Archaeology on YouTube: 2026.07.21

A webinar from the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) to get up to speed with the archaeology component of the 2026 Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSLP) theme: “Unearth a Story.” Learn archaeology basics and the cool things archaeologists can reveal about the past. We’ll give you the inside scoop on pseudoarchaeology (which you are sure to run into this summer) and the influence of Indiana Jones. In the second half of our presentation, a panel of experts from the AIA’s Outreach and Education Committee will answer popular questions to help you and your library patrons “dig in” to archaeology this summer. More resources for librarians are available at: https://www.archaeological.org/programs/educators/unearth-a-story/

Join the AIA as Justin Dunnavant (UCLA) presents the final AIA Archaeology Hour talk of the 2025-2026 season: "Ecology and Slavery in St. Croix." This presentation was originally given on April 22, 2026 at 8pm Eastern. The development of plantation slavery radically transformed societies and environments in the Americas. In this talk, Dunnavant will delve into the colonial practice of coral mining and its environmental impacts in the Danish West Indies. Drawing from archaeological, historical, and environmental data, Dunnavant reveals how the use of coral as the dominant construction material for colonial buildings left a lasting legacy on the landscape and seascape that is still evident today on the island of St. Croix.

Take a virtual trip Down Under with the AIA as we catch up with Helen Green (University of Melbourne) as she presents the March edition of AIA Archaeology Hour: "Dating Australia’s Oldest Rock Art." This talk was originally given 3/25/26 at 8pm Eastern Time. Australia hosts the world’s oldest continuing culture, and Aboriginal rock art represents one of its most significant records of knowledge. These paintings and engravings remain of deep importance to Aboriginal people today and provide valuable evidence for researchers seeking to understand long-term human-environment interactions. Yet one of the greatest challenges in rock art research is determining age. Without knowing how old the paintings and engravings are, it is difficult to understand how the artworks relate to past changes in climate, environment, or culture. In this talk, Dr. Helen Green will outline the latest scientific techniques used to establish the age of Australia’s oldest rock art, and the innovative, multi-disciplinary projects that bring together traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western science to deepen our understanding of these remarkable cultural records and how we might protect them into the future.

Join the AIA for a virtual trip to West Africa as Akin Ogundiran delivers the February AIA Archaeology Hour talk "Metropolitan Walls of the Ọyọ Empire." Enclosures and perimeter walls, built of lateritic clay and stones, are the most visible monuments and evidence of public works in the archaeological landscape of the Ọyọ Empire (West Africa). What purposes did these walls serve as markers of separation and connection? Join us to find out!

Society Sunday 2026 - February 22, 2026 Find your local AIA Society and see what they're up to: https://www.archaeological.org/programs/societies/find/ Join us as the AIA Societies Committee presents a virtual presentation and Q&A with Jessica Tilley. This presentation was given live at 1pm on February 22, 2026. Often deemed the ‘mysterious’ Etruscans, this pre-Roman civilization of early Italy has fought a hard-won battle in finding its place in the field of Classical Archaeology. Various titans of American Etruscology, including this year’s AIA Gold Medalist Nancy de Grummond, have dedicated decades of research to highlighting the value of Etruscan material in answering larger questions related to ritual practice, cross-cultural interaction, and Mediterranean trade networks. In recent years, Etruscan material has been at the foreground of widely publicized repatriation cases and cultural heritage protection conversations. This buzz culminated in the globally acclaimed 2023 film "La chimera" about a band of Etruscan tomb robbers. Looking ahead, Etruscology is primed for engaging in the development of current archaeological theory, with ongoing research relevant to our multi-cultural, interconnected world. In this lecture, Dr. Jessica Tilley outlines the dynamic history of the Etruscan civilization’s modern reception and highlights the ways in which it is uniquely positioned to contribute to ongoing dialogue around decolonialism, queer theory, globalization, and network theory in Mediterranean archaeology.

