The Archaeology Show

This week we interview classicist and author Dr. Philip Matyszak about his new book, "Sacred Places of the Ancient World," which presents a thematic survey of sacred sites across regions known to the Greeks and Romans. Matyszak explains how the book traces changing expressions of spirituality from naturally sacred landscapes to temples as divine “dwellings,” and discusses how he balanced lesser-known locations with essential sites like Delphi and the Acropolis. They highlight examples including Göbekli Tepe’s implications for early urbanism and religion, the debated Tomb of Achilles near Troy, the Grove of Egeria outside Rome, and the long-revered Tomb of Cyrus, along with the book’s photos and bibliography.LinksSacred Places of the Ancient WorldContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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 we cover 3 recent archaeology news stories. First up we discuss the recent dissolution of one of the largest CRM firms in the country, and what that short and long term impacts of that closure could be. Then we head over to Egypt where a recently uncovered signet ring depicts the Lighthouse at Alexandria (or a Dalek?!?). And then finally new evidence at a sight in Spain shows that Neanderthals were making tools out of wood.LinksSegment 1The Nation’s Largest Archaeology Firm Abruptly Shut Down. The 600-Plus Layoffs Aren’t the Biggest ConcernSegment 2This One-of-a-Kind Bronze Ring Offers a Tantalizing Glimpse at the Lighthouse of Alexandria, a Lost Wonder of the Ancient WorldSegment 3Archaeologists Uncover Unprecedented Evidence of Neanderthal Woodworking SkillsContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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.

Chris interviews archaeologist and author Todd Braje about his upcoming book, “Mammoths and Empires” from Pegasus Books. We discuss some of the bigger themes in the book and his motivation for writing it.LinksMammoths and EmpiresFind it on AmazonTranscriptsFor rough transcripts head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archaeology/343ContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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 we are back to the news with three recent archaeology stories! First up, we discuss a National Geographic report on Turkey’s rapidly shrinking lakes, noting that receding water is exposing submerged archaeological sites like the Basilica of St. Neophytos in Lake Iznik while creating preservation and excavation challenges. We then critique a BBC Science Focus story that compares a mile-long stone alignment in Lake Michigan to Stonehenge. Archaeologists actuallysay that hunting drive lines are plausible explanations, and that simplified claims about lake history and age are misleading. And finally, we review an IFLScience article debunking more claims that Noah’s Ark was found in the Urartu region, emphasizing that the Durupinar formation is widely regarded as a geological feature.LinksSegment 1The Treasures Emerging From Turkey’s Dying LakesSegment 2A secret Stonehenge under Lake Michigan is baffling archaeologistsArchaeologists Have Found Prehistoric Rock Structures Under the Great Lakes. Here's What the Stones Can Tell UsA 9,000-year-old caribou hunting structure beneath Lake Huron“Stonehenge” Lake Michigan by Dr. Mark HolleySegment 3No, Researchers Haven't Found "Noah's Ark" Near Mount Ararat In Eastern TurkeyContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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.

Is this what archaeology needs? We think so! On November 23, 2026 Peacock and NBC Universal will release a new comedy based on Kate Myers book, Excavations, released in 2023. It will star Amy Poehler and Hugh Laurie. In this episode, Chris talks with the author about the book and the making of the TV show.LinksDIG 2026 on IMDBExcavations, 2026 Harper CollinsEverything to know about DIG, Amy Poehler’s New Peacock Show from Mike Schur - Peacock BlogContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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 we have the latest installment of the journal Club! Ash and Tilly from the And My Trowel podcast join us for a lively discussion about two recent news articles. Join us to learn about ghost DNA, turtle figurines (or not?), and all the ways Americans eat and drink tea and scones incorrectly!LinksResearchers identify traces of two ‘ghost’ ancestors in modern human DNARecovering signatures of archaic hominin introgression using ancestral recombination graphsResearchers traced 20% of our ancestry to a “ghost” population. Here’s what that means. @‌Ella Al-ShamahiArchaeologists Dug up 25 Turtles Carved During the Ice Age. They May Point to a Lost Mountain Cult.Recently dug turtle figurines expose ancient ritual heritageContactChris [email protected] [email protected] (Instagram)ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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.

In this episode of The Archaeology Show, we follow three discoveries that reveal how much ancient meaning can survive—and how much can still elude us. First, we look at rare Neolithic obsidian arrowheads from central Anatolia, etched with one-of-a-kind geometric designs that took real effort to carve, yet remain impossible to interpret. Then we head deep into Spain’s Cova de les Dones, where a hidden chamber holds 120 Latin inscriptions—evidence of an organized Roman cult centered on a mysterious “Lady,” Domina, and the name “MALACI.” Finally, we travel to Wetar Island in eastern Indonesia, where a 4,000-year-old painted stone plaque provides the first portable example of Austronesian Painting Tradition art, suggesting seafarers carried shared symbols and identities across the ocean long before pottery arrived.To see links and more, head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archaeology/339ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2edAPN 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.

Please enjoy this episode of The Rock Art Podcast this week! 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 Transcript Links Rock Art Podcast - Episode 171 Rock Art: An American Story by Stephen Alvarez with Kate Nelson Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, we’re exploring three archaeology articles in the news this week. First, we head to Rapa Nui, where new research into the mysterious Rongorongo script could reshape our understanding of when and how writing developed on the island. Then, we examine an Etruscan ritual well filled with offerings to the goddess Uni—and later, human remains. Finally, we travel to Denmark, where plans for an underground parking garage led archaeologists to the unexpected discovery of a long-lost medieval convent. Links A New Discovery at Easter Island Could Rewrite History As We Know It Archaeologists discover Etruscan well that was ritually opened with offerings for a goddess — and 'closed' with human bodies Danish town plans for underground parking garage, finds long-lost medieval convent Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join the APN crew for a monthly discussion of recent news articles. This month we look into two very different questions about archaeology and how we interpret the past. First, we dig into the growing role of AI and large language models in archaeological research, discussing hallucinations, data ownership, consent, open access, and why critical thinking is more important than ever. Then, we examine the case of a man who survived a severe facial injury roughly 100,000 years ago—and ask whether the more interesting story is really ancient violence, or the care and community that allowed him to survive. Links Archaeology in the AI Era: Demystifying powerful and problematic systems shaping the future of the past Roughly 100,000 Years Ago, This Man Got Stabbed in the Face—and Survived. He’s Likely One of the First Known Victims of an Attack With a Sharp Weapon Contact Chris Webster [email protected] Rachel Roden [email protected] RachelUnraveled (Instagram) ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN Discord: https://discord.com/invite/CWBhb2T2ed APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.