The Shindig | A Rubicon Archaeology Podcast

What can a cow bone tell you about a medieval army? More than you'd think.
In this episode of The Shindig host Gretchen Kessler sits down with David Romera Fernández, for a fascinating deep-dive into zooarchaeology.

In this episode, you'll discover:
What zooarchaeology actually is — and why it's not just "old bones"
How to tell a cow's age from its skeleton — and why that matters for understanding ancient populations
What cut marks on bones reveal about butchery, diet, wealth, and gender in ancient societies
The difference between a wild boar and a domesticated pig — written into the bone itself
Why Ireland desperately needs more zooarchaeologists (spoiler: there are almost none)
A story involving a police stop, a van full of medieval bones, and very long hair

David also shares the evidence for ancient pet burials, healed animal fractures that hint at real human-animal bonds, and explains how the study of animal remains is quietly rewriting what we know about women's roles in history.

Oh, and if you've ever wanted to time travel? David's answer will take you further back than anyone before him on this show. 70 million years further back, to be precise.

The Shindig is produced by Rubicon Archaeology one of Ireland's leading archaeological consultancies, with teams working across Ireland, the UK, and Germany. We believe great archaeology starts with great people, and this podcast is our way of introducing you to them.

🦴 Subscribe, follow, and share — and let us know: what would you do with an hour in the past?
The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.
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In this episode of The Shindig, Gretchen chats with archaeologist Ben Spillane, a specialist who has worked with Rubicon on a number of projects including creamtion cemeteries, stone beads and more. This conversation is about the fascinating world of the Bronze Age.
Expert insight, relaxed conversation, and a glass of wine, this is history brought to life.

The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.
Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Click to learn more about Rubicon Archaeology: https://www.rubiconarchaeology.com/link-tree

In this episode, we’re kicking things off with a brand new host and diving straight into a fascinating topic: Conflict Archaeology.

Our guests bring two very different — but equally exciting — perspectives:
🧠 Damian Shiels explores conflict archaeology from an academic point of view, helping us understand the real stories behind historic battlefields and artefacts.
⚔️ Alex, a reenactment specialist and experimental archaeologist, brings history to life by showing how people actually lived, fought, and experienced conflict in the past.

Together, they break down how archaeology helps us understand conflict in a way that goes far beyond textbooks — making the past feel real, human, and relevant today.

At Rubicon, it’s all about Managing Risk, Delivering Quality — and uncovering the stories that shape our world.
The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.
Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎙️ The Shindig: A Special Interview with Colm Moloney
In this special edition of The Shindig, host Luke Barry sits down with Colum Moloney, founder of Rubicon Archaeology, to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. Thought lost to a corrupted hard drive, this insightful interview was recovered and now serves as a time capsule of Rubicon’s journey from humble beginnings to international expansion.
Colm shares his personal story, from discovering his passion for archaeology and history in primary school to founding one of Ireland’s leading archaeological firms. He reflects on the challenges of fieldwork, the evolution of commercial archaeology, and the excitement of managing large-scale infrastructure projects across Ireland, the UK, and Germany.
We also explore Rubicon’s recent rebrand, the launch of new offices, and the company’s role in Europe’s largest civil engineering project, SuedLink. With anecdotes, advice for aspiring archaeologists, and a touch of nostalgia, this episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the past and the future of archaeology.

🔗 Learn more at rubiconarchaeology.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 Follow us on social media @RubiconArchaeology
The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.
Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incredibly well preserved WW1 trenches and battlefields of Flanders fields on the Western Front are the focus of this remarkable interview with Simon Verdegem, a battlefield archaeologist for BAAC Vlaanderen, Skylarcs, and Head Archaeologist for Dig Hill 80, an internationally crowdfunded WW1 battlefield archaeology project.

Join Dr. Tom and Luke as they investigate the fascinating and haunting world of World War I archaeology with Simon, an expert in uncovering the stories of soldiers on the Western Front. In this episode, we explore the impact of trench warfare on the combatants, the emotional toll of excavating battlefields and their dead, and the remarkable discoveries that shed light on the daily lives of soldiers. Simon shares his insights on trench construction and its evolution and the incredible preservation of archaeological finds, from the trenches, tunnels and bunkers that look little changed since 1918, to the harrowing remains of a soldier’s cuddly toy.

We also discuss the dangers of unexploded ordnance (UXO), the vital but traumatic journey of identifying fallen soldiers, and the international success of crowdfunding Dig Hill 80, an astonishingly intact battlefield at Wytschaete near Ypres.

#WW1 #FWW #Archaeology #History #WesternFront #FirstWorldWar #WorldWar1
The Shindig is a Rubicon Archaeology Production.
Keep up to date with everything Rubicon here: Click for More
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.