This webinar brings together archaeologists and scholars to discuss the preservation of Egypt’s cultural heritage in light of the upcoming CPAC meeting. Panelists will examine the role of bilateral agreements in preventing the illegal import of cultural objects and protecting irreplaceable archaeological resources. Photo credits: Thebes, Luxor, Egypt, Deir el-Medina, © Vyacheslav Argenberg Top left to bottom right: Temple of Hathor, Dark interior, Dendera, Egypt, © Vyacheslav Argenberg Abu Simbel temple (35054418285), Paul Grach, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Templo funerario de Hatshepsut, Luxor, Egipto, 2022-04-03, DD 06, Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC BY-SA Great Sphinx and Kafra Pyramid, Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons; The econonomic copyrights belong to Nomos Foundation (Fundacja Nomos). The Foundation shares this material under a free licence as part of its statutory goals. Knossos Minos's Palace, Silar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The AIA is excited to announce a webinar on preserving Greece’s cultural heritage. Hosted by Ömür Harmanşah, the AIA’s Vice President of Cultural Heritage, please join our panel of American and Greek archaeologists and scholars for a discussion on preserving Greece’s cultural heritage in light of the upcoming Cultural Property Advisory Committee meeting on renewing the bilateral agreements to prevent cultural objects from being imported illegally into the United States. The panelists include: Jack Davis, University of Cincinnati Kostas Paschalidis, Margo Tytus Fellow, University of Cincinnati Kim Shelton, UC Berkeley Shari Stocker, University of Cincinnati James Wright, Bryn Mawr Nikos Papadimitriou, The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Foundation Museum Elena Vlaxogianni, Greek Ministry of Culture Tania Kyriakou, Greek Ministry of Culture Image credits: Looking at Poseidon, Sounion, Greece, Dimitrisdimitriadis, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Top left to bottom right: The Porch of the Caryatids, The Erechtheion, Acropolis of Athens, Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Propylon of the Gymnasium, Sanctuary of Asklepios, Epidaurus, Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Lion Gate on 26 March 2019, George E. Koronaios, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons "Als Mittelpunkt der Welt" galt Delphi für die Menschen der Antike. 31, Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Olympia Philippeion, Ronny Siegel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Knossos Minos's Palace, Silar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Join the AIA for the first talk of 2026 as the AIA's new president, Brian I. Daniels, hosts Danyelle Means for "NAGPRA as a Path to Healing and Reciprocity." This talk was originally given 1/28/26 at 8pm Eastern Time. Have you noticed empty exhibit cases at museums over the past two years as museums move to comply with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)? Means' presentation reframes NAGPRA not as a legal obligation but as a vital opportunity for healing, reciprocity, and relationship-building between archaeologists, museums, and Indigenous communities. Drawing from Indigenous perspectives, the talk explores how NAGPRA challenges institutions to move beyond compliance and toward practices rooted in respect, sovereignty, and shared stewardship. By centering Native voices and experiences, this session invites the audience to consider how honoring ancestors and returning cultural items can transform the field into one of accountability, trust, and long-term collaboration.

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?

Happy 4th of July! As we celebrate the 250th birthday of the USA, we invite you to reflect on American history with this lineup of films on Heritage. These films explore the events, places, land, and people that make up the tapestry of America. Featured in the video is young poet Angela Du reading her poem, “Stories of Us.” Hear her story in “The Poet Speaks with Amanda Eke, Season 1, Episode 6: Verses of Freedom,” where she and others speak about their immigrant heritage and explore what freedom means to them. Stream these titles and explore even more on Heritage Broadcasting Service (https://heritagetac.org/). Sign up today and get your first week free! Featured titles: The Poet Speaks with Amanda Eke (Series) America from the Ground Up (Series) The Battle of Lake George Two Way Seeing in Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 11, Episode 2 All-American Ruins: Nevele Grand Hotel in Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 2 Pony Express: Living the Ride in Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 9 They Met Themselves A Walk Through Time Saving Places ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #4thofjuly #fourthofjuly #july4th #independenceday #america250 #americanhistory #historydocumentary #culturalheritage #whattowatch #poetry #poem #poet #americanpoetry #historicpreservation #archaeology #archaeologydocumentary #ponyexpress #militaryhistory #nativeamericanhistory

