A deep dive into the looting of Cambodia's cultural heritage by a 'respectable' collector, Douglas Latchford

Sometimes even the most respected people have a dark side...

And one of those people would be Douglas Latchford, a renowned collector and amateur scholar of Khmer antiquities. At the same time, he was actually responsible for stealing a huge portion of Cambodia's cultural heritage through decades of art trafficking. The sad part however is that he wasn't exactly a criminal mastermind...he committed his archaeology crime right under the noses of everyone - governments, auction houses, museums and other buyers - and many of his wares had obvious signs of looting. While a strange twist of fate allowed him to escape punishment, at least much of his ill-gotten gains did wind up in the right hands.

Segment 2 - Archaeological Tour of Angkor

Archaeological tour of Angkor, temple city in the jungles of Cambodia - history, archaeology & travel tips

Prepare to explore the majestic history and breathtaking archaeological wonders of Angkor, one of the most iconic cultural landmarks in the world. Jason takes us to the sprawling 400-square-kilometer site in Siem Reap, Cambodia—home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world, and countless other astonishing temples and ruins of the Khmer Empire.  

Dive deep into the history of the Khmer Empire, from its founding by Jayavarman II in the 9th century to its eventual decline in the 15th century. Along the way, uncover the stories of legendary rulers like Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII, whose architectural and cultural legacies are still felt today.  

Learn how the combination of Hinduism and Buddhism shaped the temples’ unique designs, discover the purpose of Angkor’s intricate water management systems, and gain insight into its rediscovery by French explorers in the 19th century. Plus, Jason shares practical travel tips for visiting modern-day Angkor, from must-see temples to navigating the bustling streets of Siem Reap.  

Links & Resources  

• Angkor Wat UNESCO Listing: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668/
• World Monuments Fund: https://www.wmf.org/monuments/angkor-archaeological-park
• Tourism of Cambodia: https://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/angkor.htm

Related Episodes  

• Borobudur Site Visit: Astounding Buddhist Temple in Java: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vebzqXZo1E8 
• Khmer Antiquities Caper - Looting Cambodia's Cultural Heritage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk3aCqx0kRU

Watch the video version (it's better!): https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019

#archaeology #archeology #archaeologicaldiscoveries #ancienthistory #traveltips

This episode covers one of the ultimate archaeology site visits: the Terracotta Warriors, just outside of Xi'an, China. Created to guard the tomb of the infamous Emperor Qin Shi Huang, builder of the Great Wall of China, this veritable archaeological army was among the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. In this episode, we discover its history, its unlikely discovery by a farmer, and how to visit.

Also, in Archaeology News, we look at 3 recent archaeological discoveries making headlines in the archaeology world:

1) DNA Study sheds light on who the Silk Road Sogdian people were
2) Innovative Indigenous Archaeology project in Australia
3) One of the best intact and oldest Neolithic villages discovered in the French Riviera

Useful Links:

• All you need to know about the Terracotta Army: Smithsonian
• Who were the Sodgians? HERE
• Australian Aboriginal Archaeology HERE
• Neolithic village in France HERE

Watch the video version (it's better!): https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch

Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019

#archaeology #archeology #archaeologicaldiscoveries #ancienthistory #traveltips

We then review two recent ancient DNA studies - one of Iron Age Britain and the other of the Avars, Central Asian nomadic peoples who settled in Central Europe. These studies support the historical record that suggested a high status of women in "Celtic" Britain and the opposite in Avar society. Patrilocality vs. Matrilocality, and Patrilineality vs. Matrilineality. It's an archaeological battle of the sexes, thanks to Ancient DNA!

For the video version, see: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch

#archaeology #ancientsocieties #antiquities #archaeologicaldiscoveries #archeology

We then do an archaeology news update, featuring royal treasures of Lithuania which were recently rediscovered, a 3,000 year-old city unearthed in southern China and a possible resolution of a mystery surrounding some mysterious Viking objects.

