In this solo episode, Carlton breaks down five of the most common misconceptions about Great Plains archaeology—from the myth of an “empty” landscape to the oversimplification of bison jumps and arrowheads.

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Dr. Madeline Mackie, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Michigan State University, to explore the archaeology of mammoth kill sites in the Northwest Plains.

Dr. Mackie walks us through what makes a site a “kill site” and how archaeologists determine whether mammoths were hunted by humans or died naturally. She shares insights into the types of tools, bone modifications, and site features that point to deliberate human activity—offering a glimpse into the complex and skilled lifeways of Paleoindigenous peoples.

The discussion also highlights what these mammoth kills reveal about how early humans adapted to shifting environments at the end of the Ice Age, providing crucial context for understanding the transition into the Archaic period. Dr. Mackie closes with a call to action: the Plains needs more archaeologists dedicated to uncovering and interpreting the Archaic period—one of the most understudied and dynamic chapters of Indigenous history.

Transcripts

For a rough transcript of this episode, head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/24

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
• APN Shop

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with Matt Reed, Chief and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. Matt shares how his role as THPO serves as both a cultural and regulatory responsibility—protecting sacred sites, ancestral landscapes, and Pawnee heritage through a tribally driven preservation program.

The conversation explores how Pawnee worldviews and values shape historic preservation efforts, highlighting the spiritual and cultural importance of place. Matt also discusses what it means to lead as both a traditional leader and a THPO, and how the Pawnee Nation asserts sovereignty while navigating consultation and compliance with federal and state agencies.

This episode offers a powerful perspective on the intersection of leadership, land, and legacy—and what it takes to preserve history with integrity and purpose.

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/23

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
• APN Shop

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So Chance and Carlton were unable to get a recording together with the Federal Funding threats to the Historic Preservation Fund keeping their schedules incredibly busy into the evening. So, instead, here’s an ENCORE episode from A Life in Ruins Podcast featuring Chance and Carlton back in graduate school.

In this episode, Carlton is joined by Chance Ward, an M.A. student in Museum and Field Studies at CU Boulder and a Tribal Citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The two start the episode with a discussion on how Chance got into Anthropology at Fort Lewis College. We then delve into his post-undergrad career in CRM and working for the Southern Ute Tribe. Carlton investigates why Chance chose CU Boulder and they get into a dialogue about how Chance's grad school experiences have shaped the direction of his career. In the final segment, Carlton and Chance talk about their recent media experiences together such as being interviewed for a PBS documentary on horses and a conversation they had with Mel B's (Yes, the one from the Spice Girls) agent.

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet

APN Shop

Affiliates

• Motion

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover is joined by Tyrel Iron Eyes, Tribal Archaeologist for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Tyrel shares what it means to serve in this role and offers listeners an in-depth look at how archaeology is practiced through a Lakota lens.

From day-to-day responsibilities and the structure of Standing Rock’s Tribal Historic Preservation program to the core Lakota values that guide decision-making, Tyrel discusses the importance of protecting sacred sites, cultural landscapes, and the integrity of Indigenous knowledge.

Tyrel offers reflections on what respectful collaboration looks like from the tribal side and why it’s critical for CRM firms, universities, and outside archaeologists to understand and honor tribal perspectives. He also speaks to the vital role of Indigenous archaeologists and the importance of encouraging the next generation to take on this work.

This episode is a powerful reflection on the responsibilities of protecting the past while serving the present and future needs of Native nations.

Transcripts

• For rough transcripts had over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/21

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
• APN Shop

Affiliates

• Motion

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover speaks with Stacie Laravie, citizen of the Northern Ponca of Nebraska and former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Stacie shares insights into the deep history and enduring resilience of the Ponca people, with a focus on the legacy of Chief Standing Bear—whose 1879 court case established, for the first time in U.S. law, that Native people are “persons” under the Constitution.

Together, they explore the archaeology of Ponca homelands, the impacts of forced removal, and how material culture and oral history work together to tell the story of a people who never forgot where they came from. Stacie also reflects on her work in historic preservation and the importance of protecting sacred sites and ancestral knowledge.

This episode honors the past while celebrating ongoing efforts to reclaim, preserve, and share Ponca heritage.

