Archaeology on YouTube: 2024.04.20

Join the AIA for a fascinating evening as Deborah Carlson (Texas A&M) presents Excavating a Shipwrecked Marble Column Destined for the Temple of Apollo at Claros. This presentation was held live at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central/6pm Mountain/5pm Pacific on 4/17/24. Between 2005 and 2011, researchers from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology at Texas A&M University excavated and raised the remains of an ancient ship that was wrecked off the Aegean coast of Turkey at Kızılburun in the first century B.C. This ship was transporting about 60 tons of white marble blocks and architectural elements that originated in the quarries on Proconnesus Island in the Sea of Marmara. Ceramic artifacts and coins help narrow the date of the shipwreck, but the pieces of a single monumental Doric column suggest that the ship was destined for one of the most important oracular sanctuaries in the ancient Mediterranean. Join underwater archaeologist Deborah Carlson as she lays out the evidence to solve this maritime mystery!

Join the AIA as Kisha Supernant (University of Alberta) presents Finding the Children: Using Archaeology to Search for Unmarked Graves at Indian Residential School Sites in Canada. This lecture was given live at 8pm Eastern on 3/27/24. In May 2021, the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation in British Columbia, Canada, announced that 215 potential unmarked graves were located near the Kamloops Indian Residential School using ground-penetrating radar conducted by archaeologists. While this was not the first announcement of unmarked graves associated with Indian Residential Schools, it garnered national and international attention. The subsequent months saw significant commitments of funding from the government to support Indigenous communities who wanted to conduct their own searches. Many Indigenous communities turned to archaeologists to assist them in designing an approach to finding potential unmarked graves of their relatives. In this talk, Supernant provides an overview of how archaeologists have been working with Indigenous communities in Canada to locate potential grave sites and discuss the opportunities and challenges in this highly sensitive, deeply emotional work.

Join the AIA for a fascinating evening as Nam C. Kim (University of Wisconsin-Madison) presents “Barbarians”, Bronzes, and the Legendary Capital of Ancient Vietnam. This presentation was originally given 2/28/24 at 8 pm Eastern time. Vietnamese lore tells us that over two thousand years ago the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam was home to powerful indigenous kingdoms, fortified capitals, and exquisite bronze craftsmanship. In contrast, the neighboring Chinese Han Empire claimed the region was inhabited by unsophisticated “barbarians” in need of “civilizing”, prompting imperial annexation of the region. This lecture explores the region’s archaeological record and what it means for scholarly debates, as well as for Vietnam’s national imagination, cultural heritage, and descendant identities.

Society Sunday 2024 - February 4, 2024 - CONTENT WARNING: This talk will include images of human remains. - Find your local Society and see what they're up to: https://www.archaeological.org/programs/societies/find/ - Check out Petra Creamer’s project RLIIM – Rural Landscapes of Iron Age Imperial Mesopotamia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092306352009 Join us as the AIA Societies Committee presents a virtual presentation and Q&A with Petra Creamer, "'Be(com)ing Assyrian': Navigating Imperial Power from the Bottom-Up." At its height, the Assyrian Empire (c. 1350-600 BCE) stretched from modern-day Iran in the east to Egypt in the west, controlling more territory than any entity the world had yet seen. This talk will delve into the profound impact of the Assyrian Empire and its administrative structures on the lives of individuals under its hegemony. Drawing from archaeological and historical evidence, the discussion explores the intricate web of socio-economic, cultural, and political transformations experienced by the non-elite populace under Assyrian rule, focusing on the core area of the empire (the Assyrian "Heartland") along the Tigris River. Insights from ongoing research illuminate how the empire's administrative policies influenced Assyria's subjects - from those residing in urban centers to rural communities. This talk particularly dives into the implementation of massive infrastructural projects across the landscape, the establishment of centralized governance systems, and the navigation of personal identities that shaped the idea of "be(com)ing Assyrian".

Join the AIA for a fascinating lecture as Jeff Altschul presents Cultural Resource Management: What Most Archaeologists Do For A Living. This presentation was originally given 1/24/24 at 8 pm Eastern time. Today, there are about 12,000 archaeologists working in the US with less than 10 percent of them employed by universities. While university anthropology and archaeology departments are shrinking, the applied sector, known as cultural resource management (CRM) is growing. What accounts for these opposing trends and what, if anything, can we do about it.

