In this powerful episode of The Dirt on the Past, Nancy and Crystal sit down with Ian Campbell Wilson, author of Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck, and Bruce Brown, the talented producer and narrator of the audiobook edition. We dive into the harrowing story behind the 1938 Custer Creek disaster—the worst rail accident in Montana history—and explore what it was like to research and write about such a devastating tragedy, from uncovering personal stories of those on the train that fateful night to the community that helped survivors and family members in the aftermath of this tragedy. Their insights bring both the historical event and the process of telling its story to vivid life.
📘 Buy the book from Montana Historical Society Press: https://mhs.mt.gov/pubs/Books/
Or find more info on the Ian Campbell Wilson website: https://www.iancampbellwilson.com/post/book-now-available
🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Audible: https://www.audible.com/ (search Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck)
In this powerful episode of The Dirt on the Past, Nancy and Crystal sit down with Ian Campbell Wilson, author of Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck, and Bruce Brown, the talented producer and narrator of the audiobook edition. We dive into the harrowing story behind the 1938 Custer Creek disaster—the worst rail accident in Montana history—and explore what it was like to research and write about such a devastating tragedy, from uncovering personal stories of those on the train that fateful night to the community that helped survivors and family members in the aftermath of this tragedy. Their insights bring both the historical event and the process of telling its story to vivid life.
📘 Buy the book from Montana Historical Society Press: https://mhs.mt.gov/pubs/Books/
Or find more info on the Ian Campbell Wilson website: https://www.iancampbellwilson.com/post/book-now-available
🎧 Listen to the audiobook on Audible: https://www.audible.com/ (search Catastrophe at Custer Creek: Montana’s Deadliest Train Wreck)
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past, hosts Nancy and Crystal take listeners deep into the heart of downtown Bozeman, MT for a look into the recent archaeological excavations in Bozeman's historic red-light district. They have a fascinating conversation about the excavations and show two artifacts that were recovered. This excavation took place in October of 2025 with a Montana State University Anthropology class. From unexpected artifacts to the stories those objects tell about Bozeman’s past, Nancy and Crystal bring both expertise and infectious curiosity to every turn, giving listeners an inside look at how history is literally being uncovered beneath their feet.
You can also watch the video version of this podcast on You Tube by following this link. https://youtu.be/JcW00yTfSwU
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past, hosts Nancy and Crystal take listeners deep into the heart of downtown Bozeman, MT for a look into the recent archaeological excavations in Bozeman's historic red-light district. They have a fascinating conversation about the excavations and show two artifacts that were recovered. This excavation took place in October of 2025 with a Montana State University Anthropology class. From unexpected artifacts to the stories those objects tell about Bozeman’s past, Nancy and Crystal bring both expertise and infectious curiosity to every turn, giving listeners an inside look at how history is literally being uncovered beneath their feet.
You can also watch the video version of this podcast on You Tube by following this link. https://youtu.be/JcW00yTfSwU
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past podcast, we sit down with archaeologist and author Doug MacDonald to discuss his fascinating new book, Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples. Doug takes us on a journey through Montana’s deep past, discussing where the first Montanans came from, migration routes, the Lindsey Mammoth site, the Anzick site, DNA research, and so much more. We delve into the evolving methods of studying ancient sites, and the cultural significance of this history to modern Indigenous communities. Join us for an engaging conversation that sheds new light on the deep human story rooted in the land we now call Montana.
In this episode of The Dirt on the Past podcast, we sit down with archaeologist and author Doug MacDonald to discuss his fascinating new book, Land of Beginnings: The Archaeology of Montana’s First Peoples. Doug takes us on a journey through Montana’s deep past, discussing where the first Montanans came from, migration routes, the Lindsey Mammoth site, the Anzick site, DNA research, and so much more. We delve into the evolving methods of studying ancient sites, and the cultural significance of this history to modern Indigenous communities. Join us for an engaging conversation that sheds new light on the deep human story rooted in the land we now call Montana.
In this episode we are joined by renowned archaeologist Ian Hodder to delve into his extensive work at Çatalhöyük, a 9,000-year-old Neolithic site in Turkey.
We explore the burial practices that shed light on social hierarchies, the role of food in shaping community identity, and how the unique architectural layout of Çatalhöyük reflects its complex social structure. Ian Hodder discusses the symbolism and ritual life of this early society, offering insights into one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the world. Ian Hodder is a British archaeologist known for his pioneering work in post-processual archaeology, which emphasizes the interpretation of cultural meaning in archaeological findings. He is a professor at Koç University in Istanbul and directed the Çatalhöyük Research Project for 25 years, transforming our understanding of early human settlements.
Çatalhöyük, one of the largest and best-preserved Neolithic sites, is known for its densely packed houses, art, and evidence of early communal living. The site provides key insights into the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, with elaborate burial practices and rich material culture reflecting a sophisticated, interconnected society.
In this episode we are joined by renowned archaeologist Ian Hodder to delve into his extensive work at Çatalhöyük, a 9,000-year-old Neolithic site in Turkey.
