In this episode, Stephanie is joined by special guest Virginia Lucas, curator and archaeologist of the Lost City Museum for a look at the history of The Lost City, also known as Pueblo Grande de Nevada. It was an Ancestral Puebloan settlement in southern Nevada and once thrived as a major agricultural exporter and trade hub along the Muddy River. The city was abandoned around 1250 CE after a shift in the local climate caused a long period of drought. Centuries later, its ruins were flooded by the construction of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, only to reemerge now that modern droughts have lowered the water levels once again. We'll explore the museum dedicated to both the site itself and the historical archaeology previously done here. We'll also discuss how the Lost City’s rise, abandonment, and rediscovery by western researchers reflect broader questions about memory, cultural continuity, and the importance of working with descendant communities when researching history and sharing it with the public.

Around the world and throughout our entire written history, humanity has believed that the dead can return to the land of the living, even if only for a short time. Through ancient texts and archaeological research, we can trace how people long ago understood hauntings, feared the unburied, and tried to keep the dead at rest. In this Halloween special, discover just a few of the stories of ghosts, revenants, vampires, and other restless dead from ancient to medieval sources. From the oldest texts in the world in Ancient Mesopotamia that speak of the ghosts that walked among the living, to the first Classical story to identify necromancy in Ancient Greece, to the Norse sagas of heroes defeating terrifyingly strong draugr, and the origins of vampires in Slavic lore. Explore archaeological discoveries of graves referred to as "deviant" or "anti-vampire" burials from Greek and Slavic cemeteries where the dead were physically stopped from rising again. These ancient tales of the dead also reveal what the living feared, what they valued, and how they coped with loss.

In this episode, we’ll explore the rediscovery and legacy of Thonis-Heracleion, a sacred port city that was lost beneath the Mediterranean Sea for over 1200 years. During its peak, the city stood as both a major checkpoint for foreign merchants entering Egypt and a spiritual center tied to the worship of Amun, Khonsu, Osiris, Aphrodite, and many more Egyptian and Greek deities.

There’s so much info to share about Canopus that it needed a second episode! In this episode, we take a look at some of the myths and deities associated with Canopus as well as earlier finds that have provided us with important details about the city. According to myth, the city began a the site where a Homeric hero met a gruesome end. It grew to become the main trade hub connecting Mediterranean routes to the Nile, a sacred city of several deities, and an internationally famous center of healing. Under the Ptolemies, Canopus became the site of the Mysteries of Osiris, blending Greek and Egyptian rituals of death and rebirth in order to gain sacred knowledge. We’ll explore all we know about this mysterious annual ritual and others that were held here.

At the end of August, archaeologists announced extraordinary new finds from the sunken city of Canopus, located off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. For the first time in 25 years, artifacts were raised from the seabed, including a sphinx inscribed with Ramses II’s name, statues from the Ptolemaic and Roman eras, and shipwreck remains. In this episode, we'll explore both these latest underwater discoveries and geological surveys that are helping researchers understand what caused Canopus to sink, because understanding how people of the past adapted to disasters could help us find solutions for today’s climate-threatened coastal cities. Listen now to learn about the artifacts, myths, and history of Canopus.

Many different cultures from China and Southeast Asia honor the dead on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month during the Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan in Daoism and Yulanpen or Ullambana in Mahayana Buddhism. In this episode, we’ll trace the origins of ancestor worship to ancient Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones, or “Dragon Bones,” which were used to inscribe petitions to ancestral spirits and hold the earliest evidence of Chinese writing. Then we’ll explore how regional variations of those ancient beliefs blended with the Buddhist Ulambana Sutra (or Mulian Rescues His Mother from Hell), Daoist visions of the afterlife, and Confucian teachings on filial responsibility. Over time, these influences eventually gave rise to the Hungry Ghost Festival which has continued to evolve into modern celebrations that weave together ancient traditions and modern lifestyles to honor both personal ancestors and members of the community lost in historical tragedies.

The Wag Festival is one of the oldest named celebrations in Ancient Egypt, a summertime rite honoring both the death of Osiris and the memory of departed loved ones. Each year, the living gathered to share feasts with the dead with offerings of bread, beer, and beef to sustain them in the afterlife. In this episode, we’ll explore the festival’s connection to the Osiris Myth and uncover its traces in the archaeological record, from tomb reliefs and inscribed stone offering tables to the very first Pyramid Texts in the tomb of Unas. Along the way, you’ll hear about some of the specific foods and offerings that graced these ancient tables.

