Catastrophe and Collapse: The Mediterranean World in the Late Bronze Age M
Award-winning author and GW professor Dr. Eric H Cline joins Dr. Schuldenrein in this week's episode to discuss the Mediterranean world of the Late Bronze Age (1700-1100 BC). Listen in to discover what events lead to one of the world's first catastrophic collapses and its consequences.
February 15, 2017 • 57 mins
Apocrypha Archaeology: Decoding the walls of Huqoq
Since 2012, Dr. Jodi Magness and her team have excavated at the site of the ancient Jewish Village of Huqoq in Israel, unearthing exquisite mosaics, statutes and other artifacts in an unexpected cultural fusion of Biblical and Classical figures and stories. Join us as we talk with Dr. Magness about the history of the village and her latest finds.
August 24, 2016 • 54 mins
Follow the Pots
Dr. Morag Kersel joins us to tell us about her ‘Follow the Pots’ research program. Based in Israel, the project aims to both investigate of the emergence of prehistoric urbanism in the Early Bronze Age of the southern Levant and the contested values of this archaeological heritage.
December 30, 2015 • 57 mins
A Confluence Archaeology and Biblical History
The last thirty years has produced an abundance of new archaeological information about the Philistines during the biblical period. The Indy Team focuses on one area today, Goliath’s hometown Gath. Aren Maeir, director of the Gath/Tell es-Safi Project, shares with us the discoveries of this biblical site and how they may clarify or change our understanding of the history mythologized in scripture.
March 11, 2015 • 57 mins
Without a Trace? Rethinking the Place of the Dead in Historical Accounts of the Past
In Madagascar culture, the dead are understood to inhabit the world alongside the living. How, then, can archaeologists provide space in historical narratives for entities that we might consider to be imaginary or nonexistent? Listen in as Dr. Zoë Crossland draws upon semiotics in her forthcoming book, "Ancestral Encounters in Highland Madagascar: Material Signs and Traces of the Dead" to rethink how we can approach the signs of the dead and their interpretation.
March 19, 2014 • 58 mins
The Megiddo Expedition: Archaeology at the real Armageddon
Megiddo, or biblical Armageddon, was one of the most important trading cities in the ancient world. However, it was also a hot bed of violence and fighting for centuries. Dr. Israel Finkelstein, director of the Megiddo expedition, joins us to talk about the points of overlap and conflict between biblical text and archaeological investigations and the future of the site.
March 18, 2015 • 57 mins
Revitalizing Communities: The Sinop Region Archaeological Project
The ancient Greco-Roman colony of Sinope, located on the south coast of the Black Sea, was famous in pre-modern times as an important port. Over the past eight seasons, Dr. Owen Doonan and his archaeology team have uncovered a myriad of artifacts from Sinope and located more than 400 archaeological sites from the Paleolithic to Ottoman periods in the surrounding area. Tune in to hear Dr. Doonan discuss his fieldwork and his preparations for a major international excavation.
October 1, 2014 • 55 mins
Crime in Antiquity: Law Enforcement in Ptolemaic Egypt
Throughout the years of Ptolemaic rule (323–30 BC), victims of crime in all areas of the Egyptian countryside called on local police officials to investigate wrongdoings. Drawing on a large body of textual evidence, Dr. John Bauschatz demonstrates in his recent book, "Law and Enforcement in Ptolemaic Egypt", that the police system was efficient, effective, and largely independent of central government controls.
October 22, 2014 • 55 mins
Life in a Multicultural Society: The Jewish Community at Elephantine
In the century before the Ptolemaic Dynasty came to power the city of Elephantine flourished in Egypt. Though largely multicultural, this thriving metropolis was home to a substantial Jewish population who maintained their own temple and left their own Aramaic texts. Our host and special guest, Dr. Jitse Dijkstra, who has been excavating at Elephantine since 2001, teaches us about the ancient inhabitants of the island.
October 29, 2014 • 57 mins
Reliving Legends: The Olympics Then and Now
Join us and special guest, Dr. Thomas Scanlon, to learn about the history of the ancient Olympics and how the ancient games compare to the games of today. Of particular interest will be the topic of sport and gender in Greek athletics.