We explore the burial practices that shed light on social hierarchies, the role of food in shaping community identity, and how the unique architectural layout of Çatalhöyük reflects its complex social structure. Ian Hodder discusses the symbolism and ritual life of this early society, offering insights into one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the world. Ian Hodder is a British archaeologist known for his pioneering work in post-processual archaeology, which emphasizes the interpretation of cultural meaning in archaeological findings. He is a professor at Koç University in Istanbul and directed the Çatalhöyük Research Project for 25 years, transforming our understanding of early human settlements.
Çatalhöyük, one of the largest and best-preserved Neolithic sites, is known for its densely packed houses, art, and evidence of early communal living. The site provides key insights into the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, with elaborate burial practices and rich material culture reflecting a sophisticated, interconnected society.
We sat down with Anthony Wood to talk about his research focus on Black history in the west. We talk about his new research along with his book, Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877–1930. We dive into storytelling, history-making, and the stories that we tell about ourselves and what those stories and historical narratives can tell us about the past.
Anthony Wood is a historian of the American West. His work looks at race and place-making during the 19th and 20th centuries. He completed his PhD at the University of Michigan earlier this year and now serves as the senior historian on a new National Park Service project to survey and collect a comprehensive history of African Americans in the Parks of the Intermountain Region. His 2021 book, Black Montana, was a finalist for the Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize. His next writing project develops his dissertation, "Forty Years within the Veil: The Black West and Counternarratives of Race and Place in the Rocky Mountains.
We sat down with Anthony Wood to talk about his research focus on Black history in the west. We talk about his new research along with his book, Black Montana: Settler Colonialism and the Erosion of the Racial Frontier, 1877–1930. We dive into storytelling, history-making, and the stories that we tell about ourselves and what those stories and historical narratives can tell us about the past.
Anthony Wood is a historian of the American West. His work looks at race and place-making during the 19th and 20th centuries. He completed his PhD at the University of Michigan earlier this year and now serves as the senior historian on a new National Park Service project to survey and collect a comprehensive history of African Americans in the Parks of the Intermountain Region. His 2021 book, Black Montana, was a finalist for the Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize. His next writing project develops his dissertation, "Forty Years within the Veil: The Black West and Counternarratives of Race and Place in the Rocky Mountains.
Join us as we speak with author Sally Thompson about her new book, Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo: 23 Unexpected Stories That Awaken Montana's Past.
The past still lingers along old trails, and among the people who live here today. Some, such as anthropologist and storyteller Sally Thompson, are better equipped to notice the traces of history lurking in place names and written in cairns, carved in tree bark, etched into prairie boulders, or resting among well-knapped spear points.
In Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo, Thompson unearths new information and startling insights into Montana's untold history in twenty-three true stories. Along the way, she shares the challenges of groundbreaking research and the joys of finding hidden treasures. These stories connect past and present, bringing into focus a common heritage among many peoples in an uncommon land.
We explore a few of the 23 stories Thompson documented in her book, along with backstories, insight and revelations about her long career as an anthropologist in Montana and the west.
You can find Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo at your local book store or order through Farcountry Press.
Join us as we speak with author Sally Thompson about her new book, Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo: 23 Unexpected Stories That Awaken Montana's Past.
The past still lingers along old trails, and among the people who live here today. Some, such as anthropologist and storyteller Sally Thompson, are better equipped to notice the traces of history lurking in place names and written in cairns, carved in tree bark, etched into prairie boulders, or resting among well-knapped spear points.
In Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo, Thompson unearths new information and startling insights into Montana's untold history in twenty-three true stories. Along the way, she shares the challenges of groundbreaking research and the joys of finding hidden treasures. These stories connect past and present, bringing into focus a common heritage among many peoples in an uncommon land.
We explore a few of the 23 stories Thompson documented in her book, along with backstories, insight and revelations about her long career as an anthropologist in Montana and the west.
You can find Disturbing the Sleeping Buffalo at your local book store or order through Farcountry Press.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the history of pockets! We delve deep into the fascinating history of pockets, exploring how these seemingly mundane accessories have shaped human lives and society over centuries. Drawing insights from Hannah Carlson's "Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close" and Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux's "The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives, 1660–1900," we uncover the evolution of pockets from their humble beginnings as tie-on accessories to their symbolic significance in fashion and gender roles. From the practicality of early pouches to the complex social messages conveyed by pocket size and placement, we unravel the intimate relationship between humans and their pockets, shedding light on a hidden aspect of history that speaks volumes about culture, identity, and everyday life.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the history of pockets! We delve deep into the fascinating history of pockets, exploring how these seemingly mundane accessories have shaped human lives and society over centuries. Drawing insights from Hannah Carlson's "Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close" and Barbara Burman and Ariane Fennetaux's "The Pocket: A Hidden History of Women's Lives, 1660–1900," we uncover the evolution of pockets from their humble beginnings as tie-on accessories to their symbolic significance in fashion and gender roles. From the practicality of early pouches to the complex social messages conveyed by pocket size and placement, we unravel the intimate relationship between humans and their pockets, shedding light on a hidden aspect of history that speaks volumes about culture, identity, and everyday life.
