Cooking with Archaeologists: Food, fieldwork, and stories.
Food & Cooking Podcasts
The purpose of this podcast is to share the stories and food recipes of the people who uncover our shared past-the field archaeologist. The field archaeologists is a unique individual. Their work is to excavate, recover, and survey our human past. In some sense they are modern-day nomads following the seasonal cycle of available work across the globe. Like all nomads they have few personal possessions and only live at one location for a short period of time. This non-traditional life is challenging in terms of having a “normal life” but with it comes unique experiences that few people get to enjoy. For the field archaeologist one of the most important experiences of their day is the shared evening meal. The evening meal is probably the most important part of the day. This is when everyone comes together and shares food. Like traditional family meals this is when the day is discussed, stories are shared, and food is enjoyed. Food is culture. It defines who we are and it is one of the cultural artifacts that brings people together. For the field archaeologist there are memories involved in the making and eating food that we the editors of this blog believe that are important to share with the world. What better way to learn and experience archaeology then from the women and men doing the hard work- the field archaeologist!
Location:
United States
Description:
The purpose of this podcast is to share the stories and food recipes of the people who uncover our shared past-the field archaeologist. The field archaeologists is a unique individual. Their work is to excavate, recover, and survey our human past. In some sense they are modern-day nomads following the seasonal cycle of available work across the globe. Like all nomads they have few personal possessions and only live at one location for a short period of time. This non-traditional life is challenging in terms of having a “normal life” but with it comes unique experiences that few people get to enjoy. For the field archaeologist one of the most important experiences of their day is the shared evening meal. The evening meal is probably the most important part of the day. This is when everyone comes together and shares food. Like traditional family meals this is when the day is discussed, stories are shared, and food is enjoyed. Food is culture. It defines who we are and it is one of the cultural artifacts that brings people together. For the field archaeologist there are memories involved in the making and eating food that we the editors of this blog believe that are important to share with the world. What better way to learn and experience archaeology then from the women and men doing the hard work- the field archaeologist!
Language:
English
Episodes
Digital Archaeology with kebabs
11/15/2017
We have a double dose of stimulating discussion in this week's podcast. Well, a triple dose-actually. Dr. Colleen Morgan, a Lecture at the University of York, and Daniel Eddisford, the Field Director for "The Origins of Qatar and Doha Project," join us to discuss digital archaeology and fieldwork. Accompanying them is their 16-month-year-old daughter, Tamsin. There is cuteness explosion at the end of the interview that is worth the wait!
We could spend hours talking with these two. They...
Duration:00:24:34
Underwater archaeology, public outreach, photogrammatry, and fish soup
11/1/2017
Massimiliano Ditta may not be the Holy Diver, but we think he is pretty close and pretty awesome. Max works at the Stavanger Maritime Museum as one of their talented and hardworking underwater archaeologists. We are lucky to chat with him and hear about his passion for everything under the sea! Max provides us with a detailed account of his work and the work that takes place below sea-level out of sight from us terrestrial dwellers. It's a fascinating talk, and he gives us a real clear...
Duration:00:49:26
Canine evolution with an Aperol aperitif
9/13/2017
What do canine evolution and an Aperol aperitif have in common? Absolutely nothing and we don't care! Join us for today's exciting guest, Dr. Bridgett von Holdt. Bridgett is an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University and an expert in canine evolution.
Whether you are a dog lover or not this is a fascinating interview with someone who breaks down a complex topic like evolution for the layperson. You'll feel smarter after our interview with Bridgett!
Finally, Bridgett shares with us...
Duration:00:34:59
Alaska edition: community archaeology and wild salmon
8/26/2017
Community archaeology is the topic of today's podcast. We chat with Madison Dapcevich, a journalist and TV reporter/producer out of KECI Montana, who wrote her MA thesis about a community archaeology project in her home state of Alaska. If you want to understand the power and benefits of getting a community involved in archaeology this is a great interview to begin with!
Next, we chat about her father's deliciously simple salmon recipe. If you can get your hands on some wild salmon you need...
Duration:00:31:19
Viking age cats, Tex-Mex, and learning how to cook in the field.
