Archaeology on YouTube: 2026.01.22

Join the Archaeological Institute of America for a fascinating evening with Alison Futrell as she gives the last AIA Archaeology Hour lecture of 2025: "The People's Arena." This presentation was originally given 11/12/2025 at 8pm Eastern. Mass events in the Colosseum were highly visible performances of Rome’s imperial power. But how did the arena impact the lives of ordinary individuals? This talk explores evidence for the experiences of the people in the sands, the seats, and the substructures, beyond the emperor’s box.

Join the Archaeological Institute of America for a fascinating evening as Justin Leidwanger (Stanford University) presents Shipping Stone for Justinian's Empire? as part of the 2025-2026 AIA Archaeology Hour lecture series. This presentation was originally given 10/22/25 at 8 pm Eastern time. The “church wreck” off Sicily—with its 100-ton cargo of prefabricated columns and religious furnishings—has long stood as a symbol of Justinian’s revival of the Roman Empire in the 6th century CE. Recent excavations call this connection into question, providing a new look at economic, political, religious, and artistic networks and the merchant sailors who tied together the Mediterranean world even amid the fall of Rome’s ancient empire. 0:00 - Welcome from the AIA 5:43 - Introducing Justin Leidwanger 7:32 - Marzamemi II “church wreck”: an AIA project in many ways 8:36 - Introducing the Marzamemi II “church wreck”: 9:56 - Mid-20th century investigation and excavation 11:05 - The famous cargo 13:12 - Period of decline: A mid-20th century understanding of Late Antiquity 14:09 - Reconciling 100 tons of finely carved marble with narrative of decline 14:25 - Introducing Emperor Justinian 16:30 - Vibrant transformation: a new understanding of Late Antiquity 17:47 - Marzamemi: one of the last gigantic ships of the ancient world 18:40 - Illicit removal of material from the wreck site 19:38 - New investigations (2013-2019) 22:00 - Conservation challenges: taking care of artifacts above water 22:26 - Mapping the site 22:50 - New discoveries 23:02 - Too many capitals, bases, and columns 25:08 - A pulpit from Thessaly: carved verde antico 25:46 - Panels of Proconessian marble 26:12 - Smaller sculpted finds 26:33 - Not just one church? 28:08 - Scanning to create 3D models of architectural materials 28:35 - Virtually reunifying the cargo 28:55 - Clues from critters: understanding post depositional biological processes 29:50 - Experimental archaeology: understanding the labor lost 30:33 - Column clues: a little early for Justinian 30:53 - What else was on board? 32:04 - Justin’s favorite finds 32:29 - Records of Negotiation, decision making, and evidence of long distance interactions 32:46 - Remnants of the ship 33:34 - Dining on board 34:25 - Secondary cargo and previous stops 35:54 - Where was the ship headed? 37:04 - Conclusions 39:46 - Museum of the Sea in the Palmento Rudinì 40:24 - Underwater dive trails in Sicily 40:51 - Pop-up exhibits 41:23 - Acknowledgements 42:55 - Will the materials from the two Marzamemi excavations be reunited? 43:50 - More about dive trails in Sicily 45:40 - Were spare columns, bases, and capitals shipped in case of breakage? 47:45 - Was the ship making multiple stops? 49:30 - Transporting the cargo inland 53:02 - Why did the ship wreck? 55:07 - Was there shipping insurance in Late Antiquity? 57:10 - Underwater excavation logistics 59:41 - Technology used 1:00:41 - What’s next?