April is Archaeology Month in Montana! In honor of this, join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss a significant archaeological site located in southwest Montana called the Barton Gulch site. The oldest occupation of the Barton Gulch site is dated to 9400 BP. Nancy and Crystal discuss the remains of earth ovens found at Barton Gulch, and talk about the possibly uses for these ovens and the plant remains recovered during archaeological excavation. The presence of these ovens and other cooking features implies that the people who lived and cooked at this place had detailed procedures for preparing plant and animal remains.
Join us for this discussion and to learn more about this important archaeological site and many others, read "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana" by Carl Davis.
April is Archaeology Month in Montana! In honor of this, join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss a significant archaeological site located in southwest Montana called the Barton Gulch site. The oldest occupation of the Barton Gulch site is dated to 9400 BP. Nancy and Crystal discuss the remains of earth ovens found at Barton Gulch, and talk about the possibly uses for these ovens and the plant remains recovered during archaeological excavation. The presence of these ovens and other cooking features implies that the people who lived and cooked at this place had detailed procedures for preparing plant and animal remains.
Join us for this discussion and to learn more about this important archaeological site and many others, read "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana" by Carl Davis.
Join us as we talk with Museum of the Rockies (MOR) Curator, Michael Fox, about historic photographs and cameras in the MOR collection. We look at two historic cameras dating to the late 19th century and 1930s time period. We then dive into a series of historic photographs that capture the historic west through photographic imagery. Historic photographs are an important way for historians and archaeologists to learn more about the past, providing a primary source of information about how people lived, showing how their lives and how they were similar or different from our lives today. They can answer questions we may have, but they can also cause us to ask more questions like why was this photo taken, who took it, why did they take it? But, by looking very closely at photos, we can see information and evidence that can answer our questions.
Join us as we talk with Museum of the Rockies (MOR) Curator, Michael Fox, about historic photographs and cameras in the MOR collection. We look at two historic cameras dating to the late 19th century and 1930s time period. We then dive into a series of historic photographs that capture the historic west through photographic imagery. Historic photographs are an important way for historians and archaeologists to learn more about the past, providing a primary source of information about how people lived, showing how their lives and how they were similar or different from our lives today. They can answer questions we may have, but they can also cause us to ask more questions like why was this photo taken, who took it, why did they take it? But, by looking very closely at photos, we can see information and evidence that can answer our questions.
Join us as we talk with Mark Sullivan, a #1 New York Times bestselling author who wrote The Last Green Valley about a family, the Martels, that flee the Ukraine in 1944 to arrive and eventually settle in Bozeman, MT. We discuss the families harrowing journey as they, along with thousands of others make the Long Trek. Join us for this important conversation with Mark Sullivan.
Mark Sullivan is the acclaimed author of twenty novels, including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, which has been published in thirty-seven languages, and All the Glimmering Stars, which debuts in May. He has also written the #1 NYT bestselling Private Series with James Patterson and received numerous accolades for his writing. He grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. Upon his return to the United States, he earned a graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and began a career in investigative journalism. An avid skier and adventurer, he lives with his wife in Bozeman, Montana.
Join us as we talk with Mark Sullivan, a #1 New York Times bestselling author who wrote The Last Green Valley about a family, the Martels, that flee the Ukraine in 1944 to arrive and eventually settle in Bozeman, MT. We discuss the families harrowing journey as they, along with thousands of others make the Long Trek. Join us for this important conversation with Mark Sullivan.
Mark Sullivan is the acclaimed author of twenty novels, including Beneath a Scarlet Sky, which has been published in thirty-seven languages, and All the Glimmering Stars, which debuts in May. He has also written the #1 NYT bestselling Private Series with James Patterson and received numerous accolades for his writing. He grew up in Medfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in English before working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Niger, West Africa. Upon his return to the United States, he earned a graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and began a career in investigative journalism. An avid skier and adventurer, he lives with his wife in Bozeman, Montana.
Join us as we talk with Museum Educator Ashley Hall about her career as a museum educator at the Museum of the Rockies, her research on Sauropod feet and her books including Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones and Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth and Prehistoric Worlds: Stomp Into the Epic Lands Ruled by Dinosaurs (due out at the end of March 2024).
Ashley is a dynamic paleontologist, naturalist, and museum educator. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, she grew up loving dinosaurs from an early age and was inspired by holiday trips to Chicago’s Field Museum to pursue a career in natural history.
Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology (focus: Zooarchaeology) and animal behavior from Indiana University, Bloomington. After graduation, she spent nearly a decade working as a science educator for various educational institutions in southern California, including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the La Brea Tar Pits. During this time, Ashley also served as the assistant curator of paleontology at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, California. While with the “Alf,” she managed the fossil collection and participated in fieldwork including Late Cretaceous dinosaur excavations in the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah and Miocene mammal reconnaissance paleontology in the Mojave Desert’s Rainbow Basin.
Ashley relocated to Ohio where she worked as a naturalist for the Cleveland Metroparks reservation system before taking a position with the Cleveland Museum of Natural as the adult programs coordinator.
