Meanwhile, in Texas: A Conversation with Dr. Bryon Schroeder - Ep 15

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we interview Dr. Bryon Schroeder. Dr. Schroeder is currently the director of the Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. We discuss his early years "hunting" with his father and talk about both his thesis and dissertation research. We then transition into a crazy story involving paper mache, human bodies and terrible Texas laws.

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Our Ruined Lives: Seeing Red with Bernie Taylor - Ep 14

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we chat with Bernie Taylor. Bernie is an independent author who explores what he describes as “the mythological connections and biological knowledge among prehistoric peoples”. We have a spirited and civil conversation about some of Bernie’s theories.

Resources from Bernie Taylor

  • Skoglund, Pontus et al. 2015 Ancient Wolf Genome Reveals an Early Divergence of Domestic Dog Ancestors and Admixture into High-Latitude Breeds. In Current Biology (25), 1-5

  • Wang, G., Zhai, W., Yang, H. et al.

    2013 The genomics of selection in dogs and the parallel evolution between dogs and humans. Nat Commun 4, 1860. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2814

  • Bernie Taylor’s video on dogs.

A Life in Ruins Resources

  • Introduction to Archaeology (like seriously, basic level what it is we do) Kelly, Robert L., Thomas, Davis H. 2016 Archaeology. 7th Edition. Cengage Learning. https://www.amazon.com/Archaeology-Robert-L-Kelly/dp/130567040X

  • Dog Domestication Savolainen, Peter, Ya-ping Zhang, Jing Luo, Joakim Lundeberg and Thomas Leitner 2002, Genetic Evidence for an East Asian Origin of Domestic Dogs. Science 298(5598):1610-1613.

  • David’s Paper

  • David’s TedEd Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_KWmzLObQ4&t=123s

  • Domestication Syndrome Video

  • Native American Religions Gill, Sam 2004 Native American Religions: An Introduction (Religious Life in History) 2nd Edition. Cengage Learning.

  • Michael, Nicky

    • 2019 Turtle Island: An Introduction to Indigenous Studies. Cognella Academic Publishing.

  • Interpreting Rock Art Blundell, Geoffrey, Christopher Chippindale, and Benjamin Smith (editors) 2011 Seeing and knowing: understanding rock art with and without ethnography. Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek, CA.

  • Brady, Liam M (editor)

    • 2016 Relating to rock art in the contemporary world: navigating symbolism, meaning, and significance. University Press of Colorado, Boulder.

  • Conkey, Margaret W. (editor)

    • 1997 Beyond Art: Pleistocene Image and Symbol. California Academy of Science, San Francisco, CA.

  • McDonald, Jo and Peter Veth (editors)

    • 2012 A Companion to Rock Art. Wiley-Blackwell, West Sussex UK.

  • Schaafsma, Polly

    • 2013 Images and Power: Rock Art and Ethics. Anthropology and Ethics. Springer-Verlag, New York.

  • Smith, Benjamin (editor)

    • 2012 Working with rock art: recording, presenting and understanding rock art using indigenous knowledge. Wits University Press, Johannesburg.

  • Tomaskova, Silvia

    • 2013 Wayward Shamans: The Prehistory of an Idea. University of California Press, Berkley.

  • Sundstrom, Linea

    • 2004 Storied Stone: Indian Rock Art in the Black Hills Country. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

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New Year, who dis?: A Conversation with Our Overlord Chris Webster - Ep 13

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we talk with our overlord and frequent dictionary consultant Chris Webster. Chris is the cofounder of the Archaeological Podcast Network (APN), the network that produces and edits our shenanigans. We wanted to talk to him about the founding of the APN, how he maintains and keeps it going and where he sees it going in the future. We also wanted to get some information on his background! We also discuss the Register of Professional Archaeologists and future changes to their membership. We might also talk about the APN’s other cofounder, Tristan Boyle, and his lovely accent. Give it a listen!

