https://drnz.se/prehistoric-resources/feed.xml 2026-09-07T05:07:17Z https://doi.org/10.3828/hgr.2026.8 2026-11-01T00:00:00Z Hunter Gatherer Research

In the Netherlands, ideas about Mesolithic hunter-gatherer mobility and land use are hampered by a limited dataset. Scatters of lithics and charcoal-rich pits (‘pit hearths’) are the main characteristics of most sites on the sandy soils. In the Rhine-Meuse alluvial plain, a few well-preserved Late Mesolithic sites have been partially excavated, providing much information about, for example, the ecological context of hunter-gatherer activities and subsistence. However, the majority of Mesolithic sites are less informative, but occasionally other phenomena than lithics and pit hearths are encountered. At the site of Kampen-Reevediep (province of Overijssel, Netherlands), a structure consisting of seven postholes associated with a scatter of lithics and charred plant remains was uncovered. The structure is interpreted as the remains of a relatively ‘sturdy’ dwelling. After describing the main characteristics of the archaeological remains, consisting of soil features, a scatter of flint artefacts, and botanical remains, we compare this complex with other well-published Mesolithic dwellings in a wider geographical context.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-026-02560-z 2026-10-01T00:00:00Z Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Abstract In the prehistoric record, the presence of small-sized resources including gastropods is often viewed as a marker of increased dietary breadth, declining foraging efficiency and/or flexible subsistence patterns involving diversified foraging activities. However, researchers often find it difficult to distinguish natural gastropod accumulations from those created by anthropogenic processes. Here we report on the context, profitability and methods of the seasonal hand-collecting and processing of terrestrial gastropods based on the observations of contemporary Central African forest foragers. In this context, gastropods were exploited in response to temporary and seasonal reductions in the availability of meat and changes in labor demands that allowed women and children to engage in this activity. Analyses of faunal remains from a wet season encampment presented here shows how different kinds of gastropod processing are reflected in the ethnoarchaeological record. These analyses validate several of the characteristics currently used by archaeologists to identify anthropogenic gastropod assemblages.

https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/NBNK4734292266.mp3 2026-09-06T00:00:00Z New Books in Archaeology

What can we learn from our landscape? How can Geomythography help us understand our cultural heritage? What is Geomythography? Geomythography is the interpretation of prehistoric and later societies at specific locales through a combination of oral tradition, place-names, landscape analysis and archaeology. The process is a means of finding new perspectives and interpretations to further the understanding of early and extant cultures, the continuities between them and investigating oral traditions that initially arose in pre-Christian myth, much of it concerning a Mother Goddess. In Scotland's…

https://doi.org/10.1515/janeh-2026-0009 2026-09-04T00:00:00Z Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History

Abstract The life of Balmunamḫe, son of Sîn-nūr-mātim, has been the subject of a century-long research that began in the 1910s with the first editions of Old Babylonian cuneiform texts from Larsa (modern Tell Senkereh), and which continues to this day due to the discovery and publication of new texts (legal and administrative documents, royal, business and private letters). After a brief overview of the research history, the article focuses on a group of 10 recently published or reedited letters from the State Hermitage Museum (DV-15058, 15059, 15230, 15233), the Yale Babylonian Collection (YBC 7566, NBC 7348, 8696), the Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS 256) and the M. Schøyen Collection (MS 3642, 3771). Eight of the letters shed new light on the multifaceted role of Balmunamḫe as a high-ranking official and manager of the economic institution “the House”; two other letters offer insight into the life of Balmunamḫe’s relatives (Ṣillī-Šamaš, Gimillum and Balmunamḫe II). The article ends with an appendix that provides a revised version of Balmunamḫe’s family tree.

https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261477271 2026-09-04T00:00:00Z The Holocene

The final disappearance of the aurochs ( Bos primigenius ) from Poland in the 17th century marked the culmination of a decline that had begun as early as the Atlantic period. Although human activities primarily drove its extinction, the reasons for its earlier disappearance in Scandinavia remain uncertain. This study investigates the immigration and extinction dynamics of the Scandinavian aurochs during the Holocene. Utilising phylogenetic and palaeogenetic data, we trace its postglacial colonisation from a Western European refugium, delimiting the period of connectivity with the main European population before the land bridge was severed by rising sea levels. Genetic analyses further point to inbreeding and genetic drift, exacerbated by population bottlenecks and geographical isolation, diminishing resilience over time. Population modelling indicates a classic boom-bust pattern correlated with intensified human settlement and hunting. Despite environmental conditions initially permitting persistence amidst increasing forest cover, subsequent habitat loss and human pressures accelerated demographic decline.

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774326100717 2026-09-03T00:00:00Z Cambridge Archaeological Journal

Abstract The emergence and spread of pottery production in Southwest Asia is a key topic in Neolithic archaeology, as it can provide valuable information about the technological developments and cultural changes of early societies. Archaeological excavations at the Tol-e Sangi in the Fars Cultural Zone have provided important evidence for investigating this process. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the earliest pottery in the Fars cultural zone appeared c. 6900 bc . The stratigraphic sequence of the site and the absence of any settlement hiatus between the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) and Pottery Neolithic (PN) layers indicate that pottery emerged within a continuous local cultural tradition and not as a result of population replacement or direct adoption of a fully developed ceramic tradition. The evidence from Tol-e Sangi supports a model that considers the emergence of pottery as a result of local development within the framework of a network of regional interactions. These results demonstrate the importance of the Fars cultural region as one of the key areas for understanding the origin, adoption and development of pottery technology in Southwest Asia.

https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2026.10226 2026-09-03T00:00:00Z American Antiquity

Abstract Phytoliths have been used by archaeologists worldwide as aids to building agricultural crop histories. Analyses of phytoliths recovered from charred cooking residues adhering to interior pottery walls has resulted in a substantial revision in maize and squash histories in Michigan, New York, the northern and central Plains, and Québec. Here we provide the results of the first analysis of phytoliths from directly dated charred cooking residues in Connecticut and Rhode Island (southern New England). AMS dates on maize macrobotanical remains from this region all fall after AD 1000, and there are no direct dates on squash macrobotanical remains. Results of our analysis indicate that both crops were being cooked in pots before AD 1000 and commonly so thereafter. These results point to the need for additional analyses to build comprehensive crop histories throughout New England.

https://tracking.swap.fm/track/IVPmvUWSCISCVAzWNnnJ/rss.art19.com/episodes/22b5658d-1171-45a5-9651-7417bad3edae.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIgxNb3ppbGxhBjoGRVQ%3D--4f04cd103bfdd3e94cbbb356ead53321a4d63e94 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z Past Lives

When we think of Scandinavia, it seems to be a long way from the Roman Empire, with hundreds of miles separating the Rhine and Danube frontiers from the bogs of Jutland and Sweden. Why, then, were hundreds upon hundreds of Roman-made weapons intentionally thrown into these bogs in the third and fourth centuries AD? The answer opens the gate that will eventually lead, many centuries down the road, to the warrior-kings of the Viking Age. Go see Patrick, Dr. Claire Aubin, and Manny Fidel draft teams of the greatest assholes in American history on Tuesday, September 29th in New York! Tickets avail…

https://rss.com/podcasts/nbarchaeology/3116353 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z The New Brunswick Archaeology Podcast

This fortnight we’re traveling back in time to our spring (!) recording with Karen Mack of the University of Maine and Crow Curation. We're talking ceramic technology on the Maritime Peninsula and, in particular, at the Rumford Falls sites on the Androscoggin River in Maine. After a primer on regional ceramic manufacture, Karen tells us why we need to run more radiocarbon dates on pottery encrustations, discusses the importance of ceramic analysis in CRM, and describes some future research directions. Show Notes Mack, Karen. 2023. The Rumford Falls Ceramic Assemblage and Maine Ceramic Period 2…