Dr. Murray Cook is an archaeologist, author, co-founder and co-director of a field school, and Honorable Research Fellow at Stirling University. His research focuses on the area around Stirling, Scotland and its expansive history. There are Neolithic stone circles, Bronze Age burials, late Iron Age sites that offer a glimpse of life just before the Romans arrived, and artifacts that mark the Roman presence itself. Stirling Castle, built in the 12th century, became the most used royal residence in Scotland for centuries. It is the site where William Wallace defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and where Robert the Bruce claimed victory at the Battle of Bannockburn during the First War of Scottish Independence. The royals of the House of Stewart lived here for generations, including Mary, Queen of Scots. Nearby lie medieval and historic cemeteries with burials of both the famous and the infamous. In this episode, Dr. Cook discusses his research that spans all of Stirling’s history, the benefits of slowing archaeological research down to focus on a single area, the importance of telling the stories of humanity’s shared past, and the vital role of public outreach in securing the future of archaeology.

In the second part of a two-episode series, The Past Macabre continues the story of one of history’s most iconic figures of resistance: Boudica. After decades of uneasy alliances and Roman expansion, the fragile peace in Britain shattered—leading to one of the most famous rebellions the Roman Empire ever faced. In this episode, we'll look at archaeological clues that bring us closer to the truth behind the queen with no known tomb and the rebellion that nearly changed the course of Britain’s history. Explore the evidence of scorched buildings, desecrated temples, and buried Roman treasure hoards that reveal the growing unrest that led to Boudica's Revolt that left cities like Londinium (London) and Camulodunum (Colchester) in ruins.

In this first of a two-part series, The Past Macabre travels back to Late Iron Age Britain before the Roman conquest to explore the world that shaped one of history’s most famous warrior queens: Boudica. Her story has been told many times for nearly two millennia, but what is the truth behind the Celtic warrior queen who stood against Rome? Uncover the archaeology of her tribe the Iceni, from sacred sites, workshops, and homesteads. We’ll explore the first contacts between Rome and Britain as early as the 2nd century BCE to Caesar’s failed invasion in 54 BCE and the uneasy alliances that turned native leaders into Roman client-kings. Then we'll look at how growing disunity amongst the Celts paved the way for Emperor Claudius' invasion in 43 CE. Learn about the hoards of treasure, settlements, burials, and hillforts found across England and what they can tell us about the world Boudica was born into at a time of rapid social, economic, and political change.

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 The Past Macabre, we explore the fascinating world of funerary food—from bread buried with Egyptian pharaohs to tamales sealed in Mayan tombs. Discover how ancient meals, cookware, and food offerings reveal powerful beliefs about the afterlife, social status, and the rituals of mourning.

For centuries, the story of the Nile has been dominated by Egypt but just beyond its borders, another great empire thrived. The Kingdom of Kush, rising in what is now Sudan, was a formidable force that conquered Egypt, commanded vital trade routes, and even stood against the mighty Roman Empire. But what truly set Kush apart was that its queens were warriors, monument builders, and sometimes they even ruled as sovereigns in their own right. In this episode of The Past Macabre, we explore the lives and legacies of the Kandakes, the queens of Kush who wielded power like no other women of their time. These queens led armies into battle, oversaw the construction of vast temples and pyramids, and ensured that Kush flourished as a wealthy and influential empire. Through archaeology and ancient texts, we’ll uncover how they ruled, how they resisted foreign invaders, and how they shaped the destiny of their people.

For the first time since the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, archaeologists have unearthed the tomb of a pharaoh! It belongs to Thutmose II of Egypt's powerful 18th Dynasty, who was the husband of Hatshepsut, the woman who ruled on her own as king. But that's not all, near Hatshepsut's mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, incredible new finds are shedding fresh light on one of Egypt's most powerful women, and those who came before her. What do these discoveries reveal about the golden age of ancient Egypt? Tune in for the latest on these groundbreaking discoveries! Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/13 Links * Theban Mapping Project - Repository of information about the Theban Necropolis [https://thebanmappingproject.com/index.php/] * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

Before Valentine's Day became a celebration of romance, and even before it was associated with a Roman Catholic saint, this was a time of celebration and feasting in Rome. From February 13th through the 21st, the Romans observed the overlapping festivals of Parentalia, Lupercalia, and Feralia to celebrate fertility, life, and honor the dead so their ghosts wouldn't haunt the living. Join me to compare the mythological and historical versions of St. Valentine and explore these Roman festivals of ancestor worship and their links to older Etruscan traditions. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/12 Links * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