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ) 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 June 29, 2026, new films include: “Traders of the Lost Scrolls,” “The Body and the Name: The Unknown of the Ardeatine Caves,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 2, Episode 15: The Inventor.” ► 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 #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary #deadseascrolls #WWII #ArdeatineCaves ##ArdeatineMassacre #medieval #France

Season 12 Episode 9 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, June 2026 (Quebec Indigenous narrative; the Pony Express) (1) “Land Activities”: Aliss Germain was born in Mashteuiatsh, an Ilnu community situated on the shores of Lake Saint-Jean in south-central Quebec. She remembers where she comes from. In this short documentary, she shares with us her ancestors’ knowledge. (2) “Pony Express: Living the Ride”: This film chronicles the intrepid contemporary horseback riders re-enacting the legendary Pony Express, as they gallop night and day over Nevada's largely unchanged trail, moving the mail pouch between Sacramento, California, and St. Joseph, Missouri. 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 #sliceoflife #Indigenous #Ilnu #FirstNations #Quebec #Canada #Canadian #PonyExpress #Nevada #PonyExpressReride #reenactment #ponyexpresstrail

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ) 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 June 15, 2026, new films include: “Quest for the True Cross,” “Decolonizing Our Youth,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 9,” featuring “Land Activities” and “Pony Express: Living the Ride.” ► 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 #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary #biblicalarchaeology #indigenous #indigenousfilm #decolonization #Ilnu #firstnations #ponyexpress #ponyexpresstrail

Season 12 Episode 8 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, May 2026 (Young Abenaki basket-maker; Christianity preserves Ancient Greek culture) (1) “Abaznoda”: Charlotte is a young Abenaki artist who makes black ash baskets. She carries on her shoulders the legacy of all the generations that came before, which pushes her to learn as much as possible about her passion: basketry. (2) “Guardians of Hellenism: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople”: Christianity was a major contributor to the survival of Ancient Greek culture, as intellectuals and institutions, many of them affiliated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, adopted the aesthetic values of pagan literature and employed concepts of Platonic and Aristotelian philosophy to articulate Christian doctrine. 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 #indigenous #nativeamerican #whattowatch #ancientgreece #ancientgreekphilosophy #plato #philosophy #christianity

Heritage Broadcasting Service ( https://www.heritagetac.org ) 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 May 25, 2026, new films include: “Mystery of the Shroud,” “The Oath of Cyriac,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 2, Episode 14: The Businessman.” ► 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 #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary #whattowatch #biblicalarchaeology #tomb #ancientfunerarypractices #syrianhistory #AleppoNationalMuseum #Aleppo #FrenchArchaeology #MiddleAges #tradehistory

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 May 15, 2026, new films include: “The First World,” “Incas: The New Story,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 8,” featuring “Abaznoda” and “Guardians of Hellenism: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.” ► 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 #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary

Season 12 Episode 7 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, April 2026 (Upland Greenland archaeology; animated personal story of Canada’s colonial history) (1) “Greenland RESPONSE: The Mountain Survey”: Archaeologists from the Greenland National Museum and UNESCO Kujataa search for traces of Inuit caribou hunting in a remote mountain region of South Greenland close to the ice cap. (2) “Four Faces of the Moon”: An animated short told in four chapters, exploring the reclamation of language and nationhood and peeling back the layers of Canada's colonial history. The filmmaker connects the oral and written history of her family as well as the history of the Métis, Cree and Anishnaabe peoples and their cultural link to the buffalo. 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 #indigenous #nativeamerican #firstnations #Greenland #Inuit #caribou #CaribouHunting #GreenlandNationalMuseum #Canada #FirstNations #Métis #Cree #Anishnaabe #Animation #ShortFilm #whattowatch

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 April 15, 2026, new films include: “Empires of Silver, Episode 2: The China Trade,” “Whispering in Our Hearts: the Mowla Bluff massacre,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 12, Episode 7,” featuring “Greenland RESPONSE: the Mountain Survey,” and “Four Faces of the Moon.” ► 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 #whattowatchnext #HistoryDocumentary #Canton #OpiumWars #MowlaBluffMassacre #MowlaBluff #AboriginalHistory #AustralianHistory #Cree #Métis #Anishnaabe #IndigenousStories #Animation #Archaeology #GreenlandNationalMuseum #Inuit #CaribouHunting

