The Speaking Archaeologically Podcast

What happens when we look beyond the monuments that dominate our understanding of Delhi’s architectural history?

In this episode, Dr Shriya Gautam explores four tombs that challenge familiar narratives of funerary architecture in Delhi: Sabz Burj, Isa Khan’s Tomb, Mirza Najaf Khan’s Tomb, and Safdarjung’s Tomb. From early architectural experimentation and pre-Mughal traditions to changing political landscapes and evolving architectural styles, these monuments reveal a more complex history of Delhi’s built heritage.

Moving beyond the familiar images of grand domes, marble and monumental gardens, this episode examines how conservation, tourism and popular history shape the monuments we recognise and the histories we overlook. Sometimes, the buildings that break the pattern have the most compelling stories to tell.

What are the opportunities and challenges shaping South Asian archaeology today, and where does Harappan archaeology fit into these conversations?

Recorded on the final day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference, this episode brings together Dr Disha Ahluwalia and Dr Shriya Gautam for a conversation on South Asian archaeology, exploring the possibilities, complexities, and questions that shape research in the region. From the study of the Harappan civilisation to the broader realities of archaeological practice, the discussion reflects on the challenges researchers navigate and the opportunities for advancing archaeological knowledge and engagement with the past.

We finished Day 2 of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference 2026 with a very interesting roundtable discussion on urban heritage and its conservation.

Tune in to listen to Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson, Dr. Shriya Gautam, Diptarka Datta, Simran Kaur Saini, Samarth Tyagi, Shrijee Sharma, Soumil Mukherjee and Ujjwal Choudhary as they discuss what heritage management and conservation actually mean beyond the theoretical lens.

In this episode, Dr. Shriya Gautam sits down with Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology) for a conversation on digital archaeology, exploring how emerging tools and technologies are transforming the way we excavate, record, analyse, and share the archaeological record.

From digitisation methods to the broader questions they raise about access, interpretation, and the future of the discipline, this is a conversation about where archaeology is heading in a digital age.

Day two of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference brought together Team Speaking Archaeologically and Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology) for a wide-ranging conversation spanning digital tools in archaeology, spatial analysis, and the archaeology of urban heritage. In this episode, Mr. Diptarka Datta joins Dr. Cuthbertson to unpack how GIS and spatial modelling are reshaping the way archaeologists read, reconstruct, and interpret the built environment.

Tune in for a conversation that moves from methodology to meaning: asking not just how we map the past, but what those maps reveal.

The second day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference saw a day full of exciting conversations between Team Speaking Archaeologically and Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson (UCL Institute of Archaeology). Ranging from use of digital tools in archaeology to spatial analysis and urban heritage, today's episode brings you the first part of a wonderful dialogue.

In this conversation are Dr. Patrick Cuthbertson, Dr. Shriya Gautam and Ms. Simran Kaur discussing how much the CAAL (Central Asian Archaeological Landscapes) project has evolved and what do digital tools mean for an inclusive archaeology.

The first day of the Speaking Archaeologically ECR Conference saw a very important discussion that highlighted the importance of listening to and engaging in holistic dialogue with the public. Join Dr. Shriya Gautam and Mr. Diptarka Datta from Speaking Archaeologically as they talk to Prof. Gabriel Moshenska (UCL Institute of Archaeology) about the fascinating world of anti-archaeology!

We bring to you a brand new series: Early Career Conversations!

At Speaking Archaeologically, we believe that dialogue does not necessarily need to happen at a certain place or within certain rooms. We believe that archaeological knowledge should move freely and everyone should be a part of these conversations.

This idea resulted in the second annual edition of the Speaking Archaeologically Early Career Researchers Conference in 2026. Over the next few weeks, we will bring to you snippets of these fascinating conversations and, hopefully in the process, invite you in this dialogue as well.

How can GIS help archaeologists uncover patterns hidden within ancient landscapes? In this episode, Ms. Mythrayi Harshavardhan (WSP India) in conversation with Mr. Diptarka Datta (WSP India and Speaking Archaeologically) explore the role of Geographic Information Systems in archaeological research through the case study of Badami, Karnataka. Focusing on hydrological analysis, she demonstrates how colonial-period survey maps can be combined with modern GIS toolkits to reconstruct past landscapes and better understand the relationship between water systems and human activity. This conversation highlights the value of spatial technologies in revealing new perspectives on archaeological landscapes and their long-term evolution.

Ever wondered what it actually means when someone says the word "authentic"?

What exactly is authenticity when looking at heritage? Can there be multiple meanings of the same word? Who gets to decide what heritage site is authentic and what is not?

In this episode, join Ms. Simran Kaur as she delves deeper into the concept of authenticity while looking at the various stakeholders that govern the word's shifting meaning. In this introductory episode, we will look into how important it is to understand the way the public interacts with a heritage site.

Because the public is never a passive participant.