In this episode I talk with Claudio Ottoni about the origin and history of domestic cats.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Claudio Ottoni

Dr. Ottoni is a professor at the University of Rome "Tor Vergata". His research interests are in biomolecular archaeology and the study of ancient DNA as a tool to reconstruct the past of human and animal populations. In particular, much of his research has focused on the history of cat-human interactions and particularly through the use of palaeogenetics. He has previously lead research projects at the Center for Archaeological Sciences (CAS) of the KU Leuven University, in Belgium, the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES) of the University of Oslo, in Norway, and the Diet and Ancient Technology Laboratory (DANTE) of the Sapienza University of Rome, in Italy. Dr. Ottoni is currently the head of the FELIX project, funded by the European Research Council. 

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

FELIX project

Domestic cat (Felis catus)

Hierakonpolis or Nekhen

Shillourokambos

Selected reading

The Dispersal of the Domestic Cat: Paleogenetic and Zooarcheological Evidence

The palaeogenetics of cat dispersal in the ancient world

Of cats and men: The paleogenetic history of the dispersal of cats in the ancient world

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode we talk with Clarence Surette and Zeb Kawei about 3D scanning, modelling, and printing in archaeology.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Clarence Surette

Clarence is a bio-archaeology technician at Lakehead University. A lot of his research has focused on the analysis of microfossils (such as phytoliths, pollen, starch) and how it applies to reconstructing past diets and environments. In recent years, Clarence's work has focused on investigating the use of 3D modelling in archaeology. Since 2007, he has been the president of the Thunder Bay Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society.

Web:

About Zebedee "Zeb" Kawei

Zeb is a graduate of Lakehead University and currently an archaeologist at Ecofor Consulting. His research focuses on reconstructing paleo-environment in virtual reality.  

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Blender

MeshLab

Meshmixer

Artifact GeoMorph Toolbox 3D

Stratovan

Lakehead Anthropology Sketchfab page

Selected reading

Quick and dirty: streamlined 3D scanning in archaeology

Promoting the Past: The Educational Applications of 3D Scanning Technology in Archaeology

Towards the definition of best 3D practices in archaeology: Assessing 3D documentation techniques for intra-site data recording

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Gareth Spicer about policies of disclosure in archaeology and how this has influenced some of the projects that he has worked on.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Gareth Spicer

Gareth is a principal archaeologist at Turtle Island Cultural Resource Management based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Turtle Island CRM

Selected reading

Archaeologists dig for answers at new Walterdale site

Much of Edmonton’s rich aboriginal prehistory sits in storage

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Bruce Bradley about the Solutrean hypothesis and his work investigating this subject.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Bruce Bradley

Dr. Bradley is an emeritus professor at the University of Exeter. His research currently focuses on the Pleistocene in South America and American Southwest Ancestral Puebloan archaeology. He is also active in research into the early occupations of the Atlantic seaboard in North America. Bruce is also well-known in the knapper community for his skill and ability to replicate ancient techniques and styles of knapped stone tools. 

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)

Meadowcroft Rockshelter site

Page-Ladson site

Topper site

Gravettian

Magdalenian

Denali

Selected reading

Across Atlantic Ice: The Origin of America's Clovis Culture

Ice Bridge

New Evidence for a Possible Paleolithic Occupation of the Eastern North American Continental Shelf at the Last Glacial Maximum

Solutrean Hypothesis: Genetics, the Mammoth in the Room

The North Atlantic Ice-Edge Corridor: A Possible Palaeolithic Route to the New World

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode we talk with Raven Todd DaSilva about popularising archaeology through YouTube.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website. 

http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeocafe-podcast-ep-230-todd-dasilva/

About Raven Todd DaSilva

Raven is a graduate of University College London. Her research interests are in archaeology and heritage conservation. She hosts the YouTube channel 'Dig it with Raven', in which she informs viewers about archaeology and history.

Web:

Selected media

Dig It With Raven

For more episodes and news, visit our website and social media pages.

Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Alka Barthwal about her research at Roopkund Lake, the history of the site, and hypotheses about who the skeletons belonged to and what happened to them.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Alka Barthwal

Dr. Barthwal is a professor of bioanthropology at Suresh Gyan Vihar University. Her research focuses on palaeopathology and bioanthropology, specifically the analysis of ancient human skeletal remains. Her main subject of interest is the skeletons of Roopkund - who the people were, what happened to them, and how they were connected to local people.

