Scandinavian Rock Art with Dr James Dodd - Rock Art 156
In this episode, Alan is joined by Dr. James Dodd, a researcher at Aarhus University and board member of the Scandinavian Society for Prehistoric Art. James uses digital tools such as GIS and high-performance computing to document and analyse rock art across Scandinavia. His work reveals how prehistoric communities expressed ideas through imagery and symbolism and how modern technology can uncover patterns and connections hidden across the landscape.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Joseph Williams and AI, 3D Mapping, and Celestial Pictographs - Rock Art 155
In this episode, Alan is joined by Joseph Williams, founder of Seven Fires Corporation, to explore how Indigenous knowledge, AI, and 3D imaging intersect in the study of rock art. They discuss applications from Göbekli Tepe to Native American sites, and examine the House of the Sun pictographs in Southern California, exploring how they reflect Native American cosmology and celestial traditions.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Dr Douglas Beauchamp and the Rock Art of Oregon - Rock Art 154
In this episode, Alan is joined by Douglas Beauchamp, an arts consultant and photographer based in Oregon, whose work explores the enduring power of rock art in shaping cultural landscapes. Douglas examines how ancient engravings and visual imagery continue to speak to contemporary audiences, bridging archaeology, public art, and the study of visual memory. Through his photography and field documentation, he illuminates the ways ancient art interacts with the landscape and modern viewers.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
The Portuguese Bench Panel Deconstruction - Rock Art 153
On today’s show, Chris Webster joins Dr. Alan Garfinkel to deconstruct a fascinating rock drawing panel at Portuguese Bench near Little Lake in western California. There is so much going on with this panel that they only discuss a few of the more prominent elements and possible a few that you might not notice. Follow along by downloading the images and figure out what you can see and what you think it means.
Transcripts
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Recreating Rock Art with Stephen Townley Bassett - Rock Art 152
In this episode, Alan is joined by Stephen Townley Bassett, a forensic artist dedicated to preserving and recreating San rock art with striking accuracy. Using natural materials like ochre, charcoal, and egg shell, Stephen reconstructs ancient paintings in the same way they were originally made—millimeter by millimeter.
With decades of field experience across Southern Africa, his work highlights the intersection of art, archaeology, and conservation, offering a powerful visual record of a fragile cultural legacy under threat.
Transcripts
Links
Stephen’s Sapien’s article on ‘Re-imaginging Rock Art in Southern Africa’
Stephen Townley Bassett: Saving African Cave Art - Painted Dog Gallery
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Re-imaging Libyan Rock Art with visual artist Shefa Salem al-Baraesi - Rock Art 151
In this episode, Alan is joined by visual artist Shefa Salem al‑Baraesi, a Benghazi‑based creator whose oil paintings re‑imagine Libya’s archaeological heritage—like the inverted‑figure boat scene from the Acacus cave art—and ancient rituals such as the Kaska dance. Through her realistic, large‑scale works, Shefa transforms written history and myth into evocative visual narratives that resonate with everyday Libyans. Her exhibitions, I Am Libya and Ethnolibya, bring these ancestral images forward as a living, shared national memory.
Transcripts
Links
Artists Exploring Libya's History, Cultural Resilience and Rebirth
Shefa Salem: a Libyan artist, inspired by the history of her country
‘All my work is Libya’: Five emerging Libyan artists to watch
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Māori Rock Art with Dr Gerard O'Regan - Rock Art 150
In this episode, Alan is joined by Dr Gerard O’Regan, a Māori archaeologist and rock art specialist dedicated to preserving the ancient artworks of Aotearoa. With over three decades of research and fieldwork, Gerard shares how these powerful images—painted with natural pigments like red ochre and charcoal—offer a glimpse into early Māori life, belief, and identity.
From the limestone shelters of the South Island to emerging discoveries in the North, Gerard’s work weaves together archaeology, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural stewardship, protecting a fragile visual legacy through Māori-led conservation and community partnerships.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Social Stories In Stone! Community Archaeology and Rock Art with Dr Tertia Barrett - Rock Art 148
In this episode, Alan is joined by by Dr. Tertia Barnett, a leading archaeologist whose work bridges scientific research and community engagement in the field of rock art. Dr. Barnett shares insights from her role as Principal Investigator on Scotland’s Rock Art Project, as well as her previous work on the Wadi al-Ajal Rock Art Project in Libya. Together they discuss the social and cultural dimensions of rock art that highlights the importance of collaboration, accessibility, and inclusivity in understanding ancient visual traditions.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Sexual Dimorphism and Human Hand Prints in the Upper Palaeolithic with Dr Dean Snow - Rock Art 147
In this week’s episode, Dr. Alan speaks with archaeologist and emeritus professor of anthropology, Dr. Dean Snow. A leading expert in ancient populations and Paleolithic cave art, Dr. Snow shares insights into his groundbreaking research on hand stencils in Ice Age caves and what they reveal about gender and social structures in prehistoric societies. Together, they explore the broader implications of interpreting early human symbolism, rock art traditions around the world, and the evolving role of science in cultural heritage preservation.