8/19/2017
Today, it is a cat episode! So, for all of you cat lovers out there, please tune into hear CUNY Ph.D. student Brenda Prehal talk about her fascinating research about cats in Iceland.
We talk about her research and other work in Iceland. And, we also talk a little about life as a graduate student.
Brenda shares with us her new adventures into cooking. Dominos and Subway were no longer an option for her. She found the courage to face her cooking avoidance and decided to jump in the deep end...
Duration:00:28:10
The Sotra Project, Finnish fish soup, and public outreach in archaeology
8/12/2017
Today, we have a variety of topics to discuss. Dr. Kristin Ilves joins us to talk about a very large and comprehensive archaeological project underway on the west-coast of Norway. The Sotra Project, lead by Leif Inge Astveit from the University of Bergen Museum, is currently recovering and recording archaeological remains from the early mesolithic to the late neolithic. This project, like many across Norway, is part of a road expansion project taking place just outside of Bergen.
Kristin's...
Duration:00:27:32
Across the North Atlantic with Spinach Artichoke dip.
8/2/2017
Dr. Elizabeth Pierce takes time from her hectic summer schedule to talk with us about her research into the Medieval period of the North Atlantic and her work as a lecturer.
In the first part of the interview, she takes us to Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands as we discuss her dissertation research. Elizabeth was examining the differences of Norse culture at the periphery. It is a fascinating talk about the cultural diversity across the North Atlantic.
Next, she talks about her...
Duration:00:23:42
Neolithic China, beer making, and rice wine.
6/27/2017
Here is the episode to get your drink on! Stanford University Ph.D. student Jiajing Wang speaks with us today about her research into beer making and fermentation practices during the Neolithic in China. We spoke with her in China as she was finishing up some research. This is a great talk about the earliest evidence of beer making. Or, should we call it the earliest evidence of craft beer making?! Regardless, she has a lot of information for us to digest!
We also chat about what is going...
Duration:00:26:26
Lentil balls, Neolithic Turkey, and construction of the past
6/21/2017
Today we have a packed episode full of the intricacies of being an archaeologist and how broad the field really is. We are thankful to speak with Dr. Burcu Tung from Stanford University about her work in archaeology, her contribution to the field through her research and Burcu shares with us her Grandma's lentil ball recipe.
Burcu is a site supervisor at the famous archaeological site of Catal Hoyuk in Turkey. For those who don't know this, Catal Hoyuk is a Neolithic site located in Turkey...
Duration:00:30:10
Kentucky bourbon balls and public history
6/13/2017
Jenny Holly is a public historian and proud Kentuckian, who chats with us today about her interesting project into the medical history of Lexington, Kentucky. The healthcare industry in Lexington goes back to the late 1700s and is still an important part of the local economy. We learn about this history and about the various individuals who over the years created this medical landscape of Lexington. By the way, she is doing this all in her spare time!
What is a public historian you ask?...
Duration:00:35:16
Archaeology in areas of conflict and Azerbaijani inspired chicken
6/5/2017
Dr. Lauren Ristvet from the University of Pennsylvania joined us today to speak about her research and collaborative projects. Lauren is a Near Eastern archaeologist who has worked in Syria and Iraq for close to 20 years. Her work began at the site of Tell Leilan in Syria. She is currently working in Azerbaijan in the southern Caucasus. It's here Lauren is co-directing an excavation of the fortress site of Oglangala (Iron Age 1200 - 300 BCE) in Naxcivan.
In the interview, we also discussed...
Duration:00:38:13
Neuroarchaeology and an Indonesian seafood experience
5/31/2017
Are you kept up a night trying to tackle the problems of early hominid evolution? Like, what's the significance of language to the production of stone tools? Or, what's going on in a person's brain while they are knapping away on some stones? Well, grab some popcorn and hold on to your seats and brace yourself for some hardcore knowledge! We had the privilege to chat with Dr. Shelby Putt from the Stone Age Institute in Indiana who is doing some really exceptional and intriguing...
Duration:00:31:17
Rock art from the Black Desert in Jordan with stuffed peppers.