For the video version, see: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch

#archaeology #history #antiquities #archaeologicaldiscoveries #archeology

Sometimes when archaeologists find stuff, they aren’t sure what it was used for, if it was used, or even what it is. In this case, Microwear Analysis is our friend! By looking very closely at a range of materials – stone, bone, wood, teeth, and even fabric, for example – we can get some real clues into the life of an artefact and therefore the people who made and used it. Thanks to advanced microscopy and scanning techniques, archaeologists gotten even better at this type of analysis. Let’s see it at work at Vindolanda, a site we on this channel know well.

 Special Episode – Avar DNA

The Avars – who we briefly mentioned in our Scythian Archaeology Porn episode – were a mysterious group of people who made it all the way from Central Asia to Hungary in the Early Medieval era, becoming a scourge to their neighbors, especially the Byzantines. However, relatively little was known about them…UNTIL NOW! Thanks to a massive DNA project which sequenced the genomes of four entire Avar villages, we know much more about their family structure, immigration patterns, and social practices. This case study reveals how powerful ancient DNA analysis can be, and now that it is becoming so much cheaper and faster…buckle up! Archaeology and DNA together will increasingly reveal secrets of the human past we never thought it possible to uncover.

 Archaeology News – Zombie Archaeology

Archaeology can be spooky because it really just tells us the story of the human past, and that involves all kinds of ghosties, ghoulies, and things that go bump in the night. We talk about two recent discoveries: a revenant burial in Germany and a highway for the dead in Ireland. The dead walk the earth in this edition of archaeology news!

·       Sources

o   https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a60649902/zombie-grave-discovered/

o   https://newsweek.com/archaeologists-unearth-grave-zombie-ancient-folk-wanted-buried-forever-1894751

o   https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/exploring-the-baltinglass-cursus-complex-routes-for-the-dead/81B05D3592918A99143EAE71B083B436

#archaeology #history #zombies

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX5b7cQclkQ&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=13

ABCs of Archaeology – L is for Landscape Archaeology

Archaeology isn’t just about artefacts and buildings and the environment separately. When you put those things together, you get a whole landscape – the place people inhabit which they shape…and it also shapes them! And it’s not only about the physical space, but how people socialize in that space and how they think about it. This all is called Landscape Archaeology, and it is increasingly a core part of the discipline. UNESCO has recognized cultural landscapes for over 30 years now. Let’s learn a bit more about how it’s done, how it started, and why it’s important.

Archaeology Porn – Scythian Treasures

Gold, fancy footwear and ermmmm, sheets of human skin? The Scythians are a mysterious group into which some of Ancient Greek historian Herodotus’ works give us a glimpse, albeit a likely exaggerated and biased one. Luckily, as they originated all the way in the eastern Eurasian Steppe and made it all the way to Europe, the Scythians left an amazing archaeological trail. Well, thanks to finds from some of their elaborate tombs preserved in tundra, we have learned they were prolific tattoo artists and makers of pretty bad-ass shoes. Their archaeological legacy is some of the best preserved and frankly most relatable that you’ll ever see from the ancient world. Or, actually it may be a long time before you ever see it considering most of the stuff is behind the Iron Curtain in St. Petersburg. Well, at least you’ll have this video!

 Archaeology News 

The legacy of slavery in the US is something that history has been actively exploring in recent years, but a lot of it can only be told by archaeology because enslaved people were deliberately written out of or simply overlooked in most written accounts – they were not viewed as “important” or fully human. So, a lot of what can be reconstructed about their lives is thanks to the material record – archaeology. Today, we explore two stories which reveal a bit about this legacy as well as some other more famous Americans.

Sources: 

·       https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/george-washingtons-stash-of-centuries-old-cherries-found-hidden-under-mount-vernon-floor 

·       https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/04/22/cherries-george-washington-mount-vernon-1770/ 

·       https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/us/politics/charleston-nc-slavery-black-history-dna.html

·       https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/10/nyregion/anger-over-fate-resting-place-for-poor-blacks-church-fighting-town-for-ownership.html 

#archaeology #history #science

 In this episode, Jason goes through 3 segments – The ABCs of Archaeology, Archaeology Porn, and Archaeology News 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2NIqH-qEpw&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=12

ABCs of Archaeology – K is Knapping

Wow, who knew we could learn so much from a bunch of old stone tools?! Knapping (silent K) is the art of shaping stone into (hopefully) useful tools. Why is it some important? Being able to identify worked stone is critical to dating very ancient artefacts, especially as stone tools were used by early humans (and even pre-human hominids) just about wherever they lived. Identifying worked stone sounds simple, but it takes some time to learn. You need two out of three of these features: (1) A striking platform (2) A bulb of percussion and (3) Ripples. Believe it or not, a lot of people still pursue knapping as a hobby or even artform today.