Archaeologists Anne Duray (Science and Technology Policy Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science), Ashley Lemke (Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Chris Motz, (Manager of Digital Assets, University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology) join AIA's Vice President of Outreach and Education Jen Thum (Egyptologist and Associate Director of Engagement and Campus Partnerships and Research Curator at Harvard Art Museums) to answer questions submitted by FIRST LEGO League teams about archaeology and technology. 0:00 - Welcome 2:12 - What is archaeology? 3:14 - Anne Duray introduction and favorite challenge 5:45 - Ashley Lemke introduction and favorite challenge 7:19 - Chris Motz introduction and favorite challenge 9:42 - Jen Thum introduction 10:01 - What is the most common tool archaeologists use? 10:49 - How are robots used in underwater archaeology? 11:27 - How are computers used in archaeology? 12:26 - How do archaeologists identify and explore sites without digging? 14:22 - What is LiDAR? 15:55 - How is Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) used in archaeology? 18:15 - How are x-rays and CT scans used in archaeology and museums? 18:55 - How are 3D scanners used in archaeology? 21:31 - What role does AI play in archaeology now and how could it be used in the future? 24:47 - How can underwater archaeology use AI? 26:41- What other ways could AI be used in archaeology in the future? 29:22 - Is there a common database or software that archaeological digs use to store and share data? 31:23 - What are Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and how are they used in archaeology? 32:04 - Why is it challenging to create a common software for excavations? 34:58 - What's the biggest challenge for using technology in remote places? 37:04 - How are electronics affected by dust, heat, or cold at archaeological sites? 38:46 - What kind of cameras are used in underwater archaeology? 41:09 - How is technology used to preserve artifacts? 43:32 - What do archaeologists use to preserve organic materials like wood? 46:06 - What is bronze disease? 46:52 - What are dry sieving, wet sieving, and flotation? 51:57 - How do you protect sites from natural disasters? 54:55 - How can robots be used by archaeologists in places that are hard or unsafe to access? 57:18 - What advice do you have for kids interested in archaeology? 59:48 - More resources for FIRST LEGO League teams

Join the AIA for a fascinating evening as Tate Paulette (North Carolina State University) presents Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia as part of the 2025-2026 AIA Archaeology Hour lecture series. This presentation was originally given 9/17/25 at 8 pm Eastern time. The inhabitants of the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers gave us the world’s first cities, first kings, first writing. They also built the world’s first great beer culture. They loved their beer: its colors, textures, tastes, and intoxicating effects. They sipped it through long reed straws and praised it in song and story. They drank beer at home, on the job, and in neighborhood taverns––also at feasts, festivals and religious ceremonies. In this talk, Tate Paulette introduces his new book, In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia. This authoritative but light-hearted account explains exactly what we know about the beers, brewers, and drinkers of ancient Mesopotamia, how we know it, and what puzzles still remain to be solved.

AIA’s VP of Cultural Heritage, Dr. Ömür Harmanşah, and the head of ARIT Ankara Office, Dr. Elif Denel, hosted a panel discussion on Wednesday, September 3 on the cultural heritage of Türkiye and what YOU can do to support its preservation with the upcoming US CPAC meeting. List of Panelists Zeynep Boz, Head of the Combatting Illicit Trafficking Office at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Nicholas Cahill, Professor of Greek and Roman Art and Archaeology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Elif Denel, American Research Institute in Turkey, Ankara Representative Office Director Ömür Harmanşah, Archaeological Institute of America Vice President of Cultural Heritage; Director of the School of Art & Art History and Associate Professor of Art History, University of Illinois Chicago Asil Yaman, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology; Director at Phoenix Archaeological Project (PAP)

Archaeologists Sara Ayers-Rigsby (Southeast/Southwest Regional Director at the Florida Public Archaeology Network), Rachel Dewan (Executive Director of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield), Katie Petrole (Assistant Director at the Nashville Parthenon), and Jen Thum (Egyptologist and Associate Director of Engagement and Campus Partnerships and Research Curator at Harvard Art Museums) answer questions submitted by FIRST LEGO League teams. 0:00 - Welcome 3:17 - Introducing Katie Petrole and her favorite challenge 4:21 - Introducing Sara Ayers-Rigsby and her favorite challenge 6:38 - Introducing Rachel Dewan and her favorite challenge 9:04 - Introducing Jen Thum 10:04 - How is archaeology different from paleontology and anthropology? 11:33 - How do you define "the past"? Is there a minimum age for something to be considered a site or artifact? 13:00 - What did you study in school in order to become an archaeologist? 15:36 - What are some requirements to become an archaeologist? What are common jobs for archaeologists? 19:16 - Where do archaeologists work? 20:49 - How do you select a place to research or excavate? 25:02 - How are radar, satellites, and LIDAR used in archaeology? 27:47 - What tools do archaeologists use? 32:07 - What's the most exciting area of research in archaeology right now? 35:23 - What can artifacts tell us about food or what people ate in the ancient world? 38:47 - How do you know how old something is? 41:57 - Why do archaeologists need to fundraise? 43:19 - What happens if something of archaeological importance is uncovered during construction? 46:46 - Why might it be okay to dig up ancient Egyptian human remains but not Native American human remains? 49:49 - How do archaeologists manage the tons of data they collect? 51:21 - Why should non-archaeologists care about archaeology? 53:21 - What might archaeology look like in the future? 56:43 - Will archaeologists be replaced by robots?