5/14/2017
Nathalie Brusgaard is a P.h.D. candidate from Leiden University. Nathalie speaks with us about her research with rock art from the Black Desert in Jordan. This is the first time anyone has ever documented the rock art left behind by nomadic groups that traveled this region of Jordan during the late first millennium BC/ early first millennium AD. We are really fortunate that Nathalie made time for us and we are grateful that she shared with us her groundbreaking work!
We chat with her about...
Duration:00:23:00
Pioneer cemeteries from Upstate New York with lemon curd
5/7/2017
Self-starter and scholar Amanda Brainard has done what few of us do-she's taken the initiative to follow her passion. No, her passion isn't base jumping from a high mountain cliff in a wing suit. It's something deeper and more selfless. Amanda's passion is to protect our cemeteries from neglect and decay.
Join us as we talk to Amanda about her community-based project, the Northeastern Coalition for Cemetery Studies. Its goal is to preserve the cemeteries of our local communities for future...
Duration:00:20:25
Figurines from Syria with tortillas.
5/1/2017
Monique Arntz is a Ph.D. student at Cambridge University working with clay figurines from the Neolithic period. She began her research journey at the University of Leiden analyzing and writing about figurines from Tell Sabi Abyad in Syria. She since has expanded her research to include figurines from the famous site of Catal Huyuk in Turkey.
In this podcast, Monique discusses the background of her research, what she is looking for and the significance of her work. She drops some theory on...
Duration:00:36:30
Western Canada with foraged local fauna and 14,000 years of occupation.
4/26/2017
Alisha Gauvreau chats with us about her exciting excavation of a 14,000-year-old habitation site from a remote island in British Columbia, Canada. You heard that correctly-14,000 years ago! She is a Ph.D. student at the University of Victoria and a scholar at the Hakai Institute.
The site is located on the Triquet Island several hundred kilometers north of Victoria. Alisha talks about working in a remote location and about the results they have so far from the excavation. They are currently...
Duration:00:32:37
The life and lessons from a Cocopah tribal archaeologist and a secret cookie recipe!
4/19/2017
We have always been blown away and inspired by the people we get to chat with on this podcast. In today's podcast, we get to share our interview with tribal archaeologist for the Cocopah Indian Tribe, Jill McCormick!
We are still trying to wrap our minds around how Jill accomplishes so much! Not only is she the Tribe's award-winning archaeologist she is also their cultural resource manager. Her work goes beyond this too. Jill is an Associate Professor at Arizona Western College and for the...
Duration:00:31:00
The origins of Icelandic horses and sheep with Grandma's Icelandic lamb saddle recipe
4/11/2017
Zooarchaeologists Albina Hulda Palsdottir is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oslo researching the origins of Icelandic horses and sheep. Albina's research is staggering in size and scope. She is trying to trace the origins of the horses and sheep that were brought to Iceland during the 9th century. Anyone who has an interest in ancient DNA should have a listen to this podcast!
For a recipe, Albina shares with us her Grandmother's lame saddle recipe. If you like dill you'll enjoy...
Duration:00:42:33
The archaeology of Greenland with foraged blue mussels
4/5/2017
Dr. Mikkel Sorensen joins us today at Cooking with Archaeologists! Mikkel is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen where he is an educator and researcher in Arctic prehistory, hunter-gatherer archaeology, and lithic technology. When he is not enjoying himself in Copenhagen you can find him working in Greenland! No, he doesn't excavate Norse sites so stop asking!! That's someone else's job.
In today's podcast, we talk about Mikkel's work with prehistoric sites and...
Duration:00:28:44
All things gin with some really fascinating archaeology
3/28/2017
Dr. Joe Flatman is the Head of Listing Programmes at Historic England. He was formerly the County Archaeologists of Surrey in southeast England and a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at University College London. You can follow him on Twitter @joeflatman.
In today's podcast, Joe Flatman speaks with us about the work of Historic England and his deep passion for archaeology. We learned a lot today about the fascinating projects at Historic England. Archaeologists do more than just dig up the...
Duration:00:33:20