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Horses (Part 3) The Pawnee, the Plains, and the Spanish Caribbean with Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover - Ethno 26

In this third installment of the “Horse Series,” David sits down with Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover to explore the intersections of Indigenous oral traditions, radiocarbon dating, and the archaeology of horses across the Great Plains and the Caribbean.

Carlton shares how Pawnee oral traditions align with archaeological evidence, revealing new insights into the transitions from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies. The conversation expands into how the reintroduction of horses revolutionized Plains warfare, movement, and culture — transforming not just how people traveled, but how they defined bravery, honor, and trade.

The episode then dives underwater — literally — as Carlton recounts his work with the Indiana University Underwater Science Program in the Dominican Republic. From Spanish shipwrecks to 400-year-old hazelnuts used to fight scurvy, the discussion highlights how horses, colonization, and trade converged across continents and oceans.

Topics Covered

  • Introduction to Carlton Shield Chief Gover’s background and Pawnee heritage

  • Merging radiocarbon dating with Indigenous oral histories

  • The importance of corn, maize agriculture, and Plains village life

  • How the horse transformed Indigenous cultures and warfare

  • The practice of “counting coup” and individual honor in combat

  • The spread of horses before European contact

  • Carlton’s archaeological work in Ukraine and comparisons to the Great Plains

  • Underwater archaeology in the Dominican Republic

    • Spanish shipwrecks, horseshoes, and gold-gilded stirrups

    • Hazelnuts as a 16th-century Spanish cure for scurvy

    • Dangers and logistics of underwater fieldwork

  • How early Caribbean horses may connect genetically to modern mustangs

  • The future of Plains and underwater archaeology

About the Guest

Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover is a citizen of the Pawnee Nation and a leading voice in Indigenous and Plains archaeology. His research integrates oral histories, Bayesian radiocarbon analysis, and archaeological evidence to create a fuller understanding of the Great Plains’ deep past. He currently serves as Assistant Professor and Curator of Archaeology at the University of Kansas and hosts The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast.

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Listen to The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast

Mentioned in This Episode

  • Hoof Beats: The Horse in Human History — Dr. William Taylor

  • Cassidy Thornhill’s work on the Blacks Fork Horse

  • Yvette and Paulette Steeves’ research on pre-contact horses

  • Indiana University Underwater Science Program (Dr. Charles Beeker)

  • University of Kansas Natural History Museum

Key Quote

“When you reanalyze radiocarbon data with Indigenous oral traditions, you actually illustrate a much more holistic picture of human history.” — Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover

Transcripts

  • For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ethnocynology/26

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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.

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Book Worms: The Bare Bones - ABC 08

Tilly is back to full health and so our three hosts are reunited in part two of their discussion about the October book club theme of “The Bare Bones”. Together, they chat about their own likes and dislikes of reading in this theme, and general popular understanding of bones in relation to history and archaeology. They also share their recommended books from their own library, including a medieval fan favourite, a book all about sects, and a travelogue going back in time.

Monthly Book: Mort by Terry Pratchett

Books Mentioned

  • The Incredible Human Journey (Alice Roberts)

  • The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù MXTX)

  • A Disputation Betwix the Body and Worms (Unknown)

  • Road of bones (Demi Winters)

  • Sabriel (Garth Nix)

  • The Locked Tomb Series (Tamsyn Muir)

  • Apothecary diaries (Natsu Hyūga)

  • Wolf Road (Alice Roberts)

  • Hercule Poirot series (Agatha Christie)

  • Heaven Official’s Blessing (Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù MXTX)

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Another Silly Symposium: Quest for Ancient Civilizations - Pseudo 173

Uh-oh! The Quest for Ancient Civilizations conference is coming to Scottsdale in December and I haven’t gotten tickets yet! Where will I be without my yearly supply of mumbo jumbo? Thankfully, if you missed this summer’s Cosmic Summit, it’s the same people presenting their same lame pseudoarchaeology ideas in the same boring context. If you’re looking for a black hole in which to dump money and time, you have found it!

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Chance Ward FINALLY - HeVo 101

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After being part of two panel episodes (Heritage Voices Episode 79: The Intensive NAGPRA Summer Training and Education Program (INSTEP) and Episode 92: The 2024 Updated NAGPRA Regulations, Jessica finally got to sit down with Chance Ward (NAGPRA Collections Specialist at History Colorado; enrolled citizen and tribal member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe) for a one on one episode. During this episode we talk about how Chance first heard about anthropology during his time at Fort Lewis College, his time doing CRM work, and why he chose to switch to Museum Studies. We talked about a couple of projects that are near to his heart, including a workbook for Indigenous young people on CRM, how it affects Tribes, and why it is important to be involved and a couple of papers on the ethical treatment of animal remains. Lastly we talked about his approach in his current position and his advice for how other museum professionals can better work with Tribal Nations.

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Pasts and Crafts: Book binding with Alexandra Sebire (part 2) - Tea-break 39

It’s part two of Matilda’s tea-break with Alexandra Sebire as the two chat about the traditional craft of book binding. In this episode, we dive a little deeper into the history and development of book binding, and Alexandra shares more about the different projects she’s working in, and why you don’t always have to take the traditional path.

