Archaeology on YouTube: 2026.08.12

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?

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 July 27, 2026, new films include: “Salme: Ancient Viking Burial Ships, Episode 2,” “The Grand Masters of the Chauvet Cave,” and “The Etruscans: An Ancient Superpower.” ► 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 #viking #AigüesBaixes #culturalheritage #archaeologicalsite #prehistoricart #arthistory #ChauvetCave #rockart #Etruscan #Corsica #ancienthistory

Season 12 Episode 10 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, July 2026 (Forgotten Greek grape variety; traditional Mohawk ceremony) (1) “A Vineyard Cinderella”: The humble “Cinderella of the Vineyard” was forgotten until the prince made her a queen. The real story of the Greek grape variety Malagousiá is like a fairytale woven from the taste of its grapes and the rhythm of a waltz. (2) “The Opening Address”: This film explores the profound significance of the Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen, or "Thanksgiving Address," a traditional ceremony central to the Mohawk people. This address acknowledges the interconnectedness of all life forces in creation, setting a powerful tone for gatherings by uniting participants in a shared purpose. 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 #wine #vineyard #vintner #Malagousiá #Greek #Greece #Mohawk #Indigenous #NativeAmerican #ThanksgivingAddress #Ohén:tonKarihwatéhkwen #Haudenosaunee #FiveNations #Iroquois #Ceremony #spirituality #nature

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

✨ You can join the reading group on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 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.

Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📺 Podcasts/Videos Referenced: Why The Odyssey Was Never Historically Accurate https://youtu.be/e5qo_HiUWCQ The Iliad Explained: Everything You Need to Know Before Reading Homer with Celsiana Warwick https://youtu.be/LqJ67rSV_ug How to Translate Homer with Emily Wilson https://youtu.be/v3_a93nxTd0?si=x_rIVkHvppCjdTKA Why Hezekiah and Josiah's Religious Reforms Really Happened https://youtu.be/9C197QMNxcA Did Christians Get Satan Wrong? Why The Hebrew Bible Says Something Different https://youtu.be/prbnhvdaHts 📚 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 Dr. Peter Miller 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.

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.

What happens when kings try to control how an entire kingdom worships? This week, Shane Thompson joins us to explore cult centralization in the ancient world through three famous rulers: Hezekiah, Josiah, and Akhenaten. What can archaeology, the Hebrew Bible, and ancient Near Eastern history tell us about these dramatic reforms? From religious reforms in Judah to Aten worship in ancient Egypt, we examine how monotheism, temple worship, political power, and royal authority intersected. ✨ Support what we do and help make videos like this possible by joining the Bible & Archaeology Patreon community. Members receive early access, exclusive bonus content, and more: http://www.patreon.com/bibleandarch 📚 Reading Recommendations The Varied Forms of Cult Centralization in the Ancient Near East by Shane M. Thompson https://doi.org/10.1111/rec3.70057 📚 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 Guest: Dr. Shane M. Thompson https://ncwc.academia.edu/ShaneThompson Edited and Produced 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. 🕒 Timestamps: 00:00 Rethinking Hezekiah and Josiah's Religious Reforms 02:05 Is the Term 'Cult Centralization' Correct? 05:03 The Traditional View of Yahweh Worship and Monotheism 09:02 How Kings Consolidate Power Through Religious Centralization 11:42 Sennacherib's Invasion and Reinterpreting Hezekiah's Actions 17:00 Geopolitical Upheaval and Authorial Bias in Josiah's Reign 21:22 How Radical Were Hezekiah and Josiah Compared to Akhenaten? 24:14 Manasseh's Reign and The Impact of Authorial Bias 28:31 The Importance of Comparative Evidence from Egypt 37:54 A New Understanding of Hezekiah's Forced Centralization

Amanda Stratton (ACRA)

Luke Brannlund (Cotswold Archaeology)

Rob Sutton (Cotswold Archaeology)

Chris Mayo & Mark Hinman (Pre-Construct Archaeology)

Professor Michelle Alexander and Dr Jessie Hendy of the University of York’s BioARCH team

