Seven Ages Audio Journal
Archaeology and the Exploration of Human History.
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Clovis Bone Needles at the La Prele Site | SAAJ 79
03/04/2025
Clovis Bone Needles at the La Prele Site | SAAJ 79
In this episode, Micah and Jason start the discussion with news from Egypt involving the alluring scents associated with mummified remains. The discussion then turns to news from White Sands, New Mexico. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of ancient transport technology in the Americas, suggesting that early North Americans used travois-like sleds for transport nearly 22,000 years ago. The team is then joined by Wyoming State Archaeologist Spencer Pelton to discuss the latest discoveries from the La Prele, Wyoming Mammoth kill site. Spencer Pelton is the Wyoming State Archaeologist and an adjunct professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming. Spencer has maintained a varied career in federal and state government, private, and academic sectors, working in Tennessee, North Carolina, California, Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming during his 17-year career. He maintains research interests in the peopling of the Americas, but his field projects are increasingly focused on the latest prehistory and earliest history of the Wyoming High Plains and the Rocky Mountains. In addition to his academic and field research, Spencer is interested in the politics of heritage preservation and writes about that topic extensively in his Substack newsletter, Social Stigma. Guest Links
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The Western Clovis Mammoth Hunters | SAAJ 78
01/25/2025
The Western Clovis Mammoth Hunters | SAAJ 78
In this episode, the team discusses a recent scientific report concerning new evidence of hominin activity 1.9 million years ago in Graunceanu, Romania, in the form of multiple cut-marked bones. The discussion continues with exciting news from Siberia, with the discovery of a Saber-Toothed Cat cub in pristine condition, shedding new scientific light on this enigmatic species. James Chatters, PhD, then joins the team to discuss his latest paper on the Western Clovis diet, which was published in Science Advances. Dr. James Chatters earned his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Washington in 1982. He is an archaeologist and paleontologist involved in discovering and investigating many of North America’s earliest human skeletons. Best known for the 1996 discovery of Kennewick Man and ongoing work at the Hoyo Negro Site in the Yucatan of Mexico, he has also done extensive work in hunter-gatherer prehistory in the western US, macroevolutionary theory, palynology, and late Pleistocene mammals, most notably ground sloths. Guest Links
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The Caddo Culture of Southern Arkansas | SAAJ 77
12/15/2024
The Caddo Culture of Southern Arkansas | SAAJ 77
In this episode, the team begins with an intriguing discussion concerning a recent discovery by anthropologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Hawai’i, presenting research on a previously unknown—or, rather, uncategorized— introduction to the human , H. juluensis. The team is then joined by Southern Arkansas University archaeologist Dr. Carl Drexler to discuss the enigmatic Caddo culture. Dr. Carl G. Drexler (Station Archeologist) received his Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary in Virginia in 2013. He has been working in Arkansas since 2001 on domestic and military sites, including the battlefield of Pea Ridge. He has worked as an archeologist for the National Park Service, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and the United States Army. He has field experience in eight states and three foreign countries. Major research interests include conflict archeology, spatial analysis, historical archeology of the U.S. South and Midwest, Cuban archeology, terrestrial and aerial laser scanning (LiDAR), and the history and ethnography of sports in the United States, primarily baseball and hockey. His publications include articles in the SAA Archaeological Record and Arkansas Historical Quarterly, and a book chapter on spatial analysis in conflict archaeology, in addition to a number of reports. Guest Links
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Rediscovering Turtle Island: First Peoples and the Sacred Geography of America | SAAJ 76
11/16/2024
Rediscovering Turtle Island: First Peoples and the Sacred Geography of America | SAAJ 76
In this episode, the Seven Ages team reunites after the tragic events surrounding Hurricane Helene's impact on Asheville, North Carolina. The team then discusses the latest news from the world of archaeology, after which we are joined byTaylor Keen of the Cherokee Nation, who discusses his new book, Rediscovering Turtle Island: A First Peoples' Account of the Sacred Geography of America. Taylor Keen is a Heider College of Business Administration senior lecturer at Creighton University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and two master’s degrees from Harvard University, where he has served as a Fellow in the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, the founder of Sacred Seed, an organization devoted to propagating tribal seed sovereignty, and a member of the Earthen Bison Clan of the Omaha Tribe where he is known by the name “Bison Mane.” He lives in Omaha, Nebraska. Guest Links