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moesgaard/episodes/Hvad-kan-en-dd-viking-sige-om-et-helt-samfund-e3o4v7l 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z Leth møder Moesgaard

Arkæologi er et forsøg på at møde mennesker, der ikke lever mere. At forstå dem og deres skikke og samfund. I Lisbjerg nord for Aarhus har arkæologer – højst overraskende – fundet 30 grave fra vikingetiden. Hvad fortæller gravpladsen og dens genstande os? Og hvordan undersøger man sporene efter noget, der aldrig var tiltænkt at blive fundet igen? Liv Stidsing Reher-Langberg er museumsinspektør og arkæolog på Moesgaard. Hun var udgravningsleder på Lisbjergudgravningen, som trak store overskrifter i 2025 på grund af de opsigtsvækkende fund.

https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2026.10195 2026-09-02T00:00:00Z Latin American Antiquity

Abstract Geoarchaeological and agroecological research in the Three Rivers Region of northwest Belize and specifically in the Booth’s River Depression started in the 1990s. Regional geology is structured by normal faults creating escarpments and depressions that evolve into fluvial karst valleys that host agroecosystem features including wetland fields, terraces, canals, dams, and reservoirs. Our initial research in the Three Rivers Region followed accounts of canals to study areas of wetland fields. We excavated wetland fields that had complex natural and anthropogenic stratigraphy similar to Aztec chinampas. In the broader region, lidar coupled with field and lab studies identified the largest Ancient Maya wetland field complexes, and new lidar data indicate large swaths of wetland fields and canals within the Booth’s River Depression.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1314529/episodes/19733164-the-zapotecs-s8-e1.mp3 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z ArchaeoEd Podcast

In this episode, Ed talks about the Zapotec civilization of Oaxaca, Mexico. Their origins, their important role in Mesoamerican history, and their modern descendants. Check out Matt Savino's book Land Without a Continent here: https://www.amazon.ca/Land-Without-Continent-through-Central/dp/1959099728/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UTlMORR1FVgN6Cbielb7ag.tGLMahp3d23FF3J6qdjtifcccI2UqZoeGG-L6Ew6VqI&qid=1788216083&sr=8-1 Support the show Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/suppor…

https://sengokudaimyo.libsyn.com/immigrants-priests-and-sweet-wine 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan

This episode we continue with the reign of Uno no Sarara, aka Jito Tenno, and look at records of the various foreigners and immigrants who came to the archipelago. This includes immigrants from the Korean peninsula as well as those foreigners with whom Yamato shared the Central Land of the Reed Plains--like the Hayato and the Emishi. We also take a look at the Yamato court's widening relationship with and use of Buddhism. Along the way we take a look at a few different incidents and reports, including omens, hunting and fishing restrictions, and a story of sweet wine that reportedly cured the…

https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261450824 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z The Holocene

This study integrates geoarchaeological, sedimentological, chronological, and geomorphic evidence to determine the age and environmental context of the wooden-pile sites at Cao Quy and Dam Thuong, and to reconstruct Late-Holocene environmental change in the tide-dominated Bach Dang Estuary, northern Vietnam. Eight AMS radiocarbon ages cluster tightly between ~2515 and 2301 cal BP (~566–352 BCE), indicating that the piles represent late Dong Son stilt-house foundations rather than 13th-century battlefield stakes. Analysis of 29 sediment cores, combined with geodetic surveys of two paleo-sea level notches (+4.0 m and +2.3 m MSL), defines a five-stage environmental evolution from a Mid-Holocene marine embayment to the modern tidal plain. During ~2.7–2.2 ka cal BP, relative sea level estimated at ~1–2 m above present MSL and emergent paleo-highs on the Vinh Phuc surface created a short-lived window for settlement. Stratigraphic evidence shows that this stable phase ended abruptly after ~2.2 ka cal BP, when rapid inundation buried the sites beneath fine, anoxic estuarine muds.

https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261450819 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z The Holocene

The Serteyka River Valley in the part of the Western Dvina Lakeland has been the subject of intensive geoarchaeological and palaeoecological studies for years. The past human settlement on the ancient lake shore was exposed to water level fluctuations dependent on climatic changes and the hydrological regime of the Serteyka River. This paper presents the first reconstructions of the evolution of the shore zone of the Great Serteya Palaeolake Basin based on a detailed study of subfossil remains of Coleoptera. Based on Coleoptera assemblage data, marsh conditions at the study site occurred at 4.65, 4.25, 4.14, and 4.09–4.04 ky cal BP, whereas fully aquatic conditions were recorded at 4.20 and 3.94–3.78 ky cal BP. Periods of highly variable water levels are indicated at 5.45, 5.11, 4.88–4.86, 4.61, 4.36–4.22, 4.18–4.14, 4.09, 4.05, and 3.99 ky cal BP by the co-occurrence of aquatic and terrestrial Coleoptera. Coleoptera assemblages indicate that the plant communities consisted mainly of alder–oak swamp forests, while open plant communities and human indicators were very rare.

https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261450782 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z The Holocene

Taora (RIU), a rockshelter located on the northern coast of New Guinea, was first occupied shortly after sea level stabilisation ~6800 cal BP. Re-excavation of this site in 2004 to investigate claims of early pig domestication and pottery-use uncovered an uncharacteristically large assemblage of bone technology for the region. Here we present the analysis of that osseous artefact assemblage—including some 464 tiny bi- or unipoints alongside six plant fibre-working tools and numerous bone blanks for the manufacture of the projectile points. Analysis of the morphology and use wear present on the points indicates that they likely tipped multi-pronged fishing spears. This collection, and its association with abundant fish remains, supports previous notions of changing lifeways during the mid-Holocene and provides insight into the central role of organic technologies in Australasia during that period.

https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2026.10205 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Latin American Antiquity

Abstract In this article, we analyze Lacandon Maya communication with nonhuman persons (deities) residing in ancient Maya ruins in the lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico, and Petén, Guatemala. Through archaeological and ethnographic evidence, we examine ruined sites in the ritual landscape where Lacandon Maya have undertaken religious pilgrimages. We discuss Lacandon perceptions of ruins within the anthropological contexts of animism, pantheistic religions, and communicating places. Lacandon Maya consider materials and living things to be permeated by unifying life forces ( k’uh , kuxa’an , and pixan ) and perceive ancient ruins as a living landscape invisible to human eyes but necessary for their social life, health, subsistence, and community prosperity. These sites are not ruins but the houses of nonhuman persons: Lacandon have to visit these sites and their owners directly to persuade them to help humans. Lacandon beliefs in ruins may explain the importance of ruined sites in Mesoamerican societies, particularly among Postclassic Maya who also undertook ritual visits to ruins to burn incense and leave offerings.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-026-02540-3 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the lithic assemblage from Level G1 of El Cierro Cave (northern Spain), attributed to the Cantabrian Lower Magdalenian. The study comprises 2,829 items, including 2,800 knapped artefacts, six macrolithic tools and 23 unmodified pebbles. Lithic procurement is dominated by flint, followed by quartzite and minor amounts of quartz. Eleven flint types have been identified, with local raw materials prevailing, while regional and tracer groups occur in lower proportions, indicating selective long-distance connections within the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. Technological analysis reveals complete operational chains for flake production using locally available resources, alongside greater variability in laminar reduction strategies. Blade production is limited and clearly subordinate to flake-oriented technologies. The retouched tool assemblage, dominated by endscrapers, conforms to typical Upper Palaeolithic techno-typological patterns, whereas backed bladelets are poorly represented.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-026-09536-z 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Maritime Archaeology

