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.

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The Mystery of Rongorongo, an Etruscan Well, and a Lost Convent - Ep 338
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

The Mystery of Rongorongo, an Etruscan Well, and a Lost Convent - Ep 338

This week, we’re exploring three archaeology articles in the news this week. First, we head to Rapa Nui, where new research into the mysterious Rongorongo script could reshape our understanding of when and how writing developed on the island. Then, we examine an Etruscan ritual well filled with offerings to the goddess Uni—and later, human remains. Finally, we travel to Denmark, where plans for an underground parking garage led archaeologists to the unexpected discovery of a long-lost medieval convent.

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Journal Club: July 2026 - TAS 337
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Journal Club: July 2026 - TAS 337

Join the APN crew for a monthly discussion of recent news articles. This month we look into two very different questions about archaeology and how we interpret the past. First, we dig into the growing role of AI and large language models in archaeological research, discussing hallucinations, data ownership, consent, open access, and why critical thinking is more important than ever. Then, we examine the case of a man who survived a severe facial injury roughly 100,000 years ago—and ask whether the more interesting story is really ancient violence, or the care and community that allowed him to survive.

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Geoglyphs in Brazil, a Deadly Polish King's Tomb and a Fresco Reconstruction in Pompeii - TAS 336
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Geoglyphs in Brazil, a Deadly Polish King's Tomb and a Fresco Reconstruction in Pompeii - TAS 336

This week we cover three new archaeology news stories! First up, a new LiDAR study in Brazil is revealing that the Amazonian ancient civilization of Aquiry may have been much larger than previously known. Then, a tomb in Poland that was opened in 1973 harbored a deadly fungus that caused the deaths of many of the researchers that worked on it, like a modern day Mummy’s Curse! And finally, archaeologists at Pompeii are reconstructing a ceiling mosaic piece by painstaking piece.

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Maya Astronomer Named, and Controversy Over Utah Monuments and Smithsonian Signage - Ep 335
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Maya Astronomer Named, and Controversy Over Utah Monuments and Smithsonian Signage - Ep 335

In today’s archaeology news episode, we discuss three articles, starting with a discovery at the Maya city of Xiulán, Guatemala: a small room interpreted as a scribe/astronomer workspace with 11 hieroglyphs naming Sak Ton Wax (“white-chested fox”) and more than 50 mathematical “micro texts” tracking Venus and Mars as the author. We then cover a report that President Trump reduced Grand Staircase–Escalante and Bears Ears by nearly three million acres, opening lands to mining and ending the Bears Ears Commission’s tribal co-stewardship. Finally, we discuss a report on an executive order to post warnings outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History about “inaccurate information,” and we argue it politicizes history and promotes alternative narratives.

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Save Ancient Studies Alliance - Ep 334
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Save Ancient Studies Alliance - Ep 334

On today’s episode Chris interviews Dr. David Danzig from the Save Ancient Studies Alliance. It’s a great website dedicated to education and outreach. They’ve got a conference coming up on July 19th and 20th for people listening in real time. It’s free and open to all. Check out the livestream options at the links below.

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