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Otzi and the Discovery of Tyrolean Tattoos | SAAJ 75
08/18/2024
Otzi and the Discovery of Tyrolean Tattoos | SAAJ 75
In this episode, the Seven Ages team begins with a short commentary on world events and the latest from Peruvian archaeology. The team is then joined by returning guest Aaron Deter-Wolf to discuss his latest paper Chalcolithic Tattooing: Historical and Experimental Evaluation of the Tyrolean Iceman's Body Markings. This paper captures the latest conclusions from examining the multiple sets of tattoos found in the body of Otzi, one of the most studied and fascinating sets of human remains in the world of anthropology. Aaron Deter-Wolf is an archaeologist with the Tennessee Division of Archaeology in Nashville, Tennessee, and a leading researcher developing the archaeological study of tattooing. Aaron has published widely on ancient tattooing tools and traditions, including studies identifying tattooing artifacts from North America, experiments with professional tattoo artists recreating and testing ancient and historic implements, and efforts using digital imaging to record tattoos on mummified human remains. Aaron maintains the open-access Tattooed Human Mummies database, and shares information about the history of tattooing and body modification on Instagram @archaeologyink. Guest Links
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Florida's Moundbuilders: The Mill Cove Complex - SAAJ 73
07/09/2024
Florida's Moundbuilders: The Mill Cove Complex - SAAJ 73
In this episode, the Seven Ages team starts the show by discussing the ongoing mystery of the Antikythera mechanism. This is followed by an alarming story from North Carolina concerning one of the most significant archaeological finds ever discovered in the state and the controversy surrounding the intended land development for a housing community. The team then welcomes Dr. Keith Ashley from the University of North Florida to discuss the enigmatic Mill Cove Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Keith Ashley is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of North Florida. His current research focuses on Indigenous peoples and histories of southeastern North America, with a focus on Florida. He has been actively involved in archaeological excavations with UNF students throughout northeastern Florida, including the Mill Cove Complex since 1999. We are also joined by Victoria Hayes. Victoria is a graduating senior in Anthropology at the University of North Florida. Her honors thesis focuses on a techno-functional analysis of pottery from the South Field area of the Mill Cove Complex. She plans to continue her research in graduate school at the University of Florida.
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Ancient Crossroads: The Archaeology of Gaza | SAAJ 73
05/21/2024
Ancient Crossroads: The Archaeology of Gaza | SAAJ 73
In this episode, the Seven Ages team discusses the continuing mystery surrounding the Roman Dodecahedron and the controversy of the "Wood Age". The team then welcomes Dr. Louise Steel from the University of Wales to discuss the ancient history and intriguing archaeology of Gaza. Dr. Louise Steel is a Professor of Near Eastern Archaeology at the University of Wales. In the 1990s she directed excavations at the Late Bronze Age site of Al Moghraqa in Gaza. She has also worked extensively in Cyprus. Her recent research focuses on New Materialities, exploring people’s relationship with matter and how this has been entangled in their daily lived experiences. She is a series editor of Materialities in Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Wales Press. Louise is Associate Director of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK hub, which explores transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability science, and works with Coastal TALES which examines how cultural heritage can help foster resilience to climate change in coastal areas. Guest Links:
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Experimental Archaeology: Clovis Tools and Ancient Bison Butchery | SAAJ .072
04/06/2024
Experimental Archaeology: Clovis Tools and Ancient Bison Butchery | SAAJ .072
In this episode, Micah and James lead off the discussion with an update on earthquakes, odd weather, the 2024 full solar eclipse, Mediterranean archaeology during our open segment. We are then joined by Dr. Metin Eren of Kent State University, who returns to discuss the publication of a new, highly detailed paper involving experimental archaeology. The new paper titled "Experimental bison butchery using replica hafted Clovis fluted points and large handheld flakes" is available now in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports at ScienceDirect.com. Dr. Metin Eren is a Professor of Anthropology at Kent State University. He is the founder and co-director of the Kent State University Experimental Archaeology Laboratory and a research associate at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He has appeared on the SAAJ episode.054 The Clovis Projectile Point, and has also appeared on two of our Patreon podcasts, the Cross-Tyme Pub and the Digging Deeper podcast. Guest Links:
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Stealing History: The God of Sipan | SAAJ .071
03/08/2024
Stealing History: The God of Sipan | SAAJ .071
In this episode, the Seven Ages team gathers at the Cross-Tyme Pub to discuss the latest stories from the world of history and archaeology. We begin with the recent paper concerning the Younger Dryas Impact and its ability to help date artifacts from various paleo sites across the United States. Next, we discuss a discovery from a Wyoming Clovis site of a small but significant bead and an underwater megalithic structure discovered in the Baltic Sea. Then we are joined by journalist Roger Atwood to discuss his incredible book Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World. Roger Atwood is a regular contributor to ARTnews and Archaeology magazines, and his articles on culture and politics have appeared in The New Republic, Mother Jones, The Nation, The Miami Herald, and The Boston Globe. Atwood was a journalist for Reuters for over fifteen years, reporting from Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, and a senior editor at their Washington, D.C. bureau. He is currently a fellow at the Alicia Patterson Foundation. News and Guest Links:
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Santeria and the American South | SAAJ .070
01/18/2024
Santeria and the American South | SAAJ .070
In this episode, the team begins with the latest news from the world of archaeology concerning the controversial dating of the Gunung Padang complex in Indonesia. This enigmatic site has been at the center of international discussion for several years with clear lines of delineation being drawn between supporters of its extreme antiquity and those who dispute its authenticity as a 20 thousand-plus-year-old site. Next, we are joined by renowned cultural anthropologist Anthony Kail for an in-depth discussion about his new book Fieldwork with the Saints: An Ethnographic Journey into Santeria in the American South. Anthony Kail serves as President of AnthroFolk Research Associates. Anthony Kail is a cultural anthropologist and writer. Kail has researched magico-religious cultures for more than thirty years. His work has taken him from Santeria ceremonies in Cuba to Haitian Botanicas in Harlem and Spiritual Churches in East Africa. He has lectured at hundreds of universities, conferences, and public safety agencies. Kail has been featured on CNN Online, the History Channel, and numerous radio, television, and print outlets. He is the author of several books including A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo from The History Press and Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities: A Guide for First-Responders from CRC Press. Kail is an anthropology instructor at Southern New Hampshire University. News and Guest Links:
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The Divided Lines of Hopewell History | SAAJ .069
11/22/2023
The Divided Lines of Hopewell History | SAAJ .069
In this episode the team welcomes a roundtable panel to discuss the 2022 scientific paper The Hopewell airburst event 1699-1567 years ago (252-383 CE). This controversial paper has since been refuted by our panel members. In this interview the panel will present all of the information surrounding the 2022 paper and present their evidence for refuting the claim that the Hopewell culture was greatly affected or even destroyed by a cosmic event. Our panel consists of lead author Dr. Kevin Nolan. Dr. Nolan is the Director and Senior Archaeologist in the Applied Anthropology Laboratories (AAL), an institute within the College of Sciences and Humanities at Ball State University. His research specializations include: Prehistoric Archaeology, CRM, GIS, Ohio River Valley, Paleoenvironments, Soil geochemistry, and Geophysics. Next, we welcome Dr. Tony Krus. Dr. Krus is an Assistant Professor at the University of South Dakota in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology. His current research focuses on chronological modeling, human-environmental relationships, and archaeological fieldwork of late-Holocene communities, primarily in the Eastern Woodlands and the Plains. We also welcome, Dr. Tim McCoy: Dr. McCoy is a Curator of Meteorites at the Smithsonian Institution. His work primarily focuses on using meteorites to understand the differentiation of asteroids in the early Solar System and he has worked on 6 robotic spacecraft missions. Relative to this project, he has studied artifacts made from iron meteorites, including Hopewell beads from Havana, IL. Finally, we round out the panel with Dr. Laura Murphy is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where she teaches many archaeology courses, including the popular "Archaeological Myths, Frauds, and Controversies" course. She is a geoarchaeologist specializing in paleoenvironmental reconstruction using soils. Dr. Murphy holds her Bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, and her MA and PhD from the University of Kansas. She is also a former National Park Ranger who worked at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe, Ohio. News and Guest Links:
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Almost Human: The Enigma of Homo Naledi with Dr. Lee Berger | SAAJ .068
09/11/2023
Almost Human: The Enigma of Homo Naledi with Dr. Lee Berger | SAAJ .068
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team discusses the latest news out of China concerning recently discovered remains of a possible third human lineage. Next, the team discusses the upcoming Arkhaios Film Festival for cultural heritage and archaeology. The Seven Ages team is happy to welcome the world-renowned paleoanthropologist Dr. Lee Berger to the show for his first appearance. Dr. Berger joins us to discuss his new book Cave of Bones: A True Story of Discovery, Adventure, and Human Origins. We also go in-depth on the new Netflix documentary Unknown: Cave of Bones. Lee Berger is an award-winning paleoanthropologist whose explorations into human origins on the African continent, Asia, and Micronesia for the past three decades have resulted in many new discoveries, including the discovery of two new species of early human relatives – Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi. These discoveries were recognized by the Smithsonian as among the ten most important scientific discoveries of the decade in 2020. A current National Geographic Explorer in Residence, Berger won the first National Geographic Society Research and Exploration Prize in 1997. He was also named the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year in 2016 and two years later, became an Explorer at Large. In 2016 he was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Berger has held positions at the University of the Witwatersrand, in South Africa since 1991, where until recently he served as the Phillip Tobias Chair in Human Evolution. He has also served in a number of advisory roles, including the Global Young Academy, the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa, and has chaired the Fulbright Commission. As an Explorer in Residence, Berger leads National Geographic’s “Rising Star” project, named for the cave system and fossil site in southern Africa where he conducts his research. Teams under his leadership have recovered more individual hominid remains in sub-equatorial Africa over the last decade than were recovered in the previous 90 years. The 2015 PBS Nova National Geographic documentary "Dawn of Humanity" about Berger’s discovery of Homo naledi and the Rising Star expedition was nominated for an Emmy. Berger’s curiosity and passion for understanding the roots of humanity powers his work to advance knowledge about the origins of our species. News and Guest Links:
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Megafauna Exploitation and Lithic Blood Residue Analysis | SAAJ .067
08/02/2023
Megafauna Exploitation and Lithic Blood Residue Analysis | SAAJ .067
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team discusses the latest news from the world of archeology including the destruction of a famous French megalithic site and the surprising DNA results from Machu Picchu in Peru. Next, we welcome the return of Christopher R. Moore to discuss his newly published paper on immunological residue analysis on Paleoindian lithic projectile points and tools. This fascinating discussion takes the listener through the various steps and outcomes of a truly cutting-edge and forward-thinking approach to archaeology. Christopher R. Moore received a B.S. in Anthropology from Appalachian State University in 1997, an M.A. in Anthropology from East Carolina University in 2000, and a Ph.D. in Coastal Resources Management (with a focus in geoscience) from East Carolina University in 2009. Chris's research interests include geoarchaeology, early hunter-gatherers, Late Quarternary climate and human adaptation, and blood residue analysis. Guest Links:
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The Enigma of Judaculla Rock and Track Rock Gap | SAAJ 66
07/07/2023
The Enigma of Judaculla Rock and Track Rock Gap | SAAJ 66
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team welcomes Dr. Jannie Loubser from Stratum Unlimited. Dr. Loubser discusses his work and the mythology of the enigmatic sites of Judaculla Rock, North Carolina, and Track Rock Gap in Northern Georgia. In the second half of the program, Dr. Loubser presents a special slideshow presentation of the detailed petroglyphs from both sites. Johannes (Jannie) Loubser, Ph.D. and RPA, is the archaeologist and rock art specialist at Stratum Unlimited, LLC. In 1989 Johannes Loubser received a Ph.D. in archaeology from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. In the same year, he also received a post-graduate diploma in rock art conservation and management from the University of Canberra, Australia. Loubser is a Research Associate at the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI at the University of the Witwatersrand and the LAMAR Research Institiute in Georgia. He is also a Getty Conservation Institute’s Rock Art Network (RAN) member. He has worked on numerous archaeological and rock art projects in southern and eastern Africa, North and South America, Australia, Hawaii, and the Caribbean islands. Guest Links:
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The Hopewell: Social Networking and Trade | SAAJ .065
05/25/2023
The Hopewell: Social Networking and Trade | SAAJ .065
In this installment of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, hosts Micah Hanks and Jason Pentrail lead off the show with a discussion on the newest discoveries in the world of DNA and cultural studies. This is followed by an update on artificial intelligence and the possibilities for its use in archaeology in the years ahead, and how AI is already leading to new innovations in the field of anthropology. Then, the team is joined by the Professor of Anthropology at Ball State University Mark Hill to discuss the enigmatic Hopewell culture. In his first appearance on the show, Dr. Hill discusses his research on the long-distance trade networks of the Woodland culture known as the Hopewell, including the copper culture from Michigan and using various other long-distance trade materials within the realm of the Hopewell sphere. Professor Mark Hill's research interests include prehistoric exchange systems among the Hopewell, as well as social networks, and gift economies; development of regional systems of interaction; hunter-gatherers and early horticulturalists of the upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and northern Great Plains; lithic analysis; archaeological chemistry; heritage resource management. We discuss all of this, and much more with Dr. Hill in this special installment of the program. Guest Links:
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Tikal: Tomb of the Jade Jaguar | SAAJ .064
04/07/2023
Tikal: Tomb of the Jade Jaguar | SAAJ .064
In this special extended edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team welcomes Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth, who shares his fascinating story of conquering the jungles of South America to find one of the most significant and awe-inspiring tombs at the Mayan site of Tikal in the 1960s at the age of nineteen (a YouTube video and slide presentation appearing on the will accompany this special edition). Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth has an undergraduate degree, from Harvard; a Master’s degree from Brown University, and three different post-graduate research positions at Yale University. With his Ph.D. from the University of Gratz, Hellmuth is a previous research professor in digital photography at Rollins College and at Brevard Community College both in Florida. He was a Visiting Research Professor of (digital imaging and digital printing) simultaneously at BGSU (in Ohio) and Universidad Francisco Marrokeen (Guatemala) from 2000-2005. He now works full-time on the flora and fauna of Mayan areas of Mesoamerica and also works with the foundation for Latin American Anthropological Research. Guest Links:
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Into the Darkness: Southeastern Cave Archaeology | 7A Subscriber Sample
03/15/2023
Into the Darkness: Southeastern Cave Archaeology | 7A Subscriber Sample
In this special presentation, the Seven Ages Audio Journal presents a "subscriber sample" of content from our , where we talk with renowned archaeologist Jay Franklin of EcoPlan Associates Inc. about the perils and complexities of cave archaeology. We also delve into the worlds of Cherokee settlement and Mississippian sites. The content presented in this episode is from our Patreon podcast Digging Deeper. We offer three tiers of membership as well as three exclusive podcasts for Patreon, The Cross Tyme Pub, Digging Deeper, and The Green Dragon Book Club. Join us today on Patreon for all this exclusive content and much more.
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Pre-Clovis Occupation at Cooper's Ferry | SAAJ 063
02/17/2023
Pre-Clovis Occupation at Cooper's Ferry | SAAJ 063
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team begins with the latest news from the world of archaeology. Micah covers the story of crab-roasting Neanderthals, after which Jason presents the discovery of a 7.5-foot Japanese sword in a burial mound outside of Nara, Japan. Then, James rounds out the news portion with the discovery of a Roman dodecahedron by a metal detector in Belgium. The team then welcomes Oregon State University Professor Dr. Loren Davis to the program, who discusses his work at Idaho's enigmatic Cooper's Ferry Site, home to a large concentration of western stemmed points thought to pre-date Clovis projectile points by at least 1,500 years or more. Radiocarbon dates on the charcoal and bone are as old as 15,500 years. In North America, few tree ring records can precisely calibrate such early radiocarbon dates, but a state-of-the-art probabilistic model placed the start of the occupation at between 16,560 and 15,280 years.
