Mississippian civilization honored its dead by laying them to rest in pyramidal burial mounds.  But why?  What did it mean to them and where did they get the idea to do it?  In this episode, we'll discuss that tradition - including its origins and evolution.  

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Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

In the centuries before Columbus, millions of people lived in what's now the eastern United States.  Today, we call that Mississippian Civilization.  In this episode, I'll discuss what we think we know about their religion.

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Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

For most people, Indiana Jones is the archetypal archaeologist.  But is he?  Indie is a lot of things, but a good archaeologist isn't one of them!  Join Dr. Ed as he separates fact from fiction. 

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

The trailer to begin Season 4 of ArchaeoEd

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit
https://www.mayaexploration.org

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart

About 4000 years ago, the civilizations of Mesoamerica created the world's first team sport - older by centuries than any other.  It was played with a big rubber ball, in a stone-built ball court, and enjoyed from the Chihuahua Desert to the rainforests of Honduras.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

In this episode I'll ask the age old question - who's a good dog?   Dogs were man's best friend in Americas for 1000's of years, from Alaska to the tip of Chile.  They were pets, cargo haulers, hunting companions, guides to the afterlife, and at times, food.  Join me as I discuss what I know about dogs in the ancient Americas.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

Ancient Americans consumed a number of plants that Western society now view as "drugs".  But to the ancients, they weren't just plants.  They had spirits that could give them strength and aid them to reach an altered state of consciousness through which to interact with the supernatural otherworld.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

The Olmecs are widely considered Mesoamerica's "mother culture".  In this episode I'll talk about that amazing civilization's achievements and how recent discoveries may change what we think we know about them.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

Moises Morales was a legend in Mexico.  His contributions to our knowledge and the protection of the Maya ruins of Palenque are unparalleled.  In this episode, I'll tell you some stories about my dear friend Moi.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart 

The 260 day calendar of Mesoamerica is its oldest and most enduring measurement of time.  In this episode I'll explain how it works, what it means to modern Maya people, and how the Dresden Codex contains important links between the past and present uses of the sacred Tzolk'in calendar.

Support the show

Support ArchaeoEd through Patreon!  https://www.patreon.com/archaeoed

ArchaeoEd Merch now available! https://archaeoed.com/support/ 

Mayan Calendar - see the 2026 Mayan Calendar at https://www.mayan-calendar.com

Bars and Dots, Maya date calculator software - https://www.barsanddots.com

Ed's day job is Director of Maya Exploration Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
https://www.mayaexploration.org 

Check out Ed's YouTube Channel, Archaeologist Ed Barnhart

https://www.youtube.com/@Ed_Barnhart