And My Trowel

Where fantasy meets archaeology! The realms between fantasy and reality have collided and only archaeologists can pave the way through the unknown. Ash and Tilly, armed with two trowels and a backlog of archaeological theory, navigate to new, thrilling worlds, filled with magic and mayhem to answer those burgeoning questions that only archaeologists can answer.

Archaeology of The Witcher (Part 1) - Ep 57
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Archaeology of The Witcher (Part 1) - Ep 57

In this episode, Ash and Tilly set out on an archaeological survey across The Continent—the dark, layered world of the The Witcher! From the ruins of Kaer Morhen to the forests of Dol Blathanna, they explore how landscapes, material culture, and societies reveal the deeper histories beneath Andrzej Sapkowski’s Slavic-inspired fantasy universe. Join them as they dig into the Conjunction of the Spheres, the rise of humans, and the relics of vanished civilisations, all while fending off drowners, spectral elves, and the occasional moral quandary!

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Conserving the Honmoon  (Part 2) - Ep 56
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Conserving the Honmoon (Part 2) - Ep 56

Ash and Tilly are back with art conservator and supernatural sleuth Jessica van Dam to finish unraveling the mystery of the haunted artefacts from the Jinu Preservation Society. From tiger-and-magpie paintings to suspiciously stylish hats, the trio dive deep into Korean demons, dokkaebi, and ghostly folklore—with a few detours into their favorite K-dramas. Expect myths, mayhem, and more giggles than exorcisms. Will they cleanse the cursed collection… or will Tilly perish under the weight of Ash and Jess’s K-drama obsession?

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Conserving the Honmoon  (Part 1) - Trowel 55
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Conserving the Honmoon (Part 1) - Trowel 55

Ash and Tilly are tasked with investigating a mysterious box from the Jinu Preservation Society, but one artefact might be possessed! Luckily, their on-call spooky specialist, art conservator Jessica van Dam, is here to help. Together they explore Korean demons, dokkaebi, and gwisin to uncover the truth behind the eerie objects. Expect folklore, fun, and a few distractions (looking at you, carpet gnome Idol festival!) as the team begins their supernatural investigation!

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PROMO - Archaeo Book Club - Field Notes: Under the Sea - ABC 01
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

PROMO - Archaeo Book Club - Field Notes: Under the Sea - ABC 01

Tilly is a bit under the weather this week so we were not able to record an episode of And My Trowel. Luckily both of us are in another new show, so we thought we would share that with you instead! Listen in to the first episode of the Archaeo Book Club podcast! Join Tilly, Judith, and Ash as they wade into our June reading theme: Under the Sea. In this “field notes” discussion, we share our own experiences with watery archaeology, from shipwrecks and submerged cities to muddy river finds, and talk about how this theme has surfaced in our work, studies, and reading. We swap favourite anecdotes, explore why underwater and riverway archaeology matters, and look at how interest in the topic has evolved over time. Monthly Book: Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem

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Mental Health - Ep 54
Rachel Roden Rachel Roden

Mental Health - Ep 54

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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Looking at the fantastic side of archaeology and the ARCHAEOLOGY side of fantasy.