Uncover timeless displays of romantic affection or "true love" that were intended to endure long after death. We'll explore some remarkable examples, starting with the gold foil figures found at pre-Christian sites across Scandinavia that depict both mortal couples and the wedding of the Norse god Freyr to the jötunn Gerd. Then we'll examine a pre-Columbian stone pendant found on the ancestral lands of the Timbisha Shoshone (now known as Death Valley, California) that immortalized one couple's journey together. We'll discover the shared brass memorial over the adjacent graves of Elizabeth Etchingham and Agnes Oxenbridge, two English noblewomen who lived during the Tudor period, and the popular uprising in the previous century that helped pave the way for their public declaration of devotion. We'll visit the Etruscan necropolises once again for examples of masterwork sarcophagi depicting affectionate couples lounging on couches called Klinai or lying in bed and facing one another. After that we'll delve into Ancient Egyptian tomb art and monuments like the tomb of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum, two elite men from the 5th dynasty of Ancient Egypt who's tomb art depicts them in ways typically seen in heterosexual couples to show they were married. And we'll learn about the intricate art from the tomb of King Tutankhamun that show him and his wife Ankesenamun in affectionate moments during their brief reign from 1332 – 1323 BCE. Last but not least, we'll explore the monuments Ramses the Great built during his reign in 1279-1213 BCE that display his devotion to his Great Royal Wife Nefertari, like her beautifully decorated tomb in the Valley of Queens or the temple dedicated to her at Abu Simbel. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/11 Links * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

Explore the ancient Etruscan burial practices and deities of the underworld. The Etruscans began rising to power around 900 BCE in Etruria, modern day Tuscany. They dominated the Italian peninsula and became a major political and economic force in the Mediterranean that left a legacy that shaped the region. Etruscan kings ruled over Rome until 509 BCE when an uprising removed the tyrannical monarch and people created the Roman Republic. In this episode, we'll discover the Etruscan view of the journey to the underworld and the important role of horses in carrying the soul and the body to it's eternal destination. Learn about the elaborate celebrations that helped shape some of the most iconic Roman traditions. Uncover the cities for the dead with rock cut tombs shaped like family homes that reflect their emphasis on family connections in life. Then meet the guides, gatekeepers, and guardians of the Etruscan afterlife from the sun god who's dark side rules the underworld to goddesses who protect the deceased, and see how they changed over time as cultural exchange happened across the Mediterranean region. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/10 Links * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

In this episode, we uncover the Mycenaean roots of Ancient Greek deities and beliefs about death and the afterlife. The Mycenaeans controlled much of Greece and the Aegean Sea starting about 1700 BCE until about 1200 BE, when the Late Bronze Age collapse led to hundreds of years of political, social, and climate upheaval for the entire region. But through their monumental architecture, art, and stories they left behind, Classical Greek mythology was born. Discover the origins of deities like Dionysus, Poseidon, and Hermes and their original underworld associations. Journey into sacred sites the Greeks inherited from the Mycenaeans, like the Sanctuary of Poseidon with caverns that have been associated with sacred burials and the underworld as far back as the Neolithic. Then we'll take a look at Hades and several less famous Greek goddesses, gods, and monsters of death and the underworld. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/09 Links * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

In this episode, we explore the gods and goddesses associated with winter and death. From Itztlacoliuhqui of Mesoamerica, to Boreas, Demeter, and Persephone of ancient Greece; Cailleach Beara in Scotland who's also known as the Cailleach in Ireland; Marzanna of Western Slavic lands; Perchta in the Alpine valleys; Frau Holle of the Germanic region, and Hel of Norse mythology, these deities reflect how ancient cultures grappled with the trials of winter and the inevitability of death. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/08 Links * Check out Kurly Tlapoyawa for more info about Mesoamerican archaeology [https://linktr.ee/aztlantis?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabpR_Bwwlz9r3F5BKCt5KafUwkrfX5hrXULOTLs6_h5ltNui-qp8tKuhz4_aem_OZF894Pbtlmh6W-ghJ6OhA] * Digitized National Folklore Collection of Ireland [https://www.duchas.ie/en] * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]

In Episode 7 of The Past Macabre, delve into the lesser-known death deities of Ancient Egypt. Beyond Osiris and Anubis, discover guardians like Wepwaut, Serket and Neith, and other gods who protect the soul on its journey through the perilous Duat. Then, explore the rich spiritual traditions of the Akan people of West Africa, connect ancestral spirits, life and death. Unveil the hidden stories of death's divine keepers in this haunting exploration of humanity's connection to the afterlife. Transcripts * For transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/07 Links * Sankofa Pan African Series [https://www.youtube.com/@SankofaPanAfricanSeries] * HomeTeam History [https://www.youtube.com/@hometeamhistory806] * See photos related to episode topics on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/past_macabre/] * Loving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee! [https://ko-fi.com/past_macabre] ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [https://www.archpodnet.com/] * APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet * APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet * APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet * Tee Public Store: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724 Affiliates * Motion [https://www.archpodnet.com/motion]