Abstract The Viking-age town of Birka and its successor Sigtuna in East Middle Sweden were demonstrably heavily involved in maritime long-distance trade. Although research into their maritime infrastructure remains incomplete, it is even more lacking when turning to the surrounding maritime hinterland, without which none of these ports could have operated successfully—or, for that matter, can ever become fully understood. Taking the current state of Danish research as a starting point and applying Westerdahl’s concept of the “maritime cultural landscape”, various categories of place-names along the southern fairway Södertäljeleden, the eastern Stockholm Archipelago and Lake Mälaren are scrutinised. By drawing on toponyms indicating landing sites, naval defences, portages, navigation marks and beacons, this study provides a general insight into the highly sophisticated Viking-age (Current Era [CE] 750–1050) and early-medieval (CE 1050–1250) maritime cultural landscape of East Middle Sweden as well as into the final approach of the sea routes towards Birka and Sigtuna.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-026-09535-0 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Maritime Archaeology

Abstract This study explores the relationship between the Majos of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain and the sea using ichthyoarchaeological analyses at Punta del Mallorquín, Llano del Sombrero, and Cueva de Villaverde. These sites provide data on fishing practices among the Majos. Combined with existing research, our results allow us to identify the taxonomic frequency of 27 species, offering an initial insight into the use of marine resources in indigenous times. Parrotfish ( Sparisoma cretense ) is the most frequent taxon identified. Based on available data, we propose both a specific fishing technique for parrotfish and a model of marine exploration linked to settlement patterns.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-026-09534-1 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Maritime Archaeology

Abstract This article examines the extent to which the societies of Southwestern Finland were connected to Baltic Sea trade and where these connections manifested. Due to previously scarce material evidence, archaeological research has interpreted the region’s maritime trade connections as limited. Combining previous data and recent metal detectorist finds of hacksilver, weights, and scales, trade connections within the region are re-evaluated. The spatial and statistical analysis of 481 trade-related finds is conducted in relation to waterways, central places, and the only known Viking Age trading site in Finland, Kyrksundet. The results show a strong association between trade finds, waterways, and central places, where medieval churches were later established, and suggest the existence of a previously unrecognised trading site. The overall distribution of trade finds points towards the existence of a maritime and fluvial trade network operating from central places to outlands. The results demonstrate that the societies of Southwestern Finland were integrated into the Baltic Sea trade and participated directly in the silver-based exchange system.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-026-09530-5 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Maritime Archaeology

Abstract For more than 10,000 years (~ 20,000–10,000 BP), human groups repeatedly returned to the southern edge of Paleo-lake Hula in the Upper Jordan Valley to exploit aquatic resources at the Epipaleolithic site of Jordan River Dureijat (JRD). Previous research has emphasized line fishing based on bone fishhooks and line weights. Here, we document additional fishing methods revealed by the systematic use of limestone cobbles as net sinkers. The limestone assemblage from JRD includes 289 elongated limestone cobbles and 167 notched cobbles, making it the richest collection of such artefacts reported to date. Our investigation combines techno-typological analysis, stratigraphy, functional use-wear and residue analysis, and fish bone data from securely dated layers. Results demonstrate both technological continuity and innovation in fishing practices. The correspondence between net sinker abundance and the fish assemblage supports their interpretation as net fishing gear. Continuity is expressed in the repeated selection of elongated cobbles with standardized dimensions and weights, with cobble width guiding notch placement.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11457-026-09528-z 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Maritime Archaeology

Abstract This contribution explores the intersection between technology and the aquatic resource economy, with a particular focus on southern Africa and how human innovation, adaptation, and social strategies have been shaped in tandem. Archaeological evidence reveals a rich tapestry of innovative fishing technologies and exploitation strategies that reflect ecological knowledge, artisanal ingenuity, and social organisation. Fishing technologies were not merely utilitarian responses to environmental conditions but became deeply embedded in the social, cognitive, and ecological arenas. We see this, for instance, in the range of aquatic imagery that features in both San religious iconography and in the rock art, highlighting the intimate entanglement of aquatic resources and fishing technologies within spiritual and ideological domains. I explore the variety of exploitation strategies ranging in time from the opportunistic collection of shellfish to the use of technology in the form of bone fish hooks, to the use of large structural fishing strategies in the form of preserved stone-walled fish traps and the implied watercrafts.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-026-09221-8 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Archaeological Research

Abstract Archaeologists have long been interested in mobility in the past, but tend to think about and visualize movement in simplified ways that do not account for the range of topographic, environmental, and climatic factors that influenced it. The Iranian Plateau is akin to a number of regions around the globe characterized by dramatic diversity in topography, natural resources, and climate that present local and regionally varied affordances and restrictions, which influenced the ways humans inhabited, exploited, and moved. Environmentally sensitive cognitive maps, developed by human communities over centuries, are likely to have guided localized decision making across these regions. These are only detectable in the large-scale cumulative effects on archaeological assemblages. This paper reviews previous approaches to modeling movement used by archaeologists—particularly least-cost paths—and presents an implementation of a novel computational method to model corridors of long-distance mobility in the past that is sensitive to environmental diversity.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10814-025-09217-w 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z Journal of Archaeological Research

Abstract The use of evolutionary models in zooarchaeological analysis is a well-established practice but the last few decades have witnessed modifications to existing foraging theory and insights from other evolutionary perspectives. Traditional applications of foraging theory continue to be successfully applied in zooarchaeological contexts, but researchers are increasingly focused on re-evaluating and exploring how trade-offs are made under circumstances of nutritional limitations, risk, sociopolitical constraints, and future returns from resource management. This review casts current and new perspectives within an optimality framework to promote and facilitate the integration of multiple perspectives in addressing far-reaching questions about the evolution of the human condition at different scales. This review also identifies central challenges to the application of different models, some of which can be addressed through high-resolution modeling, ethnographic, experimental, and ethnoarchaeological research. Going forward, researchers should consider the potential value of using complementary approaches, alternative currencies, and different goals and constraints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8oZepCNN3M 2026-08-31T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNF2yFzeDdk 2026-08-30T00:00:00Z Dan Davis History

Get your copy of the Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization now and use the code DANHISTORY10 to get 10% off: https://mdsh.io/v405dpsohf How did the I2a Y-chromosome lineage emerge and spread from the Ice Age until today? Using spread ancient DNA and genomics this male lineage can be tracked from mammoth hunters of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers like Cheddar Man to the Neolithic farmers and monument builders of Stonehenge. I2a survived migrations and population change, including the spread of R1b and R1a among the Corded Ware and Bell Beaker Indo-European migrations of the…

https://ancientworldpodcast.com/ 2026-08-30T00:00:00Z The Ancient World

Synopsis: The fall of Old Europe and dissolution of the Cucuteni-Tripolye Culture left horse-riding steppe-herders the unchallenged paradigm on the Pontic-Caspian steppe. The introduction of the wagon around 3500 BC enabled their adoption of a fully-nomadic lifestyle, culminating with the complete dominance of the Proto-Indo-European-speaking Yamnaya horizon. “I will declare the manly deeds of Indra, the first that he achieved, the Thunder-wielder. He slew the Dragon, then disclosed the waters, and cleft the channels of the mountain torrents. He slew the Dragon lying on the mountain: his heave…

https://rss.com/podcasts/midwestern-archaeology-podcast-pod1/3101684 2026-08-29T00:00:00Z Midwestern Archaeology Podcast

This episode I sat down with Dr. Amy L. Rosebrough, the State Archaeologist for Wisconsin to discuss the fascinating Effigy Mound Building Complex. We discuss the people behind the mounds, the mounds themselves, and much more on this episode of MAP! Discussion of the Effigy Mound-Builders begins at 4:02. Interested in local archaeology? Check out the Archaeological Research Institute | Cincinnati, OH !

https://doi.org/10.1515/pz-2026-3018 2026-08-29T00:00:00Z Praehistorische Zeitschrift