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  • Email: matilda@thearchaeologiststeacup.com

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Three Decades of Nebraska Archaeology with Rob Bozell - Plains 29

In this episode, I sit down with Rob Bozell, who served the Nebraska State Historical Society for more than three decades and retired as State Archaeologist after a career that began in the 1980’s. Rob reflects on his journey through some of the most transformative decades in American archaeology, including the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and its lasting impact on the field.

In the first half of our conversation, Rob takes us back to the 1990s—sharing how he stepped into leadership just as NAGPRA and the Nebraska Unmarked Human Burial Sites and Skeletal Remains Protection Act were enacted, and how Nebraska institutions and tribal nations worked to navigate this new legal and cultural landscape together.

In the second half, we turn to the 2000s and 2010s, as Rob discusses major projects like the rediscovery of the Engineer Cantonment site, the evolution of preservation practices, and his efforts to foster meaningful relationships between archaeologists and Indigenous communities. He closes with reflections on his career, the legacy of NAGPRA, and his hopes for the next generation of archaeologists committed to Great Plains Archaeology

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Sunken Cities Part 3: Thonis-Heracleion, the City of Commerce and Ceremony - TPM 24

In this episode, we’ll explore the rediscovery and legacy of Thonis-Heracleion, a sacred port city that was lost beneath the Mediterranean Sea for over 1200 years. During its peak, the city stood as both a major checkpoint for foreign merchants entering Egypt and a spiritual center tied to the worship of Amun, Khonsu, Osiris, Aphrodite, and many more Egyptian and Greek deities.

In this episode, we’ll explore the rediscovery and legacy of Thonis-Heracleion, a sacred port city that was lost beneath the Mediterranean Sea for over 1200 years. During its peak, the city stood as both a major checkpoint for foreign merchants entering Egypt and a spiritual center tied to the worship of Amun, Khonsu, Osiris, Aphrodite, and many more Egyptian and Greek deities.

Rituals connected the site to Canopus through the Osirian Mysteries, and I'll share details about the archaeological evidence of these rites, including a sacred barge that carried the statue of Osiris between the two cities. As with its neighbor Canopus, Thonis-Heracleion became closely associated with a Greek mythical hero. According to Herodotus, this was where Heracles (Hercules) set foot in Egypt for the first time and Heracles became syncretized with Khonsu over time.

Listen now to explore how the rediscovery of Thonis-Heracleion has helped reshape our understanding of Egypt’s sacred coastline during the Late Period and Ptolemaic Dynasty.

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Legend of the Bog (2009) - Screens 113

It’s October, and as is tradition, we’re reviewing scary Halloween movies this month! First up is Legend of the Bog (2009), a movie with just enough Vinnie Jones in it to justify putting him on the cover. You’ve seen mummies; you’ve seen zombies; but what about a resurrected Iron Age bog body? Plus: a special guest appearance from a Sp0okY Gh0st!

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Remembering Jane Goodall with Primatologist Carson Black - Ethno 25

Remembering Jane Goodall with Primatologist Carson Black

In this deeply heartfelt episode, David speaks with Primatologist, Biological Anthropologist, and Conservationist, Carson Black, who has spent her academic career studying chimpanzees in Senegal and howler monkeys in Costa Rica.

Together, they reflect on the life and legacy of Jane Goodall, the “living Darwin of the modern era,” and how her groundbreaking work continues to shape the way we understand both chimpanzees and ourselves.

Carson shares vivid stories from the field—bucket showers under the Milky Way, mischievous chimps throwing rocks, and the humbling power of seeing the world from their perspective. The two also discuss the history of primatology, the pioneering “Trimates” (Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas), and the role of indigenous knowledge in modern science.

This episode serves as both a tribute to Jane Goodall and a reminder that anthropology isn’t just about the past—it’s about the relationships that continue to define what it means to be human.

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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.

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Field Notes: The Bare Bones - ABC 07

It’s time to dig up some old bones! In this episode, Ash and Judith have left Tilly in her sickbed to sift through the bones of history to explore the theme of The Bare Bones! They discuss how this theme is so important within the field of archaeology and medieval life, as well as their own person anecdotes on death, happy skeletons and medieval memes!

Monthly Book: Mort by Terry Pratchett

Books Mentioned

  • The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory

  • The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

  • Medieval Children by Nicholas Orme

  • All That Remains by Sue Black

  • Medieval Death: ritual and representation by Paul Binski

  • Wigmore Castle, north Herefordshire: excavations 1996 and 1998, Stephanie Rátkai

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I Read “Sex is a Spectrum” and I’m Not Convinced - Pseudo 172

I noticed some heated online arguments in the anthropology world about human sexuality, where several noted anthropologists recommended the book “Sex is a Spectrum” by Agustin Fuentes, so I read it. What I learned: Unfortunately, pseudoscience exists in other realms beyond pseudoarchaeology.

