A Little Bit of Zooarch, a Little Bit of Palaeontology...Let's Talk Megafauna and Extinct Species - Animals 32
Picture a world where dormice are the size of cats and hyenas roamed around Europe: welcome to the Pleistocene! Upon suggestion from one of our listeners, we explore the time period where zooarchaeology and palaeontology overlap.
Bibliography
Palombo, M.R. (2001). Endemic elephants of the Mediterranean Islands: knowledge, problems and perspectives. The World of Elephants, Proceedings of the 1st International Congress (October 16–20, 2001, Rome): 486–491.
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/greek-giants
Leighton, R (1999) Sicily Before History: An Archaeological Survey from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age, Cornell University Press
https://beta.capeia.com/paleobiology/2017/09/21/the-lost-world-of-island-dwarfs-and-giants
Kurten, B. (2007) Pleistocene Mammals of Europe, USA: Aldine Transaction
https://twilightbeasts.org/2014/04/28/the-forgotten-sabretooth/
Pettitt, P. B., Bahn, P. & Ripoll, S. (2007). Palaeolithic Cave Art at Creswell Crags in European Context. Oxford University Press.
Charles, R., and Jacobi, R.M. (1994) "The lateglacial fauna from the Robin Hood Cave, Creswell Crags: a re-assessment." Oxford journal of archaeology 13.1: 1-32.
Moleón, Marcos, et al. (2020) "Rethinking megafauna." Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287.1922
Contact
Alex FitzpatrickTwitter: @archaeologyfitz
Simona FalangaTwitter: @CrazyBoneLady
Alex’s Blog: Animal Archaeology
Music "Coconut - (dyalla remix)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2UiKoouqaY
Affiliates
Find this show on the educational podcast app, Lyceum.fm!
The Dirt Caves In: LIVE! - Dirt 126
If you were a pre-Homo sapiens hominin, the place to see and be seen was Africa in what is today colloquially known as the Cradle of Humankind. True to form, we're late to the party, but come along with us anyway for a tour of the cave sites that revolutionized paleoanthropology.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the live show!
Links
Oldest Homo sapiens bones ever found shake foundations of the human story (The Guardian)
Scientists discover the oldest Homo sapiens fossils at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco (Phys.org)
Skull Fossils in Cave Show Mix of Human Relatives Roamed South Africa (The New York Times)
Contemporaneity of Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and early Homo erectus in South Africa (Science)
‘Little Foot’ hominin emerges from stone after millions of years (Nature)
World’s oldest camp bedding found in South African cave (Science)
Fire and grass-bedding construction 200 thousand years ago at Border Cave, South Africa (Science)
200,000 years ago, humans preferred to kip cozy (Science Daily)
South Africa’s Blombos cave is home to the earliest drawing by a human (The Convo)
Contact
Email the Dirt Podcast: thedirtpodcast@gmail.com
Affiliates
Just the Boyz: Emails, Gaming, and Columbus - Ruins 45
We are now uploading video versions of the podcast to our YouTube channel thanks to Zencastr's new video podcast component. You can find the video version of this episode by going to our YouTube Channel "A Life in Ruins"
In this episode, the guys gather around their mics and webcams to talk about a recent email they received at the beginning of the new year and the impact it had on them. In the second segment, they actually begin to talk about archaeology through a conversation about the PC game Dawn of Man. This leads the guys down a path to talking about how cultural evolution is portrayed in popular gaming and a hypothetical discussion regarding what would the Americas have looked like if Europeans hadn't arrived in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Contact
Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast
Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast
Twitter: @alifeinruinspod
Website: www.alifeinruins.com
Affiliates
Ancient Beer, Stolen Stonehenge Stones, and an Ancient Chinese City - TAS 113
Welcome to another archaeology news episode! We have three stories to discuss this week. We start with what’s basically an ancient beer factory in Egypt. Then we travel to Stonehenge in England to talk about the origin of the inside circle of stones called the Bluestones. Finally, we look at an ancient Chinese City that archaeologists have spent many years excavation.
We discuss these articles from the perspective of an archaeologist to show how a skeptical and scientific perspective can clear up what journalists think is important about recent discoveries.