When Ashley is not educating the public in person, she is an active science communicator on social media. Ashley has presented several invited workshops on communicating science through social media at professional, scientific meetings, including the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology annual conferences. Her scientific research has focused on sauropod claw morphology and function and the evolution of birds from deposits at the La Brea Tar Pits.
Join us as we talk with Museum Educator Ashley Hall about her career as a museum educator at the Museum of the Rockies, her research on Sauropod feet and her books including Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones and Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth and Prehistoric Worlds: Stomp Into the Epic Lands Ruled by Dinosaurs (due out at the end of March 2024).
Ashley is a dynamic paleontologist, naturalist, and museum educator. Originally from South Bend, Indiana, she grew up loving dinosaurs from an early age and was inspired by holiday trips to Chicago’s Field Museum to pursue a career in natural history.
Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology (focus: Zooarchaeology) and animal behavior from Indiana University, Bloomington. After graduation, she spent nearly a decade working as a science educator for various educational institutions in southern California, including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the La Brea Tar Pits. During this time, Ashley also served as the assistant curator of paleontology at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont, California. While with the “Alf,” she managed the fossil collection and participated in fieldwork including Late Cretaceous dinosaur excavations in the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument in Utah and Miocene mammal reconnaissance paleontology in the Mojave Desert’s Rainbow Basin.
Ashley relocated to Ohio where she worked as a naturalist for the Cleveland Metroparks reservation system before taking a position with the Cleveland Museum of Natural as the adult programs coordinator.
When Ashley is not educating the public in person, she is an active science communicator on social media. Ashley has presented several invited workshops on communicating science through social media at professional, scientific meetings, including the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Association for Materials and Methods in Paleontology annual conferences. Her scientific research has focused on sauropod claw morphology and function and the evolution of birds from deposits at the La Brea Tar Pits.
Join us as we talk with the author of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America, Betsy Gaines Quammen. We discuss her book and what she learned about America as she spent time in small towns and big cities throughout the West, talking with people about their beliefs on land, politics, liberty, and self-determination. Betsy tells us about some of her conversations, and what she learned about the West’s enduring myths and complex history from militia members, Montana ranchers, and grassroots organizers.
Dr. Betsy Gaines Quammen is a historian and writer. She received a PhD in environmental history from Montana State University where she studied religion, history and the philosophy of science. Her dissertation focused on Mormon history and the roots of armed public land conflicts occurring in the United States. She is fascinated with and examines the intersections of extremism, public lands, wildlife, and western communities. She is the author of American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West and True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America. Betsy lives in Montana with her husband, writer David Quammen.
Join us as we talk with the author of True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America, Betsy Gaines Quammen. We discuss her book and what she learned about America as she spent time in small towns and big cities throughout the West, talking with people about their beliefs on land, politics, liberty, and self-determination. Betsy tells us about some of her conversations, and what she learned about the West’s enduring myths and complex history from militia members, Montana ranchers, and grassroots organizers.
Dr. Betsy Gaines Quammen is a historian and writer. She received a PhD in environmental history from Montana State University where she studied religion, history and the philosophy of science. Her dissertation focused on Mormon history and the roots of armed public land conflicts occurring in the United States. She is fascinated with and examines the intersections of extremism, public lands, wildlife, and western communities. She is the author of American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God, and Public Lands in the West and True West: Myth and Mending on the Far Side of America. Betsy lives in Montana with her husband, writer David Quammen.
Join us as we discuss the Hagen Site, a National Historic Landmark located on a bluff above the Yellowstone River north of Glendive, Montana. This archaeological site is significant because it documents the establishment of a permanent village by a people in transition from the Eastern Woodlands to a Plains bison culture. We dive into the Museum of the Rockies collections to view artifacts from the Hagen Site including pottery, lithic material, bone tools and fish bones.
Join us as we discuss the Hagen Site, a National Historic Landmark located on a bluff above the Yellowstone River north of Glendive, Montana. This archaeological site is significant because it documents the establishment of a permanent village by a people in transition from the Eastern Woodlands to a Plains bison culture. We dive into the Museum of the Rockies collections to view artifacts from the Hagen Site including pottery, lithic material, bone tools and fish bones.
Join us as we talk with Michael Fox, the curator of history at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT about John Bozeman. Bozeman is the namesake for the town of Bozeman, Montana and instrumental in creating the Bozeman Trail, an overland route in the Western United States, connecting the gold rush territory of southern Montana to the Oregon Trail in eastern Wyoming from roughly 1863 to 1868. Crystal, Nancy and Michael discuss John Bozeman's life and death and view artifacts related to John Bozeman from the Museum of the Rockies collection including his revolver, powder horn, letters, and his gold pocket watch. To watch this on YouTube, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwg1awH-Z6c.
Here's more resources to learn more about John Bozeman:
The Bloody Bozeman by Dorothy Johnson
John M. Bozeman, Montana Trailmaker by Merrill Burlingame
Join us as we talk with Michael Fox, the curator of history at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT about John Bozeman. Bozeman is the namesake for the town of Bozeman, Montana and instrumental in creating the Bozeman Trail, an overland route in the Western United States, connecting the gold rush territory of southern Montana to the Oregon Trail in eastern Wyoming from roughly 1863 to 1868. Crystal, Nancy and Michael discuss John Bozeman's life and death and view artifacts related to John Bozeman from the Museum of the Rockies collection including his revolver, powder horn, letters, and his gold pocket watch. To watch this on YouTube, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwg1awH-Z6c.