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Artifact Rowed Shows with Chris Rowe - Ep 12

Have you ever wanted to listen to a jovial archaeologist talking about his interactions with collectors? Have you ever wanted to hear the co-hosts give someone grief for turning down the opportunity to be a co-host on our show? If you answered yes to the previous questions or even if you didn’t, we have got quite the episode for you. On this edition of Our Ruined Lives, we talk with our good friend Chris Rowe. We all met Chris at the University of Wyoming and discuss many things on this podcast. Give it a listen!

You can find Chris Rowe on Instagram @as_the_c.rowe_flies

Links

  • National Parks Fieldnotes

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Gluten and Alien Free Archaeology: Combating Pseudoscience with Dr. David A. Anderson - Ep 11

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, the hosts have the honor of speaking with Dr. David A. Anderson of Radford University. Dr. Anderson is not only an accomplished Mesoamerican archaeologist, but also famous as a Scicomm writer and has a large twitter following. As you'll find out, Carlton used to study under Dr. Anderson and was a major influence on his career. It seems that he has grown past his days of youtube anthropology raps. David Ian Howe asks interesting questions regarding Dr. Anderson's research, while Connor self-deprecates about the host's collective status as "failed mayanists." However, the conversation ends on a poignant note regarding the culture of academia as well as science communication to the public. 

You can follow David Anderson on social media via @dsaarchaeology.

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Days of Our Ruined Lives - Ep 10

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, our three co-hosts talk about some recent discussions happening on social media. That topic leads us into talking about science communication, specifically bringing up David's @Ethnocynology Instagram account. We then just catch up with each other and finish out with Connor being more ridiculous than usual.

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That's So Raven with Raven DaSilva - Ep 9

On this episode of A Life In Ruins Podcast, we revert to our previous format and interview Raven DaSilva! We found Raven through her Instagram/Youtube account (@digitwithraven and YouTube Channel "Dig it With Raven") and really enjoyed how she communicated to the public. Naturally, we had to have her on the show! This wide-ranging interview covers topics like ways to make Connor shut-up, Indiana Jones, science communication and post-graduate degree life. Give this episode a listen and mosey on over to her instagram and YouTube channel!

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Our Ruined Lives with Damian Kirkwood - Ep 8

In this episode of A Life In Ruins podcast, our hosts do something different. As opposed to interviewing an archaeologist and asking about their career, the hosts bring on zooarchaeologist Damian Kirkwood, whom they went to school with, and have a casual discussion about all things archaeology.

While the conversation begins with Damian explaining his credentials, the show quickly devolves into discussions about archaeological media representation, including a discussion on Indiana Jones, the Prime Directive, and a salty, yet educated argument against the existence of Bigfoot. we’ve decided to call the segment “Our Ruined Lives”.”

Oh, and don’t worry, we all agree that 10,000 BC is the worst film in cinema history.

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Albania: Mapping it All Out with Erina Baci - Ep7

On this episode of A Life in Ruins, we interview Erina Baci. Erina Baci is an Anthropologist and Archaeologist, studying at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor - one of the top anthropology departments in the US. Erina studies Bronze and Iron Age settlement patterns in Albania and Kosovo. We delve into GIS, the history of archaeological study in Albania/Kosovo and David and Erina talk about their academic connections.

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Eat, Dig, Love: A Summer in the Ukraine - Ep 6

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, our three co-hosts reconvene after a summer of shenanigans while Carlton is fighting the effects of jet lag. Connor and David mention what they have been up to and Carlton talks about his trip gallivanting across Eastern Europe. Carlton has some tips for those wishing to travel with Juul pods (spoiler alert, do not travel with them unless you want them taken away from you) and questions the legitimacy of duck effigies mentioned by Connor. This episode is full of hate, laughter and ridiculousness.

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The One Where Ross Isn’t The Only Paleontologist: A Deep Discussion with Amy Atwater - Ep5

Episode 5’s guest, Amy Atwater, is the Paleontology Collections Manager/Registrar at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. She is also just an all-around bad-ass. She is an avid science communicator, and does so through presentations, videos, and her massively popular instagram account @Mary_annings_revenge. Amy was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin and has a slew of peer-reviewed publications. She also has published work in The Huffington Post and has even appeared on PBS EONS.

