A Life In Ruins

Today’s podcast hostage is Lana...Lana...Lanaaaaaaa Ruck. Lana is a dual Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Anthropology and Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University, Bloomington. She works at Olduvai Gorge as a student researcher at the Stone Age Institute, and she is an avid science communicator through IU's science blog, ScIU (@sciublog).

Lana is a proud Texan, and got her B.A. in Anthropology at Texas Tech University and her M.A. at Florida Atlantic University. She has worked in Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Tanzania, focusing on stone tool technologies and toolmaking techniques. Lana is an interdisciplinary scientist and self-described "stone age neuroscientist."

Her research combines brain imaging techniques with experimental archaeology to explore how our uniquely-human system of technology, language, and cognition evolved. Unfortunately, Lana allowed Carlton to be one of her participants for her dissertation research, and we are very excited to spill the tea on how that disaster went. 

Links

• Lana Ruck
• Twitter: @lanaruck 
• Instagram: @lanalately 
• ScIU Instagram: @sciublog 

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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.

Links

• Dr. Schroder
• Email: [email protected]
• Center for Big Bend Studies
• Website: https://cbbs.sulross.edu/index.php 
• Instagram
• Faebook: http://www.facebook.com/CenterForBigBendStudies 

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Twitter: @alifeinruinspod 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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
• https://www.academia.edu/32510329/On_the_Origin_of_our_Favorite_Subspecies_The_Biological_Implications_of_Dog_Domestication_on_Modern_Humans
• 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.

Contact Links

• Bernie Taylor’s Website: http://beforeorion.com 
• Bernie’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDrHjYiL5e8fbgbHoPUAREg/playlists 
• Bernie’s Instagram: @beforeorion 

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!

Links

• Chris Webster
• Twitter: @archeowebby 
• Instagram: @chris_archaeo_webster 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/captainwebby 
• APN Twitter: @archpodnet 
• APN Instagram: @archpodnet 
• APN Facebook: www.facebook.com/archpodnet 
• Chris’ Book: Field Archaeologist’s Survival Guide: Getting a Job and Working in CRM 

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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

Contact

• Email: [email protected] 
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Twitter: @alifeinruinspod 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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.

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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.

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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!

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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.

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @alifeinruinspodcast 
• Facebook: @alifeinruinspodcast 

Affiliates

• Wildnote
• Digital Marketing Course
• TeePublic
• Timeular

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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