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Roopkund

Uttarakhand

Nanda Devi Raj Jat [नंदा देवी राज जात]

Selected reading

Roopkund Mystery "Pathology Reveals Head Injury behind the Casualties"

Roopkund: An Unsolved Mystery

Ancient DNA from the skeletons of Roopkund Lake reveals Mediterranean migrants in India

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Vincent Lascour about the Neolithic in Corsica, and his experimental work in recreating crafts and tools from the region, in particular the work of the Chalcophore association in recreating and testing a Neolithic boat to travel between Corsica and Sardinia, a key aspect of the obsidian trade network of the period.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Vincent Lascour

Vincent is a craftsman specializing in the reproduction of prehistoric tools. Following 6 years working at the AFAN (National Association for Archaeological Excavations, today INRAP) and having experience at the Samara historical park, he directed his activities towards more educational and experimental aspects of archaeology through a specialization in flint knapping methods. He is a founder of the Créarchéo company and the Chalcophore association.

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Chalcophore association

Créarchéo

Pirogue

Selected reading

Préhistoire interactive

Vincent Lascour - association Chalcophore - débitage laminaire du silex

Vincent Lascour, directeur de l'association Chalcophore. Projet : La route de l'obsidienne

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode we talk with Leanne Riding and Art Carson about Japanese internment and labour camps in Canada during World War II and their project to find, map, and document these camps in western Canada.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Leanne Riding

Leanne has a degree in History from the University of British Columbia. She has previously held positions as Heritage Committee Member of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, Archival Assistant at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, and co-chaired the Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop Society. She is the winner of the 2006 Hunter Campbell Lewis Memorial Book Prize. Her current research explores the development of B.C.'s transportation system and Japanese Canadian internment and forced labour camps during World War II. Since 2012, Leanne has run the "Yellowhead - Blue River Japanese Road Camps Research Project".

Web:

About Art Carson

Art is a wilderness guide and historian based in Valemount, British Columbia, Canada.

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Yellowhead-Blue River Highway Project

Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre

Work Camps on the Yellowhead Route: Japanese Canadian internees and the building of a highway

Selected reading

Issei road: Japanese Canadian labour camps of northeastern B.C. [blog]

Finding 19 lost Japanese labour camps: Testing the limits of Google Earth

For more episodes and news, visit our website and social media pages.

Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Akash Srinivas about lithics research and the Palaeolithic in India as well as podcasting for public education.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Akash Srinivas

Akash is an archaeologist at the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research in Mohali, India. His research focuses in particular on the production and use of stone tools during the South Asian Palaeolithic, specifically in India. He also co-hosts the podcast Chippin' Away.

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Palaeolithic

Artefact typology

Stone tool technology

Selected reading

Chippin' Away

Palaeolithic archaeology at Kibbanahalli, Southern Karnataka, India

The Missing Piece: A Review of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic Archaeology in Southern Karnataka

Role of Social Matrices in the Preservation of the Archaeological Record: A Case Study of the Differential Preservation of the Archaeological Record in the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex, Southern Karnataka, India

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Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archaeocafe/

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe

In this episode I talk with Dylan Hillis and Denis St. Claire about Wool Dogs on the northwest coast of North America, using dog remains to study human diets, and using oral history to study the past.

Episode notes are available on the ArchaeoCafé website.

About Dylan Hillis

Dylan Hillis is a graduate student at the University of Victoria. His previous research looked at dietary variation in ancient domestic dogs on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. At present, he is investigating ocean temperature change over the last several thousand years in the Northeast Pacific using zooarchaeological data. Specifically, he is interested in how ancient fish populations responded to dynamic ocean temperatures in the deep past, how fish populations will likely respond to a warming ocean in the current context of a climate crisis, and importantly, what this means for the food security of coastal communities along the British Columbia coast.

Web:

About Denis St. Claire

Denis St. Claire is an ethnohistorian and archaeologist with over 40 years of research experience in Barkley Sound (British Columbia, Canada). He is an adopted member of Tseshaht First Nation (Port Alberni, B.C.). He is also proprietor of Coast Heritage Consulting based in Victoria, B.C.

Web:

Some useful terminology and links

Wool Dog

Coast Salish

Selected reading

Ancient dog diets on the Pacific northwest coast: zooarchaeological and stable isotope modelling evidence from tseshaht territory and beyond

For more episodes and news, visit our website and social media pages.

Blog: http://archaeocafe.kvasirpublishing.com/archaeoblog/

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Anchor: https://anchor.fm/archaeocafe