“Women of the Mine” (Mujeres de la mina) provides an intimate portrait of three women that live and work at the Cerro Rico mines in Potosí, Bolivia. At more than 13,000 feet, Potosí is one of the world’s highest cities. Cerro Rico mines exploit the world’s largest silver deposit. The mine is the symbol of colonial plunder. The population there has suffered in working poverty while extracting unimaginable riches for others. The mines date to the mid 1500s. In this “mountain that eats men,” historians believe up to 8 million have died so far. Average miner life expectancy is 40 years. In Cerro Rico society, women’s lives are the more cursed and precarious. Most women there are widows, struggling to support their families. Women cannot enter the mines—male miners tend to believe women bring bad luck—so they toil outside, hammering rock on the mountain’s flanks. This film tells the stories of struggle, resistance and courage of three remarkable women: Domitila Chungara – World famous labor leader and feminist, Domitila led the struggle of miners and women in Bolivia. Lucía Armijo – worker, miner, leader and single mother of six children, Lucia shows us the mines and tells us about her life in Cerro Rico. Francisca Gonzalez – Miner and the granddaughter, daughter and widow of miners, Francisca supports her family by hammering stone by stone in her struggle to change the future of her grandchildren. The years spent making the film were intense. Directors Malena Bystrowicz and Loreley Unamuno lived with the mineworkers and shared the joy of the births of dozens of children and the deaths of fathers, husbands and sons to the mines. About one of the film’s subjects, they write, “Domitilla, already old, was a legend. She surprised us with her endless energy to fight. Shortly after our interview, she died of lung disease – the “stigma of mine.” We feel very lucky to be able to share with you our work.” Stream “Women of the Mine” on Heritage Broadcasting Service (heritagetac.org). ► HERITAGE: (https://heritagetac.org/) ► INSTAGRAM: / (https://www.instagram.com/heritagebroadcastingservice/) / (https://www.instagram.com/archaeologychannel/) ► FACEBOOK: / (https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaeologyChannel/) #inspiringwomen #documentary #womenofthemine #bolivia #bolivian #mineworkers #DomitilaChungara #SyndicalFederationofBolivianMineworkers #FSTMB #Potosí #mujeresdelamina #mining #whattowatch #heritage #history #bolivianhistory #femalemineworkers #powerfuldocumentary #CerroRico #cerroricomines

📃 Read the journal article: https://doi.org/10.3389/fearc.2026.1844402 📰 Read the news article story: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-these-ancient-egyptian-princesses-wield-weapons-and-train-in-martial-arts-just-like-the-men-of-their-time-180989151/ 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.

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.

Looking for more from Bible & Archaeology (bonus podcasts, courses, reading group, etc.)? Join us on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📰 News Stories: Why Odysseus Had to Go to Scheria —Memories, Flashbacks, and the End of the Bronze Age by Eberhard Zangger https://anetoday.org/odyssey-scheria-bronze-age/ The Odyssey is haunted by the mysterious ‘Sea Peoples’ – but who were they, really? by Joshua David McDermott https://theconversation.com/the-odyssey-is-haunted-by-the-mysterious-sea-peoples-but-who-were-they-really-287686 📺 Podcasts/Videos Referenced: The Sea Peoples Mystery Is Worse Than You Think https://youtu.be/HyP9Rz6hOLY Did Ancient Kings Gaslight Each Other? Amarna Letters Explained https://youtu.be/LyebNnJNOvU How the Merneptah Stele and Amarna Letters Explain the Late Bronze Age https://youtu.be/8KUsd7n4vw4 The Origins of Ancient Israel https://youtu.be/xwFr9G4RnGU Eric Cline On The Bronze Age Myth Of The Trojan War (The Ancients) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS1soFl8E00 How to Translate Homer with Emily Wilson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3_a93nxTd0 📚 Reading Recommendations: 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric Cline https://amzn.to/405QwYG After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations by Eric Cline https://amzn.to/3MZaKQP Archaeology and the Homeric Epic edited by Susan Sherratt and John Bennet https://amzn.to/46AWGUg Greek Myth and the Bible by Bruce Louden https://amzn.to/4ptu07J The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean Edited by Eric H. Cline https://amzn.to/4fa6CbW ✨Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our online courses: https://www.patreon.com/collection/118539 ✉️ Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu 🌐 Everywhere you can find us: https://linktr.ee/bibleandarchaeology 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Jordan Jones and Mary Kate Lichty Bible & Archaeology is a University of Iowa Office of Innovation 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.