 Sources

1.      How to identify worked flint

o   https://peterborougharchaeology.org/archaeology-skills-techniques/identification-of-knapped-flints/

o   https://projects.digventures.com/spodden-valley/timeline/diary/how-to-tell-if-that-flint-tool-you-found-was-really-made-by-humans/

o   https://www.cafg.net/docs/articles/FlintGuide.pdf

2.      Flint knapping courses

o   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEReutMt8Is04N4UxGS6J1Vu1fmEkWK-I

o   https://www.will-lord.co.uk/courses/flint-knapping-courses/

Archaeology Porn – The Alfred Jewel

The jewel of the collection at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, the Alfred Jewel is like nothing else you’ve ever seen. Luckily, this is one situation in which, regarding the history, I don’t have to keep saying “we just don’t know” over and over again. Between the written historical and archaeological evidence, combined with a good dose of common sense, we actually have a pretty good idea of what this thing is: an aestel, or pointer, to go along with a book King Alfred the Great of Wessex sent around to all the bishops of his kingdom. Let’s go through the evidence and admire this arresting and unusual artefact!

Archaeology News 

Genetic tests of feral grapes om Rapa Nui / Easter Island are shedding light on its 19th century history and helping modern economic development. Meanwhile, some interesting new research demonstrates how we can wring new insights out of old artefacts using modern-day technology. However, I’m not sure I’m totally on board with the findings…

Sources: 

·       https://www.foodandwine.com/news/easter-island-vineyard-winery#:~:text=A%20diverse%20group%20of%20entrepreneurs,on%20the%20island's%20southwestern%20tip.

·       https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0028825X.2024.2332117 

·       https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S03054403

In this special episode, Jason reviews the Game of Thrones series, particularly how much of it is borrowed from British history, particularly the Roman and Medieval periods. And [SPOILER ALERT], just like the TV series, this one doesn’t end well.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac5ZOAJDtms&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6I3MzYoMtUgnXqmDgDwYPvu&index=2

#archaeology #history #science

ABCs of Archaeology – J is for …?

As there seems to be no prominent archaeology terms beginning with J, I'm just giving a brief update about my favorite topic: ME, Jason.

Site Visit – Easter Island / Rapa Nui

Wow, I have never done such an extensive site visit – a whole island! Rapa Nui – known as Easter Island to the outside world due to its siting by Europeans on Easter Sunday – is home to some of the most recognizable faces on earth: the elongated mugs on those megalithic statues. While a lot of the details of the history of Rapa Nui and its eponymous people remain a mystery, a combination of archaeological data, oral, and written history are bringing a lot of this lost culture back to life. And why is it ‘lost’? Rapa Nui was absolutely devastated by the predations of outsiders and colonization since the 1800’s and its own internal problems before that. Thanks to recent research and local control of the heritage sites, the Rapa Nui are reclaiming their own narrative. However, challenges to true political autonomy, environmental problems, and corruption remain obstacles to the islands’ flourishing. Regardless, if you can afford the time and effort it takes to get there, it will be the experience of a lifetime!

Archaeology News – Microplastics: A threat to archaeology?

Not only are microplastics, a newly developed term, found in our waters and oceans, new research from Northern England reveals that they are also seeping into the soil, potentially altering its chemistry. Though more tests need to be done, this may pose a threat to preservation in situ of archaeological – especially organic – remains, which require an anaerobic environment.

