza, and then talk about our experience on an incredibly touristy tour! The take away is, do a little research ahead of time (like listening to this podcast!) to help prepare yourself before visiting the site!
Links
Chichen Itza (Park website)
Chichen Itza
The Sunlight Effect of Kukulcan or the History of a line
Pre-Hispanic city of Chichen Itza (UNESCO)
Chichen Itza (Britannica)
Roadster Adventures
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
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Dhaka Muslin, Bohemian Graves, and a Bone Tool
In this week’s archaeology news, we discuss three articles that captured our attention! The first is all about the ancient Dahka fabric, how it was produced, and how that knowledge has been lost to time. The second is an article about a Bohemian grave in the Czech Republic with unique grave goods. And the final story is about an ancient bone tool found in Australia.
Links
The Legendary Fabric that No One Knows How to Make (BBC)
Gold and precious gems unearthed in a 5th-century grave in Bohemia (Live Science)
Statement from the East Bohemian Museum in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Rare bone tool artefact revealed (Cosmos)
Video
https://youtu.be/pDADDkLoDSc
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
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Ancient Hazelnuts, Artistic Neanderthals and a Pompeiian Chariot
This week in archaeology news we discuss three archaeology stories int he news. First up is an ancient hazelnut shell found in Scotland that has been radiocarbon dated to more than 10,000 years ago. Second, we discuss the growing evidence for Neandertal, Denisovan and early Homo Sapien collaborations and sharing of ideas that contributed to an explosion of creativity and art. Finally, Pompeii is back in the news! This time an intact ceremonial chariot was discovered, and we discuss this contribution to what we know about Pompeiian society in 79 CE.
Links
Hazelnut Shell Sheds Light on Life in Scotland More Than 10,000 Years Ago (Smithsonian Magazine)
Neanderthals helped create early human art, researcher says (The Guardian)
A Lamborghini of Chariots is Discovered at Pompeii (NPR)
‘Miraculously’ Well-Preserved Ceremonial Chariot Found at Villa Outside of Pompeii (Smithsonian Magazine)
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
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Letter packets, Diadems and Ancient Bogota
This week was packed full of interesting archaeology news stories, so join us for a discussion about the 3 that caught our eye! First up is a story about using x-ray microtomography to virtually unfold historical letters. Then, in segment 2 we cover a story about a burial site in Spain that indicates that the social and political rulers of the culture may have been women. Finally, we discuss an innovative new approach to studying Bogota's prehistoric irrigation system.
Links
Unlocking history through automated virtual unfolding of sealed documents imaged by X-ray microtomography
Emblems and spaces of power during the Argaric Bronze Age at La Almoloya, Murcia
Ancient woman may have been powerful European leader, 4,000-year-old treasure suggests
El Argar
Aerial Photographs Uncover Bogotá’s Indigenous Hydraulic System
Roadster Adventures
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
@archpodnet (Instagram and Twitter)
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
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Timelines - Egypt, Peru and China: 2600-2500 BCE
For the last few months we’ve been talking about a new type of episode and here’s the first one: welcome to Timelines. This idea is all about taking an anchor event or time period that pretty much everyone has heard about and then looking at what was happening in other parts of the world at the same time. The idea is that sometimes these big anchor events can overshadow other really important things. Our first episode has the building of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt as the anchor. We also talk about what’s happening in Peru and China at the same time.
Links
Egypt
“Pyramids at Giza” from National Geographic
“Pyramids of Giza” Britannica
Estimating Population in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Agriculture
Caral in Peru
Sacred City of Caral-Supe
Caral
First City in the New World?
Quipu: South America's Ancient Writing System
Norte Chico civilization
China: Majiayao Culture
Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities
Majiayao Culture
Pottery Production, Mortuary Practice, and Social Complexity in the Majiayao Culture, NW China (ca. 5300-4000 BP)
A Discussion on Early Metals and the Origins of Bronze Casting in China
Yellow River and Yangtze River: Centers of Chinese Civilization?
https://www.britannica.com/place/China/4th-and-3rd-millennia-bce#ref589720
Majiayao Culture from Gotheburg.com
Contact
Chris Webster
chris@archaeologypodcastnetwork.com
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
Affiliates
Wildnote
TeePublic
Timeular
Customer Reviews
Audio
Guests need to step up to the microphone. The grad student’s voice fades out mid sentence and the hosts volume is much higher.
So much to love.
Thank you. The quality is excellent and the output is amazing. I listen nearly everyday.
I love this Podcast.
This isn’t my field at all, but love the range. Tribalism is my business, and enjoy the thoughts you guys are throwing out there! I live on an Indian Reservation (a tribal universe), and my identity is from the dirt I walk on. I really enjoy your discourse.