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Pasts and Crafts: Book binding with Alexandra Sebire (part 1) - Tea Break 38

In today’s tea-break, Matilda wants to learn more about books, and takes a closer look at the development of notebooks and the traditional craft of book binding. Joining her on her tea-break is Alexandra Sebire, founder of Solemniko stationary. Together they discuss the tools and know-how required for book binding, as well as the trials of running a small business, and how even the smallest act of help can make a difference in the world.

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  • Email: matilda@thearchaeologiststeacup.com

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Mental Health - Trowel 54

And My Trowel podcast logo

In this slightly different episode, Ash and Tilly discuss the different ways that mental health is both affected by and perceived within archaeology and fantasy fiction. Tune in to hear their discussion on the importance of community, managing expectations, and how many archaeology-related puns they can stuff into a 30-minute episode.

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Books Mentioned

  • Blackthorn and Grim (Juliet Marillier)

  • Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Rebecca Thorne)

  • Witches Guide to Magical Innkeeping (Sangu Mandanna)

  • Rewitched (Lucy Jane Wood)

  • Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien)

  • A Song of Ice and Fire (George R. R. Martin)

  • Sword of Truth series (Terry Goodkind)

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Digging Differently: Native Presence in Archaeology with Chance and Tyrel Part 2 - Plains 28

This episode continues my conversation with Tyrel Iron Eyes (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) and Chance Ward (Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe). We turn to the stories and lessons from the field—where archaeology is practiced on the ground and in real time. Tyrel and Chance reflect on the growing presence of Native archaeologists, the ways Tribally informed practices are reshaping fieldwork, and how their own experiences demonstrate the importance of centering Native voices in research.

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Are CRM companies too cheap? - Getting reimbursements - CRMArch 319

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When it is okay to ask for a reimbursement for using your own equipment in the field? Today the hosts discuss the complexities of getting reimbursed for using your own vehicle, getting food allowance, and what the company is required to provide. We will also talk about the difficulties of navigating university reimbursement processes that comes with running an archaeological field school.

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  • This video shows what it’s like to wait for a reimbursement from a university: Moving Through Time

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Sunken Cities Part 2: The Ancient Mysteries of Canopus - Ep 23

In this episode of Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe, I sit down with my good friend and former graduate school cohort member Cassidee Thornhill, Collections Manager at the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository.

Cassidee’s research dives into the early contact era in Wyoming, focusing on the arrival and spread of horses before and during European colonization. We discuss her fascinating thesis work on the Black’s Fork River site, where a young foal was found buried alongside three coyote skulls—an extraordinary archaeological discovery that sheds light on early human–horse relationships on the Plains.

Topics we cover include:

  • The Black’s Fork horse burial and its cultural significance

  • Early radiocarbon dates showing horses in Wyoming decades before the Pueblo Revolt

  • Evidence of early veterinary care and human–horse bonds

  • How horses transformed Native economies, sovereignty, and resistance

  • Genetic research linking early horses in the Americas to Spanish (and later British) stock

  • The broader story of how horses reshaped Indigenous life across the Plains

Cassidee also shares her perspective on whether horses or dogs have been more influential in human history—a big question we love to ask on this show.

This episode is the extended interview version you won’t find on YouTube—perfect for listeners who want the full deep dive into Cassidee’s groundbreaking work.

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Works Cited

  • Abdel-Rahman, R. 2018. Recent Underwater Excavations at Thonis-Heracleion and Canopus. Annales Du Service Des Antiquités de l’Égypte (ASAE) 92:233–258.

  • Buraselis, K., M. Stefanou, and D. J. Thompson. 2013. The Ptolemies, the Sea and the Nile. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

  • Egypt Museum. Canopus & Heracleion: Sunkencities.

  • Fraser, P. M. 1972. Ptolemaic Alexandria. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

  • Goddio, F., and A. Masson-Berghoff. 2016. Sunken Cities: Egypt’s Lost Worlds. Thames & Hudson / British Museum, London.

  • Goddio, Franck. Projects: Sunken Civilizations: Canopus.

  • Lavan, L., and M. Mulryan (editors). 2011. The Archaeology of Late Antique Paganism. Brill, Leiden.

  • MacDonald, W. L., and J. A. Pinto. 1995. Hadrian’s Villa and Its Legacy. Yale University Press, New Haven.

  • Marriner, N., C. Morhange, and C. Flaux. 2017. Geoarchaeology of the Canopic Region: A Reconstruction of the Holocene Palaeo-Landscapes. Méditerranée 128:51–64.

  • PAThs-ERC. East Canopus: Sacri Lapides Aegypti.

  • Sidebotham, S. E. 2011. Berenike and the Ancient Maritime Spice Route. University of California Press, Berkeley.

  • Sidebotham, S. E. 2019. Ports of the Red Sea and the Nile Delta: Trade and Cultural Exchange. In The Cambridge Companion to the Roman Economy, edited by W. Scheidel. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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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.

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Phineas and Ferb - Screens 112

Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher are precocious STEM-minded stepbrothers trying to make the most of their 104 days of summer vacation. On today’s episode we’re reviewing five episodes of this popular Disney Channel series, featuring Egyptian movie mummies, dinosaur time-travel capers, cartoon cave people, and a “corn colossus”, whatever that means.

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