The Archaeology Show

For decades, Monte Verde in southern Chile has been one of the most famous archaeological sites in the Americas. The site was widely accepted as 14,500 years old, making it one of the strongest pieces of evidence for human presence in the Americas before Clovis. But what if that interpretation was wrong? In this special episode, I sit down with Dr. Todd Surovell, professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming, to discuss new research that re-examines Monte Verde using modern geoarchaeological methods. The results suggest that the famous site may actually be much younger than previously believed, dating to the Holocene rather than the Ice Age. If true, this would mean that Monte Verde is not evidence for pre-Clovis humans in South America, and it could force archaeologists to reconsider one of the most influential discoveries in American archaeology. We discuss: The history of the Monte Verde discovery Why it reshaped textbooks in the 1990s How new geological and dating analyses challenge the original interpretation What this means for Clovis-first vs. pre-Clovis models Why independent verification and skepticism are essential in science This episode explores how science evolves—and how even the most famous discoveries can be re-examined. Links Video Version to follow along Surovell’s Study Surovell’s UW Page davidianhowe.com Davidianhowe.com/store Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Archaeology Show, we tour three very different windows into the ancient world: a 5,000-year-old tomb packed with remarkable treasures, a surprising discovery of upright-buried skeletons beneath a French school, and tens of thousands of Egyptian notes and receipts that capture everyday life in vivid detail. We unpack what these finds reveal about status and burial ritual, how archaeologists interpret unusual body positions, and what “boring” paperwork can tell us about work, money, and people behind the monuments. Three discoveries, one big question: what survives—and what it can still say. Links Segment 1 Archaeologists Discovered a 5,000-Year-Old Tomb Filled to the Brim With Ancient Treasures Segment 2 Ancient skeletons sitting upright found at French school. See photos. Segment 3 What Archaeologists Found Written on Those 43,000 Egyptian Notes and Receipts Upper Egypt site has now yielded more than 43,000 inscribed pot sherds, a record-breaking trove of information Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we are back with some News stories! First, we discuss evidence from an Iron Age cemetery in northern Vietnam showing intentional, permanent tooth blackening dating back 2,000 years. Then, we cover a 2,500-year-old Pazyryk culture burial in southern Siberia where CT scans of a mummified woman’s skull suggest a severe jaw injury was stabilized with surgical sutures. And finally, we summarize Bronze Age textile finds from Anatolia dated roughly 1915–1745 BCE and later, including the earliest regional evidence of nalbinding (single-needle “knitting”) and an indigo-dyed hemp fragment identified as the oldest known blue-dyed textile in Bronze Age Anatolia. Links 2,000-year-old skulls reveal people in ancient Vietnam permanently blackened their teeth — a stylish practice that persists today Iron Age Surgeons Fixed a Woman's Shattered Jaw With Primitive Prosthetic—and She Survived Earliest evidence of indigo-dyed textiles and single-needle knitting discovered in Bronze Age Anatolia Untwisting Beycesultan Höyük: the earliest evidence for nålbinding and indigo-dyed textiles in Anatolia Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From a 150-year-old alcohol bottle unearthed in Utah—where the “real treasure” might be what it once tasted like—to footprints in White Sands New Mexico which are more than 20,000 years old, this episode spans the surprisingly fragile side of archaeology. We also dig into a discovery being called the oldest clothing in human history, and what it can (and can’t) tell us about early humans, preservation, and the everyday technologies that rarely survive. Links Segment 1 150-Year-Old Alcohol Bottle Found in Utah. Here’s What the ‘Real Treasure’ Tasted Like Segment 2 Archaeologists find footprints that rewrite the timeline of humans in the Americas Paleolake geochronology supports Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) age for human tracks at White Sands, New Mexico (Science Advances) Segment 3 Complex perishable technologies from the North American Great Basin reveal specialized Late Pleistocene adaptations Scientists Discovered the Oldest Clothing in Human History Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we deep dive three interesting archaeology news stories. First up, a rock art panel from Ancient Egypt depicts the conquest of the nomadic groups that lived in the Sinai peninsula. Then, we head over to Africa, where a burial that is the oldest example of intentional cremation with an intact funeral pyre has been found. Finally, Neanderthals collected animal skulls and placed then in a cave 43,000 years ago, and, as usual, archaeologists are baffled!Links5,000-year-old rock art from ancient Egypt depicts 'terrifying' conquest