Where in the World? Part Three: The Zooarchaeology of the Americas - Animals 47

Welcome to episode three of a miniseries focusing on the zooarchaeology of various world regions. This episode is centred around American zooarchaeology, focusing on the natural history and anatomy of the most prominent wild and domesticated species found throughout North and South America. Tune in for beaver-pretenders, bison-cattle hybrids and even more moose/elk arguments!

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Transcripts

Links

  • Anning, C. (2011) Inca success in Peruvian Andes 'thanks to llama dung'. BBC News.

  • Crader, D. C. (1997). Prehistoric use of beaver in coastal Maine (USA). Anthropozoologica, 25(26), 225-236.

  • - Halbert, N. et al. (2007). "Where the buffalo roam: The role of history and genetics in the conservation of bison on U.S. federal lands". Park Science. 24 (2): 22–29.

  • Hirst, K.K. (2018) Llamas and Alpacas: The Domestication History of Camelids in South America. ThoughtCo.

  • Hubbard, T. (2014). Buffalo Genocide in Nineteenth-Century North America. Colonial genocide in indigenous North America, 292-305.

  • Petrigh, R. S., & Fugassa, M. H. (2013). Molecular identification of a Fuegian dog belonging to the Fagnano Regional Museum ethnographic collection, Tierra del Fuego. Quaternary International, 317, 14-18.

  • Miller, G. R. (2003). Food for the dead, tools for the afterlife: Zooarchaeology at Machu Picchu. In Burger, R. L., and Salazar, L. C. (eds.), The 1912 Yale Peruvian Scientific Expedition Collections from Machu Picchu: Human and Animal Remains.

  • Saunders, N. J. (1994). Predators of Culture: Jaguar Symbolism and Mesoamerican Elites. World Archaeology, 26(1), 104–117.

  • Speller, C. F. et al. (2010). "Ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis reveals complexity of indigenous North American Canham domestication". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107 (7): 2807–2812.

  • Turner, B. L., and Armelagos, G. J. (2012). "Diet, residential origin, and pathology at Machu Picchu, Peru". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 149 (1): 71–83.

  • https://historicjamestowne.org/collections/artifacts/faunal-material/

  • https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/11/20/tracing-the-wild-origins-of-the-domestic-turkey/

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The Past, Present and Future of Chichen Itza with Evan Albright - Ruins 111

On this episode, we talk with Evan Albright about his book "The Man Who Owned a Wonder of the World". This book (published in 2015), tells the story of Edward H. Thompson, an American who once owned the property on which Chichen Itza sits. We go through the history of this property and talk about guides, hotels, trains and what the future looks like for Chichen Itza.

If you have left a review of the podcast on iTunes or Spotify, please email us at alifeinruinspodcast@gmail.com so we can get shipping information to send you a sticker.

If you are listening to this episode on the "Archaeology Podcast Network All Shows Feed," please consider subscribing to the "A Life in Ruins Podcast" channel to support our show. Listening to and downloading our episodes on the A Life in Ruins channel helps our podcast grow. So please, subscribe to the A Life in Ruins Podcast, hosted by the Archaeology Podcast Network, on whichever platform you are using to listen to us on the "All Shows Feed." Support our show by following our channel.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Links

Literature Recommendations

  • John Lloyd Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Yucatan (NYC: Harper & Bros., 1843)

  • Paul Sullivan, Unfinished Conversations: Mayas and Foreigners Between Two Wars (NYC: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989)

  • Walter W. Taylor, “A Study of Archaeology,” American Anthropologist, July 1948 (vol. 50, No. 3, Part 2)

  • R. Tripp Evans, Romancing the Maya: Mexican Antiquity in the American Imagination, 1820-1915 (Austin, University of Texas Press, 2010)

Guest Contact

  • Evan’s Twitter: @americanegypt

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Little Petroglyph Canyon and Rock Art Dating - Rock Art 83 (5)

China Lake Naval Weapons Center in central eastern California is home to many weapons inventions and the most dense collection of rock art in the western hemisphere. At nearly a mile long Little Petroglyph Canyon contains 10s of thousands of individual rock art images. Both Chris and Alan have been there and Alan leads tours there every year. We talk about the rock art and some of the preservation efforts.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Video Game Archaeology with Dr. Bill Farley - DIRT 192

There are surprising intersections between video game creation and archaeology, and that, of course, comes along with the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of mining ancient history for content creation. Neither Anna nor Amber really grew up playing video games, so we are extremely lucky to have a guest expert, Dr. Bill Farley, Associate Professor of Anthropology at South Connecticut State University. Bill will be our guide on the subject. The Toad to our Mario Party. Right? That’s a thing, right?