A recording of the 2024 AIA Awards Ceremony presented live at the AIA-SCS Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. Apologies in advance for the poor audio and video quality of the Zoom presentation. Thank you for everyone who attended in-person and virtually to celebrate our award winners!

Live presentation recorded on January 10, 2024. Letter deadline is January 22, 2024. More info: https://www.archaeological.org/preserving-algeria-and-india/ Visit (or revisit) some incredible archaeological highlights from these two countries over your lunch break and learn more about how to compose a letter to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee during our webinar. Join the AIA for brief presentations by experts who have traveled to and worked in Algeria and India and learn how you can advocate for the protection of archaeological sites in these two countries. The country of Algeria recently requested that the U.S. renew the bilateral agreement that protects Algerian cultural resources from being illegally imported into the United States and India has requested that a similar bilateral agreement with the United States be put into place for the very first time. After a whirlwind virtual trip across the globe with archaeologists Monica Smith (UCLA) and Elizabeth Fentress (University College London), AIA VP for Cultural Heritage Omur Harmansah will outline the simple steps you can take this month to speak out in support of preserving the cultural heritage of Algeria and India.

Letter deadline: January 22, 2024 If you’ve traveled to Algeria or India and/or appreciate their cultural heritage, your experience and passion can help the U.S. Cultural Property Advisory Committee with their upcoming deliberations. Watch this short video to find out how you can join the AIA to speak up for threatened archaeological sites. Visit https://www.archaeological.org/preserving-algeria-and-india/ for letter templates and more information.

Join the AIA for a fascinating, informal Q & A session as Mike Pitts presents his Holton award-winning book, Digging up Britain: Ten Discoveries, a Million Years of History. This book highlights ten archaeological finds that change the way we think of British history and prehistory. AIA Vice President for Outreach and Education, Laura Rich, hosts an engaging “fireside chat”-style conversation, taking questions from the audience, and learning alongside us about some of the most significant discoveries in Britain.

Join the AIA for a fascinating lecture as Katherine L. Chiou (University of Alabama) presents Cuisine and Crisis: An Edible History of the Moche of Ancient Peru. Imagine stepping into the shoes of an ancient Peruvian, tasting the flavors and savoring the meals of a time long past. In this talk, we'll journey into the rich culinary history of the Moche people, who thrived along the desertic northern Peruvian coast from AD 100-800. But it's not just about what was on the plate; it's about what those meals can tell us about the lives, struggles, and joys of two very different parts of Moche society. By exploring both a grand feast preparation area and a humble commoner's home, we'll dig into what food reveals about wealth, status, and daily life during a turbulent time marked by drought and political tension. How did food contribute to social unrest? Were the rich and poor eating the same meals or were there stark differences? What does a simple dish tell us about a person's identity? These questions and more will be served up in this delicious journey into the past, blending archaeology, technology, and a good pinch of culinary intrigue. Whether you're a foodie, history buff, or simply curious about how meals connect us to our ancestors, this talk is a feast for the mind you won't want to miss.

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 April 1, 2024, new films include: “Burma Road Flying Tigers,” “Chamon (Contagion),” and “Humanity’s Footsteps, Season 1, Episode 3: The Flint Knappers.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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. Explore our catalog, view film trailers, and subscribe at Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 March 18, 2024, new films include: “Reminiscence of Gangaur,” “Beyond the Shell,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 10, Episode 6.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Season 10 Episode 6 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, March 2024 (Indigenous Canadian short, Ikwé ; preserving a 16th century Greek church in northern Cyprus) (1) “Ikwé”: This experimental film from Canada is the re-imagining of a generational conversation and passage of traditional knowledge between a woman and her grandmother moon. The film weaves the narrative of one woman’s (Ikwé’s) intimate thoughts with the teachings of her grandmother, the Moon. (2) “In the Village of Poets”: The people of a small Turkish village in northern Cyprus, called “The Village of Poets,” remarkably have worked on their own for a long time to preserve a sixteen-century Greek church. #heritage #strata #archaeology #anthropology #history

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 March 4, 2024, new films include: Old Strings and the Threads of Fate,” “Denim Gold: How the Kam people of China preserved indigo dyeing,” and “Humanity's Footsteps, Season 1, Episode 2: Modern Humans.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Season 10 Episode 5 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, February 2024 (Indigenous short,“Nothing About Moccasins”; Brian Rose and the excavation of Midas’ capital) (1) Young First Nations Canadian director Eden Mallina Awashish struggles to understand why her grandmother refuses to allow her to shoot a film about moccasins. Eden made this film to shine a spotlight on the Atikamekw nation and its issues. (2) Working to uncover the capital of Phrygia, the realm of legendary King Midas, the excavation team led by Dr. Brian Rose opens the curtains of the ages with the consciousness and enthusiasm of writing history. The documentary focuses on Dr. Rose and his infectious passion for archaeology. #heritage #strata #archaeology #anthropology #history