Here's more resources to learn more about John Bozeman:
The Bloody Bozeman by Dorothy Johnson
John M. Bozeman, Montana Trailmaker by Merrill Burlingame
Join us for a discussion on historic red-light districts in Butte and Bozeman, MT with guest Chelsea Hogan. Chelsea is the Museum of the Rockies Director of Education and Programming and she is the co-producer of the Museum's Haunted Mountain Theatre. We discuss how Haunted Mountain Theatre is incorporating a story about a Butte Madam into their show this year. We also discuss historic red-light districts in general, specifically those in Butte and Bozeman, MT. This is the first episode of our The Dirt on the Past Podcast: Museum Edition where we will also feature artifacts from the Museum of the Rockies collections. If you would also like to watch this on your YouTube channel, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N73xdwUV9s&t=612s.
Join us for a discussion on historic red-light districts in Butte and Bozeman, MT with guest Chelsea Hogan. Chelsea is the Museum of the Rockies Director of Education and Programming and she is the co-producer of the Museum's Haunted Mountain Theatre. We discuss how Haunted Mountain Theatre is incorporating a story about a Butte Madam into their show this year. We also discuss historic red-light districts in general, specifically those in Butte and Bozeman, MT. This is the first episode of our The Dirt on the Past Podcast: Museum Edition where we will also feature artifacts from the Museum of the Rockies collections. If you would also like to watch this on your YouTube channel, follow this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N73xdwUV9s&t=612s.
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute where they discuss how Bronze Age women had stronger arms than today's elite female rowers, due to grinding grain for hours a day. "This is the first study to actually compare prehistoric female bones to those of living women," said lead researcher, Dr Alison Macintosh.
Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute where they discuss how Bronze Age women had stronger arms than today's elite female rowers, due to grinding grain for hours a day. "This is the first study to actually compare prehistoric female bones to those of living women," said lead researcher, Dr Alison Macintosh.
Join us as we talk with Amanda Hendrix-Komoto about her new book, Imperial Zions: Religion, Race, and Family in the American West and the Pacific which was published in 2022. We discuss the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, focusing in on the women of the historical narrative including the wife of Joseph Smith. We talk about polygamy within the church, and when the practice started to take shape, and we talk about how the Latter-day Saints created their understandings of polygamy at the same time they tried to change the domestic practices of Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto is Assistant Professor of History at Montana State University.
Join us as we talk with Amanda Hendrix-Komoto about her new book, Imperial Zions: Religion, Race, and Family in the American West and the Pacific which was published in 2022. We discuss the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, focusing in on the women of the historical narrative including the wife of Joseph Smith. We talk about polygamy within the church, and when the practice started to take shape, and we talk about how the Latter-day Saints created their understandings of polygamy at the same time they tried to change the domestic practices of Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto is Assistant Professor of History at Montana State University.
Join us for our conversation with Sarah Rosenberg, the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Bozeman, MT. We discuss all things historic preservation with Sarah including her vision to tell stories of the underrepresented communities and promote the protection of intangible heritage. We do a little myth busting about what you can, and cannot, do to your house if you live in a historic district or if your house is listed on the National Register. We also discuss historic preservation in the face of growth and how the two can be compatible. Join us for this riveting conversation with Sarah!
Join us for our conversation with Sarah Rosenberg, the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Bozeman, MT. We discuss all things historic preservation with Sarah including her vision to tell stories of the underrepresented communities and promote the protection of intangible heritage. We do a little myth busting about what you can, and cannot, do to your house if you live in a historic district or if your house is listed on the National Register. We also discuss historic preservation in the face of growth and how the two can be compatible. Join us for this riveting conversation with Sarah!
Mark Johnson recently published, The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana. We discuss the book, including experiences of Chinese women in Montana. We also talk about Mark's new project in collaboration with the Mai Wah Museum, to translate Chinese headstones in cemeteries located in Helena, Bozeman, Billings, and Butte. The translations will identify the individuals commemorated, and hopefully give us more information about their lives in Montana but also in China. For more information on Mark's book and upcoming project visit his website at bigskychinese.com.
Mark Johnson recently published, The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky: A History of the Chinese Experience in Montana. We discuss the book, including experiences of Chinese women in Montana. We also talk about Mark's new project in collaboration with the Mai Wah Museum, to translate Chinese headstones in cemeteries located in Helena, Bozeman, Billings, and Butte. The translations will identify the individuals commemorated, and hopefully give us more information about their lives in Montana but also in China. For more information on Mark's book and upcoming project visit his website at bigskychinese.com.