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Books that Shaped Your Career - CRMArch 240

Archaeologists read a lot but most of what we read does not change way we view and practice archaeology. On today's show, our hosts talk about the books that shaped our careers.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Follow Our Panelists On Twitter

Bill @succinctbill; Doug @openaccessarch; Stephen @processarch; Andrew @AndrewKinkella, Chris W @Archeowebby, @DIGTECHLLC, and @ArchPodNet

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The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert - TAS 173

There have been many foundational people in archaeology and the life and achievements of one are now fully coming to light with a new book from Oxford University Press. "The First Black Archaeologist: A Life of John Wesley Gilbert" (Oxford University Press 2022), written by Dr. John W. I. Lee is a fascinating tale of an archaeologist that paved the way for so many that came after him. Join us as we learn about John Wesley Gilbert, the first Black Archaeologist.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Maya Ask You a Question? A Conversation with Dr. David S. Anderson - Ruins 110

On this episode of A Life in Ruins podcast, we have back on one of our favorite guests Dr. David S. Anderson. We start out with a huge announcement (listen to this episode, we will not spoil it here). We then hit the when, where, what and why of the Maya. Dr. Anderson explains how we know that the Maya city-states "collapsed" and also talks about issues with the ideas around the word "Collapse". We finish talking about Carlton's experience at Chichen Itza and cultural tourism as a whole.

If you have left a review of the podcast on iTunes or Spotify, please email us at alifeinruinspodcast@gmail.com so we can get shipping information to send you a sticker.

If you are listening to this episode on the "Archaeology Podcast Network All Shows Feed," please consider subscribing to the "A Life in Ruins Podcast" channel to support our show. Listening to and downloading our episodes on the A Life in Ruins channel helps our podcast grow. So please, subscribe to the A Life in Ruins Podcast, hosted by the Archaeology Podcast Network, on whichever platform you are using to listen to us on the "All Shows Feed." Support our show by following our channel.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Zencastr makes it really easy! Click this message for more info.

Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code RUINS. Click this message for more information.

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Open Source Protocols - ArchaeoTech 180

An important component of scientific research is reproducibility. In other scientific fields like medicine, protocols (step-by-step instructions) help ensure that another lab or another researcher can test our results. Lately, protocols for various technical aspects of archaeological research have been published, so Chris and Paul discuss the value of these publications.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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Cargo Cults: Actually a Thing? - Dirt 191

First used to describe religious movements that emerged in Melanesia following contact with Allied military personnel in World War II, cargo cults are sects and ritualized behaviors intended to summon outsiders (and their stuff) back and bring about a new age. We’ll explore theories for why they come about, discuss some examples of cargo cults in the traditional definition, and consider what parallels might exist in other cultures.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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The Dirt Podcast with Dr. Anna Goldfield - Ruins 109

In this episode, Carlton interviews Dr. Anna Goldfield from The Dirt Podcast to talk about Dr. Goldfield's inspiration in becoming a zooarchaeologist, how the The Dirt Podcast started, and the importance of experimental archaeology. This a fun and interested one on one conversation between two seasoned podcast hosts. Definitely check out The Dirt Podcast if you haven't already!

If you have left a review of the podcast on iTunes or Spotify, please email us at alifeinruinspodcast@gmail.com so we can get shipping information to send you a sticker.

If you are listening to this episode on the "Archaeology Podcast Network All Shows Feed," please consider subscribing to the "A Life in Ruins Podcast" channel to support our show. Listening to and downloading our episodes on the A Life in Ruins channel helps our podcast grow. So please, subscribe to the A Life in Ruins Podcast, hosted by the Archaeology Podcast Network, on whichever platform you are using to listen to us on the "All Shows Feed." Support our show by following our channel.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Zencastr makes it really easy! Click this message for more info.

Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code RUINS. Click this message for more information.