Article discussed: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/bible-archaeology-christianity-discoveries Read the journal article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00310328.2026.2641294 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.

Did archaeologists really find the biblical Tabernacle at Shiloh? Every year, headlines claim a new "discovery" has uncovered the Ark of the Covenant or the Tabernacle, but what does the archaeology actually show? This week, Jordan and Mary Kate examine the latest excavations at Shiloh, the history of research at the site, the claims made by the Associates for Biblical Research, and what earlier excavations by Israel Finkelstein revealed. 👉 CORRECTION: Note on Finkelstein's position and why he calls himself a centrist NOT a minimalist (though he is often called a minimalist) (8:38) https://youtu.be/22HQKXCMfHk?si=sYfZ-8wwUtg6gM4w&t=518 📚 Reading Recommendations The Highlands of El, Shiloh and Merneptah’s Israel by Israel Finkelstein https://www.academia.edu/125917017/Finkelstein_I_2023_The_Highlands_of_El_Shiloh_and_Merneptah_s_Israel_Semitica_65_465_483 Excavations at Shiloh 1981–1984: Preliminary Report by Israel Finkelstein https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/tav.1985.1985.2.123 https://nypost.com/2026/06/30/science/ark-of-the-covenant-ruins-may-have-been-found-study-says/ Seilun: https://archive.org/details/anchorbibledicti0005unse/page/1068/mode/2up Shiloh: https://archive.org/details/anchorbibledicti0005unse/page/1212/mode/2up ABR: https://biblearchaeology.org/faqs/who-founded-abr-2/ ✨For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of the Bible & Archaeology podcast, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support what we do, please consider becoming a patron at: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Check out our online courses: https://www.patreon.com/collection/118539 ✉️ 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 Featuring: Dr. Jordan Jones and Mary Kate Lichty Edited by Mary Kate Lichty Produced by 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.

Ole Risbøl (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway) Citizen science in archaeology refers to the involvement of non-professional individuals or communities in archaeological research. Participants contribute to tasks such as data collection, documentation, analysis, or monitoring, often under the guidance of professional archaeologists. The aim is to expand research capacity, enhance public engagement, and foster shared stewardship of cultural heritage. The increasing number of citizen science projects within archaeology includes several where the use of LiDAR data is pivotal. These projects can broadly be divided into two groups based on their methodological approach. The first involves experts interpreting LiDAR datasets, with volunteers invited to conduct or join the field verification of the results obtained. The second involves non-professional volunteers interpreting the LiDAR datasets, followed by field checks undertaken by archaeologists—sometimes in cooperation with non-professional individuals or communities. This paper presents two Norwegian citizen science projects, each employing one of these distinct approaches. The aim of both projects is twofold: to improve the management of cultural heritage in forested areas and to advance research into human utilisation of outfield resources and landscapes. The national cultural heritage database is invaluable for both management and research purposes. However, it remains an inadequate and lopsided tool, as cultural heritage in forested areas is significantly under-represented. Addressing this shortfall requires improvement, and the use of LiDAR data, coupled with the involvement of volunteers, has proven to be an effective solution. The presentation will focus on the results from the two projects, as well as lessons learnt from working with volunteers.