We talk with her about how she got into paleontology, how she escaped the field of anthropology and how David and Connor are recovering paleontologists. We define the difference between archaeology and paleontology (Archaeologists Don’t Dig Dinosaurs!) while discussing deep time and stratigraphy. David and Amy discuss curation life and security and Amy explains who Mary Anning is and why she is so vengeful. We finish with a discussion about mental health in Academia. And, big surprise, Connor makes another crappy dad joke. Make sure and get your T-Rex arms clapping and waving as you begin listening to Episode 5 of A Life in Ruins Podcast.

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Ancient Ink with Aaron Deter-Wolf - Ep 04

If you’ve been following us for a bit, you might notice that archaeology isn’t just pyramids or that ancient aliens bullshit...it’s the study of human behavior. And one world-wide human behavior that you’ve probably all observed, is the practice of tattooing and body modification. Well, that’s not really our niche, but lucky for you, we’re bought one of the world’s leading experts on the archaeology of tattooing to talk with us today. In fact, he co-wrote the book on it!

Tonight’s guest, Aaron Deter-Wolf, is currently the Prehistoric Archaeologist at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology. Aaron is responsible for managing prehistoric sites on State-owned lands, as well as conducting archaeological excavations and publishing research on the results of those studies. Most importantly, Aaron is a prominent advocate for public archaeology, as evidenced by his work with the state of Tennessee, his scholarly publications, and his new Instagram @archaeologyink.

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Rock Artin' and Rollin' with Emily Van Alst - Ep 03

Tonight’s guest, Emily Van Alst, is a Descendant of the Lakota Sioux Nation and works avidly in public outreach.. Although the Lakota and Pawnee are historical enemies; Carlton and Emily have chosen to put aside their tribal differences to deliver our listeners an awesome episode.

Emily Van Alst got started in anthropology at Yale University and she is currently a PhD student at Indiana University Bloomington

Her research interests include Rock Art, Gender, Indigenous Archaeology, Public Archaeology, Indigenous Feminism, and Ethnography

As a goal of this podcast is to provide our listeners with multi-faceted approaches to archaeology, we are super excited to talk with her tonight. So let’s count some coup and get this episode started.

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The Cowboys of Science with Spencer Pelton - Ep 01

Spencer is one of the most talented, accomplished, and brilliant archaeologists in the country. The dude has over a dozen publications and literally just got his PhD last year.

Anyone that knows Spencer will tell you that he’s one of the most enjoyable people to be around and was a mentor to a lot of us during our time at Wyoming.

Spencer’s research varies from lithic technology, hunter-gatherer ecology, to human evolution, and his dissertation focused on hominid thermal regulation.

The list of his accomplishments would fill this page, so we’ll let his smooth, Johnny Cash-like drawl tell you his life story! We’re super excited.

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Of Koobi Fora and Cathedrals with Ella Beaudoin - Ep 02

Today's guest is someone who we wanted to snag as early as possible, based on her ability to connect with the public.

Ella Beaudoin got started in anthropology at American University, in Washington DC.

She cut her scientific teeth in Kenya as part of the Koobi Fora field School @koobiforafieldschool. The Koobi Fora region is one of the most prolific fossil bearing regions in the world and possibly home to the oldest instances of the use of fire by our hominid ancestors.

She is currently a contractor at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where she works to help engage and teach the public about evolution and archaeology.

As the goal of this podcast is to connect non-archaeologists with our science, we are super excited to talk with her tonight.

You can follow her twitter at @ella_beaudoinand her instagram @timetravelerinhikingboots.

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Introducing A Life In Ruins - Ep 0

Introducing a new podcast from the Archaeology Podcast Network. A Life In Ruins is the brain child of archaeologists Carlton Gover, Connor Johnen, and David Howe - three archaeologists and friends that are living a life in ruins. Together, with their witty conversation and educated humor, they talk to other archaeologists about their lives in ruins.