Sources: 

·       https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/research/microplastics-archaeology-remains/#:~:text=Professor%20John%20Schofield%20from%20the,with%20plastics%2C%20and%20that%20this

·       https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-are-contaminating-ancient-archaeological-sites-180984049/ 

·       https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724000755?via%3Dihub 

 #archaeology #history #science

Indigenous archaeology refers to a few different but related phenomenon. It essentially is movement of indigenous people to reclaim their archaeological heritage. Since the end of colonialization starting after WWII, artefacts and human remains began to be returned to indigenous ‘source’ communities – a process which has greatly accelerated in recent years. Indigenous people are increasingly doing the archaeology and taking back control of their own narratives, telling the story with their own voices. While undoubtedly a positive development, this process isn’t totally unproblematic or without controversy, as indigenous people are not always on the same page, and objective science can sometimes be obscured.

Archaeology News – A Tale of Two Tombs, plus a newly-discovered Pyramid???

In today’s episode, we discuss a richly furnished tomb in Panama whose discovery was not at all surprising as well as a neolithic tomb in Germany which indeed was a shocker. In Panama, what is interpreted as the tomb of a priest from approximately 1,200 years ago was filled with gold artefacts. Located in an archaeological park, the tomb was the ninth one excavated there, so while its richness was stunning, its existence was not in doubt. However, in Germany, the construction of an industrial facility led to the uncovering of a bizarre Neolithic tomb, which was then repurposed by later civilizations over time. This is something we see elsewhere, with successive peoples incorporating old stuff into their own monuments long after the people who build the initial structures were gone. Finally, a sensational story of a 25,000 year old pyramid in Indonesia goes bust!

Sources: 

·       https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/13/world/ancient-tomb-gold-artifacts-panama-scn/index.html

·       https://micultura.gob.pa/descubren-importante-tumba-con-suntuoso-ajuar-de-oro-en-parque-arqueologico-el-cano/ 

·       https://idw-online.de/de/news830373 

·       https://allthatsinteresting.com/magdeburg-germany-chariot-burial 

·       https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/arp.1932

·       https://www.unilad.com/news/study-humans-built-25000yearold-pyramid-removed-error-286154-20240321 

 Archaeology Porn – Staffordshire Hoard

Once upon a time in 2009, a detectorist near the town of Hammerwich in Staffordshire came upon some gold in a field…a lot of gold. In fact, 5.1kg of gold and 1.4kg of silver were pulled out of the earth in the form of elaborate and impossibly intricate works of expert craftmanship from the early Medieval period. In fact, it was the largest hoard of Medieval precious metals ever found in the UK – even more than in the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial. However, beyond that, mysteries abound. Why are all of the pieces martial in nature, almost entirely pieces of weapons – but there are no actual blades? Why would pieces of such value be deliberately destroyed and buried in the ground? Who would do such a thing? Fifteen years later, we’re closer to some answers, but the mystery will probably never be completely&

Mike’s 50-year long career has involved him in many different facets of archaeology we’ve discussed on the show – major changes in archaeological theory in the 1970’s and 80’s, engagement between professional archaeologists and the public (e.g. modern-day druids!), ethnoarchaeology, repatriation, etc., and we’ll be discussing some of that on the show.

Aside from his busy career, Mike is a caring and attentive teacher, a captivating speaker, and an all-around great guy. If he doesn’t make you want to become an archaeologist – even as just a hobbyist – no one will! 

I kept wanting to jump in with cheesy comments and questions, but Mike is so charismatic, I just decided to let him go and do the talking.

#archaeology #history #science

Historical archaeology presents the exciting opportunity to combine written history with material remains to paint a detailed picture of what happened in the human past. However, it’s not without its dangers. History is often written with agendas in mind, so whole people and events are purposefully erased. Or, even more common is just the more subtle, less conscious biases which guide peoples’ writings, leaving whole topics or groups of people either forgotten in the historical record or portrayed with in a slanted manner. However, if we are able to read history critically and not use it to totally define our archaeological research, then the two disciplines working together indeed can be a powerful combo.

 
Living Archaeology Site Visit – Ancient Mycenae

Today, we will continue our story of Bronze Age Greece, moving on from Knossos and the Minoans to the Mycenaeans at…Mycenae – where else?! Mycenae is home to the largest beehive tomb in the ancient world, and a ton of archaeological gold bling. This is where the Trojan war was launched, and it was the center of the Aegean world in its day. Since being discovered however, it’s been ransacked and its finds dispersed from Russia to London, and much of it is sitting in Athens. As a standalone visit, unless you know the history, it’s likely to be disappointing as the most impressive artefacts are offsite, and the museum and signage don’t very effectively cover the story of what happened there. However, if you’re an enthusiast, or you other otherwise visiting the Argolid, which is loaded with archaeology, you’d better make it there! It’s less than a 2-hour drive from Athens.
 