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 February 15th, 2024, new films include: “Japanese Buddhism,” “Regnum Fest,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 10, Episode 5.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 250 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of January 29th, 2024, new films include: “Paty’s Journey,” “Sound of Silence,” and the first episode of “Humanity's Footsteps.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Season 10 Episode 4 Strata: Portraits of Humanity, January 2024 (Honduras Indigenous language; Etruscan civilization) (1) This short film tells the story of an indigenous boy in Honduras named Yüi who loves his Miskito language and culture. He talks about how important it is to learn in his own language and emphasizes the value that this represents. (2) The early Mediterranean civilization of Etruria flourished for a thousand years and then vanished, leaving beguiling art and artifacts, but little trace of its history. After decades of painstaking work, archaeologists now are beginning to piece together a fascinating portrait of daily life in Etruscan society. #heritage #strata #archaeology #anthropology

Heritage Broadcasting Service, 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 250 outstanding film titles from many countries on familiar subjects. As of January 15th, 2024, new films include: “Darkened Water,” “Totem & Ore,” and “Strata: Portraits of Humanity Season 10, Episode 4.” Check out these and more, only on Heritage! https://www.heritagetac.org/ #archaeology #heritage #anthropology #history #TheArchaeologyChannel

Join us this Friday, April 19th, at 6 pm central / 7 pm eastern for Bible & Archaeology LIVE where Dr. Bob Cargill and Jordan Jones discuss the question of biblical redaction and scribal changes to the Bible. Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/xkv8r Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu Visit the Bible & Archaeology website: http://www.uiowa.edu/bam

Check out our live from April 12th for the full conversation.

Dr. Bob Cargill and Jordan Jones discuss some of the factors that resulted in the development of conspiracies about the Dead Sea Scrolls in this clip from April 12th's Bible & Archaeology LIVE! Watch the full discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn-skw0gy-o&t=146s Become a Bible & Archaeology patron: http://www.patreon.com/xkv8r Send us your questions: bible-archaeology@uiowa.edu Visit the Bible & Archaeology website: http://www.uiowa.edu/bam

Check out our live from April 12th for the full conversation.

Check out our live from April 12th for the full conversation.

There are hundreds of man-made sandstone caves beneath the city of Nottingham, reflecting the development of the city’s geopolitical importance, industries, and changing populations over centuries. The City of Caves project, led by Principal Investigator (PI) Dr Chris King and assisted by researchers, including Knowledge Exchange Fellow Dr Charlotte May, is an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project looking at the archaeology and heritage of Nottingham’s medieval and later caves, as part of new urban regeneration and place-making initiatives in the city. This paper explores how the project team collects and utilises data and artefacts from the caves, particularly the University of Nottingham Museum’s collection of excavated cave material, and works with local groups who studied and explored the caves in the late twentieth century to bring stories of subterranean histories to new audiences and to develop the role of the caves in Nottingham’s urban identity. Dr Chris King is Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at the University of Nottingham, specialising in late medieval and historical archaeology with a particular interest in urban archaeology. He is PI for the AHRC-funded City of Caves project.Dr Charlotte May is a Knowledge Exchange Fellow on the AHRC-funded City of Caves project. Her background is in eighteenth and nineteenth century literature, with a focus on manuscripts, correspondence, and non-canonical figures. She is also a Trustee of Keswick Museum which holds a range of archaeological collections.

This paper explores recent, current and future work on Coventry’s archaeology collection. The Herbert is preparing for a store move which has turned curatorial focus to bulk finds, in some cases for the first time in 60 years. From old to new, Coventry Collections Centre plans will see the offsite store move from a friary to a former retail site in two to three years’ time. Preparation began several years ago, starting with a ‘quick and dirty’ review of the collection, logging box locations and contents to a spreadsheet. Parallel work on the paper archive saw it listed, giving us a clearer idea of contents and publication status. Volunteers have been used throughout this process, in different ways, which will be detailed in the talk. There will be a discussion of plans to rationalise/deselect material, and the challenges this presents. Despite potential easy wins, potential collaboration with field units and a fortuitous project, disposing of archaeology is more complex and involved (for this curator at least!) than reviewing social history collections. This is very much a work in progress. The paper finishes with how we plan to promote the archaeology collection to researchers post-move, so it is used more frequently and effectively, and how the move will impact future display plans. Ali Wells has worked at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry for 16 years, mostly as a curator. Working across the social history, natural sciences and archaeology collections, Ali has curated temporary exhibitions such as the Story of Children’s Television and worked on projects like Exploring [George] Eliot.

