Episode 49 - Top 10 Most Underrated Archaeology Sites (Part 2) and Archaeology News
Episode Summary In this episode, Jason continues taking you to some seriously underrated sites where you can nevertheless make some amazing archaeological discoveries. We cover sites in South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania:1) Timgad, Algeria 2) Caral, Peru 3) Meroë, Sudan 4) Plain of Jars, Laos 5) Nan Madol, MicronesiaNext, Archaeology News delves into the intriguing findings from North Africa, particularly the Maghreb region. It highlights the genetic distinctions between Eastern and Western Maghreb populations through ancient DNA analysis and old-fashioned archaeology, revealing a successful hunter-gatherer lifestyle that persisted in the East. The next story then shifts to the Phoenician settlements in the Western Maghreb, uncovering evidence of earlier civilizations that thrived before the Phoenicians arrived, challenging previous historical narratives that the area was unpopulated at the outset of Antiquity. Links & Resources High continuity of forager ancestry in the Neolithic period of the eastern Maghreb: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08699-4Rethinking late prehistoric Mediterranean Africa: architecture, farming and materiality at Kach Kouch, Morocco: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/rethinking-late-prehistoric-mediterranean-africa-architecture-farming-and-materiality-at-kach-kouch-morocco/62D5077593941A815BA6B1C14E9185BB Related Episodes Top 10 Most Underrated Archaeological Sites in the World (Part I): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtNIVekY4wsArchaeology Smackdown Over Supposed Indo-European Ethnolinguistic Homeland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRSfsER_MH4 Help us by…· Rating & Reviewing on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019· Subscribing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch· Contributing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheDustArchaeology· Visiting our website: https://www.intothedustarchaeology.com/
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Episode 48 - Top 10 Most Underrated Archaeology Sites (Part I) and Archaeology News
Episode Summary In this episode, Jason takes you on a tour of top 10 most underrated archaeological sites in the world, or at least that he knows about! Because there is so much to get to, it’s broken down into two parts, with this first segment focusing on North America and Europe. The sites to be featured are:1) Herculaneum, Italy2) Carnac, France3) Skara Brae, Scotland4) Poverty Point, Louisiana, USA5) Cahokia Mounds, Illinois, USAAnd for today’s Archaeology News, we focus on a epic archaeology smackdown that recently occurred over an ancient DNA (aDNA) study. The paper, led by some renowned Harvard scholars, claimed (with evidence!) to have found an “ethnolinguistic” homeland for Indo-European language speakers. The problem? Language is not detectable archaeologically, plus some bad folks have glommed on to similar theories. We’ll go through the whole argument step-by-step. Timestamps 1:09: Herculaneum2:27: Alignements de Carnac4:14: Skara Brae5:50: Poverty Point8:17: Cahokia Mounds10:26: Archaeology News – The aDNA Smackdown Links & Resources The genetic origin of the Indo-Europeans: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08531-5A genomic history of the North Pontic Region from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08372-2#:~:text=Genome%2Dwide%20studies%20of%20ancient,%2Dgatherers3%20(EHGs)%20inRelated Episodes Mysteries Of The Carnac Standing Stones In France: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xu517cshWE Help us by…· Rating & Reviewing on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019· Subscribing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch· Contributing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheDustArchaeology· Visiting our website: https://www.intothedustarchaeology.com/
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Update - Where has the show gone?!
An update from your host...