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Underwater Archaeology on the Great Lakes | SAAJ 062
01/21/2023
Underwater Archaeology on the Great Lakes | SAAJ 062
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team begins with the latest news from the world of archaeology. Micah covers the story of the use of stone tools by modern monkeys. Next, Jason presents the unlikely story of a Londoner who has cracked the code of the meaning of ancient cave paintings. The team then welcomes Dr. Ashley Lemke for an exciting discussion on her work discovering ancient underwater archaeological sites beneath the Great Lakes. Ashley Lemke is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas in Arlington and former Chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology (www.acuaonline.org). She is a leading researcher on the archaeology of hunter-gatherers. She has worked extensively on both terrestrial and underwater archaeological projects from the Lower Paleolithic in Europe to 19th-century Nunamiut archaeological sites in the Arctic. She is an expert on submerged ancient sites in the Americas and has researched such sites in the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, and Atlantic Ocean. Our Sponsor:
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Parkin Mounds: Mound Builders Series | SAAJ 061
12/28/2022
Parkin Mounds: Mound Builders Series | SAAJ 061
In this episode, the Seven Ages team leads off their final episode of 2022 with a discussion on a ground-breaking new report on the Cooper's Ferry archaeological site. Recent Carbon 14 dating suggests this site may pre-date Clovis occupation in North America by as much as 2,000 years. Next, the team discusses the recent geological report that indicates the Bering Land Bridge may have been a late addition to the end of the last Ice Age. The team is then joined by Nathan Odom, a park interpreter at Parkin Mounds Archaeological State Park in Arkansas. The Parkin Mounds Archaeological State Park is a National Historic Landmark that preserves a 17-acre Mississippian Period American Indian village located on site from A.D. 1000 to 1550. Archeologists at this research station also uncovered evidence that Hernando de Soto visited this site in 1541. The site was the location of the 1920s-era Northern Ohio Lumber Cooperage Company, and the Northern Ohio School House still remains. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Odom shares his knowledge of the history of the location, and the fascinating discoveries made there during excavations over the years. Our Sponsor:
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Tutankhamun: A Century of Discovery | SAAJ 060
11/23/2022
Tutankhamun: A Century of Discovery | SAAJ 060
In this episode, the Seven Ages team begins the show with an in-depth discussion of some of the theories and speculations surrounding the building of the pyramids. The discussion also references the recently discovered void above the King's chamber in the pyramid of Khufu using a cosmic-ray scan. The Seven Ages team is then joined by Dr. Bob Brier "Mr. Mummy" for a celebratory discussion of the 100th Anniversary of the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun by Howard Carter. Dr. Bob Brier is recognized as one of the world's foremost experts on mummies and Egyptology. As Senior Research Fellow at Long Island University/LIU Post in Brookville, New York, he has conducted pioneering research in mummification practices and has investigated some of the world's most famous mummies, including King Tut, Vladimir Lenin, Ramses the Great, Eva Peron (Evita), Marquise Tai (Chinese noblewoman), and the Medici family of Renaissance Italy. In celebration of the centennial of the discovery of the famed Egyptian pharaoh's final resting place, Dr. Brier joins us to discuss his new book Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World. Our Sponsor:
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Moundville, Alabama: Moundbuilder Series | SAAJ 059
10/29/2022
Moundville, Alabama: Moundbuilder Series | SAAJ 059
In this episode, the Seven Ages team catches up for a bit of Egyptological discussion in our introduction portion of the show, before shifting our attention over to Jason Pentrail and Chase Pipes of the Chasing History Youtube channel, who continue their journey to mound-building cultural sites throughout the Southeastern United States. At their most recent stop, the team toured the stunning Mississippian site of Moundville, Alabama. Jason and Chase are joined by friend and colleague Lash LaRoux as they sit down to speak with Faculty Curator Dr. Elliot Blair. Dr. Elliott Blair is an anthropological archaeologist whose research focuses on the early colonial and Late Mississippian periods in the American Southeast. Much of his research focuses on population aggregation and identity at Mission Santa Catalina de Guale, a 16th and 17th-century Spanish mission located on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia. Drawing upon practice-based approaches to the archaeology of colonialism and exploring identity through situated learning theory, he examines the persistence of social identities as diverse populations formed new communities under the pressures of missionization. In his work, he uses social network analysis to explore the structure of past social relationships at multiple scales. We are also joined by Moundville Education and Outreach Coordinator Lindsey Gordon who shares all of Moundville's outstanding programs and cultural relationships with us. Our Sponsor:
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Poverty Point, Louisiana: Mound Builders Series | SAAJ 058
10/10/2022
Poverty Point, Louisiana: Mound Builders Series | SAAJ 058
In this episode, the Seven Ages team is joined once again by Chase Pipes of the Chasing History Radio podcast and Youtube channel in a visit to the captivating site known as Poverty Point, the third stop on our mound builders tour. Poverty Point, Louisiana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest mound sites in North America. The archaeological record at Poverty Point shows that its story goes back at least 3000 years. While no written record of Poverty Points inhabitants remains, we know that the site was of significant ceremonial importance and was a hub for various regional activities including trade, production of goods, and the creation of site-specific artifacts such as the Poverty Point Objects (PPOs), a unique cooking stone found in great abundance at the site. Seven Ages host Jason Pentrail welcomes Poverty Point site manager and expert interpreter Mark Brink to the show. Mark discusses the history, progression, and eventual decline of Poverty Point. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Our Sponsor:
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The Gault Site: A Clovis Case Study | SAAJ 057
08/21/2022
The Gault Site: A Clovis Case Study | SAAJ 057
In this episode of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, the team welcomes Dr. Clark Werneke. Dr. Wernecke is the Executive Director for the Gault School of Archaeological Research and brings a unique blend of scholarship and experience to the school with degrees in history, business, and anthropology. He has considerable experience in business and has specialized in the management of large archaeological projects. Dr. Wernecke has worked in the Middle East, Mesoamerica, the American Southeast, and the Southwest. In addition to his work with the GSAR, he is currently working on archaeological data from the Mexican War and early Texas architecture. The Gault Site has been known by archaeologists for at least 78 years. In 1929, the first anthropologist at the University of Texas, J.E. Pearce, had a crew excavating at the site for eight weeks. Though primarily interested in the Archaic burnt-rock midden showing on the surface Pearce's crew managed to excavate a handful of Paleoindian artifacts including Clovis cultural materials more than 2 years before the discoveries at Blackwater Draw. Since that time the Gault site has proven to be a significant archaeological zone spanning all twenty-two known indigenous cultures and time periods from Texas. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Our Sponsor
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Mound Builders Series: Spiro Mounds, Oklahoma | SAAJ 56
07/08/2022
Mound Builders Series: Spiro Mounds, Oklahoma | SAAJ 56
In this episode, the Seven Ages team is joined by Chase Pipes of the Chasing History Youtube channel and podcast, as they continue the spring road trip and record live from the Spiro Mounds site in Oklahoma. Jason Pentrail, James Waldo, and Chase Pipes are joined by archaeologist and Spiro Archaeological Park Director Dennis Peterson. Dennis provides the team with a detailed explanation of the history of the Mississippian culture and excavations that have taken place over the years at the famed Spiro Mounds site. Dennis Peterson has been the manager at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center for 30 years. In May of 1985, he came to the site when it was still a part of the State Park system under the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (transferred over to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1991) and started interpreting the site to the public. He was involved in the excavations under the Oklahoma Archeological Survey and Oklahoma University from 1979 to 1982 and worked with the site and other locations in Oklahoma through the Survey from 1982 to 1985. Spiro Mounds is one of the most important cultural and economic centers in the Mississippian world. It boasts one of the richest art and artifact collections in North America and is considered an international cultural treasure. Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center preserves 150 acres of the site along the Arkansas River. The center offers interpretive exhibits, an introductory slide program, and a small gift shop. Visitors can explore nearly two miles of interpreted trails, including a one-half-mile nature trail. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Our Sponsor
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Mound Builders Series: Pinson Mounds, Tennessee | SAAJ 55
06/15/2022
Mound Builders Series: Pinson Mounds, Tennessee | SAAJ 55