32,000 Records and Counting: MAA’s Stores Move Project In September 2020, the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology (MAA) commenced a five- year project to move all offsite collections – c. 8,600 boxes as well as large objects – to the newly refurbished Cambridge Nuclear Bunker, close to the city centre. The Stores Move Project is much more than a ‘simple’ move, however. The estimated 250,000 objects are being physically checked, their catalogue records updated and their condition assessed, before being photographed and repacked by the project’s nine Collections Assistants. The improved records are immediately publicly accessible via the museum’s online catalogue and the images can be downloaded for free. Behind the overarching five-year plan, however, are the daily realities: of Collections Assistants processing an average of one object every 15 minutes; of Collections Managers preparing the ground ahead and checking the updated records; of database development to create logistical efficiency and of policy writing to ensure best practice. In this paper we will discuss these practical issues, as well as the opportunities that this project has afforded us as an institution and as museum archaeologists. In developing the Stores Move Project, MAA benefitted tremendously from the experience and honest advice of colleagues across the sector who were undertaking, or had recently completed, stores moves. Two years into our own project, this paper seeks to continue that dialogue in an effort to benefit colleagues contemplating a future move, or any project involving the large-scale processing of collections. Imogen Gunn is the Collections Manager for Archaeology at MAA, where she has worked since 2006. She is part of the team that planned the Stores Move Project and 50% of her time is allocated to the project. Lily Stancliffe is one of nine Collections Assistants working on MAA’s Stores Move Project. In the past two years she has processed thousands of objects as part of the project.

This paper started with a tweet responding to social media output by Oxfordshire Museums Service (OMS) and other organisations during the pandemic. Rachel Ephgrave tweeted ‘…..It is disability not lockdown that keeps me away from museums. I hope you and others keep up these initiatives once lockdown is over. I am sure there must be many benefitting from the increased access that lockdown has paradoxically provided!’ This paper is a case study on how, during lockdowns, the OMS opened its ‘doors’ to new and existing audiences using social media. The new audience we will focus on are those of us who have conditions such as ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid, conditions where no matter what fixtures and fittings are incorporated into museum buildings to aid accessibility, they still do not enable people to access collections. We will describe the digital archaeological output of OMS, with examples and will describe the impact such engagement had on this new audience during the pandemic, what is hoped for the future and why we shouldn’t always think of just the ‘footfall’ into our museums but our ‘digital-footfall’ as well. This is a collaborative paper between OMS, delivered by Angie Bolton, Curator of Archaeology, Linda Hending and Rachel Ephgrave, both of whom had ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which has a significant impact on how they lead their lives and, in relation to this paper, access archaeology

Whose responsibility is it to enable as many people as possible to access thousands of archaeological archives deposited in museums and other institutions? How do we as museum archaeologists both create and break down barriers to access, and who is interested in archives once they are dug up anyway? Understanding how our multiple audiences want to consume the product of fieldwork is clearly a key consideration, but what does the menu of opportunities we need to provide look like? Are we guilty of rehashing the same old ingredients and what can we do to democratise engagement? This paper draws upon a chapter produced by the speaker for a new Oxford Handbook of Museum Archaeology to suggest a series of actions all museum archaeologists might consider taking to unlock the potential of archaeological archives in their care. Gail Boyle is Senior Curator of Archaeology and World Cultures (Bristol Museums) and has been a successful museum archaeologist for over 35 years: she is a Fellow of the Museums Association and Society of Antiquaries and a member of the Treasure Valuation Committee. Gail sits on several UK heritage and museum-related bodies, is a former Chair of SMA and now Digital Officer. She has co-authored, edited and contributed to several SMA publications including the new ‘Standards and Guidance in the Care of Archaeological Collections’ (2020) and ‘Communicating Archaeology’ (2021)