of the Sinai PeninsulaWadi Khamila, the god Min and the Beginning of „Pharaonic” Dominance in Sinai 5000 years agoArchaeologists Say This 9,500-Year-Old Burial Is the Oldest Known Evidence of Intentional Cremation Discovered in AfricaMore than 43,000 years ago, Neanderthals spent centuries collecting animal skulls in a cave; but archaeologists aren't sure whyContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 321 of The Archaeology Show, we take a deep dive into the long and complex history of Troy. We discuss the stratigraphy of the site, starting from modern times and moving backward through key periods, including the famous era of the Trojan War as described by Homer. The episode covers the archaeological discoveries, the evolution of the city's fortifications, trade networks, burial practices, and cultural significance. We also delve into the early archaeological excavations and the ongoing debate about the historicity of the Trojan War.LinksIn Search of TroyArchaeological Site of TroyTroy VI and VII: The Archaeological Evidence (Encyclopedia Britannica)The Archaeology of Early Troy – World History EncyclopediaÇanakkale Archaeological Site of TroyContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we discuss three fascinating discoveries across Western Europe: a 7,000-year-old underwater stone wall off the coast of France, an exceptionally rare Iron Age war trumpet potentially linked to Boudica’s era in Britain, and a mysterious medieval cemetery in Wales dominated by female burials. Join us while we unpack what these finds reveal about prehistoric coastal societies, Iron Age warfare and symbolism, and early religious communities.LinksArchaeologists Discover Mysterious 7,000-Year-Old Stone Wall Beneath the Waves Off the Coast of FranceSubmerged Stone Structures in the Far West of Europe During the Mesolithic/Neolithic Transition (Sein Island, Brittany, France)‘Extraordinary’ iron age war trumpet find in Britain may have Boudicca linksThe Past Macabre: The archaeology of Boudica Part 1The Past Macabre: The archaeology of Boudicat Part 2Intriguing finds could solve mystery of women in medieval cemeteryContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Please enjoy this episode of The Ethnocynology Podcast with David Ian Howe.Ethocynology: Direwolf Science with Dr. Shield-Chief Gover - Ep 15In this episode of Ethnocynology, David chats with friend, colleague, and former A Life in Ruins host, Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover.David and Carlton do a brief catch up before diving right into the recent paper released by Colossal Biosciences and a team of researchers regarding newly researched direwolf genetics.David and Carlton discuss the ethics of release the un-peer reviewed paper only after the huge media push, as well as Carlton gives a an analysis of the statistics in the paper.LinksEthnocynology Podcast - Episode 15Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineageOn the ancestry and evolution of the extinct dire wolfContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Here’s the first episode of a brand new show.Archaeo Book Club: Field Notes: Under the Sea - Episode 1Welcome to the first episode of the Archaeo Book Club, now part of the Archaeology Podcast Network!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 MaiklemOther books mentioned:Doggerland: Lost World Under the North Sea (read for free here)Archaeo Book Club on the APNAdditional links:Project Doggerlandhttps://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/trowel/35https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/hq-downloads/amt-36Submerged Project, University of YorkContact info:Discord: https://discord.gg/wtSDFxfCqAWebsite: https://www.archaeobookclub.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/archaeobookclub/Email: [email protected]:"Little Adventure" by Sergei Chetvertnykhhttps://pixabay.com/music/main-title-little-adventure-95822/ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s an episode of the And My Trowel Podcast on the APN.PROMO: In this episode, Tilly and Ash have been tasked with covering holiday leave for the Norns, the weavers of fate, life and destiny from Norse mythology. However, there’s a problem they don’t have the first clue about weaving! Luckily the know someone who does, prehistoric archaeologist and textile specialist, Ronja Lau! With Ronja’s help, will the trio be able to weave the fates of Gods and humans? And will they ever find out how Game of Thrones ended?Books mentioned:A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. MartinInkheart - Cornelia FunkeThe Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy) - Deborah HarknessThe Magic in the Weaving - Tamora PierceDaughter of the Forest - Juliet MarillierThe Weaver and the Witch Queen - Genevieve GornichecLinksAnd My Trowel Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/ronja_lau/Hallstatt Salt MinesContact Info:Email: [email protected]: @and .my.trowelArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this “Timelines” episode, we connect three iconic sites built during the same era: Petra’s stunning rock-cut city in Jordan, the mysterious Nazca Lines