Join Nancy and Crystal as we talk with author and geneticist, Jennifer Raff, on her new book, ORIGIN: A Genetic History of the Americas. We discuss the genetic history of the first peoples in the Americas, who they were, current theories on how they arrived, and why they made the crossing. We delve into how they dispersed south and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. We also discuss the myths surrounding the peopling of the Americas, specifically the myth of the Moundbuilders, and how myths persist today in fringe theories about the origins of Indigenous people. Jennifer explains how genetics is currently being used to construct narratives that profoundly impact Indigenous peoples of the Americas and how genetics has become entangled with identity in the way that society addresses the question "Who is indigenous?" Join us for this riveting discussion with settler scientist Jennifer Raff!
Echo-Hawk, Roger (2011) "Summer Soltice," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2011 : Iss. 33 , Article 14. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2011/iss33/14Join Nancy and Crystal as we talk with author and geneticist, Jennifer Raff, on her new book, ORIGIN: A Genetic History of the Americas. We discuss the genetic history of the first peoples in the Americas, who they were, current theories on how they arrived, and why they made the crossing. We delve into how they dispersed south and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. We also discuss the myths surrounding the peopling of the Americas, specifically the myth of the Moundbuilders, and how myths persist today in fringe theories about the origins of Indigenous people. Jennifer explains how genetics is currently being used to construct narratives that profoundly impact Indigenous peoples of the Americas and how genetics has become entangled with identity in the way that society addresses the question "Who is indigenous?" Join us for this riveting discussion with settler scientist Jennifer Raff!
Echo-Hawk, Roger (2011) "Summer Soltice," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2011 : Iss. 33 , Article 14. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2011/iss33/14
Join us as we talk with Dr. Julie Schablitsky about the recent discovery of the spot where Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross, had his home, and where Harriet would have spent some of her childhood. Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross in March 1822 on the Thompson Farm in Maryland. She and her mother were enslaved by the Brodess family and moved away from the farm when she was a toddler. Ben Ross felled and sold timber, which was transported by free black mariners to Baltimore shipyards and used to build ships. Harriet Tubman learned to navigate difficult terrain while working with her father. Interacting with mariners also provided knowledge of waterways on the East Coast, which may have helped her lead people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Julie Schablitsky is Chief of the Cultural Resources Division at the Maryland Department of Transportation. She graduated with her doctorate from Portland State University in Oregon with an emphasis in archaeology. After graduation, Julie carried out research on the Donner Party of California and the medieval estate of Amisfield in Scotland. Her Maryland research includes African America, cemeteries, and the recovery of DNA from artifacts.
Join us as we talk with Dr. Julie Schablitsky about the recent discovery of the spot where Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross, had his home, and where Harriet would have spent some of her childhood. Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross in March 1822 on the Thompson Farm in Maryland. She and her mother were enslaved by the Brodess family and moved away from the farm when she was a toddler. Ben Ross felled and sold timber, which was transported by free black mariners to Baltimore shipyards and used to build ships. Harriet Tubman learned to navigate difficult terrain while working with her father. Interacting with mariners also provided knowledge of waterways on the East Coast, which may have helped her lead people to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Julie Schablitsky is Chief of the Cultural Resources Division at the Maryland Department of Transportation. She graduated with her doctorate from Portland State University in Oregon with an emphasis in archaeology. After graduation, Julie carried out research on the Donner Party of California and the medieval estate of Amisfield in Scotland. Her Maryland research includes African America, cemeteries, and the recovery of DNA from artifacts.
Join us as we talk with Utah State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) with the Utah Division of State History, Christopher Merritt, about his work as a SHPO and his interest in historic Chinese communities in the West. We talk specifically about a ghost town called Terrace, UT. Terrace was once a bustling town located along the transcontinental railroad, but has long since been dismantled and abandoned. The only evidence that remains are scattered bricks, glass and porcelain shards where buildings once stood. Terrace grew to about 1,000 residents at one time and was also the second-largest population of Chinese individuals in Utah (behind Corrine). In 2020 and 2021, archaeology was done at the townsite of Terrace to better understand the individuals that once called this place home, including the historic Chinese community. Chris talks with us about this archaeological excavation and what was learned from the artifacts and structures left behind. If you would like to volunteer to help with this project, follow this link. http://www.passportintime.com/available-projects.html.
Join us as we talk with Utah State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) with the Utah Division of State History, Christopher Merritt, about his work as a SHPO and his interest in historic Chinese communities in the West. We talk specifically about a ghost town called Terrace, UT. Terrace was once a bustling town located along the transcontinental railroad, but has long since been dismantled and abandoned. The only evidence that remains are scattered bricks, glass and porcelain shards where buildings once stood. Terrace grew to about 1,000 residents at one time and was also the second-largest population of Chinese individuals in Utah (behind Corrine). In 2020 and 2021, archaeology was done at the townsite of Terrace to better understand the individuals that once called this place home, including the historic Chinese community. Chris talks with us about this archaeological excavation and what was learned from the artifacts and structures left behind. If you would like to volunteer to help with this project, follow this link. http://www.passportintime.com/available-projects.html.
