Archaeology of The Witcher (Part 1) - Trowel 57

After uploading a quick video on Instagram about the top two stupidest pseudoarchaeology stories of all time, the one and only Flint Dibble said that I, Dr. Professor Andrew Kinkella PhD, had gotten something wrong. He said the Silurian hypothesis didn’t contain any lizard people! What?!? I quickly re-checked my research, and found out he was right. But I was right too! Listen onward for the solution to the Great Silurian Debacle of 2025…LinksInstagram post on SiluriansTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/pseudo/176ContactKinkella Teaches Archaeology (Youtube)Blog: Kinkella Teaches Archaeology ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetMerch StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode Matilda is diving far back into the earliest depths of human history to discuss when we first developed our love of stuff. From chimpanzee termite-fishing to complex flint-knapping technology, she explores how technological traditions developed alongside our own human evolution. Tune in to hear all about core preparation, mode classifications, and why we might soon need a capuchin monkey archaeologist.TranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/teabreak/42LinksDr James Dilley using the levallois techniqueDr James Dilley demonstrating flint knapping techniquesJane Goodall describing chimpanzee tool useCapuchins using stone tools for 1000s of yearsPaper on Oldowan technologyFlint daggerContact the HostEmail: [email protected]://www.thearchaeologiststeacup.cominsta: @the_archaeologists_teacupfb: /TheArchaeologistsTeacuptwitter: @ArchaeoTeacupArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetTee Public StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Ash and Tilly set out on an archaeological survey across The Continent—the dark, layered world of the The Witcher! From the ruins of Kaer Morhen to the forests of Dol Blathanna, they explore how landscapes, material culture, and societies reveal the deeper histories beneath Andrzej Sapkowski’s Slavic-inspired fantasy universe. Join them as they dig into the Conjunction of the Spheres, the rise of humans, and the relics of vanished civilisations, all while fending off drowners, spectral elves, and the occasional moral quandary!The Witcher Series:Books: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, The Lady of the Lake, Season of Storms, and Crossroads of Ravens.Games: The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Witcher 4 (release date 2026/2027)TV Series: The Witcher (Netflix)LinksBog Bodies Research Project - National Museum of IrelandThe Witcher UniverseContactEmail: [email protected]: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/57ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Carlton sits down with archaeologist Amy Gillaspie to revisit their shared time working with the remarkable Jones-Miller Bison Kill Site collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They begin by exploring the archaeological significance of Jones-Miller, one of the most important Paleoindian bison kill and processing sites on the Great Plains. Amy discusses the site’s history, why it remains foundational to understanding communal hunting practices, and what makes its collection so unique.Together, Carlton and Amy reflect on their experiences working side by side with the Jones-Miller materials, offering insight into what the artifacts reveal about site organization, behavior, and the challenges of interpreting a massive legacy collection.The conversation then turns to the broader importance of revisiting museum collections and how new methods continue to shed light on old data. Amy also shares her thoughts on the future of Paleoindian research, preservation, and why the stewardship of legacy collections, such as those of Jones-Miller, remains essential for advancing Great Plains archaeology.TranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/32LinksAmy Gillaspie Team Profile on Archaeology SouthwestScience Division Live: Jones-Miller Collection (YouTube)Science Division Pop-Up: The Jones Miller Collection (YouTube)Jones-Miller Collection on the Denver Museum of Nature & Science websiteWhy Store 41,000 Bison Bones? By Stephen Nash (2023)The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty BioContactInstagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologistEmail: [email protected] Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Then we discuss the recent Section 106 hearing held on October 29, 2025 by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the Section 106 Consultation Process Under the National Historic Preservation ActThe show hosts discuss a must-see senate hearing that reveals much about the Section 106 process, how clear communication can improve things, and that legislators, tribes, and archaeologists all believe historic preservation is important.TranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archpodnet.com/crmarchpodcast/322Blogs and Resources:Bill White: Succinct ResearchDoug Rocks-MacQueen: Doug’s ArchaeologyChris Webster: DIGTECH LLCAndrew KinkellaKinkella Teaches