Ancient Inscriptions - Ep 339

In this episode of The Archaeology Show, we follow three discoveries that reveal how much ancient meaning can survive—and how much can still elude us. First, we look at rare Neolithic obsidian arrowheads from central Anatolia, etched with one-of-a-kind geometric designs that took real effort to carve, yet remain impossible to interpret. Then we head deep into Spain’s Cova de les Dones, where a hidden chamber holds 120 Latin inscriptions—evidence of an organized Roman cult centered on a mysterious “Lady,” Domina, and the name “MALACI.” Finally, we travel to Wetar Island in eastern Indonesia, where a 4,000-year-old painted stone plaque provides the first portable example of Austronesian Painting Tradition art, suggesting seafarers carried shared symbols and identities across the ocean long before pottery arrived.

Links

Segment 1

• Cryptic Engravings On 9,000-Year-Old Arrowheads Hint At Unique Neolithic Traditions, But Archaeologists Can’t Figure Out What They Mean

• From PLOS One: Intentional incisions on Neolithic Obsidian arrowheads from Central Anatolia: A techno-functional and iconographic approach

Segment 2

• 120 Roman-Era Inscriptions Found Deep in a Spanish Cave Point to a Mysterious Goddess Named 'Domina'

Segment 3

• Ancient Austronesian seafarers carried symbolic art 4,000 years ago

• PNAS Article: 4000-year-old painted plaque from Southeast Indonesia reveals Austronesian Painting Tradition preceded Neolithic pottery

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• Rachel Roden

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