Links
Ancient beer factory unearthed by archaeologists in Egypt - NBC News
Stonehenge may be a rebuilt stone circle from Wales, new research suggests - CNN
Dig at ancient site uncovers capital of first unified state - China Daily
Chinese Find Ancient Xianyang, Lost Capital of the Qin Dynasty - Ancient Origins
Contact
Chris Webster
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
Affiliates
Florida Archaeology, Belonging, and Phil Collins feat. Shelby Foy - Dig It 24
In this episode, we "sit" down with Shelby Foy, a CRM archaeologist based in Florida! Listen in as we chat with her about life, her academic experience, and finding her passion in archaeology. How does Phil Collins tie in to this? Well, listen and find out!
Links
Shelby's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbfo/
Contact
Show
Twitter: @idigitpodcast
Email: idigitpodcast@gmail.com
Alyssa
Instagram: aal.archaeology
Twitter: Lyssakemi
Michaela
Instagram: mm_digitalized
Twitter: m_mauriello
Affiliates
DNA: The Dirt, uh, Finds a Way - Dirt 125
This year is the 20th anniversary of the first publication of the Human Genome Project, and the 10th anniversary of the Neanderthal Genome Project. Since both of these projects began, DNA research has changed what we know about the human story more than we could ever possibly have imagined. Come learn about a tiny fraction of this knowledge with us, and listen to our brains explode.
Links
Protein Synthesis: an Epic on the Cellular Level (Internet Archive)
Human Genome Project Information Archive 1990–2003 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Human Genome Project FAQ (National Human Genome Research Institute)
Game of chances: inheritance is a question of probability, not destiny (The Guardian)
Why Race Is Not a Thing, According to Genetics (National Geographic)
The Neanderthal DNA you carry may have surprisingly little impact on your looks, moods (Science)
Neanderthal DNA highlights complexity of COVID risk factors (Nature)
Neanderthal DNA in Modern Human Genomes Is Not Silent (The Scientist)
Multiple lines of mysterious ancient humans interbred with us (National Geographic)
Denisovan DNA in the genome of early East Asians (Max Planck Gesellscheft)
The complete genome sequence of a Neandertal from the Altai Mountains (Nature)
The CRISPR-baby scandal: what’s next for human gene-editing (Nature)
Neanderthal-like ‘mini-brains’ created in lab with CRISPR (Nature)
This Woman Is Her Own Twin: What Is Chimerism? (Live Science)
The Case of the Woman Who Was Her Own Twin (Genetics Illustrated)
Contact
Email the Dirt Podcast: thedirtpodcast@gmail.com
Affiliates
Hoo dis? with Tash and Raven - Ruins 44
In this episode, we are pleased to have Raven Todd da Silva and Natasha Billson return to the Podcast. Raven is another OG from the early episodes, appearing on episode 9 and runs a very popular Instagram and Youtube Channel called “Dig it with Raven” and Natasha aka Tash was recently on episode 29, and runs a youtube channel called Behind the Trowel. If you follow us on Social Media, then you know that both of these archaeologists are a part of the Archaeology Avengers and we are super excited to have them back on the podcast. We discuss Netflix’s new hit movie, The Dig, and discuss the archaeology of the site on which the movie is based on. We also discuss how archaeology is portrayed in the media.
Contact for Guests
Tash:
Instagram: @tash_archaeo
Twitter: @Tash_Archaeo
YouTube: Behind the Trowel
Raven
Instagram: @digitwithraven
Twitter: @digitwithraven
YouTube: Dig it With Raven
Contact
Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast
Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast
Twitter: @alifeinruinspod
Website: www.alifeinruins.com
Affiliates
#AnthroDay 2021 with Dr. Katie Sampek - TAS 112
AnthroDay is a celebration of Anthropology that the American Anthropological Association hosts every year. On today's episode we talk to the Archaeology Chair of the AAA, Dr. Katie Sampek about what you can expect to see at the AnthroDay page on the AAA website and what the mission of AnthroDay is. We also talk about Dr. Sampek's research regarding historical archaeology, landscape archaeology, and her work at Harvard.