Today, baskets are for picnics and the Easter Bunny, but in the Middle Ages, they were all-purpose containers, used for collecting and storing crops and food, or for transporting construction tools and materials. Like the blacksmith, the basket weaver touches practically every part of the castle and community in some way. (Credit: Ben O’Donnell)

The water mill in Guédelon Forest comes to life each spring, weather permitting. Its design follows a medieval mill found in 2008 in the village of Thervay, 160 miles east of Guédelon. That machine was only preserved in fragments of wood, and no one knew how such a thing would run in practice. In the first years of the Guédelon mill’s operation, the upright wooden cogs on the small horizontal gear proved brittle. They were replaced with ones notched along the grooves of the wood. Pig-fat grease was swapped out for cow fat. Spring brought the right amount of rain. Et voilà! (Credit: Ben O’Donnell)

Guédelon blacksmiths Caroline Hasne and Mathis Lacroix forge a tool for making nails. Hasne, a new employee in a very old job, likes the work so far. “I love to try to re-create some old techniques that we don’t see anymore by studying old objects,” she says. “And I’m paid to do it!” (Credit: Ben O'Donnell)

Join the AIA for a fascinating evening with Mark Aldenderfer presenting "Archaeology and the Tibetan/Himalayan Afterlife" This presentation was given live at 8pm Eastern/on April 9, 2025. Description: Although historians and Tibetologists since the early 20th century have collected and interpreted religious documents describing in general terms rituals of death and safe passage to the afterlife among the early peoples of the Himalayas, the archaeological record offered little insight into them. But recent research by archaeologists across the region have made extraordinary discoveries that both challenge and corroborate current understandings as well as identifying previously unknown traditions for both commoners and kings.

Season 12 Episode 4 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, January 2026 (Arctic Indigenous ghost story; memories of German empire in Togoland) (1) “A Stranger on the Land: A Ghost Story”: The Arctic landscape during a blizzard becomes a place between worlds where anything can be true. Shot during an extreme Arctic blizzard, this is a true story of a man hopelessly lost while traveling and his mysterious rescuer. (2) “The Fire, a Fowl and an (Un)Forgotten Past”: From 1884 to 1914, a small belt of land called “Togoland,” between the British Gold Coast Colony and French-governed Dahomey, was part of a German overseas empire in Africa. Although the Germans there surrendered in the early days of WWI, European rule left longlasting marks on people’s minds. Watch on The Archaeology Channel (https://www.archaeologychannel.org/index.php/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity) or Heritage Broadcasting Service (https://heritagetac.org/). ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #heritage #strata #archaeology #archeology #anthropology #history #culturalheritage #strataportraitsofhumanity #culture #film #documentary #shortfilm

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 450 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of January 15, 2026, new films include: “The Mark of Empire, Season 2, Episode 1: Warriors of Tokugawa,” “Artemis: The Lost Temple,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 4,” featuring “A Stranger on the Land: A Ghost Story” and “The Fire, a Fowl and an (Un)Forgotten Past.” ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