Grzegorz Kiarszys (Department of Archaeology, Szczecin University, Poland) Marek Lemiesz (National Institute of Cultural Heritage of Poland, Poland) Yahidne, a small village located over 100 km northeast of Kyiv near Chernihiv, Ukraine, became the site of a war crime during the early stages of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. On March 3, just seven days after the invasion began, Russian forces from the 55th Guards Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade (stationed in Kyzyl, Tuva Republic) entered the village. Failing to capture Chernihiv, the Russian army resorted to terrorizing the civilian population, executing some unarmed residents on sight. The local school was turned into a temporary Russian garrison, with soldiers occupying its upper floors. Villagers were forcibly gathered and confined in the school’s basement, which became a makeshift prison. Over 350 civilians, including more than 70 children, were crammed into approximately 200 square meters of space. The youngest victim was just 1.5 months old, while the oldest was 93 years old. Conditions in the basement were inhumane. Prisoners had no access to toilets, clean water, or adequate food. The lack of ventilation made the space damp and suffocating. According to testimonies, Russian soldiers regularly tortured and harassed the captives. After 27 days of captivity, on March 31, 2022, Russian troops withdrew from Yahidne in the face of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. As they retreated, they looted the school and surrounding homes, destroying everything they could not take with them. This war crime left behind a significant amount of material evidence. Ukrainian investigators meticulously collected proof, including DNA samples, leading to the identification of many perpetrators. Among the recovered items were personal and military belongings of Russian soldiers—uniforms, newspapers, half-eaten military rations, cigarette butts, and other discarded objects. The school itself, which had been transformed into both a prison and a temporary garrison, bore clear traces of the occupation. The interior was devastated—educational materials, furniture, textbooks, and other teaching aids were either destroyed or defaced. The basement walls were covered with children’s drawings, creating a haunting contrast to the horrors that unfolded there. Deprived of daylight and any sense of time, prisoners scratched a makeshift calendar onto the walls to track the passing days and nights. On the doors of one room, they recorded the names of villagers executed by Russian soldiers, as well as those who died in the suffocating basement. These seemingly ordinary markings offer valuable insights into the conditions endured by the victims and the behaviour of the occupying forces. They stand as tangible evidence of the tragedy that took place in Yahidne. In 2023, the interior of the Yahidne School was digitally scanned as part of a Ukrainian-Polish initiative led by the ministries of culture of both nations. This project resulted in the creation of 3D scans, CAD plans of the building, and a comprehensive photographic record. The National Institute of Cultural Heritage of Poland supervised the work. Simultaneously, the local museum catalogued selected artefacts found at the crime scene, including personal belongings, remnants of military equipment, and other items—silent witnesses to the atrocities committed in Yahidne. Another crucial source of information is high-resolution satellite imagery recorded during the Russian occupation. These images document the scale of destruction, showing craters from explosions, burning buildings, fields and forests set ablaze, field fortifications, and military vehicles stationed near the school. In this presentation, we will emphasize the potential of digital tools in documenting war crimes and disseminating knowledge to a wider audience. The use of remote sensing, 3D scanning, and high-resolution satellite imagery offers not only incontrovertible evidence but also a means of preserving memory and ensuring accountability.

