The Archaeology Show

Dig into the world of archaeology with hosts Chris Webster and Rachel Roden. This show brings you the latest news, insights, and stories from the field and beyond. Whether you're a pro or just curious, there's something here for you. Enjoy the ride.

Early Hominin Structures, Pompeii Discoveries, and the Band of Holes in Peru - Ep 328
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Early Hominin Structures, Pompeii Discoveries, and the Band of Holes in Peru - Ep 328

In this week’s episode, we cover three archaeology news stories. First up, a Nature-backed report on unusually old woodworking from Kalambo Falls, where waterlogged conditions preserved a wedge, digging stick, and notched logs dated by luminescence to about 476,000 years ago, suggesting advanced planning and challenging simple “Stone Age” assumptions. We then discuss a Pompeii discovery of two skeletons outside the city walls near Porta Stabia, including a man apparently shielding his head with a terracotta bowl and carrying an oil lamp, and we debate the benefits and risks of an AI-generated scene reconstruction. Finally, we examine Peru’s Monte Sierpe “Band of Holes,” over 5,200 aligned pits mapped by drones and analyzed via microbotanical remains, with a study proposing early market use and later Inca-style accounting patterns resembling quipu, while we question how and why such a vast system was built and used.

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Timelines: Linking Petra, the Nazca Lines, and the Great Wall of China - Ep 319
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Timelines: Linking Petra, the Nazca Lines, and the Great Wall of China - Ep 319

In this “Timelines” episode, we connect three iconic sites built during the same era: Petra’s stunning rock-cut city in Jordan, the mysterious Nazca Lines etched across Peru’s desert, and the monumental Great Wall of China. Explore how the Nabataeans engineered Petra’s hidden oasis, why the Nazca created massive geoglyphs only visible from above, and what drove dynasties to construct thousands of miles of wall across China. Discover the origins, uses, and enduring mysteries of these world wonders, and see how ancient ingenuity and ambition shaped civilizations across continents—all within a shared moment in history.

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Ancient Hunters, Lost Gates, and Mammoth Masterpieces! - Ep 303
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Ancient Hunters, Lost Gates, and Mammoth Masterpieces! - Ep 303

This week on The Archaeology Show, we explore an ancient hunting toolkit from West Texas, revealing ingenious technology. Then, we journey to Peru's mysterious "Gate of the Gods" and ponder its lost civilization connections. Finally, we uncover stunning Paleolithic mammoth ivory artifacts from Ukraine, showcasing ancient artistry. Tune in for a global adventure into our fascinating past!

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Go behind the headlines, and discover real history and archaeology news.