In part two of their Lembas Bread quest, Tilly and Ash continue their ingredient hunt with Caroline Nicolay (Pario Gallico) in order to help the Lembas Appreciation Society analyse the oldest existing sample of the explementary whey bread. The team continue their discussion around living history, food, and experiential archaeology, asking the big questions of: what is food waste? How can we break down assumptions of food in the past? And are bogs actually fridges?

• Caroline’s Website
• Caroline’s Instagram
• Huldremos Woman
• Isotope and Strontium Analysis in Archaeology
• EXARC
• Ancient Caledonia Camp
• Chalk History Festival

• Email: [email protected]
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For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/50

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Rumbling bellies be gone! Ash and Tilly are on a quest to deconstruct the ingredients of the famous Lembas Bread from Lord of the Rings. One bite might be enough to fill one man’s belly, but its not enough for the AMT team. Our fantasy archaeologists have reached out to experimental archaeologist, Caroline Nicolay (Pario Gallico) to help solve the riddle of the Elven snack. In this episode, they discuss the importance of food in fantasy, Iron Age food practices, and, of course, Discworld…

• Lord of the Rings (J.R.R.Tolkien)
• Wee Free Men (Terry Pratchett)
• Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook (Terry Pratchett)
• The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
• Legends and Lattes (Travis Baldree)
• Fellowship of Bakers and Magic (J. Penner)
• The House Witch (Delemhach)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)
• Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carrol)

• Caroline’s Website
• Caroline’s Instagram

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel

• For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/49

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In this episode, Tilly and Ash continue with quest to map Mirkwood Forest with the help of Dr Wouter Verschoof-Van der Vaart! They continue to discuss the advantages of aerial imagery, multispectral scanning, and LiDAR, asking the big questions about how do you manage rising water in the Netherlands? What is hillsade? And what would an Ancient Egyptian cartoucherie charcuterie board look like?

• Heritage Quest Project
• Article on the Heritage Quest Project
• Article on the use of AI in LiDAR interpretation
• Article on the use of R-CNN in LiDAR interpretation
• Article on LiDAR study from the Amazon

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel

For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/48

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Ash and Tilly have an especially exciting quest this episode, as thanks to a request from the Malgaroth Historical Society of Mirkwood, they will be working with the Eagles! In order not to look like idiots when attempting aerial scanning, they enlist the help of archaeologist and scanning expert Dr Wouter Verschoof-Van der Vaart. Together, the three discuss the varying paths you can take into a career in archaeology, the importance of fantasy fiction in archaeological career development, and why there’s no fantasy aerial scanning technology.

• Dragonlance chronicles (Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman)
• Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
• Lies of Locke Lamora (Scott Lynch)
• Shipbreaker (Paolo Bacigalupi)
• Lord of the Rings (J.R.R.Tolkien)
• Witches Series (Terry Pratchett)
• Star Wars (various authors)
• Assassins Creed (video game)
• Baldur’s Gate (video game)

• Introduction to LiDAR
• LiDAR Mapping of Salisbury Plains

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel

• For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/47

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In this episode, Tilly and Ash continue their quest to reveal the secrets of a newly discovered Doors of Durin, with help from archaeologist and rock carving specialist, Dr Megan Kasten! What exactly is the difference between rock art, rock carvings, and inscriptions? What exactly is RTI? And will Tilly ever not love an anagram?

• 3D and RTI: Shedding Light on Damaged Ogham
• Inchinnan 5: The discovery and reconstruction of an early medieval carved stone
• The Govan Stones Revealed
• AHRC/IRC Project OG(H)AM: Harnessing digital technologies to transform understanding of ogham writing, from the 4th century to the 21st.
• International Day of Ogham
• Rekrei Project
• Individual variability in Rune Carving on Rock A comparison between individuals and workshops by Laila Kitzler Åhfeldt

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel

• For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/46

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Ash and Tilly are on a quest from the Bazkardum Society to investigate a new Door of Durin. Joining them is archaeologist and rock carving specialist Dr Megan Kasten, who helps in answering their many many many questions. What is Reflectance Transformation Imaging? Why is Ash suddenly obsessed with puns? And how can Tilly force in a Discworld reference?