M. Oakey (Historic England, England) Historic England’s Heritage at Risk (HAR) Programme works with owners, friends groups, developers and other stakeholders to find solutions for ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England. An important output of the programme is the Heritage at Risk Register – a dynamic picture of the sites most at risk and most in need of safeguarding for the future. Its scope covers a wide range of heritage asset types encompassing archaeology, designed landscapes, battlefields and built heritage. As an official statistic, produced on behalf of the UK government, a robust evidence base is important. A recent review of the HAR programme identified a number of opportunities to more effectively use airborne remote sensing data to contribute to HAR monitoring. This builds on a history of site monitoring through Historic England’s flying programme. A number of pilot projects are currently in development which will explore how new aerial reconnaissance and analysis of existing imagery could be more effectively integrated into the HAR methodology. This paper will assess the potential for aerial photography and LiDAR to inform HAR risk assessments. It will explore how better targeting of reconnaissance photography, analysis of historical and current imagery, and improved information flowlines can enhance HAR data and lead to an improved evidence base and better heritage management outcomes.

M. M. Gran & D. Ø. Engtrø Solem Archaeological cropmark identification has traditionally been carried out by aerial photography, capturing variations in crop colour due to differential growth caused by the presence of archaeological features underground. This method has been a cornerstone in aerial archaeology and continues to yield new finds to this day. Despite its success, it has some limitations, mainly the time-sensitive dependence on the right conditions for the crop marks to appear. Other methods such as multi- and hyperspectral imaging are also used by archaeologists to detect differential growth patterns and expand on conventional aerial photography by detecting differences in plant chlorophyll not visible in ordinary RGB imagery. Thermal photography detects the ground’s capacity to store thermal energy, where similar conditions as for differential growth can reveal underground structures in the soil itself. Spectral and thermal imaging can give good results regardless of the growing season, whereas traditional aerial photography benefits greatly from varying weather conditions where drought, for instance, enhances the contrast caused by the differential growth. However, both spectral and thermal imaging require specialized sensors, which can be costly. Thus, a more reasonable way of expanding on traditional aerial photography is to utilize height data to detect differential growth patterns. The revolution of UAV mapping has led to low-cost camera drones becoming a part of the archaeologists' toolbox, allowing for detailed documentation of differential growth patterns using ordinary drone-based photogrammetry. In this paper, the workflow and the results of repeated mapping of two sites with distinct crop marks using height data from aerial photogrammetry will be presented. The crop marks originate from Iron Age longhouses and burial mound ring ditches. Prior to the aerial mapping, both sites were surveyed using ground penetrating radar to establish a baseline for assessing the accuracy of the aerial photogrammetry. Multispectral, thermal, and RGB imagery were also collected for comparison. The case studies indicate that crop marks can be detected earlier in the growth season, when adopting height data as opposed to regular RGB imagery. It also demonstrates that the method can provide useful results, even in years with poor conditions for RGB imagery. These results highlight the potential of photogrammetric height data as a cost-effective and accessible tool for enhancing cropmark detection in archaeological prospection.

Øyvind Ødegård (NTNU University Museum, Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, Norway) From the 1950s through the 1970s, Norway undertook extensive hydropower development to meet growing demands for electricity. These projects involved large-scale regulation through the construction of dams, reservoirs, and power plants, significantly altering the natural states of lakes and rivers. At the time, legal frameworks for cultural heritage protection and AARG 2025 Annual Meeting Trondheim, Norway | Conference Information Booklet archaeological assessment were either inadequate or entirely absent. As a result, these developments proceeded with minimal or no archaeological surveying, leading to the irreversible loss or inaccessibility of substantial cultural heritage. Now, fifty years later, many of the original hydropower licenses are due for renewal, presenting a unique opportunity to address past oversights in heritage management. In recognition of the damage inflicted on Norway’s cultural heritage, national authorities have allocated resources to a program designed to mitigate the consequences of earlier watercourse regulation. In collaboration with Nordland County Council and the Sámi Parliament, NTNU University Museum is leading an ongoing project to document cultural heritage in and around Røssvatnet in Nordland County. Human activity in the area spans from late Mesolithic hunting and foraging to Sámi settlements, continuing into recent times. The temporal scope thus covers several millennia, reflecting a rich and diverse cultural landscape. Numerous finds reported by archaeologists and members of the local public during low water levels in spring and summer indicate a high density of cultural remains. One of the main aims of the current project is to deploy a suite of technological platforms for remote sensing— operated from the air, on land, and both on and under water—to develop best practices for archaeological investigation of such regulated lake environments. Over two field seasons, data have been collected using UAV-based LiDAR and Structure-from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, ground-based geophysical instruments, and side-scan and multibeam echosounders. These techniques were deployed at selected locations and are currently under analysis to assess their performance and refine survey strategies tailored to Røssvatnet’s unique conditions. Field operations were scheduled across distinct seasonal windows. During short periods between snowmelt and rising water levels, traditional archaeological surveys were conducted on the exposed lakebed in tandem with geophysical methods and UAV-based mapping. In late autumn and early winter, when water levels were elevated but before ice cover, selected areas were surveyed using underwater acoustic systems mounted on an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), enabling acquisition of high-resolution bathymetric data overlapping with aerial datasets. Additionally, backscatter data from the multibeam echosounder were processed similarly to side-scan sonar to generate detailed lakebed imagery. One area of particular interest—Straumen in Tustervatnet—contains several registered archaeological sites that are exposed in spring but submerged during most of the year. This site has been surveyed using multiple sensor modalities to produce a complementary dataset of high value for research and development on detection, monitoring, and change analysis. In this paper, we present preliminary results from two field campaigns and critically assess the performance and applicability of the integrated methods for archaeological documentation in water bodies affected by hydropower regulation, such as dammed lakes and controlled rivers.