Abstract In recent years, a significant number of hoards of metal objects and individual finds have been uncovered and dated to the early phases of the Bronze Age. According to Reinecke’s classification, these artifacts belong to phases A1–B1 (2300–1600 BCE). Although the discovery sites of some individual objects raise questions about their exact context, the available data regarding their locations clearly suggest that these sites were selected with specific intent. Rather than being random, their placements seem deliberate. Previously, information about these finds was scattered across various Polish publications, presented at museum conferences, shared on social media, exchanged in private correspondence, and discussed in informal settings and on news websites. In compiling this publication, we aimed to consolidate this material and offer new insights into the contexts of discovery, the composition of metal alloys, production techniques, and traces of production and use associated with selected objects. Our primary focus was on the territories of western Poland, which during the discussed period were influenced by the Únětice and Tumulus metallurgical styles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqth68viffU 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNlYlYwp6mA 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z Crow Canyon Archaeological Center

With great new data, comes great new responsibility. Although LiDAR is still a relatively new technology, it has already transformed archaeology and reshaped our understanding of the past. Yet, its regional impact has been surprisingly uneven. While LiDAR has revolutionized archaeological research in many parts of the world, its potential in the U.S. Southwest remains comparatively underrealized. Drawing on preliminary research and examples from the Ancestral Pueblo world, this presentation explores both the opportunities LiDAR presents and the challenges that remain. It also considers what ar…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVTmZGz4GCU 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcRxXiJvxP0 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z DigVentures

DigVentures has a podcast! In Dirt Bags, Louise and Nat take a comedy deep dive into archaeology’s most legendary names (and most iconic excavations). Expect wild stories, questionable science, bitter rivalries, colossal egos and LOTS of stolen credit... This trailer gives you a first taste of Episode 1, featuring Heinrich Schliemann: millionaire, polyglot, adventurer and self-styled discoverer of the ancient city of Troy. Subscribe to DigVentures so you don't miss the first episode when it drops on Friday 4 September! #dirtbagspodcast #archaeology #archaeologypodcast #ancienthistory #historyp…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6aVjH-EQE 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z Dig.

Fire signals and beacon networks play a memorable role in The Lord of the Rings, but they were also a real and widespread form of long-distance communication in the ancient world. From the Iron Age kingdom of Urartu in the Armenian highlands to Assyrian campaign accounts, biblical texts from Judah, and archaeological evidence from Crete and the Near East, ancient societies used mountaintop fires to warn of invasion, coordinate defense, and transmit urgent information across vast distances. This video is a brief overview of how these fire signal systems worked and how archaeologists can use GIS…

https://www.archpodnet.com/rockart 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z The Rock Art Podcast

In this episode, Alan speaks with Stephen Alvarez about his new book, Rock Art: An American Story , exploring the enduring significance of rock art across North America. They discuss Indigenous perspectives, the sacredness of rock art sites, and how ancient imagery continues to connect people with place, culture, and history. The conversation also considers the challenges of interpreting and dating rock art, and the importance of respecting and protecting these remarkable records of the past. Transcripts For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/171…

https://doi.org/10.1515/pz-2026-3013 2026-08-28T00:00:00Z Praehistorische Zeitschrift

Abstract Located in the North European Plain and the heart of the Polish lands, the historic region of Kuyavia has long been an area where cultural communication and trade routes criss-crossed. This geographical characteristic had transformative effects on the region’s inhabitants of the Pre-Roman and Roman Iron Age, known as the Przeworsk culture. The attributes of a prehistoric society flourishing in a region of peripheral cross-roads are particularly manifest in the multiphase site of Gąski, where archaeological research began over 40 years ago. Among the site’s Iron Age artefacts, a leontomorphic (lion-bow) fibula from a child’s grave has been discovered but never before discussed in depth. Thus, we examine the current body of scientific and contextual evidence against a broader comparative and analytical background. This includes a review of all European specimens of such fibulae. As our analysis shows, they do not constitute a homogeneous group, but share a common origin in the area of historical Gaul. The decorative motifs on these fibulae rank them as “masterpieces of ancient craftsmanship”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plFVoPCGCE8 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle

Zahlreiche sogenannter Hortfunde wurden vorallem durch Zufall entdeckt. Aus diesen Fundumständen ergibt sich das größste Problem für ihre systematische Erforschung, nämlich dass die Funde oft unvollständig überliefert sind, ihr Umfeld beziehungsweise die genaue Befundsituation unbekannt blieb und sie von Laien geborgen wurden. Was können uns diese Horte bezüglich der Gesellschaft, die sie vergraben hat, dennoch verraten? Wie unterscheiden sich die Inventare der Horte? Der Film wurde im neu gestalteten Abschnitt "Bronzerausch" der Dauerausstellung des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle (Saal…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyWmMc3mSfo 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z World of Antiquity

If you enjoy evidence-based ancient history, myth-busting, and clear explanations of new discoveries, you’re in the right place. Wonder why I say BCE and CE? See here: https://youtu.be/s6Lv3KpphVg CONTENTS 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Stonehenge's Astronomical Prehistory 02:48 The Secret Drink of Eleusis 05:56 The Lost Temple of Elagabal 08:22 The Weapons of Egypt's Princesses 11:08 Hannibal's Route Through the Alps 14:12 DNA and the Meaning of Family 18:59 Zendaya's Ancient Earrings 21:31 Scythian Women and Greek Amazons 24:38 Are the Ancient Dead Still People? 29:03 Archaeology and the Fight for…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCF7HD57SJc 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqpSBx4FksQ 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford https://shows.acast.com/dramatiska-historia/episodes/6a1ef016335cf85f9ce73b06 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z Harrisons dramatiska historia

Majoriteten av alla vikingatida skandinaver var vanliga bönder, medan krigarna utgjorde en synlig minoritet. Till dessa grupper kom en tredje, som i mångas ögon var ännu mer prominent än kungarnas och stridsmännens kretsar: köpmännen. De seglade överallt för att köpa billigt och sälja dyrt, och genom deras verksamhet knöts Nordeuropas alla kuster samman i kommersiella nätverk. Vikingarnas epok sammanföll nämligen med ett handelsuppsving i hela Europa, något nordborna inte var sena att profitera på. Vad som gör de medeltida köpmännen särskilt intressanta är att vi har stora kunskaper om några a…

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truogmeining/episodes/122--Korleis-kan-vi-forske-p-norrne-tekstar--Samtale-med-norrnfilolog-Mikael-Males-e3noev6 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z Tru og meining i gammal tid

Korleis kan vi forske på norrøne tekstar? Om det er det faktisk formulert slåande lite – bortsett frå når det gjeld tekstkritikken, som prøver å koma fram til den eldste versjonen av ein tekst som er overlevert i fleire handskrifter. Her skal ein poesiforskar fortelja om si vandring gjennom ulike metodesyn i faget norrøn filologi frå rundt 2000 til i dag. Eg skal supplere frå min kamp for å utvikle eit metodesyn. Innspela i Oslo 20.4.2026.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gea.70075?af=R 2026-08-27T00:00:00Z Geoarchaeology

This study analyzes the geomorphological context, weathering processes, and evolution of granitic shelters bearing rock art in the Parque Arqueológico Provincial La Tunita (Sierra de Ancasti, Northwest Argentina), a key repository of Aguada Culture pictographs ( ca . 600–900 AD). The research pursued four main objectives: (i) to characterize the spatial location and geomorphological setting of the principal shelters; (ii) to generate a three-dimensional record of the cavities in relation to the distribution of pictographs; (iii) to identify inherited morphologies and ongoing degradative processes; and (iv) to propose a geomorphological evolutionary model for the area. Methodological procedures combined systematic photogrammetric recording with the production of 3D models. Weathering diagnosis was supported by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine lithological composition, alteration products, and patinas, complemented by petrographic thin sections. The evolutionary model indicates that megatafoni and vault morphologies correspond to forms developed through prolonged weathering under warm–humid conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtMMovXawMY 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford

Essential Old Norse 2026 Sept-Oct Saturdays: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/essential-old-norse-sept-oct-2026-saturdays-tickets-1993280464527 Old Norse Reading Club 2026 Sept-Oct Saturdays: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-norse-reading-club-sept-oct-2026-tickets-1993780955509 Gothic Reading Club 2026 Sept-Oct Saturdays: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gothic-language-reading-club-sept-oct-2026-tickets-1993788837083

https://teacup.media/chinahistorypodcast 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z The China History Podcast

Sorry to everyone for making you wait this long. Welcome to the inaugural episode of this series, which will offer you a concise overview of Chinese history from mythical times to the time of the last emperor of the last imperial dynasty. We’ll start off with the traditional stories surrounding the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors 三皇五帝 and cover the Xia 夏 and Shang 商 dynasties. The amazing story of the Oracle Bones will also be presented, and how this marked the beginning of recorded Chinese history. In this episode, the story of Jiang Ziya 姜子牙 and his role in supporting the Ji Clan 姬家族 in t…

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oldeststories/episodes/Esarhaddon-and-the-Empire-That-Ran-Itself-e3nt2lp 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z Oldest Stories

Esarhaddon inherited the Neo-Assyrian Empire at the height of its power—but his kingship looked very different from that of the warrior-kings who came before him. Plagued by questions of legitimacy, surrounded by prophets and diviners, and often absent from his own military campaigns, Esarhaddon nevertheless presided over an extraordinarily aggressive and successful Assyrian state. This episode follows the first half of Esarhaddon’s reign: the rebuilding of Babylon, the rise of prophecy as a political force, wars against Chaldeans and Arabs, the arrival of the Cimmerians, the destruction of Si…

https://doi.org/10.3989/tp.2026.1113 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z Trabajos de Prehistoria

En la presente publicación se dan a conocer once dataciones radiocarbónicas realizadas sobre huesos de animales procedentes de los niveles protohistóricos más antiguos del yacimiento de Caura (Coria del Río, Sevilla). Junto con ellas se incluyen también testimonios cerámicos localizados en las mismas unidades estratigráficas. Los resultados obtenidos, sometidos a modelos bayesianos, muestran una ocupación del Cerro de San Juan en el sondeo estratigráfico CAU-94/96 y en el corte B de la zona del santuario (CSJ-97/98-B) con un espectro de fechas comprendido entre el final del II milenio a. C. y los comienzos del siguiente. Son contextos donde convive la cerámica elaborada a mano, mayoritaria, con algunos elementos de la fabricada a torno. A partir de estos datos se puede afirmar que la implantación territorial fenicia en la paleodesembocadura del río Guadalquivir ocurrió de manera coetánea a la edificación de los templos de C/ Méndez Núñez (Huelva), El Carambolo (Camas, Sevilla) y La Rebanadilla (Málaga).

https://doi.org/10.3989/tp.2026.1101 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z Trabajos de Prehistoria

El Tesoro de Villena, hallado en 1963 en la Rambla del Panadero (Alicante), constituye uno de los conjuntos orfebres más complejos de la Prehistoria Reciente en la península ibérica, compuesto por oro, plata, hierro y un fragmento de resina fósil. Su estudio se ha visto complementado por el Tesorillo de Cabezo Redondo y las piezas áureas de este asentamiento, cuyo contexto arqueológico permite comprender mejor la producción, uso y circulación de objetos de elevado valor social en la comarca del Alto Vinalopó. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio de la pieza n.º 48/50, un aplique de oro en forma de disco engarzado cuyo análisis mediante Espectroscopía Infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) confirma que la resina adherida se trata de ámbar báltico (succinita). Estos resultados, junto a la presencia de hierro meteórico, así como la abundancia de objetos de oro y plata, evidencian la circulación de materias primas de largo alcance durante el Bronce Tardío, y sitúan a Cabezo Redondo, y por extensión a Villena, como nodos estratégicos en las complejas rutas de intercambio mediterráneas y continentales.

https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2026.10423 2026-08-26T00:00:00Z Antiquity

In the past decade, a wave of archaeological initiatives has targeted some of the major archaeological sites in northern Iraq, the Assyrian capitals. As of summer 2025, the Nimrud Lower Town Archaeological Project focuses on exploring Assyrian urbanism from the perspective of the empire’s longest-standing capital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r34-9sazZoQ 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQTFJpZVvm4 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford https://www.johnhawks.net/p/modern-humans-evolved-from-an-80 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z John Hawks

Skulls from Herto (left) and Bodo (right), Ethiopia, may be connected with the ancestral stems. Images: Sailko (Wikimedia Commons) Around a decade ago, I was working to understand the deep population history of Africa from genomes of living people. I was just one of many researchers who had begun to notice a shared pattern across genomes worldwide. It looked like everyone living today might have come from a population of hybrids. This was beyond the mixture already known with Neanderthals and Denisovans. For one thing, it was a lot earlier. For another, the signs seemed to be everywhere, not just in any particular geographic region. Early statistical methods focused on the differences in ancestry across living human populations, giving them the power to find small fractions of ancestry uniquely in some groups and not others. The 2% Neanderthal ancestry in many populations was first evident because African populations had much less. The story was the same with the roughly 3% Denisovan ancestry in Papua New Guinea, and with a similar small fraction of “ghost ancestry” in some West African groups. Still, those methods were likely underestimating the importance of mixture.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530370/episodes/19695657-037-ancient-egypt-s-most-enigmatic-cliffhanger.mp3 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z Voices of Ancient Egypt

What do you do when a high-stakes mission completely falls apart, and you’re terrified of facing the ultimate authority? In this episode of Voices of Ancient Egypt , we dive deep into one of the most famous, fascinating, and downright bizarre literary masterpieces of the Middle Kingdom: The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor . This isn't just a story about surviving a storm at sea; it is a brilliantly engineered nested narrative – a story within a story, within yet another story – that explores human resilience, divine encounters, and the mysterious ways the universe restores what we lose. We'll f…

https://thisweekintheancientneareast.podbean.com/e/the-case-of-the-middle-bronze-age-siege-that-took-like-ten-days-or-war-what-is-it-good-for-archaeology-say-it-again/ 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z This Week in the Ancient Near East

A new excavation in northern Iraq at a site with the terrific name of Kurd Qaburstan has revealed evidence of siege warfare. But we sort of knew this already from the stele of King Dadusha of Eshnunna who said that he had conquered the site. In ten days. As always the destruction itself, bad for the locals, good for the archaeologists. But how big was it, really? Maybe the ten days thing wasn’t just Dadusha doing a bit. With special shout outs to Steven Spielberg and a man called Creekmore!

https://doi.org/10.1515/pz-2026-3019 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z Praehistorische Zeitschrift

Abstract This study provides a systematic examination of the metal stamp seal tradition at Alişar Höyük from the Late Chalcolithic through the end of the Early Bronze Age, drawing on typological, technological, decorative, and contextual evidence. The unusually high concentration of metal seals at the site – rare elsewhere in Anatolia – indicates Alişar’s exceptional role within regional sealing practices. The assemblage demonstrates continuity in seal production and reflects a technologically experimental and heterogeneous metallurgical tradition employing lead, copper, and copper alloys. Dominated by geometric motifs, the seal repertoire aligns with Central Anatolian traditions while also revealing connections with North Syrian, Mesopotamian, and Aegean cultural spheres. Contextual evidence suggests multiple modes of use, including administrative, symbolic, and possibly ritual functions. Overall, the findings demonstrate that Alişar was not merely a local production centre but an active participant in broader processes of technological learning, stylistic exchange, and regional interaction throughout the third millennium BC.

https://doi.org/10.1515/pz-2026-3016 2026-08-25T00:00:00Z Praehistorische Zeitschrift