etched across Peru’s desert, and the monumental Great Wall of China. Explore how the Nabataeans engineered Petra’s hidden oasis, why the Nazca created massive geoglyphs only visible from above, and what drove dynasties to construct thousands of miles of wall across China. Discover the origins, uses, and enduring mysteries of these world wonders, and see how ancient ingenuity and ambition shaped civilizations across continents—all within a shared moment in history.LinksSegment 1: PetraBedal, L. W. (2003). The Petra Pool Complex: A Hellenistic Paradeisos in the Nabataean Capital. American Journal of Archaeology.Parr, P. J. (2013). “Petra.” In Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Wiley-Blackwell.Schmid, S. G. (2001). “The Nabataeans: Travellers Between Lifestyles.” In Aram Periodical.UNESCO World Heritage Centre – PetraAmerican Center of Research (ACOR) – Petra Archaeological ParkBienkowski, P. (1990). Petra. British Museum Press.Hammond, P. C. (1973). “The Nabataeans: Their History, Culture, and Archaeology.” Biblical Archaeologist.Smithsonian Magazine – Petra’s Great TempleBurckhardt, J. L. (1822). Travels in Syria and the Holy Land (rediscovery account).Segment 2: Nazca LinesSilverman, H., & Proulx, D. A. (2002). The Nasca. Blackwell Publishers.Reindel, M., & Isla, J. (2001). “Nasca: Wunder der Wüste.” C.H. Beck.UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and PalpaAveni, A. F. (2000). Between the Lines: The Mystery of the Giant Ground Drawings of Ancient Nasca, Peru. University of Texas Press.National Geographic – Nazca Lines: Mystery on the DesertOrefici, G. (2012). “Cahuachi: Capital of the Nasca World.” Andean Past.Ancient History Encyclopedia – The Geoglyphs of Palpa, PeruSilverman, H. (1993). Cahuachi in the Ancient Nasca World. University of Iowa Press.Isla, J., & Reindel, M. (2016). “Nasca and the ‘Puquios’: Water and Ritual in the Peruvian Desert.” Antiquity.Segment 3: Great Wall of ChinaWaldron, A. (1990). The Great Wall of China: From History to Myth. Cambridge University Press.Lovell, J. (2006). The Great Wall: China Against the World, 1000 BC–AD 2000. Grove Press.UNESCO World Heritage Centre – The Great WallMan, J. (2008). The Great Wall: The Extraordinary Story of China’s Wonder of the World. Da Capo Press.Steinhardt, N. S. (1990). The Great Wall of China: Dynasties, Dragons, and Warriors. Oxford University Press.The China Guide – Famous Sections of the Great WallState Administration of Cultural Heritage, China. “Archaeological Discoveries Along the Great Wall.”Barfield, T. J. (1989). The Perilous Frontier: Nomadic Empires and China. Blackwell.Friends of the Great Wall – Research and PreservationContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There’s a lot of Neanderthal research in the news these days and the first two articles highlight some of those achievements. The first article references research about ancient Neanderthals and their migration patterns. Turns out they got around more than we think they did! The second article highlights new research about Neanderthal art and symbology using ochre coloring devices. Finally, we head back to the western hemisphere to learn about 20,000 year old Japanese ancestors possibly being some of the first to cross the ocean and explore the Americas.LinksScientists Discovered Ancient DNA That Could Change Prehistory ForeverPrehistoric crayons provide clues to how Neanderthals created art.Remarkable New Research on Ochre 'Crayons' Colors in Scientists' Understanding of How Neanderthals Made ArtNew Evidence Suggests the First Americans Didn’t Walk From Siberia—They Sailed From JapanContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We kick off this episode with our latest RV adventures before exploring three remarkable archaeological discoveries. First, we discuss newly uncovered ancient human footprints. in Germany. Next, we examine the excavation of one of the world’s oldest streets in central Türkiye, revealing how early communities organized their living spaces nearly 10,000 years ago. Finally, we dive into the surprising story of the Greek island of Naxos, where evidence shows the first settlers weren’t human at all, but Neanderthals and other archaic hominins.LinksArchaeologists Found 300,000-Year-Old Human Footprints That Rewrite Part of Our StoryOne of the World’s Oldest Streets Unearthed at Canhasan 3 in Türkiye, Dating Back 9,750 YearsA Greek Island’s First Settlers Weren’t HumanContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Gault site is world famous for it’s Clovis and pre-Clovis occupations. It’s also famous for the dedication of the principal archaeologist, Michael Collins. In the new documentary, “The Stones are Speaking”, Writer/Producer/Director Olive Talley tells the story of the Gault site and the story of Michael Collins and his efforts to preserve the site. We also talk to the Director of Photography, Kenneth Garrett. Kenneth is a National Geographic photographer and has known and worked with Michael Collins on other pieces since the beginning of the Gault site’s journey.LinksThe Stones are Speaking website (including how to watch)ContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.