Archaeology News – Archaeology from outer space

First, we start off with an out-of-this-world story about meteorite material in ancient metallurgy – it’s not as rare as you think! In fact, the use of these otherworldly materials shows the ingenuity and thirst for discovery that people show now was present in our ancient ancestors. The same is true for a medieval astrolabe recently recognized as an object which harkens back to a time of scientific discovery and religious harmony in Spain. It’s something our ancestors could teach us a lot about given the violent state of our current world. Finally, we do a brief intro to the motherlode of archaeological site: Çatalhöyük. A loaf of bread was recently discovered there that is older than the bible, older than the pyramids, older than…just about anything you can think of!

 
#archaeology #history #science

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-jdLRGLMoU&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=11

ABCs of Archaeology – G is for Geophysics

Geophysics (affectionately known as “geophizz”) is an amazing process that is now a standard part of archaeological work. Using three different ground-based technologies – earth resistance, Magnetometry, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) – we can actually get a pretty good idea of what’s underneath the ground. This helps us to target our excavations and take necessary precautions to avoid destroying sensitive archaeology in our dig. However, it’s not as easy as TV makes it look, as different soil and terrain conditions work better with different types of technology. 

Archaeology Porn – Gold Signet Rings

This is some vintage porn because we are going way back to look at some Bronze Age bling! Crafted in the Greek world – Crete, the Peloponnese, or both – these rings are over 3,000 years old. Displaying an array of bizarre and seemingly inscrutable imagery, the rings tell us a lot about these ancient societies…but just what exactly? That’s anyone’s guess! Luckily, a recent find in 2015 helped assuage concerns that many of them were fake. Jason tells you all about it and takes you on a tour through the wacky world of signet ring imagery.

Corpus of Minoan and Mycenaean Seals (CMS), German Archaeological Institute: https://arachne.dainst.org/project/corpusminmyk

Jason’s papers on gold signet rings: https://www.intothedustarchaeology.com/post/show-companion-materials-gold-signet-rings 

Living Archaeology Site Visit – Knossos

Pronounce K-no-sos (as in “knish” instead of "know”) Knossos is one of those archaeology sites you’ll never forget if you visit it. Located just outside Heraklion, the regional capital city of Crete, Knossos is a maze of storerooms, public spaces, and priestly quarters. Known as the original labyrinth and home of the Minotaur, though we have learned a lot about Knossos, much of it remains shrouded in mystery. Excavated in the early 1900’s by Arthur Evans, Knossos was a palatial center in the Bronze Age for some 700 years, undergoing many changes, destructions, renovations, and expansions. With the original language there, Linear A, still untranslated and so many layers of stratigraphy built over or destroyed, Knossos still holds many secrets. Will it ever give them up? 

 Sources:

o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJqnTlbCS0

o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJUpw_wd-7I

o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAy8NUqq-ew

o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnzl5fdtMI

o   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJn94digDDw   

o   https://www.ashmolean.org/article/rebuilding-the-palace-of-minos-at-knossos 

·       Myth of the minotaur: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaN88NLCoVE

·       Knishes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAQhbyGXxN8

#archaeology #history #science

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G9HwVkFO8U&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=1

ABCs of Archaeology – F is for Formation processes

Formation processes are the natural and human-made changes to a site or artefacts that affect how we find it today. Natural formation processes especially are often overlooked but greatly impact our understanding of a site, which can be totally thrown off if we don’t account for them. Sure, we’re archaeologists – not geologists, meteorologists, soil scientists, etc. – but we do need to have an understanding of them. If not, we can fall for the “Pompeii premise” trap, which is when archaeologists wrongly assume a site they find is just as it was long ago, frozen at a moment in time, just like Pompeii.