• Lord of the Rings (J.R.R.Tolkien)
• Sabriel (Garth Nix)
• Lords and Ladies (Terry Pratchett)
• The Witcher (Andrzej Sapkowski)
• The Dark Tower (Stephen King)
• Gunslinger (Stephen King)
• The Chronicles of Narnia (C. S. Lewis)
• Earthsea (Ursula Le Guin)
• Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan)
• Sword of Shannara (Terry Brooks)
• The Forever War (Joe Haldeman)

• OG(H)AM project website
• Ogham in Video Games and Tabletop RPGs
• Info on the Dark Door
• Introduction to (H)RTI
• Introduction to Photogrammetry
• Megan’s PhD thesis
• Megan’s Bluesky

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel

For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/45

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In part two of their fateful quest, Ash and Tilly chat more with prehistoric archaeologist and textiles specialist Ronja Lau. Together, the three discuss the different kinds of analysis possible when studying archaeological textiles, and work together to try and replicate the woven threads left by the Norns. But what kind of material should they use? Should they go for a twill, or tabby weave? And what’s Ronja’s obsession with Telekom got to do with anything?

• Fashion Show
• Ronja’s Instagram
• Reproducing colourful woven bands from the Iron Age salt mine of Hallstatt in Austria: An interdisciplinary approach to acquire knowledge of prehistoric dyeing technology

• Email: [email protected]
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• For rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archpodnet.com/trowel/44

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In this episode, Tilly and Ash have been tasked with covering holiday leave for the Norns, the weavers of fate, life and destiny from Norse mythology. However, there’s a problem they don’t have the first clue about weaving! Luckily the know someone who does, prehistoric archaeologist and textile specialist, Ronja Lau! With Ronja’s help, will the trio be able to weave the fates of Gods and humans? And will they ever find out how Game of Thrones ended?

A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy) - Deborah Harkness

The Magic in the Weaving - Tamora Pierce

Daughter of the Forest - Juliet Marillier

The Weaver and the Witch Queen - Genevieve Gornichec

https://www.instagram.com/ronja_lau/

Hallstatt Salt Mines

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Following excavation at Weathertop (Amon Sûl), a range of post-excavation analyses was undertaken to better understand the site’s history and use. Archaeobotanical analysis revealed evidence of plant remains, shedding light on past diets and the environment surrounding the tower. Illustrations of key artefacts and features were produced to aid in visual interpretation and documentation. Find processing involved the cleaning, cataloguing, and detailed recording of artefacts, including pottery, tools, and weapons. Additionally, flotation techniques were employed to recover small organic remains, such as seeds and charcoal, offering further insight into the site’s past occupation and use.

TLDR: Tilly and Ash discuss the post-excavation analysis of their six week dig on Weathertop!

European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), 2025. EAA 2025 Annual Meeting. [Accessed 24 March 2025].

The Archaeologist's Teacup, 2025. Microscopes and Magnifications [Accessed 24 March 2025].

The Ness of Brodgar Trust, 2025. Degrees of Separation: A Brief Guide to the Flotation Process. [Accessed 24 March 2025].

Wessex Archaeology, 2025. Artefact Publication Illustration. [Accessed 24 March 2025].

Jigsaw Archaeology, 2025. Introduction to Archaeological Report Writing. [Accessed 24 March 2025].

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Excavations at Weathertop (Amon Sûl) have uncovered significant evidence of its role as a Númenórean watchtower and the later decline of Arnor. Artefacts including weapons, pottery, and tools reflect the site’s military importance before its destruction by Angmar’s forces. Remains of battle and burnt structures provide insight into the final assault on the tower, while later finds suggest sporadic use by travellers and the Dúnedain. This report examines the site’s stratigraphy and the material culture uncovered, offering a glimpse into the history and symbolic decline of Weathertop as part of Middle-earth’s broader narrative.

TLDR: Tilly and Ash excavate the fantastical site of Weathertop as found in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

Bintliff, J., ed., 2012. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. 5th ed. London: Thames & Hudson. Available at: https://archive.org/details/ArchaeologyTheoriesMethodsAndPracticeTheoriesMethodsAndPractice [Accessed 24 March 2025].

Tolkien, J.R.R., 1954. The Fellowship of the Ring. London: George Allen & Unwin. Chapter 10 ("A Knife in the Dark").

Tolkien, J.R.R., 2001. The Lord of the Rings: Appendices. In: The Return of the King. London: HarperCollins.

LOTRO Wiki, 2025. Weathertop. Available at: https://lotro-wiki.com/wiki/Weathertop [Accessed 24 March 2025].

Tolkien, C., 1996. The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: The Peoples of Middle-earth. London: HarperCollins. Appendix A (The Tale of Years).

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