Abstract Engraved osseous objects are well-known in the material culture of northern European hunter-fisher-gatherers. This paper presents data on 26 engraved bone tools or objects that could potentially be fragments of functional tools from Lithuania. The analysis focused primarily on the types of engravings and their patterns, which were studied through microscopic observation and by comparing the data with that from similar objects found in other territories. Five new AMS 14 C dates were obtained for previously undated artefacts, and the engraved objects are discussed in chronological order, from the oldest known records dating to the Final Palaeolithic to the youngest specimens in the Subneolithic (c. 10 600–3400 cal BC). The study elaborates further on the chronology of conical bone points, a widespread artefact type in the eastern Baltic region which often contains engravings. The material under study provided data about ten different motifs, which were often combined into two or more motifs and comprised a pattern. However, some single motifs were also recorded on a few artefacts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXZ9rVYdWg8 2026-08-24T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford https://tracking.swap.fm/track/YfZO4tERxneauNcW9Fgn/mgln.ai/e/211/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML3775892979.mp3 2026-08-24T00:00:00Z The History of Egypt Podcast

Merneptah's Nubian War, the Book of Caverns, and his Legacy. The later years of Merneptah's reign were eventful. Just as the Libu war wound down, another conflict started in Nubia. Shortly after, there may have been some disruptions or reshuffling in the government. We also get a new religious text known as the "Book of Caverns." Finally, we follow Merneptah's passing and his legacy. Video lecture about Merneptah's Memphite palace: Cahail, K. (2020, December 3). The Palace of Pharaoh Merenptah: Examining an Archaeological “Cold Case.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhDB98ZH2-k Extended versio…

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03075133261459473?ai=2b4&mi=ehikzz&af=R 2026-08-24T00:00:00Z Journal of Egyptian Archaeology

The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Ahead of Print. The cluster of New Kingdom tombs at Saqqara and associated earlier and later burials excavated by the EES–Leiden–Turin mission, located in the southern portion of the Unas South Cemetery, was used to test a method to construct a comprehensive three-...

https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836261477267 2026-08-24T00:00:00Z The Holocene

Coastal socio-economic and ecological processes are at the forefront of current archeological research world-wide because of their significance for understanding people’s relationships with aquatic habitats. The South African west coast is such a case and particularly for the Late-Holocene. Among the many known coastal sites are more than a dozen massive shell middens. Known locally as ‘megamiddens’, they reflect an intense use of coastal resources by a growing human population during the period ~3560–2100 cal BP. Recent studies of the southern-most megamiddens in Paternoster (Vredenburg Peninsula) expanded on initial observations based on megamiddens along the central west coast, but the relationship between these two focal areas remains to be understood. We thus explore this connection through the contemporary archeological record from Dwarskersbos, located along the ~52 km long prograded sandy coastline separating them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY7_w2d9BX0 2026-08-23T00:00:00Z Odyssey · Ancient History Documentaries

Four and a half thousand years ago, long before the rise of Rome, a thriving metropolis emerged along the banks of the Indus River. Mohenjo-daro and Dholavira formed the heart of Asia’s very first civilization—an empire covering over 800,000 square kilometers, built not on military conquest or tyrannical kings, but on international trade, precision engineering, and mutual trust. Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be bringing you only the best documentaries that journey into the mysteries and ruins of worlds long lo…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PENBPoy039k 2026-08-22T00:00:00Z History with Cy

👉 *Trip details & reservations:* https://trovatrip.com/trip/africa/egypt/egypt-with-cy-cama-dec-03-2026-1 📅 *December 3–9, 2026 | 7 Days, 6 Nights* Come explore Egypt with me this December! From the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara to Karnak, Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut, and more, we'll spend a week exploring some of the most incredible archaeological sites in Egypt. Whether you've always dreamed of visiting Egypt for the first time or you'd love to return and experience it again with a group of fellow history and travel enthusiasts, I'd love to have you join us…

https://doi.org/10.35686/ar.2026.321 2026-08-22T00:00:00Z Archeologické rozhledy

A re-dating of the end of the Linear Pottery culture (LBK) and the expansion of the Early Trypillians revealed an approximately 300-year gap between these events in the region east of the Carpathians and west of the Dnieper. Radiocarbon dates within this interval come from ceramic hunter-gatherer camps. This paper reviews sites likely inhabited during this post-LBK phase, many of which have been linked to the Savran phase of the Buh-Dniester culture. Although the very existence of the Savran phase and that of the Buh-Dniester culture is questionable, it is clear that these later sites yielded Savran-style pottery. And while Savran pottery is not exclusive to this interval (it existed prior to it), the evidence suggests that much of its development occurred during post-LBK times. Moreover, the ceramic assemblages of the sites in question brought several shapes and decorations resembling those characteristic of ceramic hunter-gatherers living to the north and east of the region of study. As such, the authors put forward a hypothesis of a hunter-gatherer revival in this region after the demise of the LBK and prior to the expansion of the Pre-Cucuteni/Early Trypillia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJPi1cFhsDI 2026-08-21T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wo_r_3wdIE 2026-08-21T00:00:00Z Jackson Crawford

An amazing introduction to Mycenaean Greek and Linear B script, especially for those with an interest in Indo-European studies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzSlHGHbxo0 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z Chris Naunton

Egypt’s ancient history is sometimes defined as a series of ‘peaks and troughs’, periods of highly centralised government when the country was rich and powerful, and times when the central administration collapsed, leaving the country divided between various lines, often opposed to one another and vying for total control. When the Old Kingdom, the great age of pyramid building, ended Egypt entered what we now refer to as the ‘First Intermediate Period’ which remains relatively poorly understood, even today. This was brought to an end by one of the most remarkable of all pharaohs: Mentuhotep II…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qokkyvD7fj8 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle

In den Jahren 2014 bis 2017 wurden durch das Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt im Rahmen einer Lehr- und Forschungsgrabung in Zusammenarbeit mit der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg die bei Dieskau gelegenen erhaltenen Überreste des frühbronzezeitlichen Großgrabhügels "Bornhöck" (Gemeinde Schkopau, Ortsteil Raßnitz, Saalekreis) untersucht. Die Ausgrabung erbrachte faszinierende und wissenschaftlich höchst bedeutende Ergebnisse: Bei dem ursprünglich gewaltigen Hügel handelt es sich um das größte bekannte "Fürstengrab" der frühen Bronzezeit (2300 bis 1600 vor C…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiwkpm2d4tg 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Dr. Trevor R. Peck about one of the most recognizable, and often misunderstood, archaeological features of the Northern Plains: the “medicine wheel.” Drawing on his article “Unpacking the ‘Medicine Wheel’ Rubric,” Trevor discusses why archaeologists have historically grouped a diverse range of stone features under this broad label and why more careful identification of their function and cultural affiliation matters. The conversation then focuses on Death Lodges, a distinctive type of stone feature that Trevor argues…

https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/the-maya-ballgame 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z The Ancients

A rubber ball. A stone court. And a sport where the stakes could be life and death. For more than 2,000 years, Mesoamerican peoples played a remarkable ballgame that became far more than entertainment; across the Maya world, it became a spectacle and a ceremony with religion, politics and power at it's heart. Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by archaeologist Ed Barnhart to uncover the oldest sporting tradition in the ancient Americas. Together they discover how the Maya ballgame was played, why it became so important, and whether the most chilling aspect of its reputation was actually true: did…

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.70106?af=R 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z Journal of Quaternary Science

Studies on biomobility in the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) or the Harappan Culture provide important insights into pastoral practices, trade and environmental adaptation that shaped the civilisation's economy and social networks. At its height, the IVC engaged in extensive trade across its vast territory, resulting in cultural and economic change across diverse ecological zones. Although archaeological finds indicate trade in artefacts throughout the civilisation, our understanding of human and animal mobility remains limited due to a lack of geochemical and isotopic data on provenance. A key unresolved issue in biomobility is distinguishing between local and broader animal husbandry practices and their trade connections. To address this, we analysed faunal teeth, bone bioapatite and bone‐encased soil using C–O–Sr–Nd isotopes from two Harappan sites, Kanmer (Gujarat) and Tigrana (Haryana), located more than 900 km apart. Our isotope data and the existing literature suggest that, in Kanmer, specialised animal‐feeding methods were used, and local rainfall was the primary water source across all settlements.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nx109x 2026-08-20T00:00:00Z In Our Time

