Born to slaves in 1863, John Wesley Gilbert was the first student of the Paine Institute, a graduate of Brown University, and the first black archaeologist.
While at Brown, he was awarded a scholarship to study abroad at the American School of Classical studies in Athens, Greece. Here, he helped to shape modern archaeology as we know it today. Working tirelessly, and meticulously on excavations where he helped uncover the ancient city of Eretria, Gilbert also travelled across the country to beautiful ancient sites, and even attended the funeral of Heinrich Schliemann - the man who discovered Troy.
In this episode, Tristan is joined by Professor John W.I Lee from UC Santa Barbara to talk about Gilbert's incredible life, and the legacy that he left behind.
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The First Black Archaeologist

A podcast for all ancient history fans! The Ancients is dedicated to discussing our distant past. Featuring interviews with historians and archaeologists, each episode covers a specific theme from antiquity. From Neolithic Britain to the Fall of Rome. Hosted by Tristan Hughes.&nbsp;

History

Society & Culture

Apollo, the favourite son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis, was a Greek God with many faces. Perhaps most famous as Phoebus, the God of the Sun, he was the patron of poetry and prophecy, of music and dance. And yet he also possessed a darker side. He was a terribly vengeful character and brought death and disease to both those he hated and loved through his trademark poisonous arrows.
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Liv Albert, host of the podcast Let's Talk About Myths Baby to peel back the layers from one of Greek mythology's most complicated characters.
This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.
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Apollo: God of the Sun

The Goths are renowned for many things, not least sacking Rome in 410 AD and helping to bring about the fall of the Western Roman Empire. They were a 'barbarian' people from across the Danube who began migrating into the Empire during the 3rd and 4th centuries, pushed out of their ancestral nomadic lands by the onrushing Huns. But what were their origins? And did they really cause the fall of Rome?
In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes speaks to Dr. David Gwynn to tell the tale of the Goths from their origins on the great plains of Eastern Europe to their great migrations and successive invasions of Italy.
This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan and Ella Blaxill.
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The Goths

Have you ever wondered about the dark side of archeology? The illegal seizing of ancient artefacts? The looting of goods from age old historical sites and their sale on the black market? Well it is a practice that goes back hundreds of years and today we’re exploring how it works, why it happens and what government bodies are doing to prevent it.
In this episode of The Ancients Tristan Hughes is joined by Prof. Valerie Higgins to shine a light on how illicit objects and artefacts have found their way to museums and private houses all too often. 
This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.
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Looted Artefacts: Black Market of Archaeology

Europe’s earliest known humans lived over 1.2 million years ago. After initially roaming the plains of Iberia in small groups, they spread across the Pyrenees into the wider European continent. But for more than 100,000 years all traces of humans in these regions vanish. The question is…what happened?
In today’s episode of the Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Chris Stringer, and by Dr. Chronis Tzedakis and Dr Vasiliki Margari to explore the fate of these first Europeans and discover how a massive climate disaster drove some of Europe’s earliest humans to extinction. 
This episode was produced by Joseph Knight and edited by Aidan Lonergan.
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The First Europeans

Would you be able to survive in ancient Babylonia?
In this episode, Tristan is joined once again by Amanda Podany from California State Polytechnic University to discuss the realities of daily life in this fascinating empire. Together, they discuss everything from clay tablet literature and ancient board games to crime, slavery and female entrepreneurship in the era of King Hammurabi c. 1750 BC.
Produced by Joseph Knight. Edited by Aidan Lonergan.
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The First Black Archaeologist

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