Season 12 Episode 3 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, December 2025 (Indigenous cultural transmission in Quebec; Pompeii’s House of the Faun) (1) “Kak: Intergenerational Transmission of an Ilnu Family”: In central Quebec, Manuel communicates to his children the importance of intergenerational transmission of family knowledge and Ilnu culture. Manuel films his parents and children during meetings where this knowledge is transmitted and lived in the present. (2) “Pompeii: The House of the Faun”: This animated film takes us on a captivating journey through one of the most iconic archaeological sites in the world: Pompeii. Among its many treasures, the House of the Faun stands out as a symbol of Roman wealth and architectural brilliance. Watch on The Archaeology Channel (https://www.archaeologychannel.org/index.php/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity) or Heritage Broadcasting Service (https://heritagetac.org/). ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #heritage #strata #archaeology #archeology #anthropology #history #culturalheritage #strataportraitsofhumanity #culture #film #documentary #shortfilm

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 400 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of December 29, 2025, new films include: “The Mark of Empire, Season 1, Episode 4: Majapahit,” “Grand Rapids,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 2, Episode 9: In the Footsteps of the Traveler.” ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 400 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of December 15, 2025, new films include: “The Mark of Empire, Season 1, Episode 3: Angkor,” “Humans Before Neanderthals,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 3,” featuring “Kak: Intergenerational Transmission of an Ilnu Family” and “Pompeii: The House of the Faun.” ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 400 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of December 1, 2025, new films include: “The Mark of Empire, Season 1, Episode 2: Bagan,” “The Corridor of Heaven,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 2, Episode 8: The Winemaker.” ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

In this award-winning series, Singaporean scholar Peter Lee travels back in time to explore the antiquity of great Asian civilizations.🏯 Embark on Peter’s adventure to uncover the stories of ancient empires in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Featuring dramatic animations that bring these civilizations back to life, alongside exclusive interviews with international experts, the extraordinary history of ancient Asia has never been told like this before. Episode 1 of “The Mark of Empire” is available now on Heritage Broadcasting Service (https://heritagetac.org/) . 🔔Stay tuned as new episodes are added to Heritage. ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary #southeastasia #asia #asianhistory

Season 12 Episode 2 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, November 2025 (Indigenous memories of Quebec river; Resort ruins in Ellenville, NY) (1) “The River and Us”: Myriam explores the importance of the W8linaktegw River (Bécancour River) to her family and her nation through her memories and the stories of her father. The film also bears witness to this river which has been transformed over the generations. (2) “All-American Ruins: Nevele Grand Hotel”: The Nevele Grand Resort in Ellenville, NY, once a point of pride, now sits abandoned on 500 acres near the Catskill Mountains. For artist Blake Pfeil, it’s a dreamscape reflecting on American history, culture and mental health. Watch on The Archaeology Channel (https://www.archaeologychannel.org/index.php/video-guide/strata-portraits-of-humanity) or Heritage Broadcasting Service (https://heritagetac.org/). ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #heritage #strata #archaeology #archeology #anthropology #history #culturalheritage #strataportraitsofhumanity #culture #film #documentary #shortfilm

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 400 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of November 17, 2025, new films include: “The Mark of Empire, Season 1, Episode 1: Ayutthaya,” “The Last of the Nomads,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 2,” featuring "The River and Us" and "All-American Ruins: Nevele Grand Hotel." ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ), or just plain Heritage, launched on January 1, 2021. Developed by the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute (that’s us, the people who created The Archaeology Channel at archaeologychannel.org), Heritage features more than 300 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of October 27, 2025, new films include: “Ancient Splendors of Rome, Episode 2: "Pompeii -- The Remnants of an Empire,"” “Sikat Subar: A Hidden Colorful Feather,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 2, Episode 7: The Artisan in Roman Gaul.” ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #archaeology #archeology #heritage #anthropology #history #culture #heritagebroadcastingservice #film #documentary