In this episode, the Seven Ages team is joined by Chase Pipes of the Chasing History Youtube channel and podcast, as they travel and record live from the Pinson Mounds site in Eastern Tennessee. Jason Pentrail and Chase Pipes are joined by Tennessee State Park Ranger Dedra Irwin, who explains all the details of this truly unique woodland-era mound complex. Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park covers over 1,200 acres and contains at least 15 Native American mounds. In addition to Sauls Mound, the group includes Oxier Mound, the Twin Mounds, and Mound 31. Archaeological evidence suggests the mounds were both burial and ceremonial in purpose. Pinson Mounds is a national historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Our Sponsor
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The Clovis Projectile Point and Experimental Archaeology | SAAJ 54
05/09/2022
The Clovis Projectile Point and Experimental Archaeology | SAAJ 54
This edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal Podcast begins with a discussion of the latest research concerning the peopling of the Americas. Next, the team catches up from all over North and South America as the Seven Ages and Chasing History Spring road trip wraps up. We are then joined by Kent State University professor Dr. Metin Eren for an in-depth discussion on the efficacy of the Clovis projectile point in killing proboscideans. Eren, who holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Southern Methodist University, as well as an M.A. inExperimental Archaeology from the University of Exeter, an M.A. in Anthropology, from Southern Methodist University, and an A.B. in Anthropology from Harvard College, shares an academic perspective with the team about the world of experimental archaeology, and what we can learn from this ever-advancing discipline. How can modern science be applied toward a deeper understanding not only of the projectile point, but also of the many other practices held by ancient Americans, and early people elsewhere around the world? The Seven Ages Research Associates dig into these, and many other questions with Dr. Eren on this special edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Below are links to stories covered in this edition of the podcast Our sponsor: The Kent State Experimental Archaeology Lab
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The Mystery of Florida's Key Marco Cat | SAAJ 53
04/05/2022
The Mystery of Florida's Key Marco Cat | SAAJ 53
In this edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, we discuss the latest news from the world of archaeology including the future of space archaeology as well as the discovery of the famed Shackelton ship The Endurance. We are then joined by Austin J. Bell for an in-depth discussion on the famous and mysterious Key Marco Cat. Bell is the curator of collections for the Marco Island Historical Society and a consulting scholar at the Penn Museum. Austin discusses the details of this enigmatic artifact in his newest book The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Key Marco Cat, available at the University Press of Florida. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Below are links to stories covered on this edition of the podcast Our Sponsor: The Nine Lives of Florida's Famous Key Marco Cat:
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Bonfire Shelter Bison Jump: Paleoindian and Archaic-Period Excavation | SAAJ 52
03/09/2022
Bonfire Shelter Bison Jump: Paleoindian and Archaic-Period Excavation | SAAJ 52
In this edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, we lead off the discussion with news from around the world of archaeology, highlighting a 9,000-year-old shrine in Jordan and a new article from the Mammoth Trumpet Journal discussing perishable technologies with former SAAJ guests J.M. Advasio and Tom Dillehay. We then feature an in-depth interview with David Kilby of Texas State University and the Ancient Southwest Texas Project to discuss the Bonfire Shelter bison jump. David Kilby has a long history of archaeological work at famous sites such as Blackwater Draw, Murray Springs, Mockingbird Gap, Folsom, and the Rio Rancho Folsom site. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Below are links to stories covered on this edition of the podcast: Our Sponsors:
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Mississippian Imagery: Unlocking an Ancient American Cosmology | SAAJ 51
01/19/2022
Mississippian Imagery: Unlocking an Ancient American Cosmology | SAAJ 51
On this edition of the Seven Ages Audio Journal, we lead off the discussion with a memorial to the late Tennessee archaeologist David Dean. Remembering David's life and work with us is a friend of the program, Chase Pipes of the Smoky Mountain Relic Room, along with fellow Tennessee archaeologists Jay Franklin and Zoen McLachlan. Then for the remainder of the program, the team is joined by Bretton Giles and Shawn Lambert, who are the co-editors of a new anthology entitled New Methods and Theories for Analyzing Mississippian Imagery. Bretton T. Giles is an assistant research professor in sociology, anthropology, and social work at Kansas State University. Shawn P. Lambert is an assistant professor of anthropology and senior research associate with the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University. Follow the Seven Ages Research Associates online: Below are links to stories covered on this edition of the podcast: Our Sponsors: THE BOOK:
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