Peter Heimermann (University of Bonn, Germany) The Bonn Center for Digital Humanities (BCDH) contributes to the DFG-funded project "Urban Impacts on the Mongolian Plateau: Entanglements of Economy, City, and Environment ", which investigates urban structures from the Mongol Empire era (1206–1368) and their environmental impact. The subproject "Virtual Landscape and Multispectral Survey" focuses on the applicability of UAV-based remote sensing methods in Mongolia. Between 2022 and 2024, several UAV campaigns were conducted using a fixed-wing drone equipped with both multispectral and RGB sensors. These surveys produced high-resolution digital surface models (DSMs), as well as RGB and multispectral orthomosaics. A total of 23 archaeological sites covering approximately 10,000 hectares were documented. To ensure a diverse and versatile dataset, sites from different historical periods (Mongol [1206–1368] and Manchu [18th c.–1911]) and climatic zones (Central Mongolia and the Gobi Desert) were included. Several sites were also surveyed multiple times in different seasons and years, allowing for diachronic and climatic comparisons, as well as multitemporal analysis of drone-based remote sensing data. The evaluation proceeded in two steps. First, a preliminary selection of vegetation indices (VIs) was made based on their potential to detect archaeological structures. To identify the most effective indices, quantitative contrast analyses were performed on 40 different VIs and four individual bands across selected sites surveyed in both May and September. This enabled a seasonal assessment of index performance and the identification of the most promising candidates for further use. In a second step, the selected indices were compared to the RGB and DSM datasets. For this, detailed manual mapping of all archaeological structures was carried out using the different data derivatives. Each structure was classified into several categories to facilitate a structured comparison. Key research questions included: How many structures are visible in each dataset? What types of structures can be identified? How do disturbance factors like livestock trampling, modern agricultural practices, or dense vegetation impact visibility? Thanks to the diversity of the dataset, we are able to make broad assessments of the strengths and limitations of various remote sensing methods across different site types, climatic zones, and seasons in Mongolia. The findings highlight which sensor combinations are indispensable for particular environments and archaeological contexts. Beyond data evaluation, the final outcome of the project includes detailed site plans for all documented locations. These plans will not only support archaeological interpretation but also serve as tools for monitoring preservation conditions, helping to identify dominant threats in a landscape where heritage protection has long been neglected.

Michael Doneus (Department of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, University of Vienna, Austria) Nives Doneus (Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science (VIAS), University of Vienna, Austria) Mediterranean dry stone wall landscapes are highly complex aggregations of events and processes. As presented at the AARG Annual Meeting in 2023, such landscapes can be adequately addressed through the use of ALS data and a spatio-temporal approach within the framework of GIS and a Harris matrix. This research has revealed a wealth of information about a complex sequence of human activities, including dry stone wall remains of a presumed Roman land division on the island of Cres. This year's presentation will focus on research carried out over the past two years. It will show that Roman surveying remains are preserved beneath modern and medieval agro-pastoral structures. An absolute chronology was obtained using the OSL profiling and dating method (OSL-PD), which gave a date range of 200 ± 100 AD for the island of Cres. These dates have been further confirmed by the interpretation results of the state ALS survey data from other islands in the Kvarner Bay. As a consequence, this study provides the first clear evidence for Roman surveying of municipal land on the Croatian islands.

Lars Forseth (Trøndelag County Council, Norway) Summer 2007 was unusually dry in central Trøndelag. A text message in early July from an archaeologist at Stiklestad indicated that cropmarks were visible at a previously known burial field at the Stiklestad farm. Luckily, we had recently bought a good Nikon Digital SLR with GPS. We also knew about a company in Verdal that could fly us with a helicopter over the site. The first flight showed a lot of cropmarks at Stiklestad, but also Vinne and later Vinnan (Stjørdal). Through about six flights in July/August we could record these sites. In 2020/21 there was again a dry summer. This time we went for drones! These gave the advantage of georeferenced images. The sites found have been recorded in the national sites & monuments database. This paper will explore their contexts and show how data of this type can be used with other data to give better understanding of the sites for further analysis and research.

Alison Deegan (Freelance, England) Along the western edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, where the chalk uplands descend abruptly into the valley of the River Ancholme, there is a narrow strip of land occupied by a string of spring-line villages. Examination of a wide range of aerial sources from 1940s verticals to recent LiDAR imagery has revealed complex and overlapping archaeological landscapes around and between these villages. In the 1940s there were near-continuous earthwork ridge and furrow, and medieval settlement remains. Later in the 20th century, when these are levelled by ploughing, the remains of Iron Age and Roman settlements and Bronze Age barrows began to appear as cropmarks, and the complexity and intensity of these continues to increase.