Misha Glenny delves in to the In Our Time archive to select ten episodes for listeners to revisit. His third choice, first released in November 2014, is the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut, whose name means 'foremost of noble ladies'. She ruled Egypt from about 1479 - 1458 BC and some scholars argue that she was one of the most successful and influential pharaohs. When she came to the throne, Egypt was still recovering from a period of turbulence known as the Second Intermediate Period a few generations earlier. Hatshepsut reasserted Egyptian power by building up international trade and commission…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRT2NXi-fs 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z NORTH 02

#history #ancienthuman #archaeology #realarchaeology Taking care of your health just got easier, thanks to my sponsor Zocdoc here at: https://zocdoc.com/north02 Thanks for watching, make sure to like, share, comment, and subscribe! ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Check out second channel https://www.youtube.com/@PaleolithicProduction Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/north.o2/ Discord: https://discord.gg/RTzsggfPhK Twitter: https://twitter.com/NORTH_o2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0UnRJrDICeEAxF6SIBrKUZ?si=852005cc94664965 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1000897444615…

https://tracking.swap.fm/track/IVPmvUWSCISCVAzWNnnJ/rss.art19.com/episodes/1febf67b-b06e-4754-917f-9183b0df9a45.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIgxNb3ppbGxhBjoGRVQ%3D--4f04cd103bfdd3e94cbbb356ead53321a4d63e94 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z Past Lives

More than 2,400 years ago, a man living in southern Denmark was hung from a plaited leather cord, then buried in a bog. There he stayed until 1950, when his perfectly preserved face emerged from the peat. We know him as Tollund Man, but who was he in life, and what can we know about the world he inhabited? Become a member now at www.patreon.com/cw/PastLivesMedia. You'll get access to the Past Lives Discord server and four pieces of bonus content per month (including a historian interview, book club, Q and A, and a sources and evidence discussion). Past Lives is a 100-percent independent produc…

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moesgaard/episodes/Hvordan-beholder-man-magten-e3n26gd 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z Leth møder Moesgaard

Hvordan opstod magtfulde samfund, herskere og konger? Kan man opretholde sin magt uden folkets opbakning, og hvad sker når tilliden svigter? Vi dykker ned i fortidens magt hos vikingerne, mayaerne og på Påskeøen. De byggede statuer, pyramider og skibe – og unikke og interessante samfund, som også i dag fortæller os noget om magtens natur. Mads Ravn er arkæolog, leder af Lokal Kulturarv på Moesgaard – og så sidder han i bestyrelsen for Kon-Tiki Museet i Oslo. Han har deltaget i Galathea 3-ekspeditionen og bl.a. været på feltarbejde i Ny Guinea og på Påskeøerne.

https://lenakonig111.podbean.com/e/193-anundshog-vastmanland/ 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z Arkeologi & Historia

I det här avsnittet ska vi besöka ett av landets kanske häftigaste vikingatida fornlämningsmiljöer! Här finns om inte Sveriges största gravhög, så absolut en av de största! Dessutom finns det flera enorma skeppssättningar på platsen. Vi ska till Anundshög utanför Västerås i Västmanland. Ett riktigt häftigt besöksmål med massa historia. I fornsök går det att läsa; Gravfält, ca 215x205 m (NNÖ-SSV), bestående av 42 fornlämningar. Dessa utgörs av 12 högar, 10 runda stensättningar, 5 skeppssättningar, 14 resta stenar och 1 runsten. Men vad är det här för plats? Det sak vi försöka att ta reda på i d…

https://www.jna.uni-kiel.de/index.php/jna/article/view/1761 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z Journal of Neolithic Archaeology

The article presents the first evidence of late to final Neolithic pit houses from the Rhineland. Until now, this period had mainly been documented by surface sites characterized by Lousberg flint axes and few burials, while evidence of settlements in the form of house remains was lacking. During rescue excavations in the 2000s at the site of Rheinbach-Taubenpfad, the remains of a Late to Final Neolithic settlement were discovered, yielding a total of eight pit houses and eight other features. Initial radiocarbon dating of two bone samples from the slit-shaped pit St. 48 already yielded an absolute date between 2870 and 2570 calBC. Archaeological analyses also indicated that the pit houses date from this period, which has now been confirmed by further radiocarbon dating of two pit houses. These latest findings provide an opportunity to present the pit houses from Rheinbach and discuss their classification in their chronological and cultural context.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530370/episodes/19667755-036-a-window-into-the-ancient-egyptian-mind.mp3 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z Voices of Ancient Egypt

Have you ever wondered what was truly important to the average ancient Egyptian? Beyond the grand pyramids of kings and the massive temples of the state, how did people commemorate their lives, express their deepest beliefs, and show love for their families? In this episode, we dive deep into a unique and deeply personal class of artifact: the stelae of the Middle Kingdom. These decorated stone and wooden slabs are often mistaken for being like modern, western tombstones, but their real purpose is far more fascinating. They offer us an incredibly intimate window into the beliefs, daily relatio…

https://tracking.swap.fm/track/YfZO4tERxneauNcW9Fgn/mgln.ai/e/211/traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML9253854949.mp3 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z The History of Egypt Podcast

As the Libu war wound down, Merneptah's troops took captives and plundered the bodies of fallen warriors. Along the way, we also hear of "foreign peoples of the Sea," who were involved in these events. Merneptah mentions Sherden, Lukka, Tursha, Ekwesh, and Shekelesh. Who were these "Sea Peoples" and why were they coming to Egypt? Music: Keith Zizza, Luke Chaos. We're on YouTube! Ancient history media @dominicperryae and the podcast (plus bonus lectures) @historyegyptpodcast Support the show and get bonus content at www.patreon.com/egyptpodcast Transcript and references at www.egyptianhistorypo…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCKdvkKAV1g 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z Odyssey · Ancient History Documentaries

Across the wind-swept headlands of Northern Ireland and the flooded valleys of Dartmoor, ancient secrets buried for thousands of years are finally coming to light. How did prehistoric societies build massive, fortified fortresses on isolated mountain peaks—and why did they erect mysterious stone circles and processional roads on land that would later be lost to history? In this feature-length Time Team excavation documentary, join world-class archaeologists as they tackle two groundbreaking, high-stakes digs to uncover the true story of Bronze Age and Neolithic Europe. Odyssey is your journey…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dCroRM4TlU 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z History with Cy

Over 4,200 years ago, Egyptian governor and scout Harkhuf returned from an eight-month expedition deep into Nubia with a caravan loaded with exotic goods—and one very special traveler. When Egypt’s newly crowned child pharaoh, Pepy II, received the news, he didn't care about the gold, ivory, or incense. Instead, the 6-year-old king sent back an urgent, anxious royal decree containing one primary instruction: bring the dancing performer to the palace immediately, inspect him 10 times a night, and whatever you do, don't let him fall into the Nile. Harkhuf was so proud of this royal letter that h…

https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/NBNK5600146605.mp3 2026-08-17T00:00:00Z New Books in Archaeology

This interview with Professor Amihai Mazar was conducted by Željko Stanojević for the New Books Network. The conversation focuses on Tel Reḥov: A Bronze and Iron Age City in the Beth-Shean Valley, especially Volume V, where the report turns from architecture and pottery to smaller objects and scientific evidence that help reconstruct life at the site. Amihai Mazar is a leading archaeologist of ancient Israel. His research examines the Bronze and Iron Ages, archaeology and biblical history, ancient Near Eastern art and architecture, and historical geography. Tel Reḥov is especially important be…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXed7qjG_Uc 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z Dan Davis History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLJkRn4T2RA 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z Odyssey · Ancient History Documentaries