Living Archaeology Site Visit – Masada

Masada is the most iconic archaeological site in Israel and one of the most incredible places I ever visited. Other than Pompeii itself, Masada is the closest I’ve seen to a place being frozen in time, left as it was thousands of years ago. However, the site is by far simple. Often seen as a focal point for the past-present continuity of a Jewish homeland in Israel, the site is more complex and nuanced than has been portrayed, with a lot of elements that do not support the nationalistic narrative. Whatever the politics, it is certainly an arresting place to visit and a great study for the uses and misuses of historical and biblical material with respect to archaeology.

Sources:

https://www.academia.edu/25836648/Capturing_a_Beautiful_Woman_at_Masada

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1040/

https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/masada-national-park/  

https://israel-tourguide.info/2010/11/25/food-discoveries-masada-garum/#:~:text=For%20here%20had%20been%20stored,king'%20%E2%80%93%20referring%20to%20Herod. 

Archaeology News – Today we have stories in the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful categories.

Good: A Polish team has discovered a whole bunch of Bronze and Iron Age sites in Oman, a country chock full of archaeological wonders. It shows just how much archaeology is out there, and how we need folks like you to join the field and help locate, study, and preserve it.

Source: https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2024/02/12/metallurgical-sites-in-oman/

Bad: Hundreds of Bactrian era sites, which date back to Alexander the Great and beyond, have been looted and destroyed in Afghanistan. This highlights the toll war and poverty takes on archaeology, and the pernicious “pull factor” that the illicit antiquities trade creates.

Ugly: A new interpretation of the bones within the royal tombs of Virginia, mostly belonging to people who were gruesomely murdered, has produced a divergent interpretation versus previous studies. Based on osteological, archaeological, and historical evidence, the new study posits which body belongs to members of Alexander the Great’s family, including his father, Philip II, and his younger half-brother, who succeeded him.

Beautiful: A golden dress accessory way back from the Bronze Age (i.e. at least 3,000 years ago) has been discovered by a metal detectorist in England, just one of seven of its kind ever found. This highlights the extent of ancient trade networks across the Irish Sea as well and the positiv

Ethnoarchaeology is a fascinating part of archaeology that brings in anthropological observations from present-day societies or past societies that were around recently enough to have been rigorously documented. The idea is to observe how these societies leave material traces which can be observed and used to provide analogies for what archaeologists find in the material record. While strictly speaking it’s all about behavior leaving material traces, closely related is ethnography, which also provides analogies into meanings. What did this represent to these ancient people? Well, here are some ideas for how other societies interpret it… Those are used interchangeably enough (though they are not quite the same thing), so I cover both here.

Living Archaeology Site Visit – This week, we’re going to the northern region of Ethiopia, called Tigray. Once home to a mighty Christian empire, Tigray today is in the midst of recovering from a ruinous civil war (2020-2022). However, the many monuments there attest to its rich and unique history. One of those are its stelae – giant carved slabs of granite that stand as monuments to kings around the 4th century AD. Some of these stelae (plural of stele) have lived interesting lives, including one which was taken by Italy during its brief colonial rule, erected in Rome and then repatriated to Ethiopia in 2005. Surrounding these megalithic stelae are hundreds of smaller plain ones, monuments to long forgotten people of the Aksumite empire.

References:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/15/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Ezana%27s_Stele
https://www.sfu.ca/archaeology/museum/exhibits/virtual-exhibits/aksum/aksumite-stelae.html
https://journals.openedition.org/palethnologie/5778#tocto1n2
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/2486/111p023.pdf 

Archaeology Porn – Sometimes throughout history normal people go through life not realizing they were destined for fame as an international archaeology porn stars. That is true for our subject today, Lucy, a 3.18 million year old Australopithecus Afarensis, an early hominin relative of ours (though humans, or homo sapiens, are not direct descendants of her). Found in Ethiopia, Lucy caused a sensation in with her discovery in 1974 as one of the most complete skeletons ever found at that time of such an ancient hominin. Let’s travel to Ethiopia and meet her! Her story raises a lot of interesting questions…

#archaeology #history #science

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OPlUxgTUHo&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=2 