Martin Gojda (Dept. of Archaeology, University of West Bohemia, Czechia) Petr Krištuf (Dept. of Archaeology, University of West Bohemia, Czechia) Jan Turek (Dept. of Archaeology, University of West Bohemia, Czechia) The paper brings results of a long-term research of one of the most spectacular prehistoric and early medieval landscapes in Bohemia, a natural plateau raised above the most fertile Elbe river lowland part of the country and crowned by the Hill of Říp – a landscape node traditionally (since the early 12th century) connected with the mythical beginnings of the Czech history, concretely with the arrival of the earliest groups of Slavs headed by their leader named Boemus. Via a systematic large-scale aerial reconnaissance carried out since the 1990´ (and supported by the application of other non-invasive field methods and carefully assorted test excavations) a noticeable concentration of early Neolithic long barrows and ceremonial sites (large ditched enclosures) has been detected on the territory of the Říp plateau. Due to lack of archaeological evidence on settlements datable to the same period we have concluded that in the Neolithic the landscape around the Hill had been understood by the then population as exclusively sacred area connected with funerary rituals and probably ceremonial communication with their deity personified to the Hill of Říp. Supportive to this interpretation is also the fact that in prehistory the Hill - as a dominant natural monument extremely well visible from a long distance - was never fortified and turned to a common profane settlement (hillfort).

Maria Lucrècia Centelles-Fullana (Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, Universitat de València, Spain) Carmen Cuenca-García (Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, Universitat de València, Spain) Valeria Martín Sidro (Department of Prehistory, Archaeology and Ancient History, Universitat de València, Spain) The Sensing Iberianscapes project is dedicated to the study of Iron Age settlements in the Valencian region and other relevant sites linked to Iberian culture in Spain. We employ a multiscalar and minimally invasive approach, integrating methods such as remote sensing, surface geophysics, and soil analysis. Our aim is to explore, analyse, and compare vast landscapes as well as specific archaeological elements in detail. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS), also known as LiDAR, plays a significant role in our project. This technology has provided valuable insights for archaeological studies all over the world (Vinci et al., 2024; Bennet et al., 2025). Also in Spain, various works have incorporated ALS technology in archaeology, although most were not focused on the Valencian area (Cerrillo Cuenca and López, 2020). We want to present the advances of the Sensing Iberianscapes project using both open-source ALS datasets from the Spanish Geographic Institute (IGN) national surveys, and specific surveys conducted on archaeological sites using drone-mounted LiDAR sensors. Additionally, we intend to explore the use of multi-temporal ALS datasets combined with aerial and satellite imagery to maximize the information obtained and to monitor archaeological sites over time.

S. Evans (Historic England, England) With the 60th anniversary of the Air Photo Unit this November and the Aerial Archaeology Research Group (AARG) going from strength to strength with a history stretching over 40 years, it is timely to study the current state of aerial archaeology in 2025. This paper aims to better understand the current position of aerial archaeology and to identify areas we can harness in the future. While focussing on aerial archaeology generally it will include some case studies from work at Historic England. To shape the paper, a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) is used. Among items to be discussed: Strengths: Aerial archaeology remains flexible in its application—from large area mapping informing characterisation, to updating scheduling information, to monument identification and protection. It is cost effective and as an aerial archaeology community we have proven to be adaptable by continually developing and incorporating new methods. Weaknesses: Silo working and the lack of opportunities for skill sharing. Although aerial survey methods have become democratised, thanks to the availability of online sources and the relative low cost of drones, there is a general lack of interpretation skills across the heritage sector. Access to physical archives remains a significant challenge. Opportunities: There are significant opportunities in developing guidance, potentially thinking more broadly across the sector, particularly following the success of the recently published EAC LiDAR guidance. Training initiatives, such as apprenticeships and grant-funded projects with a training element, can help address skill gaps. AARG has had a long history of training students and the AARG community itself is a valuable resource. Threats: Resourcing, both in terms of staff and funding, remains a critical threat; the potential loss of expertise is also a significant concern. A lack of understanding of the idiosyncrasies of historic aerial archaeology mapping, particularly low spatial accuracy for older products, brings further challenges, including reduced confidence in aerial archaeology as a discipline. To these can also be added issues such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which may fall under multiple categories depending on the context and provenance of such endeavours. The paper aims to initiate a conversation between AARG members about how we as aerial archaeologists can improve and develop: What is AARG’s role in this evolving landscape?

Kenneth Aitchison (FAME)