In this full-length documentary, archaeologist Dr. Jeff Rose and leading experts trace the 7,000-year evolution of human faith. Discover Nabta Playa—an astronomical stone circle older than Stonehenge—uncover the sacred rock art of Wadi Baramaya, and explore how Egypt’s earliest god-kings fused divine power with absolute political control. From ancient shamanic rituals to modern neuroscience, discover why religion was the ultimate glue that bound early human societies together. Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbLzU6HdbQ 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z World of Antiquity

If you enjoy evidence-based ancient history, myth-busting, and clear explanations of new discoveries, you’re in the right place. Wonder why I say BCE and CE? See here: https://youtu.be/s6Lv3KpphVg CONTENTS 00:00 Introduction 00:21 The 300 Spartans Fought Alone at Thermopylae 02:47 Cai Lun Invented Paper 05:31 Thutmose III Immediately Erased Hatshepsut for Revenge 08:54 The Edict of Milan Made Christianity Rome's Official Religion 11:57 Zhuge Liang Used the Empty City Stratagem Against Sima Yi 15:22 The Ancient Greeks Had a Marathon at the Olympics 17:57 Qin Shi Huang Ordered All Books in China…

https://sengokudaimyo.libsyn.com/unesco-world-heritage-asuka-and-fujiwara-ancient-capitals 2026-08-16T00:00:00Z Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan

This is a special episode talking about the newest UNESCO World Heritage cultural site: The Asuka and Fujiwara Ancient Capitals. This is particularly relevant as it is directly related to the history we are currently examining in this podcast. For more information, check out the blogpost at: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-unesco Rough Transcript: Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua, and this is a special episode on Japan's newest UNESCO world heritage site: the Ancient Capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara. Rarely do I focus too much on current events in this…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7b3PkCURSI 2026-08-15T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Pts9eS7HU 2026-08-14T00:00:00Z Miniminuteman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BLXZ3jjioE 2026-08-14T00:00:00Z Dig.

The Syro-Anatolian (Neo-Hittite or Syro-Hittite) kingdoms occupied one of the most important yet least understood periods of ancient Near Eastern history. Emerging after the collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1200 BC, these kingdoms preserved Hittite political traditions, Hieroglyphic Luwian writing, monumental architecture, and royal ideology while adapting to a rapidly changing Iron Age world. Far from representing a historical "Dark Age," they formed a vibrant network of regional powers that connected the Late Bronze Age with the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. This video examines the h…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuL34exE0Qg 2026-08-13T00:00:00Z Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle

2024 wurden auf einem Feld bei Storkau (Elbe) im Landkreis Stendal die Fragmente eines frühbronzezeitlichen Objekts durch den ehrenamtlichen Bodendenkmalpfleger Siegfried Bechtold entdeckt. Es war in vier Teile zerbrochen und misst 13,3 Zentimeter in der Länge und 6,6 Zentimeter in der Breite. Was zeichnet die Fundgrube der sogenannten “Schmuckschilde” aus? Welchem Zweck dienten sie? Der Film wurde im neu gestalteten Abschnitt "Bronzerausch" der Dauerausstellung des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle (Saale) gedreht. Diese und noch weitere Fragen beantwortet Museumsdirektor Harald Meller in…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Zxmml_VCU 2026-08-13T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1314529/episodes/19642485-one-more-thing-cuzco-s6-e7.mp3 2026-08-13T00:00:00Z ArchaeoEd Podcast

One more thing about the Inca capital city of Cuzco. Did you know it had astronomical towers? Support the show Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit https://www.mayaexploration.org Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart

https://shows.acast.com/the-ancients/episodes/romulus-remus 2026-08-13T00:00:00Z The Ancients

The story of Romulus and Remus is one of the most famous myths from the ancient world. But the Romans believed the founding of their city stretched far beyond the tale of the twin brothers. Heroes, kings and exiles all played a part in Rome's legendary beginnings. Tristan Hughes is joined by Jeremy Armstrong to explore the myths behind the founding of Rome. Why did the Romans link their origins to figures like Aeneas and Romulus? What do these stories reveal about Roman identity? And could there be any historical truth behind the legends of Rome's earliest days? MORE Origins of Rome's Empire L…

https://shows.acast.com/dramatiska-historia/episodes/6a1ee8bcd610a7740387537f 2026-08-13T00:00:00Z Harrisons dramatiska historia

Vikingatågen gick inte bara i västerled. I synnerhet från dagens Sverige gick de också till Östeuropa, både till ”Grekland”, det vill säga det bysantinska riket, och till ”Gårdarike”, det vill säga till dagens Ryssland, Belarus och Ukraina. Utvandringen av handelsmän, krigare och hövdingar från Norden till Östeuropa lade grunden till Kievrus, det första ryska riket. Vikingarnas östeuropeiska historia är påfallande väldokumenterad, både genom arkeologiska lämningar och genom redogörelser i skriftliga källor. När en munk i Kiev i början av 1100-talet skrev Nestorskrönikan, den första ryska histo…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apW16s2kJwg 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Gutsick Gibbon

The title is the whole thing. I'm going to be administering an adapted version of the course I taught as a university instructor to Will Duffy! The course is a hybrid of general evolutionary theory and biological anthropology, and the goal is to teach Will what evolution is and why it is the foundation of modern biology. Will Duffy is a Colorado pastor, his fame primarily coming from debunking "The Flat Earth Model" by taking several well-known flat earth content creators to Antarctica to witness the 24 hour sun. Will is also a creationist who promised his audience he would learn about evoluti…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-QYkSh53nk 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z NORTH 02 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2530370/episodes/19639088-035-the-voice-of-the-heart-ancient-egyptian-medicine.mp3 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Voices of Ancient Egypt

Have you ever wondered how the pyramid builders dealt with illness, injury, and disease? In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating, often misunderstood world of ancient Egyptian medicine. While modern minds often separate the physical science of "medicine" from the spiritual rituals of "magic," the ancient Egyptians saw them as two halves of a single, powerful cure. We explore how these ancient healers understood the body, why they went to extraordinary lengths to protect its physical integrity, and how they blended practical, hands-on treatments with powerful mythological storytellin…

https://tracking.swap.fm/track/IVPmvUWSCISCVAzWNnnJ/rss.art19.com/episodes/12b14462-a144-4e16-9d50-c2562ef3e624.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIgxNb3ppbGxhBjoGRVQ%3D--4f04cd103bfdd3e94cbbb356ead53321a4d63e94 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Past Lives

Bog bodies - the age-old remains of people who were submerged in bogs - are an eerie sight. Soft tissue remains, often to an even greater extent than mummies, bringing us face to face with people who died thousands of years ago. Become a member now at www.patreon.com/cw/PastLivesMedia. You'll get access to the Past Lives Discord server and four pieces of bonus content per month (including a historian interview, book club, Q and A, and a sources and evidence discussion). Past Lives is a 100-percent independent production, and your support is what allows us to make this show. So, thank you. See…

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/gea.70073?af=R 2026-08-12T00:00:00Z Geoarchaeology

Iran is among the regions most vulnerable to environmental and climatic change. Similar environmental transformations also occurred in the past, leaving deep impacts on the habitability and cultural trajectories of human societies. One of the most significant of these transformations was the 8.2 ka BP climatic event, which has been associated with notable shifts in the subsistence systems of seventh‐millennium BC communities across the Northern Hemisphere. However, no in‐depth study has yet examined the effects of this event on Neolithic societies in Iran. This paper examines the possible implications of the period of climatic instability associated with the 8.2 ka BP event for Neolithic communities in southern Iran, drawing primarily on long‐term archaeological surveys and excavations conducted by the author in southern Iran. In addition, previously published archaeological data from Fars, along with relevant climatic and environmental proxy records from Western Asia, were also taken into consideration.