ABCs of Archaeology – D is for Dendrochronology

Dendrochronology is a technique first developed as a method for dating in the early 1900’s. Each year, trees produce a “ring” because they stop growing during the winter, producing a noticeable ring. These rings differ depending on climatic conditions, leaving similar patterns across trees in a given area. If we’re able to produce a catalogue of tree rings going way back (and some of them go back more than 10,000 years!), then we can date wood with total precision. This makes it the most accurate form of archaeological dating, but it does have its limits…

Living Archaeology Site Visit – Jason takes you to one of the most well-known sites in Roman Britain – the Roman baths in…Bath. Built on the site of pagan Iron Age temple, the Romans started building this place up almost as soon as they came to stay in Britain. Though it fell into disrepair and was pillaged for stones after the Romans left, before too long it was used again as a healing bath under royal patronage. It stayed in use until late Victorian times, when excavations found all the old Roman stuff. Now it’s one of the most comprehensive archaeological sites you can visit anywhere…if you’re okay to pay a hefty sum and brave the crowds!

References:

https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/the-end-of-roman-bath.htm

https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/sites/rise-and-fall-of-roman-baths/ 

https://www.jstor.org/stable/525760

 
Archaeology News – Sometimes archaeology headlines are very sexy, promising history-changing implications when in reality the evidence is flimsy or it’s just not that groundbreaking – all hat and no cattle as they say in Texas. This is story kind of an example of that…a Roman-era dildo found in England! Jason is going to take you through and debunk the story, or at least show you how to take it with a grain of salt.

References

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/touch-wood-luck-protection-power-or-pleasure-a-wooden-phallus-from-vindolanda-roman-fort/53F4B0838D23DB65F6A244695624102E 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/feb/20/its-not-a-darning-tool-its-a-very-naughty-toy-roman-dildo-found

https://www.vice.com/en/article/ake5d8/ancient-roman-phallus-vindolanda

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/remember-that-ancient-roman-dildo-it-might-just-be-an-old-roman-drop-spindle/

https://theconversation.com/roman-dildo-could-have-been-made-by-shoemakers-an-expert-in-ancient-prosthetics-explains-200387

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-ancient-roman-dick-drawing-suggests-phallic-graffiti-was

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74nVBKuvzlo&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KD1HhX8BvePo3Lx6F-8veg

#archaeology #history #science

Chaîne Opératoire is a French term translating into English as “operating chain.” It describes the whole set of processes from making to depositing (i.e. throwing away) an artefact and can teach us quite a bit.

2) Living Archaeology Site Visit – Jason takes you to the bizarre and internationally little-know site of Lepenski Vir, a neolithic village in the Iron Gates region of Serbia. Some claim it to be the oldest ‘urban’ site in Europe. 

·       References:

o   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31884-7  

o   https://www.nature.com/articles/nature25778     

o   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370208494_THE_SUMMER_SOLSTICE_SUN_AT_LEPENSKI_VIR 

 
3) Archaeology News – The potential origins of Multiple Sclerosis, hidden ancient cities of the Amazon, and Early Medieval Anglo-Saxon fashion accessories from Africa…the wonders of archaeological science, which seems to bring new discoveries to the headlines every day.

·       Multiple Sclerosis

o   A study of ancient and modern European and Eurasian genomes reveals a prevalence of Yamnaya DNA among Northern Europeans, leading to their susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.

o   Sources

§  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00024-9

§  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06618-z

§  https://www.reuters.com/science/dna-ancient-europeans-reveals-surprising-multiple-sclerosis-origins-2024-01-10/

§  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04800-3

§  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abm4247 

·       Lost Amazonian cities

o   A LIDAR survey of the Upano Valley in the Amazon region of Ecuador revealed some startling finds. 

o   Sources

§  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi6317 

§  https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67940671 

§  https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/11/amazon-archaeology-lost-cities-ecuador

·       Anglo-Saxon ivory rings

o   Ivory rings found on the belts of women in Early Medieval England and northern Germany were found to have originated with African elephants!

o   Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X23001189#:~:text=The%20radiocarbon%20dating%2C%20strontium%20analysis,fifth%20and%20sixth%20centuries%20AD

#archaeology #history #science

Most people think of the usual archaeological material – weapons, buildings, tombs, etc. Actually, organic remains of all types – human, plant, animal, and others – constitute an important part of the archaeological record. Jason breaks it all down in this episode.