Links
Heritage, Tourism, and Race - Heritage Voices Episode 48
Contact
Chris Webster
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
Affiliates
Essential low tech equipment with Eric Olson - Archaeotech 148
Eric Olson is back on the ArchaeoTech podcast with his list of low tech, low cost software and equipment that he thinks everyone should know about. We cover a lot of ground in this podcast! What do you use that fits this description that you think everyone should use?
Links/Sources
Olson, Eric 2019 The Shirey Meadow Site: A Comparative Study of Shovel Testing and Pedestrian Survey. Pennsylvania Archaeologist 89(1):61-74.
Contact
Chris Webster
Twitter: @archeowebby
Paul Zimmerman
Twitter: @lugal
Email: paul@lugal.com
Affiliates
Heritage, Tourism, and Race - HeVo 48
Today’s podcast features returning guest Dr. Antoinette Jackson, Professor Department of Anthropology Chair at the University of South Florida. We go in depth about her new book Heritage, Tourism, and Race: The Other Side of Leisure. This book was written in response to the common question, “Why are there so few minority visitors to National Parks?”. In response, Dr. Jackson challenges mainstream beliefs about leisure and race, as well as highlighting African American active and diverse pursuits of leisure in spite of the legal and social exclusion. We explore the original enslaved African caving history at Mammoth Cave, the Green Book, Black entrepreneurship, and Black beaches during segregation. We close out by discussing how COVID-19 reframes the concepts of space and exclusion for those who have maybe never had to think about it before, as well as where Dr. Jackson sees the Black Lives Matter movement taking the conversations and hopes present within the book.
Links
Book: Heritage, Tourism, and Race: The Other Side of Leisure
Book: Speaking for the Enslaved: Heritage Interpretation at Antebellum Plantation Sites
Dr. Jackson: atjackson@usf.edu
Contact
Jessica
Lyle
Please Visit Our Sponsors
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe
Affiliates
Sutton Hoo "Ghost Ship" and The Dig - Ep 111
With the recent release of The Dig, a Netflix film focused on the excavation of the incredible Anglo-Saxon burial ship at Sutton Hoo, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at this site! Sutton Hoo is extremely important and interesting for many reasons and we dive into those as well as review the movie. Did we like it? Join us and find out!
Want more Sutton Hoo? Listen to the bonus episode here!
Links
Contact
Chris Webster
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
Affiliates
Stefan Milo 2: This Time It's Personal #Paleolithic - Ruins 43
On this episode of A Life in Ruins podcast, we have a bonfire chat with YouTuber and Neolithic advocate, Stefan Milo. If you’re not familiar with Stefan, we introduced him in Episode 20. Or you may know him from his popular YouTube channel, “Stefan Milo.” We talk about the recent growth of Stefan’s channel and how he has now become the first full-time anthropology YouTuber!
We then quickly get into the Great Paleolithic-Neolithic War of 2020. This began as a meme and took off. It was fun for both our followers to follow and share along with.
We later have a serious discussion about the differences between the two periods and what it means for human history.
Contact For Stefan Milo
Email: hello@stefanmilo.com
Instagram: @historysmilo
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/stefanmilo
Website: https://www.stefanmilo.com/
Twitter: @Historysmilo
Contact
Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast
Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast
Twitter: @alifeinruinspod
Website: www.alifeinruins.com
Affiliates
Volcanoes! - Dirt 124
Let’s lean into our fear of pyroclastic flow and talk about the traces that volcanoes can leave in the archaeological record. Turns out, it’s a lot more than buried cities. We’ll also take a look at how volcanoes manifest in the myths and legends of various cultures.
Links
Hawaiian Myths Tell A Story About Volcanic Activity At Kilauea (Forbes)
The Harmful Pseudoarchaeology of Mythological Atlantis (Women Write About Comics)
The A.D. 79 Eruption at Mt. Vesuvius (UCSD Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics)
Tephrochronology and its application: A review (Quaternary Geology)
Contact
Email the Dirt Podcast: thedirtpodcast@gmail.com
Affiliates
Rock Art Dating with Dr. Alan Garfinkel - Rock Art 30
In archaeology there are many ways to date a site, feature, or artifact. The dating game with rock art is no different. What are some of the more common methods? Which ones aren't so common but work on some sites? Can you use other archaeological sites to date rock art panels? We talk about these topics and more on this week's episode.