Do recent excavations at Jericho really support the biblical conquest, or are people cherry-picking the data? In this video, we examine what the archaeologists have actually published, and what’s being left out. ✨Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our 'Cities of the Bible' online class: patreon.com/bibleandarch/shop ✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu 🌐 Everywhere you can find us: https://linktr.ee/bibleandarchaeology Produced and edited by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Why does sacrifice keep returning in Christian history, even when Christianity tried to reject it? This week, historian Jonathan Sheehan joins the podcast to trace how sacrifice was abolished, absorbed, and reshaped from antiquity to the modern secular world and why Christianity couldn't get rid of it. 📚 Reading Recommendations: 📖 On The Altar: A History of Sacrifice https://amzn.to/49IRfDo ✨Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our 'Cities of the Bible' online class: patreon.com/bibleandarch/shop ✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu 🌐 Everywhere you can find us: https://linktr.ee/bibleandarchaeology 📣 Affiliate Disclosure: Using the links above may generate a modest commission at no additional cost to you and helps support our educational work. 🎙️ Credits Guest: Dr. Jonathan Sheehan Hosted and Produced by Dr. Jordan Jones Additional contributions by Mary Kathryn Lichty The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Why does sacrifice keep returning in Christian history, even when Christianity tried to reject it? This week, historian Jonathan Sheehan joins the podcast to trace how sacrifice was abolished, absorbed, and reshaped from antiquity to the modern secular world and why Christianity couldn't get rid of it. 📚 Reading Recommendations: 📖 On The Altar: A History of Sacrifice https://amzn.to/49IRfDo Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Who is the first biblical king we can actually confirm in the archaeological record, and why isn’t it David? In this video, we explore the archaeology to explain why the earliest named “biblical king” is the Egyptian pharaoh Sheshonq I. ✨Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our 'Cities of the Bible' online class: patreon.com/bibleandarch/shop ✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu 🌐 Everywhere you can find us: https://linktr.ee/bibleandarchaeology Produced and edited by Dr. Jordan Jones Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

This week is a questions-based episode where Jordan Jones and Bob Cargill take your questions LIVE! 📺 Podcasts/Videos referenced: How Scholars Were Fooled by Fake Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFCK6V6EyTY How Scholars Identify Fake Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMSjVpuCx0E The Origins of Ancient Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwFr9G4RnGU How the Merneptah Stele and Amarna Letters Explain the Late Bronze Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KUsd7n4vw4 What Can the Merneptah Stele Actually Tell Us? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgup5heCY2k Dead Sea Scrolls and Qumran: What We Know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyjn-h3gxs4 An Unfiltered Conversation about the Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD6Wf-XN-a0 Why Archaeologists Don’t Dig Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ngqGPej7EA ✨Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our 'Cities of the Bible' online class: patreon.com/bibleandarch/shop ✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu 🌐 Everywhere you can find us: https://linktr.ee/bibleandarchaeology 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Robert Cargill and Dr. Jordan Jones Produced by Jordan Jones The Bible & Archaeology podcast is made with support from Amanda Stone TImestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:13 Questions Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa production. The views and opinions expressed on Bible & Archaeology belong solely to the individuals who share them. They do not represent the positions of the University of Iowa or the State of Iowa.

Tim Malim The ‘Toolkit for Managing the Ownership of Archaeological Finds in England’ is a comprehensive resource designed to facilitate the legal transfer of ownership of archaeological materials. Developed as part of the Future for Archaeological Archives Programme, the toolkit includes a model deed of transfer and detailed guidance on ownership principles, procedures for transferring ownership in various project contexts, and advice for planners, landowners, and developers. By providing standardized processes and legal clarity, this toolkit aims to enhance archival practices and inform planning policies, ensuring that archaeological finds are preserved and managed effectively within England's heritage framework. This session will cover need, contents and benefits for the heritage sector.

Manda Forster and Sam Paul The long-term storage and curation of archaeological archives in England presents both significant challenges and potential opportunities for the heritage sector. Recognised as a crisis in archive storage capacity, legacy archives affect both private archaeological companies and regional museums, with many facilities at or beyond capacity and unable to accept new material from developer-funded excavations. Financial projections indicate steady sector growth into the 2030s, driven by construction industry trends, suggesting the archive storage crisis will only intensify as increased development activity generates additional material requiring long-term curation. This paper presents findings from a group of projects delivered under the Future for Archaeological Archives programme, with oversight of Historic England (2020-2025), investigating sustainable solutions for archaeological archive storage. While current systems face capacity and accessibility issues, archaeological archives also represent an underutilised resource that could deliver substantial public benefit if properly managed. The research proposes the creation of a National Collection of Archaeological Archives (NCAA) as a solution, incorporating a centralised digital catalogue, standardised protocols, and dedicated expert support. Consultation with museum professionals, researchers, and stakeholders revealed broad support for the concept while highlighting concerns about implementation, particularly regarding impacts on existing regional stores and institutional sustainability. We argue that while archaeological archives present significant storage and curation challenges, they also offer opportunities for transformative change in heritage management, research accessibility, and public engagement with archaeology.