C. Ulfhielm, P. Olsson & J. Häggmark In 2022, the Swedish Government tasked the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen) and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) with developing a range of digital geographic knowledge bases for natural and cultural environmental values in forests, to act as a complement to field inventories. These knowledge bases aim to objectively identify features in the natural environment, including cultural heritage sites, that may be significant for forest management planning, efforts related to biodiversity, and national climate and environmental goals. The knowledge bases are designed to indicate the probability of the presence of various values and to facilitate for landowners and authorities when conducting more in-depth assessments of the forest's natural and cultural values, as well as for other purposes. The digital knowledge bases produced are to be open and free of charge. At the start of the government assignment, input was gathered from the forestry sector and other stakeholders regarding the types of cultural heritage sites where gaining a better understanding and knowledge base was important. This has so far resulted in the development of AI models for charcoal production pits, tar kilns, pitfall traps, and most recently, clearance cairn areas. In the summer of 2025, a selection of the detected pitfall traps and clearance cairn areas will be validated in the field with the help of both external and internal personnel. In the spring/summer of 2025, we will also begin work with identify Iron Age farms on the islands of Öland and Gotland using AI, and we hope we will also be able to present this work at the conference.

S. Crutchley (Historic England, England) Historic England and its predecessor organisations have been carrying out mapping and recording of archaeological features and landscapes across England since the late 1980s. Whilst later projects, since the late 1990s have been carried out in a digital environment and have created fully accessible digital records, the early projects were carried out by hand, producing inked overlays. These were initially scanned and turned into rasters and then subsequently auto vectorised to create digital features. However, these had no logic in terms of their form and where features overlapped, they were treated as single features. Furthermore, there was no object data attached to any feature beyond its size. In 2023 HE commissioned an Indian geospatial company DSM Geodata to create monument polygons, based on the mapped data, plus the database information created at the same time. Whilst the results were generally very positive, because they were not archaeologists, there was a certain amount of confusion. Last year, as part of a liaison with UCL on another project, we began talks with the University of Zurich where one of their partners was looking at using AI to interrogate various datasets. After further discussions, it seemed as though there might be the possibility to use this as a means for checking the accuracy of the data we had acquired from DSM. The project has been innovative, in that it is looking not just at the morphological form of the data as analysed through segmented image files, but also at the archaeological data, based on the attached database records. It is hoped that by learning roughly what size and shape various types of archaeological features are, it will be possible to give a higher probability to the attached data. As an example, one of the key issues with the original data was the overlapping and superimposition of features; there were numerous examples where a prehistoric enclosure sitting within an area of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation was incorrectly identified as the latter. The hope is that the additional data will mean that the algorithm will identify the feature as an enclosure, because the combination of the image, the vector data with an area, and the database entry will combine to rule out the interpretation as a block of ridge and furrow. The project is ongoing, but I hope to have some results by the time of the conference.