Join us as we talk with Marsha Small about her work to locate and document Indian boarding school cemeteries. Marsha leads the Indigenous Peoples' Day Montana movement and her work with the preservation and conservation of sacred sites and places using GPR, GPS, and GIS, specifically in boarding school cemeteries is internationally known. Marsha uses ground-penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves, including at the Chemawa Indian School cemetery in Salem, Oregon. Marsha has a master’s degree in Native American Studies from Montana State University and is currently working on a PhD. Marsha was the distinguished visiting Native American Studies professor in Anthropology at Willamette University in 2019. We discuss Marsha's work at the Chemawa Indian Boarding School cemetery, along with the work she has been doing to establish protocols to document boarding school cemeteries. This is hard history and very difficult to discuss. Our thanks to Marsha for her continued dedication to this work and her mission to locate and document the graves of these children. To follow Marsha on social media use #aVoicefortheChildrenInIndianBoardingSchoolCemeteries.
Join us as we talk with Marsha Small about her work to locate and document Indian boarding school cemeteries. Marsha leads the Indigenous Peoples' Day Montana movement and her work with the preservation and conservation of sacred sites and places using GPR, GPS, and GIS, specifically in boarding school cemeteries is internationally known. Marsha uses ground-penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves, including at the Chemawa Indian School cemetery in Salem, Oregon. Marsha has a master’s degree in Native American Studies from Montana State University and is currently working on a PhD. Marsha was the distinguished visiting Native American Studies professor in Anthropology at Willamette University in 2019. We discuss Marsha's work at the Chemawa Indian Boarding School cemetery, along with the work she has been doing to establish protocols to document boarding school cemeteries. This is hard history and very difficult to discuss. Our thanks to Marsha for her continued dedication to this work and her mission to locate and document the graves of these children. To follow Marsha on social media use #aVoicefortheChildrenInIndianBoardingSchoolCemeteries.
Join us for a deep dive into gender and feminism in archaeology with archaeologist, Meg Conkey. Meg is professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley and is known for introducing feminist perspectives into archaeology. We discuss her early work with Janet Spector, Joan Gero, and others to bring women and gender into the study of archaeology and what it means to do archaeology as a feminist.
To learn more:
Engendering Archaeology: Women and Prehistory edited by Margaret Conkey and Joan Gero What this Awl Means: Feminist Archaeology at a Wahpeton Dakota Village by Janet Spector Archaeologies of the Heart by Kisha Supernant, Jane Eva Baxter, Natasha Lyons, and Sonya Atalay Reindeer Moon by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Join us for a deep dive into gender and feminism in archaeology with archaeologist, Meg Conkey. Meg is professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley and is known for introducing feminist perspectives into archaeology. We discuss her early work with Janet Spector, Joan Gero, and others to bring women and gender into the study of archaeology and what it means to do archaeology as a feminist.
To learn more:
Engendering Archaeology: Women and Prehistory edited by Margaret Conkey and Joan Gero What this Awl Means: Feminist Archaeology at a Wahpeton Dakota Village by Janet Spector Archaeologies of the Heart by Kisha Supernant, Jane Eva Baxter, Natasha Lyons, and Sonya Atalay Reindeer Moon by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
Join us this week as Crystal interviews Nancy about her research on the history of archaeology in Montana through the lens of three men including amateur archaeologist Oscar Lewis, academic William Mulloy, and advocate Melville Sayre. We discuss their work to bring archaeology to Montana and the significant archaeological sites they excavated in the 1930s and 1940s, including Pictograph Cave and the Hagan Site.
Join us this week as Crystal interviews Nancy about her research on the history of archaeology in Montana through the lens of three men including amateur archaeologist Oscar Lewis, academic William Mulloy, and advocate Melville Sayre. We discuss their work to bring archaeology to Montana and the significant archaeological sites they excavated in the 1930s and 1940s, including Pictograph Cave and the Hagan Site.
Join us for our fascinating conversation with Jan Zauha, librarian extraordinaire. We discuss the role of libraries in this digital age and how they have changed over time. We dive into the space of archives and talk about issues of accessibility and how these places are becoming more public and welcoming to everyone. We also talk about archival collecting and the push to expand the focus to make it more inclusive. Jan is passionate about her work and her love of learning and her enthusiasm shines through in this conversation.
Join us for our fascinating conversation with Jan Zauha, librarian extraordinaire. We discuss the role of libraries in this digital age and how they have changed over time. We dive into the space of archives and talk about issues of accessibility and how these places are becoming more public and welcoming to everyone. We also talk about archival collecting and the push to expand the focus to make it more inclusive. Jan is passionate about her work and her love of learning and her enthusiasm shines through in this conversation.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they delve into women's history month and talk about vice districting during the 1890's in relation to red-light districts and prostitution in the west! They also talk about what's coming up this summer for the Extreme History Project, the new podcast logo, and upcoming podcast interviews.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they delve into women's history month and talk about vice districting during the 1890's in relation to red-light districts and prostitution in the west! They also talk about what's coming up this summer for the Extreme History Project, the new podcast logo, and upcoming podcast interviews.