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Episode 47 - Giacomo Medici's Antiquities Smuggling Ring and Archaeology News
The episode begins with the gripping tale of Giacomo Medici, one of history’s most infamous antiquities traffickers. Known as the kingpin of looted artifacts, Medici masterminded a vast smuggling network involving tomb raiders, Swiss Freeport warehouses, and high-profile museums. Host Jason Cohen unravels how these looted treasures, like the famed Euphronios Krater, were laundered through polished auction houses and ended up in major institutions such as the Met. Despite his attempts to escape justice, Medici's empire came crashing down, leading to the return of hundreds of artifacts to their rightful home. It's a story of greed, intrigue, and the long road to justice.Next, we take a wild detour to Herculaneum, where a young man caught in Mount Vesuvius' eruption provides one of the most bizarre archaeological discoveries. His brain appears to have been "vitrified," essentially turned into glass by a combination of superheated ash and rapid cooling. The podcast dives into the highly specific conditions required to create this one-in-a-billion phenomenon and the debate it sparked among scientists.Finally, Jason explores a potential contender for the world’s oldest 3D map. Deep within a cave in France, researchers identified carvings and features that resemble a topographical map of the surrounding area, complete with rivers and valleys. The theory is that this Paleolithic creation, dating at least 12,000 years, might have served practical purposes like hunting coordination or even ritualistic meanings tied to fertility and life.Timestamps 00:14: Unveiling Giacomo Medici: The Antiquities Trafficker06:12: The Downfall of a Trafficking Kingpin10:14: Ripple Effects: Justice and Repatriation of Artifacts12:29: Brains of GLASS? An vitrified brain in ancient Herculaneum17:39: Ladyparts in an ancient cave help to form the world's oldest 3D map? Links & Resources Unique formation of organic glass from a human brain in the Vesuvius eruption of 79 CE: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88894-5Palaeolithic Map Engraved For Staging Water Flows In A Paris Basin Shelter: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ojoa.12316 Related Episodes Archaeology News: Mysteriously Preserved Human Brains Unearthed - A New Archaeological Discovery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjpdbQ4kkzIThe Oldest European Map Discovery: Story Of Saint Belec Slab - Bronze Age 3D Map: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUu5YmHFGaQ Help us by…· Rating & Reviewing on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019· Subscribing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch· Contributing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheDustArchaeology· Visiting our website: https://www.intothedustarchaeology.com/
Episode Summary Episode 46 of Into the Dust dives straight into an essential guide for visiting archaeological sites and preserving their historical integrity. Host Jason Cohen alternates between "do's" and "don'ts," offering practical advice infused with humor and insight. From sticking to marked trails and avoiding the temptation to pocket small souvenirs, to studying a site's history in advance and respecting local rules and traditions, Jason emphasizes the importance of being a thoughtful and respectful visitor. Along the way, he shares vivid anecdotes, like imagining ancient hands creating stenciled cave art or marveling at Neolithic engineering feats. His playful tone keeps the content engaging while driving home the serious need to preserve these fragile sites for future generations.Jason also takes listeners on a virtual exploration of two incredible archaeological sites in Chengdu, China—Sanxingdui and Jinsha. Sanxingdui dazzles with visually stunning artifacts like alien-like bronze heads, intricate gold masks, and a monumental bronze tree, although much of it was discovered out of proper archaeological context. Meanwhile, the less Instagrammable Jinsha provides a deeper understanding of the Shu culture through preserved villages, burials, and stratigraphy-rich excavation sites. Jason juxtaposes the two sites to highlight the critical archaeological lesson that context often outweighs aesthetics in historical value. If you're planning a visit to Chengdu, Jason's tips will help you turn a confusing day into an enriching and awe-inspiring experience.Timestamps 00:00: Introduction0:19: Introduction to Archaeological Site Visits3:19: Essential Do's and Don'ts for Visitors5:04: Enhancing Your Archaeological Experience8:29: Historical and Archaeological Introduction 12:52: Visit to Sanxingdui23:31: Visit to Jinsha29:23: ConclusionHelp us by…· Rating & Reviewing on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/into-the-dust-archaeology/id1726480019· Subscribing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Into_the-Dust_Arch· Contributing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IntotheDustArchaeology· Visiting our website: https://www.intothedustarchaeology.com/
Archaeology news, travel reviews, interviews and basic terminology, designed to get you as jazzed up about archaeology as we are. Explore the latest headlines, learn the ABCs of archaeology, and hear from seasoned and amateur archaeologists alike.
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