March 5, 2014 • 58 mins
Cyber Archaeology at Catalhoyuk
At the 9,000 year old site of Catalhoyuk in Turkey, archaeologists are experimenting with 21st century technologies and archaeological excavation. Our guest, Dr. Maurizio Forte, discusses his work with the latest virtual reality and 3D visualization tools and the exciting opportunities these new technologies afford archaeologists and the public.
November 20, 2013 • 57 mins
“Miller Time in Ancient Mesopotamia”: The origins of beer brewing in the Cradle of Civilization
Mesopotamia as the "cradle of civilization" has long been the focus of archaeologists studying the origins of domestication and farming. The latest in food based studies in this area centers on a unique project that merges early Bronze Age texts with advanced geochemical techniques and residue studies to examine the origins of beer brewing. The project was initiated by several graduate students at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute and the owner of the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. Our special guest is PhD student Tate Paulette, one of the chief architects of this study who offers a unique perspective on the evolution of a key recreational libation that is much older than many of us ever imagined.
July 31, 2013 • 56 mins
The Changing Face of Contemporary Egyptology: Old Perspectives and New Directions
Egyptology has reinvented itself from a traditional and staid sub-discipline to a thoroughly modern one in recent years, mostly as a result of the use of updated technologies, methodologies, and research questions. Of critical importance is the direction research will take in the wake of the Arab Spring and the re-organization of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage Management. Today’s guest, Dr. Donald Redford, has witnessed the evolution of Egyptological research over the course of a half century and will share his insights on the changing landscape of Egyptian studies.
January 30, 2013 • 59 mins
Beyond Aesthetics: Classical Archaeology and the Art of Ancient Greece and Rome
Dr. Rachel Kousser, professor of Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology at the CUNY Graduate Center and Brooklyn College, explains to Dr. Schuldenrein and listeners how and why archaeology and art go hand in hand when studying the classical world of Greece and Rome.
December 5, 2012 • 53 mins
On the Eve of Destruction: The Magnificent Archaeological Complex at Mes Aynak (Afghanistan)
The 2,600 year old complex of Mes Aynak represents one of the most spectacular archaeological treasures in the world. Situated in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Mes Aynak is South Asia's earliest-known mining complex and distribution center. Today, the entire site is in danger of destruction because of pressure to develop it into a modern copper mine. Today's guests, documentary filmmaker Brent Huffman and well-known South Asia archaeologist Dr. Rita Wright, provide new insights into this potential cultural tragedy.
October 10, 2012 • 57 mins
The Archaeology of Iraq and Mesopotamia
With over 30 years of experience excavating and researching in and around Iraq, special guest Dr. Elizabeth Stone is uniquely qualified to offer listeners an overview of one of humankind's first civilizations, Mesopotamia. This episode delves into current methodologies and emerging perspectives and includes a frank discussion of the realities of conducting research in a war zone.
August 15, 2012 • 58 mins
Jesus, Archaeology, and the Origins of Christianity: Recent Findings and Theories
The discovery of ossuaries, suspected by some to be Jesus' resting place, buried beneath a condominium complex in Jerusalem in the 1980s has provoked controversy and re-interpretations of the Jesus story. Explore the quest for the discovery of what may be the Tomb of Jesus with UNC Professor of Christian Origins and Ancient Judaism, Dr. James Tabor.
June 13, 2012 • 56 mins
Mystery, Intrigue and Science: Recent Developments in the Interpretations of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Over 60 years ago, Bedouin shepherds made a remarkable discovery in the Qumran Caves in Israel. As some of the oldest examples of writing ever found, the Dead Sea Scrolls gives us an unparalleled glimpse of how life was lived during biblical times. Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, one of the world’s foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls, joins us to discuss recent interpretations.
December 7, 2011 • 51 mins
Indy’s Footprint: Archaeology, Religion, and the Material Foundations of Western Civilization
Our inaugural episode examines the enduring popularity of the Indiana Jones films and their impact on elevating archaeology’s public image over the past 30 years. Special guest Dr. Eric Cline, Associate Professor of Classics, Anthropology, and History at George Washington University, joins us to talk about the difference between reality and fiction and what archaeology can really tell us about ancient civilizations.
September 21, 2011 • 55 mins