Claire Tsang The Future for Archaeological Archives Programme is a collaborative initiative led by Historic England, in partnership with Arts Council England and other national heritage organisations, to establish a sustainable future for archaeological archives in England.  Since its inception, the programme has made significant strides in addressing the challenges associated with archaeological archives. This presentation updates on the programme, its achievements so far and its commitment to developing and implementing strategies that ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of archaeological archives.

Kayt Hawkins  The Study Group for Roman Pottery (SGRP) has, since 1971 - a period of over 50 years,  worked to bring together people, ideas, and knowledge from all sectors of the archaeological community; within Britain and abroad, academic, commercial and non-professional. SGRP members contribute to conferences, commercial reports, research and academic papers, standards and guidelines, projects creating/using legacy, as well as the work of local societies. The membership includes Roman pottery researchers at all stages of their careers, encouraging the passing on of expertise while developing new and innovative approaches. At the present time, however, we recognise that higher education in the UK is in crisis, with departments closing and fewer university-based specialists available to train students. Can the SGRP (and other period groups) provide a model for improving communication, collaboration, and co-ordination, forming the connection needed between higher education and archaeological employment? The paper will suggest ways forward, based on our successes, and highlight some of the issues faced.

Nick J. Overton, Oxford Archaeology  Oxford Archaeology is one of the biggest commercial archaeology companies in the UK, with a proud history of extensive commercial, research and community work. We collaborate with practitioners in academia, who regularly provide specialist equipment and analysis. However, we also lead research projects, which look to reshape traditional hierarchies of research, built on the foundation of the larger scale excavations and post-excavation assemblages afforded by commercial archaeology.   Undoubtedly, research-that is, the production of knowledge about the past lives of humans-is the bridge that unites archaeologists, regardless of divisions between sectors. However, we need to recognise there are differences in in the requirements, frameworks, timescales and research foci of practitioners in different sectors, and with it, differences in opportunities and perceived prestige and value. To build stronger collaborations, we should not necessarily seek to flatten these differences but instead, we should all aim to fully understand the circumstance in which other practitioners work.

Sakshi Surana and Rosie O'Toole

Phil Pollard  The Historic Environment Skills Forum, established in 2022, is an England wide initiative that brings together representatives from across occupational areas; from practitioners to training providers, professional bodies to heritage agencies; to share good practices and resources, enable discussions on challenges and collaborate on solutions.   In September 2024 the Skills Forum published the first ever Historic Environment Skills and Careers Action Plan for England (HESCAPE) which identifies high priority skills needs, (specifically naming post-excavation specialist skills), and provides a framework for addressing skills challenges across the sector   This paper will summarise the ongoing work of the Skills Forum in delivering the actions of HESCAPE and will encourage wider participation from across archaeology as a mechanism for better collaboration and coordination between practitioners and training and education.

Hannah Cobb (University of Manchester, Professor of Archaeology and Pedagogy) In this paper I will lean into the session’s call for thinking creatively about how we address the divide between academia and commercial archaeology by suggesting that we should question the fixity of this divide in the first place. As archaeologists we are never a fixed product, we are always becoming an archaeologist. From our journey through formal qualifications in HE, to our career pathways, to the cpd we do along the way, and the things we learn daily about the past, about the present and about ourselves, we are never fixed. Learning never stops. And the way we become archaeologists isn’t linear either. If we take this approach, and reframe the relationship between academia, commercial and all other elements of archaeology as a complicated tangle of relationships and resonances that ripple throughout our careers, we can also rethink questions of training, and of equity and inclusion, and in turn forge a space for more diverse and integrated archaeological futures.

Dr Emily Williams

Morgan Creed