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Literature Recommendations

Guest Contact

  • Thedirtpod.com (all socials feed there)

  • Twitter: @AnnaGoldfield and @dirtpodcast

  • Instagram: @puppydigs and @thedirtpod

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Pop Culture Archaeology - The Lost City - TAS 172

Chumash Rock Art and Other Trips with Stephen Bryne - Rock Art 82

For this 82nd episode we interview Stephen Bryne, professional archaeologist and a student of rock art. Stephen talks about his adventures studying Chumash rock art as well as his recent studies with his extensive field trips to some of the largest prehistoric paintings in the world: the rock art of the Sierra de San Francisco in Baja California Mexico.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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They Told Us So - Dirt 190

We’ve had plenty of instances on the show (in the main feed and especially in Old News) of archaeological research bearing out information that existed already in the historical and oral traditions of Indigenous groups. We’ll discuss some examples of this, and we’ll also examine the relationship of Indigenous science and knowledge with the Western systems that actively invalidate and exclude them.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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The Discovery of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance and Underwater Archaeology in CRM - CRMArch 239

MEMBERS - Thanks for supporting us! Don’t forget to check out the bonus segment below.

The incredible discovery in March 2022 of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance on the Antarctic sea floor leads to a discussion about the exciting future of underwater archaeology in CRM. Underwater archaeologist, Bill Burns, joins us to shed light on the incredible recent discovery of the Endurance and how it was made possible by new technology, archival research and the skillful navigation skills of Shackleton’s crew. Bill also shares his path and experiences of working as an underwater archaeologist in CRM and how, although it is highly specialized, the subdiscipline is finding a growing market in CRM. In the members only segment, Andrew and Bill “nerd out” on SCUBA technology and methods. If you aren’t a member but are a SCUBA enthusiast or just curious, the bonus segment is definitely worth the price of admission!

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Zencastr makes it really easy! Click this message for more info.

Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code CRMARCH. Click this message for more information.

Digging to the Other Side Podcast - HeVo 63

Just The Boyz: The Hangover Edition - Ruins 108

Sacred Pools, Badass Prehistoric Women, and Giant Cave Art - TAS 171

We've got a few articles that are all over the place - literally - this week. The first is about a re-analysis of what was thought was an ancient harbor in Italy. Turns out there's more to it. Next we talk about, well, the prehistoric world in general as it pertains the role of women. As with everything, there's more to that story and it's way more complex than early researchers would have liked. Finally we have a story of massive cave art in a hard-to-access area in Alabama. The figures are massive and would have been difficult to see in their entirety.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

Interested in sponsoring this show or podcast ads for your business? Zencastr makes it really easy! Click this message for more info.

Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code TAS. Click this message for more information.

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On Hedgehogs and Marvelous Minds: A New Technology for Point Data Collection? - ArchaeoTech 179

We love it when archaeologists look at other technologies that on first glance are not appropriate for archaeology. However, they're willing to give it a try and report on the results! The researches in the article we discuss used an indoor positioning system (IPS) to map an outdoor site in Israel. Their results are encouraging for this emerging technology.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

Start your own podcast with Zencastr and get 30% off your first three months with code TAS. Click this message for more information.

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Becoming Dr. Bonesaw with Naomi Martisius - Dirt 189

This week, Amber's under the weather, so Anna goes solo with special guest Dr. Naomi Martisius. Naomi tells us how she deciphers clues about human behavior by looking at tiny tiny VERY tiny portions of animal bone surfaces under a microscope. We’ll get into her undergraduate discovery that re-wrote a part of prehistory (no, really), and her work on the extremely cool bone artifacts and ornaments from Bacho Kiro Cave, in what is today Bulgaria.

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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What have Anna and Amber been up to? - Ruins 188

BONUS

Hello, friends! We’re moving our episode schedule slightly—episodes will now be coming out on Wednesdays!! But in the meantime—This is a shortened version of a much longer chat that's available to our Patreon members (link below to join and support the show)! Anna and Amber chat about some changes in their personal lives, plus some updates to The Dirt. We also FINALLY answer our own interview questions:

1. What's the best thing about anthropology?

2. What moment from human history/prehistory or the history of anthropology would you want to go back in time to see?

This is a departure from our usual episodes, so if you're not a big fan of parts of the show where we get chatty...this one might not be for you!

Interested in learning about how to use X-Rays and similar technology in archaeology? Check out the linked PaleoImaging course from James Elliot!

Connect with James on Twitter: @paleoimaging

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