In 2007 English Heritage created a modern-day ossuary at St Peters, Barton on Humber, to house the extensive human remains assemblage excavated from the site. This paper will reflect on this most particular of resources 15 years on from its inception. In reviewing the ways in which the assemblage has been accessed and used, I will consider how the ossuary has, (and has not), met our expectations as a repository for the human remains. I will question those expectations, and consider what the term ‘resource’ means for a human remains assemblage. In 2019 English Heritage began to explore our role as curators of the Barton assemblage: who do we hold the resource for and who is it relevant to? I will use this paper to articulate some of that thinking and suggestions on how we might open-up conversation around, and find resonance in, the deceased population of the town across a millennium. Kevin Booth has been Senior Curator with English Heritage since 2005. Kevin led the project to create the ossuary and has curated the resource since it opened in 2007. Barton is one of 47 properties with collection displays and stores within the North Territory, covering the Neolithic to the Cold War across a third of a million objects. Content warning: The Powerpoint for this paper will include images of human remains.

The Museum of Leathercraft [MoL], in conjunction with the University of Cambridge, has been successful in applying for funding to investigate the 'English Leather Industry in the Long Nineteenth Century' using the MoL archive and collections as an intrinsic resource. The MoL was founded in 1946 by a group of leather chemists and polymaths, who quickly amassed a considerable and eclectic assemblage of leather artefacts and archival materials. Over the last 76 years, this archaeological treasure trove has been reviewed and organised in a manner akin to an archaeological dig. Objects have been identified, recorded, and catalogued, alongside a combination of archival documents, labels, letters, and drawings, all examined and filed. This collection represents one of the largest, most well-recorded assemblages of archaeological artefacts of one of humanity’s earliest manufacturing enterprises, one that sits at the intersection of industrial history, fashion, art, livestock, tools, machinery, books, footwear, chemistry, legal histories, and community. The size and magnitude of this collection allow both historians and archaeologists alike the rare luxury to see the full breadth of an industry’s history and importance laid out. Despite such a treasure trove, this resource remains mostly unexplored by the academic community. It is our hope that the lack of study and cultural investment in this field can be remedied through the combination of heritage and academic projects. By inserting the history of leather into the academic conversation, and by tying together the litany of leather items and artefacts into a single cohesive history, this unexplored industry can be ‘rediscovered’. The doctoral project employs a cross-disciplinary approach to explore the key elements of the history of the British leather industry, employing data and artefacts that until now have remained outside the scope of most academic research. Stuart Henderson is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge studying ‘The History of the Leather Industry during the Long Nineteenth Century’. Stuart holds a First-Class Honours degree and a Masters by Research (MRes) degree from the University of York in Archaeology, with the latter primarily concerned with the history of the parchment industry. Dr Graham Lampard is Assistant Curator at MoL and previously worked for ten years forLeather International magazine as well as completing a PhD at Leicester University on the subject of mineral tanning mechanisms.

I am told that for years it has been a standing joke that if you don’t know what an object is, attribute it to being a piece of horse harness! Horse equipment is quite a specialized subject and I have seen some very strange items attributed to equine use. I have also helped people make some amazing discoveries which has made me realise the value of the collection for research. I am not an archaeologist but owner and curator of the Museum of the Horse. The collection represents a lifetime of collecting and studying the subject, both from a historical point of view and from that of a rider. We have a good cross section of bits, spurs, stirrups, and general metalware dating from about 600 BC to the twentieth century from the UK and other countries. I will show a selection of the type of items we hold. While one can see diagrams and drawings of various items in books, to be able to see the real thing and to be able to compare different styles and dates of objects means the subject becomes much easier to understand and thus aids identification. The museum is open five and a half days a week. If you are looking for anything specific, please contact us before visiting as we have many more items in store. Sally Mitchell is an art dealer whose passion has always been horses. She has collected equestrian antiques and antiquities for most of her life and opened the, now awardwinning, Museum of the Horse, eight years ago. It has had international recognition and is the only comprehensive horse museum in England. Author of the definitive reference work The Dictionary of British Equestrian Artists and other art books, she recently co-authored with Nick Creaton, A Brief History of the Side Saddle.

Rosie Everett (Northumbria University) & Benjamin Gearey (University College Cork) In this paper, we reflect upon the background and circumstances that led to the composition of a poem: ‘A curse upon the men who tried to steal our bog’ by ANC. This arose from a JPICH funded project ‘WetFutures’ (Ireland), and related intra-disciplinary discussions concerning Irish peatlands, heritage, archaeology, literature and artistic representation. There will be a reading of the poem, a discussion of the collaborative process and reflection on the value and purpose of trans-disciplinary conversations in the context of the creation of new poetry.