Links
Contact
Chris Webster
Dr. Alan Garfinkel
Affiliates
Conferences are Dead, Let's Do Better - CRM Arch 208
On today's episode we discuss conferences, AGAIN. But that's for two reasons. First, we got some great comments from a fan on our Member's Only Slack Team (archpodnet.com/members) that we had to address. Second, the basic model for a conference hasn't changed in nearly a century and we need to fix that.
Follow Our Panelists On Twitter
Bill @succinctbill; Doug @openaccessarch; Stephen @processarch; Bill A. @archaeothoughts; Chris W @Archeowebby, @DIGTECHLLC, and @ArchPodNet
Blogs:
Bill White: Succinct Research
Doug Rocks-MacQueen: Doug’s Archaeology
Stephen Wagner: Process - Opinions on Doing Archaeology
Chris Webster: Random Acts of Science
Jobs with Cox McClain
Our CRM group is one of the fastest growing in the US. We need temporary and salaried archeologists at every level, from technicians to PIs, in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Previous Oklahoma experience would be nice but is not required. Send your cover letter, resume, and references to: JOBS@COXMCLAIN.COM. Thanks!
Affiliates
Atlatl Angelo Robledo and Experimental Archaeology - Ep 23
In this episode, we virtually sit down with Experimental Archaeologist, Angelo Robledo. Join us as we hear about Angelo's passions, his archaeology origin story, and atlatl construction!
Links
Angelo's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idigit1st/
World Atlatl Association: https://worldatlatl.org/
WAA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldatlatlassociation/
Contact
Show
Twitter: @idigitpodcast
Email: idigitpodcast@gmail.com
Alyssa
Instagram: aal.archaeology
Twitter: Lyssakemi
Michaela
Instagram: mm_digitalized
Twitter: m_mauriello
Affiliates
The Good Old Days: Prehistoric Inequality - Dirt 123
This week's episode is a listener-sponsored one! Ancient hunter-gatherers are often painted as egalitarian, with all members contributing to the needs of the group. But what does evidence from prehistory say about things like access to nutrition, or care for the sick or injured? Are there cases where some individuals were clearly treated differently from others? How far back can we go to find clues? Stay tuned, sleuths.
Links
Issues with using modern forager groups as proxy for ancient ones (Evolutionary Anthropology)
Status-symbol scapulae? (Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences)
Contact
Email the Dirt Podcast: thedirtpodcast@gmail.com
Affiliates
Royal purple dyed textile, Neanderthal/Homo Sapien teeth and Chumash Beads as currency - TAS 110
We’ve got three great articles to discuss on this week’s news episode. Check out the links below for more information.
Links
Royal Purple Dyed Textile
Neanderthal/Homo Sapien Teeth
Chumash Beads as Currency
Contact
Chris Webster
Please Visit Our Sponsors!
Archaeology Southwest Cafe: https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/things-to-do/cafe/
Affiliates
Our Ruined Lives with Ash Boydston-Schmidt - Ruins 42
For this edition of Our Ruined Lives we chat with Ash Boydston-Schmidt. Ash is a descendant of the Crow Nation and shares with us her families history, growing up in Oklahoma, her experiences with the Tiger King, and her academic journey at the University of Oklahoma double-majoring in Anthropology and Indigenous Studies. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Museums Studies at the University of New Mexico, where she started this past fall during the COVID-19 Pandemic. We finish up the episode with a conversation about Ash's work with the Diversity and Inclusion Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
*Disclaimer: Ash's views regarding the topics discussed in the third segment of this episode are solely her own and not representative of the Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Contact
Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast
Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast
Twitter: @alifeinruinspod
Website: www.alifeinruins.com
Affiliates
Spatial Archaeometry in the Time of COVID - ArchaeoTech 147
Many field seasons were canceled in 2020 due to concerns over COVID-19. A recent article in SAA Advances, written by members of the CAST and SPARC program highlight the things researchers can still do despite social distancing regulations and travel concerns. Paul and Chris discuss those techniques and technologies on this episode.
Links
Contact
Chris Webster
Twitter: @archeowebby
Paul Zimmerman
Twitter: @lugal
Email: paul@lugal.com