While the ancient neurodivergent mind behind microlith technology didn’t leave us a written record, they did leave behind a legacy of precision, adaptability, and cognitive brilliance: the microlith! In this episode, George dives into the origins and spread of microliths — tiny stone blades that sparked a revolution in human toolmaking. Through a blend of archaeology and imagination, we follow a fictional neurodivergent innovator named Aru who sees what others don’t, crafting the first microlith and passing that knowledge down through generations of clever, creative descendants.

I can’t believe you missed the pride and joy of late June in Greensboro North Carolina, otherwise known as Cosmic Summit 2025! The tickets started at a mere 500 bucks, allowing you to enjoy multiple boring presentations over several days covering every aspect of Pseudoarchaeological nonsense that you could ever want! Luckily I’m here to take you through it all in excruciating detail. That severe pain in your head is your common sense attempting to escape from your body.

This week we discuss 3 new archaeology news stories. First, we explore why early humans may have used fire for reasons other than cooking. Then, we look at Viking graves that are connected to the legendary King Bluetooth. Finally, new research reveals a possible lost cult site dedicated to Odysseus. Join us as we break down the science, sift through the myths, and question long-held assumptions challenged by new research!

Ash and Tilly have an especially exciting quest this episode, as thanks to a request from the Malgaroth Historical Society of Mirkwood, they will be working with the Eagles! In order not to look like idiots when attempting aerial scanning, they enlist the help of archaeologist and scanning expert Dr Wouter Verschoof-Van der Vaart. Together, the three discuss the varying paths you can take into a career in archaeology, the importance of fantasy fiction in archaeological career development, and why there’s no fantasy aerial scanning technology.

So Chance and Carlton were unable to get a recording together with the Federal Funding threats to the Historic Preservation Fund keeping their schedules incredibly busy into the evening. So, instead, here’s an ENCORE episode from A Life in Ruins Podcast featuring Chance and Carlton back in graduate school. In this episode, Carlton is joined by Chance Ward, an M.A. student in Museum and Field Studies at CU Boulder and a Tribal Citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The two start the episode with a discussion on how Chance got into Anthropology at Fort Lewis College. We then delve into his post-undergrad career in CRM and working for the Southern Ute Tribe. Carlton investigates why Chance chose CU Boulder and they get into a dialogue about how Chance's grad school experiences have shaped the direction of his career. In the final segment, Carlton and Chance talk about their recent media experiences together such as being interviewed for a PBS documentary on horses and a conversation they had with Mel B's (Yes, the one from the Spice Girls) agent.

Mitigating illness as an archaeologist is tricky no matter where you are at in your career. This job takes a toll on you physically and leaves little room for R&R let alone the penalties that come with resting when you are an on call employee. Andrew and the sickly Heather, with her best “Kathleen Turner” voice, consider how to mitigate illness before and during the field and care for yourself regardless of budget. Stay safe and well out there fellow archs!

This episode is a special preview of the Kingdom of Pylos exhibit at the Getty Villa ahead of the livestream on June 27. Step into the Late Bronze Age with special guest Claire Lyons, curator of antiquities at the Getty. She provides insight on the exhibit, from the collaborative efforts that went into putting it together to details about some of the fascinating Mycenaean artifacts that will be on display. Most of the artifacts on display come from the tomb of the Griffin Warrior, a completely intact burial discovered in 2015 that changed what archaeologists knew about Mycenean Greece. We'll explore the archaeological site where this important discovery was made known as the Palace of Nestor, its role in ancient Pylos, and the legendary King Nestor from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

In this episode of Ethnocynology with David and Howe, David sits down with good friend Jonny Devaney! Jonny recently got back from an extended trip to Italy with his family, where he went to Pompeii, Naples, Venice, Rome, and got to see a mass run by the new Pope Leo. They first start by catching up with each other and then quickly get into the trip. Jonny spent the most time in Rome and Naples, but also got to see lots of Venice and was given a personal tour of Pompeii by an archaeologist. David and Jonny then start talking about their experiences in Rome, the Vatican, the tourist stuff, and of course dogs. Jonny is currently obsessed with Cane Corso’s and they spend a good deal of time talking about that.

In this week’s episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Thierry Aubry, Research Associate at Fundação Côa Parque. Together, they explore fascinating topics related to Dr. Aubry’s latest research, shedding light on groundbreaking discoveries and their broader implications.