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Gender and Expression in Prehistoric Art with Dr Leslie Van Gelder - Rock Art 146
n this week’s episode Dr Alan speaks with archaeologist and educator, Dr Leslie Van Gelder, about the intricate world of prehistoric gender expression with a special focus on finger flutings markings found in Rouffignac Cave—home to some of the most enigmatic finger markings in Ice Age Europe.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Palaeolithic Rock Art of the Côa Valley with Dr Thierry Aubry - Rock Art 145
In this week’s episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Thierry Aubry, Research Associate at Fundação Côa Parque. Together, they explore fascinating topics related to Dr. Aubry’s latest research, shedding light on groundbreaking discoveries and their broader implications.
Transcripts
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Kimberly Rock Art with Dr Damien Finch - Rock Art 144
In this episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne about Kimberly Rock Art and his work on the application of radiocarbon dating to determine the age of rock art. They discuss how scientific techniques can be applied to past human activity and, of course, rock art!
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Discussing a Creation Story Panel at Little Petroglyph Canyon - Rock Art 143
Dr. Alan Garfinkel is joined by Chris Webster to discuss a very unique rock art panel discovered at Little Petroglyph Canyon in the Coso Range north of Ridgecrest, California. It’s a creation story 2000 to 4000 years old and has some interesting elements. They discuss the image on this week’s episode. What do you think the elements represent?
Transcripts
Sources
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
World Rock Art with Dr Benjamin Smith - Rock Art 142
In this week’s episode, Dr Alan chats to Dr Benjamin Smith, a leading archaeological researcher and academic from the University of Western Australia. From directing world-renowned rock art research to shaping national policy in post-apartheid South Africa, Dr Smith’s career spans continents and decades, blending cutting-edge science with a deep commitment to ethical leadership and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Palaeolithic Cave Art with Dr Angharad Jones and Hannah Andrews from Creswell Crags Archaeological Museum - Rock Art 141
In this week’s episode, Dr Alan chats to Dr Angharad Jones and Hannah Andrews from the archaeological museum Creswell Crags, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the UK. Located within a limestone gorge and winding Pleistocene caves, the site has some of the earliest examples of Palaeolithic rock art!
Links
Introducing… Dr Angharad Jones, Collections Officer at Creswell Crags
Verification of the age of Palaeolithic rock art at Creswell
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
The Mistress of Animals - Rock Art 140
Today, Chris Webster joins Alan to talk about a rock art panel from Arizona. It’s got a handful of elements but a bug story to tell. We try to interpret some of the elements and Alan tells us how to read the others.
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Quantum Consciousness - Rock Art 139
Everything in this world is connected. On this episode, Alan and Chris discuss shamanism in relation to the quantum consciousness.
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
The Ancient Art Archive with Stephen Alvarez - Rock Art 138
In this week’s episode, Dr Alan sits down with Stephen Alvarez, internationally acclaimed National Geographic photojournalist and documentarian behind the Mural of America, an exploration into the stories embedded into remarkable rock art sites.
Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/rockart/138
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Dr Aaron Wright, Archaeology Southwest - Rock Art 137
In this week’s episode Alan chats to Dr Aaron Wright, a leading archaeologist at Archaeology Southwest. With a Ph.D. in Anthropology, Aaron has spent years studying the Hohokam and Patayan traditions of the southwestern U.S., focusing on cultural landscapes and rock art. His groundbreaking work on the South Mountain Rock Art Project and his book Religion on the Rocks earned him the Don D. and Catherine S. Fowler Prize. Aaron is currently leading efforts to establish the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument, working to preserve and highlight the significance of this unique cultural landscape.
Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/rockart/137
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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
Affiliates and Sponsors
Pacific Rim Rock Art with Rachel Hoerman and the Huliaupa'a Community - Rock Art 136
In this week’s episode, Dr Alan speaks with historic preservation specialist and project coordinator of Huliauapa’a, Rachel Hoerman. Along with community members Andree-Michelle Conley Kapoi and her teenage twins, Anais and Oisin, who are involved in the Stewardship and Protection Plan Project for the kiʻi pōhaku at Nu'u Refuge, Kaupō, Maui, they speak about Pacific Rim rock art and heritage stewardship in Hawai’i.
Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/rockart/136
Links
Contact
ArchPodNet
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