In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Dr. Trevor R. Peck about one of the most recognizable, and often misunderstood, archaeological features of the Northern Plains: the “medicine wheel.” Drawing on his article “Unpacking the ‘Medicine Wheel’ Rubric,” Trevor discusses why archaeologists have historically grouped a diverse range of stone features under this broad label and why more careful identification of their function and cultural affiliation matters.

The conversation then focuses on Death Lodges, a distinctive type of stone feature that Trevor argues represents a Blackfoot cultural tradition. He discusses the archaeological, historical, ethnographic, and Blackfoot knowledge used to identify these features, including evidence from the Ellis Death Lodge and the Onistah (Calf Robe) robe. Together, the discussion explores how Indigenous knowledge can help archaeologists reinterpret the archaeological record and better understand the cultural landscapes of the Northern Plains.

The episode concludes by considering what moving beyond the catch-all term “medicine wheel” means for Plains archaeology and how greater collaboration with Indigenous communities can lead to more accurate and culturally informed interpretations of the past.

Article Citation:

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/48

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Magdalena Lewandowska to discuss her article, “Trade, Conflict, and Alliance – Relationship Between the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande Pueblos in the Protohistoric Period.” Together they explore the dynamic relationships that connected Indigenous communities across the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The conversation examines how trade in goods such as bison hides and Pueblo pottery fostered economic partnerships while also creating competition, political alliances, and occasional conflict. Drawing on archaeological and historical evidence, Lewandowska explains why Plains–Pueblo interactions cannot be understood as simply peaceful exchange or persistent warfare, but instead reflect a complex network of diplomacy, adaptation, and shifting relationships that shaped the Indigenous history of the Great Plains and the Southwest before European colonization.

Article Citation:

Lewandowska, M. (2025). Trade, conflict, and alliance – relationship between the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande Pueblos in the protohistoric period. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 64–94.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/47

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. McKenna Litynski to discuss her recent article, “Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming.” While Paleoindian archaeology often focuses on mammoths and other large game, this study demonstrates how tiny animal remains can provide equally important insights into the lives of the first peoples of North America. Dr. Litynski explains how archaeologists distinguish natural from human-created bone accumulations, what burned microfaunal remains reveal about activities around Paleoindian hearths, and why these small bones likely represent everyday camp behaviors rather than food waste. The conversation highlights how careful analysis of overlooked evidence is transforming our understanding of Paleoindian lifeways and the complexity of daily life at one of the Great Plains' most significant Early Paleoindian sites.

Article Citation:

Litynski, McKenna L., Todd A. Surovell, K. McCarty, C. Bothwell, T. R. Murdock, S. M. BenChaabane, D. N. Walker, P. H. Sanders, Spencer Pelton, Robert L. Kelly, Madeline E. Mackie, and Matthew O'Brien

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/46

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. Spencer R. Pelton and Alexis Hollander to discuss their recent article, “Early Eighteenth Century Plains Indian Adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming.” Together they explore one of the largest adornment assemblages ever documented in Wyoming, examining locally produced beads and pendants alongside exotic materials that reveal extensive Indigenous exchange networks during the early post-Contact period. The conversation highlights how new technologies, including the introduction of metal tools, transformed ornament production while Indigenous communities maintained long-standing traditions of craftsmanship and identity. Spencer and Alexis also discuss what archaeological collections can reveal beyond archaeology, including ancient freshwater mussel ecology, and how the River Bend site offers a unique window into technological innovation, trade, and Indigenous adaptation on the eighteenth-century Great Plains.

Article Citation:

Pelton, S. R., Eckles, D. G., Johnen, C. C., Shimek, R., Kirkwood, D. R., Hollander, A., & Buff, C. (2025). Early eighteenth century plains Indian adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 3–28.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/45

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by John M. Lambert and Thomas J. Loebel to discuss their recent article with Dr. David Easterla, “Addressing a Gap in the Late Pleistocene Record of the Midwest: Fluted Points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa.” The conversation explores why this region has long been underrepresented in Paleoindian research and how the documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including dozens of previously unreported specimens, helps illuminate the lives of some of North America's earliest inhabitants. Lambert and Loebel discuss the challenges and value of integrating museum collections, private collections, and published records, as well as what Clovis and Folsom projectile points reveal about technology, mobility, and land use across the Midcontinent and Great Plains. The episode highlights how overlooked collections and regional documentation projects continue to reshape our understanding of Paleoindian settlement, movement, and adaptation during the late Pleistocene.

Article Citation: Lambert, J. M., Loebel, T. J., & Easterla, D. A. (2025). Addressing a gap in the late Pleistocene record of the Midwest: fluted points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 40–63.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/44

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Phyllis Johnson and Erica Carmody about their recent open-access (no subscription required) Plains Anthropologist article, “Patriarchy Persists: Gender Inequities in Plains Anthropologist Publishing from 1954 to 2023.” Drawing on nearly seventy years of publication data, they examine persistent gender disparities in archaeological publishing, discuss why women's authorship rates have remained disproportionately low and, in some cases, declined since the early 1990s, and explore the structural factors that shape scholarly visibility and career advancement. The conversation considers what these patterns reveal about the history of Plains archaeology, how representation influences the production of archaeological knowledge, and what journals, institutions, and professional organizations can do to create a more equitable future for the discipline.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/43

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In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Robert Hoard and Zachary Day to discuss their recent article, “Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 — evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site.”

Together, they explore the significance of the Tobias site within Great Bend aspect archaeology and the broader ancestral Wichita world of the Central Plains. The conversation examines the Little River focus, the goals of the 2019 excavations, and the surprising discoveries revealed through ceramic compositional analysis. Although pottery was likely produced locally at Tobias, the clay sources near the site were not used, raising new questions about resource procurement, mobility, and technological choices among Plains communities.

How do archaeologists distinguish trade from migration or cultural influence? What can pottery tell us about ancient interaction networks stretching hundreds of miles across North America? This episode explores how even small ceramic fragments can reshape our understanding of Great Plains connectivity, identity, and exchange.

Article Citation:

Hoard, Robert J., and Zachary R. Day (2026) Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 - Evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site. Plains Anthropologist, 1–25.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/42

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Hey everyone! It is that time of year again: graduation events, graduate degree defenses, final exams, and the hacking of major collegiate learning platforms. So Carlton is taking a quick break, and we will be back with our regular scheduled programming next episode. Please enjoy this episode of the Ethnocynology Podcast, where Carlton was a guest.

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On this week’s episode, Carlton breaks down his recent Kansas Archaeology Month event at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, titled: Field Explorers: Archaeology Edition. Carlton talks about the events and planning leading up the event and the importance of science communication to younger audiences.

For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/41

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In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Christopher Nicholson, Director of the Center for Digital Antiquity, about the role of digital archives in preserving and accessing archaeological data.

In the first half, Chris introduces tDAR (the Digital Archaeological Record) and explains how it serves as a centralized repository for archaeological reports, datasets, and other research materials. He discusses the challenges of inaccessible or “lost” data, especially gray literature, and how tDAR helps ensure that valuable information from past projects remains available for future research.

In the second half, the conversation turns to the relevance of tDAR for Great Plains archaeology. Chris highlights the types of regional resources available on the platform and how researchers, students, and professionals can use these materials to support new research and teaching. He also reflects on the future of digital archaeology and the importance of long-term data preservation and open access for the discipline.

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