In episode 17 George ponders the possibility that infamous Viking leader of the Great Heathen Army, Ivar the Boneless was on the spectrum…

Every so often, I need to bring this situation up to date! It’s current events time here at the Pseudoarchaeology Podcast, so I thought I’d discuss three things: The “structures” underneath the pyramids (there aren’t any), how the location of the Lost Ark was found in 1988 (it wasn’t), and how I was a special guest on Flint Dibble’s livestream with Milo Rossi (it was super fun)!

This Heritage Voices episode features a few members of a session from the 2024 Theoretical Archaeology Group meeting in Santa Fe. Today’s guests included Dr. Lindsay Montgomery (Associate Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies at the University of Toronto St. George campus), Dr. Kalani Heinz (Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies at California State University Northridge), and Dusti Bridges (Ph.D. Student in Anthropology at Cornell University). We talked about some of the ways their session and the TAG Santa Fe meeting took some different approaches than other conferences and sessions. The three of them then broke down the concept of Indigenous Futurities for Jessica and showed how this concept shows up in different ways across the work that the three of them do. For those of you who are educators, discussions of working with students are also woven throughout this conversation.

We discuss our recent visit to the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon. We loved learning about the large mammals and humans that used Beringia to travel between Northern North America and Siberia before it disappeared around 10,000 years ago.

In this episode, Tilly and Ash continue their quest to reveal the secrets of a newly discovered Doors of Durin, with help from archaeologist and rock carving specialist, Dr Megan Kasten! What exactly is the difference between rock art, rock carvings, and inscriptions? What exactly is RTI? And will Tilly ever not love an anagram?

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Tyrel Iron Eyes, Tribal Archaeologist for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Tyrel shares what it means to serve in this role and offers listeners an in-depth look at how archaeology is practiced through a Lakota lens. From day-to-day responsibilities and the structure of Standing Rock’s Tribal Historic Preservation program to the core Lakota values that guide decision-making, Tyrel discusses the importance of protecting sacred sites, cultural landscapes, and the integrity of Indigenous knowledge. Tyrel offers reflections on what respectful collaboration looks like from the tribal side and why it’s critical for CRM firms, universities, and outside archaeologists to understand and honor tribal perspectives. He also speaks to the vital role of Indigenous archaeologists and the importance of encouraging the next generation to take on this work. This episode is a powerful reflection on the responsibilities of protecting the past while serving the present and future needs of Native nations.

Ever wonder how difficult it is to work in other states in the US and if it makes sense to take opportunities in different geographies? This episode explores how to diversify your geographical skill set that will in turn improve your short and long term employment prospects. Each state has their own set of requirements, some are much more stringent than others. However, putting in the time early in your career may be the best time to expand your archaeological-geographical footprint. We will discuss why this is the case and how to improve your marketability as a CRM professional.

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover speaks with Stacie Laravie, citizen of the Northern Ponca of Nebraska and former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Stacie shares insights into the deep history and enduring resilience of the Ponca people, with a focus on the legacy of Chief Standing Bear—whose 1879 court case established, for the first time in U.S. law, that Native people are “persons” under the Constitution. Together, they explore the archaeology of Ponca homelands, the impacts of forced removal, and how material culture and oral history work together to tell the story of a people who never forgot where they came from. Stacie also reflects on her work in historic preservation and the importance of protecting sacred sites and ancestral knowledge. This episode honors the past while celebrating ongoing efforts to reclaim, preserve, and share Ponca heritage.

This week three news stories caught our attention involving DNA in the archaeological record. In three very different places around the world, researchers are using different types of DNA analysis to draw new and innovative conclusions.

In this episode, David answers questions he received from a Q&A on Instagram. While some are archaeological, most are on dogs. The questions range from dogs in the Americas, to dog burials in Europe, why are some wolves black? Why are there so many arrowheads in Wyoming? And were dogs really eaten? David answers these questions, and does his usual rant and tirades in between questions about current anthropology, the Colombian exchange, and people that annoy him on Instagram.

In this episode, Dr. Alan Garfinkel speaks with Dr Damien Finch from the University of Melbourne about Kimberly Rock Art and his work on the application of radiocarbon dating to determine the age of rock art. They discuss how scientific techniques can be applied to past human activity and, of course, rock art!