 Archaeology Porn - The Nefertiti Bust

Jason traces the journey of this somewhat infamous ancient beauty all the way from Amarna to Berlin. Smuggled(!) or ahem, exported, out of Egypt through dubious means by some shady archaeologists, the bust became of the earliest cases for repatriation, which is all the rage today. Her beauty was such that she even melted Hitler’s heart, and she’s been enchanting audiences ever since. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak dubbed the queen “Egypt’s greatest ambassador.”

·       References:

o   https://aeon.co/essays/how-the-enigmatic-nefertiti-came-to-be-locked-away-in-germany 

o   https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/new-findings-about-nefertiti-as-berlin-exhibition-opens-a-870731.html 

o   https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/archaeological-controversy-did-germany-cheat-to-get-bust-of-nefertiti-a-606525.html 

Archaeology News 

Jason takes a deep dive into three big stories from 2023 coming from Colombia, Spain, and Zambia. 

·       Treasure Ship

o   The San José, a Spanish ship sank by the British in 1708 carrying a cargo reportedly worth as much as $20 Billion, is about to be raised by a Colombian government-sponsored mission. It’s in their territorial waters, so finders keepers (sorta), right? Wrong! It’s a lot more complicated than that…

o   References:

§  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/world/americas/san-jose-galleon-shipwreck-treasure.html   

§  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12714409/San-Jose-shipwreck-treasure-Colombia-20-billion.html 

§  https://www.washingtonian.com/2023/06/23/why-does-a-virginia-court-oversee-the-titanic-shipwreck/ 

·       Drones, drones everywhere! Drones are being used in an increasing number of applications in archaeology. Most recently, they have been used to search for ancient cave art in remote mountains of Spain, where access is difficult and dangerous. Could they discover the next Cosquer Cave deep underwater? 

·       A site called Kalambo Falls, in a remote area of Zambia, is the gift that keeps on giving. Most recently, archaeologists discovered some obviously worked wood and wood-working tools from…nearly half a MILLION years ago! That is so old, that the carpenter wasn’t even human, but an earlier hominid cousin of ours and the oldest carpenter whose work has ever been discovered. 

#archaeology #history #science

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzUV5bfgB24&list=PLcH4-BWqVM6KHP2Ih6UEq4_G1qRq8MgSn&index=5

In this episode, Jason goes through 3 segments – The ABCs of Archaeology, Archaeology Porn, and Living Archaeology Site Visits

ABCs of Archaeology – A is for Archaeology

Jason starts with the most basic question – What is Archaeology? Though often the subject of movies, TV shows, journalism, and other media, many people really have no idea.

Archaeology Porn - The Antikythera Mechanism

The Antikythera Mechanism, on which the most recent Indiana Jones film is LOOSELY based, is truly deserving of the first Archaeology Porn designation. Found in a Greek shipwreck more than two thousand years old, it is considered the world’s first computer. Amazeballs!

·       References:

o   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84310-w 

o   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Antikythera-mechanism 

o   https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/shipwreck-featured-indiana-jones-reveals-215220690.html 

o   https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/decoding-antikythera-mechanism-first-computer-180953979/ 

o   https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-ancient-greek-astronomical-calculation-machine-reveals-new-secrets/ 

o   https://www.jstor.org/stable/1006146 

 Living Archaeology Site Visit to Marseille and Cosquer Méditerranée

Jason takes you all the way to Marseille, France, to visit Cosquer Méditerranée, the recreation of cave full of 30,000 year old paintings. Now sitting more than 37m / 120 ft underwater due to rising sea levels after the ice age, the cave was rediscovered by Mr. Cosquer during a dive in 1985. Inaccessible to public and threatened by the continually rising sea level, the cave has been recreated in the center of the vibrant city of Marseille for your viewing pleasure!

·       References:

o   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/20/man-discovered-worlds-prehistoric-underwater-cave-paintings/ 

o   https://www.grotte-cosquer.com/ 

o   https://www.marseilletourisme.fr/en/places-see/heritage-culture/neighborhoods/old-port/ 

o   https://www.calanques-parcnational.fr/en 

 #archaeology #history #science