Archaeology (Youtube)Blog: Kinkella Teaches ArchaeologyArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After two decades of anticipation, the Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened and it is wonderful in every sense of the word! In this episode of The Past Macabre, host Stephanie Rice explores how the world’s largest archaeological museum breathes new life into ancient funerary traditions.Join her on a journey through three extraordinary exhibits that reimagine Egypt’s afterlife: the digital recreation of Khnumhotep II’s tomb; the complete collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures that have been reunited for the first time since they were excavated; and the solar boats that were buried next to the Great Pyramid that were meant to carry Khufu in the afterlife.Through technology, artistry, and careful conservation, these exhibits at the Grand Egyptian Museum bring Ancient Egyptian lives to modern visitors.TranscriptsFor transcripts of this episode head over to: https://archpodnet.com/tpm/27LinksSee photos related to episode topics on InstagramLoving the macabre lore? Treat your host to a coffee!Website | GEM OfficialWebsite | Egypt's Ministry of TourismWebsite | Tutankhamun's GalleriesWebsite | Conservation Center at the GEMVideo | Digital Tomb of Khnumhotep IIVideo | Original Tomb of Khnumhotep IIArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, by popular request, we are reviewing Prey (2022), a prequel to the Predator franchise in which the eponymous alien hunter meets his match on the American Great Plains of 1719. We’re joined by archaeologist Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover, who helps us navigate the movie’s medicinal plants, upside-down archery draws, and inadvisable sharpening techniques, and reminds us why we should never whistle at night.LinksGreat Plains Archaeology PodcastFatal cougar attacks in North AmericaCougar stalks hiker – YouTubeCougars in Boulder, Colorado, during Covid lockdownMedicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie by Kelly KindscherBreadroot/BiscuitrootCalendulaCarolina dogNo rats in AlbertaNative American Gender RolesChert and FlintKnife River FlintArchery bow drawsDevin Pettigrew and Justin GarnettComanche bow and arrowTaylor et al. (2023) Early dispersal of domestic horses into the Great Plains and northern RockiesPia MupitziLegends of the Northern LightsNever AlonePlaylist of songs featuring Cougar/Jaguar screamsContactWebsiteBlueskyFacebookLetterboxdEmailArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Alan is joined by Joseph Williams, founder of Seven Fires Corporation, to explore how Indigenous knowledge, AI, and 3D imaging intersect in the study of rock art. They discuss applications from Göbekli Tepe to Native American sites, and examine the House of the Sun pictographs in Southern California, exploring how they reflect Native American cosmology and celestial traditions.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/155TranscriptLinksSeven Fires Corporation WebsiteAI in Archaeological Site ConservationContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s time for the second part of the Archaeo Book Club discussion for the November theme “It Belongs in a Museum!” Book club admins Ash, Judith, and Tilly discuss the abundance of material culture related books lining their shelves, and the link between museums and mystery in popular fiction. This time, their personalised recommendations are all surprisingly similar! Tune in to hear all about knights, mummies, and Frida Kahlo’s ring.Monthly Book: Ghosts of the British Museum (Noah Angell)Other books mentioned:Around the world in 100 objects (Neil MacGregor)Possession (A.S. Byatt)Street of the Five Moons (Elizabeth Peters)When the Museum is Closed (Emi Yagi)English Medieval Alabasters (Francis Cheetham)What the River Knows (Isabel Ibañez)A Discovery of Witches (Deborah Harkness)Interview with the Vampire (Anne Rice)Ramses the Damned series (Anne Rice)The Wolf Gift (Anne Rice)The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)The Ark Files (Luke Richardson ((not recommended))Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring (Angela Cervantes)Deeds of the Disturber (Elizabeth Peters)Her Knight at the Museum (Bryn Donovan)Crocodile on the Sandbank (Elizabeth Peters)ContactDiscordWebsiteInstagramEmailMusic"Little Adventure" by Sergei ChetvertnykhTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archaeo-book-club/10ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo is just beginning its second season. One of the Expert Presenters on the show is me, Super Important Doctor Professor Andrew Kinkella! In taking jobs like this, have I sold out? Am I an embarrassment to all of archaeology? Listen in so you can judge and make fun of me as usual.TranscriptsMessage for Simplecast: For rough transcripts of this episode head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/pseudo/175ContactKinkella Teaches Archaeology (Youtube)Blog: Kinkella Teaches Archaeology ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetMerch StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.