Links

• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
• APN Shop

Affiliates

• Motion

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with Dr. Alex Craib, Adjunct Professor at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and recent PhD graduate from the University of Wyoming. Dr. Craib shares insights from his doctoral research at Alm Rockshelter in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming—a site that offers a rich archaeological record spanning thousands of years.

Together, they discuss the cultural materials uncovered at Alm, the site's stratigraphy, and what these findings reveal about patterns of human occupation, mobility, and resource use in the region. Dr. Craib also reflects on the methods he used, the surprises that emerged during analysis, and how Alm Rockshelter contributes to broader understandings of Plains prehistory.

This episode explores how archaeology can uncover deep connections between people and place across time—and why sites like Alm Rockshelter matter for telling those stories today.

Transcripts
For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/19

Links

• Dr. Craib’s ACADEMIA page
• The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)
• Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)
• Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

• Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist
• Email: [email protected]

APN

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
• APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
• APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet
• APN Shop

Affiliates

• Motion

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, host Carlton Shield Chief Gover sits down with public archaeologist and science communicator David Ian Howe for a wide-ranging conversation on the cultural, spiritual, and archaeological significance of wolves and other canids across the Great Plains. From ancient burials of domesticated dogs to the symbolic power of the wolf in Indigenous cosmologies, Carlton and David explore how Plains societies understood and related to their four-legged companions and wild kin. Whether you're a dog lover, a zooarchaeology nerd, or someone curious about the deep-time connections between humans and animals on the Plains, this episode offers rich insights and thoughtful discussion.

Links

David Ian Howe’s Website

Ethnocynology Podcast

The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)

Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)

Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact

Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist

Email: [email protected]

APN

APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com

APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet

APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet

APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet

APN Shop

Affiliates

Motion

Hey everyone! KU just returned from Spring Break where Carlton gave a talk at the Chicago Field Museum and he has students defending their M.A. Theses. So he needs to focus on getting the next generation of Anthro/Museology students across the finish line! So for episode 17, we are releasing an Encore episode from the A Life in Ruins Podcast.

Also! Carlton is hosting a Live Show on the APN Discord Channel on Sunday, April 20th at 12pm U.S. Central Time. The topic of the show will be “Cultural Heritage Sovereignty in North America’s Great Plains”

On this episode, Carlton has a solo interview with a leading figure in Indigenous Archaeologies - Dr. Joe Watkins. Dr. Watkins is a Citizen of the Choctaw Nation and has been an advocate for archaeological collaboration with Indigenous Communities throughout his career as an archaeologist. Carlton explores Dr. Watkins' career in Archaeology and the history and continued importance of Indigenous Archaeologies.

Links

Ancient History in the New World: Integrating Oral Traditions and the Archaeological Record in Deep Time by Roger C. Echo-Hawk

Archaeology and Native North American Oral Traditions by Ronald J. Mason

Being and Becoming Indigenous Archaeologists by George Nicholas

Literature Recommendations

Indigenous Archaeology: American Indian Values and Scientific Practice by Joe Watkins

Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits: Inside the Fight to Reclaim Native America’s Culture by Chip Colwell

AT A CROSSROADS: ARCHAEOLOGY AND FIRST PEOPLES IN CANADA by George Nicholas & Thomas D. Andrews

Hand Book of North American Indians Volume I **FREE** download

Anything by Sonya Atalay and Larry Zimmerman

Guest Contact

Dr. Joe Watkins' Email: [email protected]

Carton’s Contact

Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist

Email: [email protected]

ArchPodNet

APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com

APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet

APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet

APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet

APN Shop

Affiliates

Motion

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, we examine the shift from the Late Plains Woodland Period to the emergence of the Early Plains Village tradition in the Central Plains. We explore the changes in settlement patterns, subsistence strategies, and social organization that accompanied this transition, from increased maize agriculture to the development of more permanent villages. What drove these transformations, and how did they set the foundation for later Central Plains societies? Join us as we unpack the archaeological evidence and discuss what this pivotal period reveals about the resilience and adaptability of Plains communities.

Links:

The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021)

Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998)

Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio

Contact:

Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist

Email: [email protected]

Affiliates

Motion