Join us as we talk with Laurel Angell about her research on America's twentieth century conservation movement and the missed opportunities that led it to become both exclusionary and politically polarizing. Laurel grew up in Yosemite National Park, and has herself worked as a Park Ranger before obtaining a degree in environmental law and working on conservation policy initiatives under the Obama administration. Laurel is currently a doctoral candidate in History at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and remains active in local and national policy initiatives targeted at creating broader and more inclusive conservation goals.
Join us as we talk with Laurel Angell about her research on America's twentieth century conservation movement and the missed opportunities that led it to become both exclusionary and politically polarizing. Laurel grew up in Yosemite National Park, and has herself worked as a Park Ranger before obtaining a degree in environmental law and working on conservation policy initiatives under the Obama administration. Laurel is currently a doctoral candidate in History at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and remains active in local and national policy initiatives targeted at creating broader and more inclusive conservation goals.
Join us for our fascinating discussion with Stanford scholar, Adrienne Mayor, about her book, The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World. We discuss the realities and myths behind these legendary women recently popularized by the popular Wonder Woman films. We get to the heart of the word, Amazon, discussing its origins. We have a meaningful conversation around Scythian burials and the archaeological evidence presented in these tombs, that of women warriors buried with quiver and arrows, iron spearheads and lance points , knives, and pebble missiles for a sling buried next to them in these Kurgan mounds. The skeletal remains of these women show they actively participated in battle with the grisly evidence marking their bones in the way of arrowheads burrowed in long bones, battle-ax marks cleaved into their skulls, and ribs slashed by swords. We also talk about Amazon tattoos, often depicted in Greek vase painting and on mummified individuals depicting geometric patterns and animal motifs.
Join us for our fascinating discussion with Stanford scholar, Adrienne Mayor, about her book, The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World. We discuss the realities and myths behind these legendary women recently popularized by the popular Wonder Woman films. We get to the heart of the word, Amazon, discussing its origins. We have a meaningful conversation around Scythian burials and the archaeological evidence presented in these tombs, that of women warriors buried with quiver and arrows, iron spearheads and lance points , knives, and pebble missiles for a sling buried next to them in these Kurgan mounds. The skeletal remains of these women show they actively participated in battle with the grisly evidence marking their bones in the way of arrowheads burrowed in long bones, battle-ax marks cleaved into their skulls, and ribs slashed by swords. We also talk about Amazon tattoos, often depicted in Greek vase painting and on mummified individuals depicting geometric patterns and animal motifs.
Join Nancy and Crystal as they travel back to the ancient world and discuss Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic female figurines and how scholars have interpreted these curvaceous ladies through time. They talk specifically about the male gaze and how this has influenced the way we see these figurines and statues today. They talk specifically about the Venus of Willendorf, the Venus of Malta, Maltese Temples, the Goddess Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, archaeologist Marija Gimbutas and her influence and research, and the backlash to the Goddess movement.
To learn more,
Join Nancy and Crystal as they travel back to the ancient world and discuss Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic female figurines and how scholars have interpreted these curvaceous ladies through time. They talk specifically about the male gaze and how this has influenced the way we see these figurines and statues today. They talk specifically about the Venus of Willendorf, the Venus of Malta, Maltese Temples, the Goddess Movement of the 1970s and 1980s, archaeologist Marija Gimbutas and her influence and research, and the backlash to the Goddess movement.
To learn more,
Join us for a conversation with Aaron Brien as we discuss his views on Indigenous Archaeology, his life-changing experience viewing historic Apsáalooke/Crow War Shields at Chicago's Field Museum, his new job as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Crow Nation, and so much more.
To learn more, see the additional resources below.
Tribal Research Specialists Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS85NTMxNTIucnNz Ishbinnaache Chikituuk: An Examination of a Crow War Shield at the Chicago Field Museum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgl4D4OibfQ&t=5s Apsáalooke Woman and Warriors Companion Book - https://store.fieldmuseum.org/products/apsaalooke-women-and-warriors-book
Join us for a conversation with Aaron Brien as we discuss his views on Indigenous Archaeology, his life-changing experience viewing historic Apsáalooke/Crow War Shields at Chicago's Field Museum, his new job as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Crow Nation, and so much more.
To learn more, see the additional resources below.
Tribal Research Specialists Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS85NTMxNTIucnNz Ishbinnaache Chikituuk: An Examination of a Crow War Shield at the Chicago Field Museum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgl4D4OibfQ&t=5s Apsáalooke Woman and Warriors Companion Book - https://store.fieldmuseum.org/products/apsaalooke-women-and-warriors-book
Join us as we talk with Mark Johnson about his research on Montana's historic Chinese community. He is working to uncover this important history and present it through a global lens and in the voice of the Chinese people who lived and died in Montana. In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about the historic Chinese experience and Mark's work to document the long-silenced voices.
To learn more,
Follow this link to watch a presentation by Mark Johnson on the 1905 Special Chinese Census in Montana/Idaho. This was a presentation given at the Western History Association 2020 Annual Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4X4x90a_HE In Their Own Words: Translating Documents from Montana's Chinese Community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNngOlHpMY Becoming Chinese in Montana: The Chinese Empire Reform Association & National Identity among Montana's Chinese Communities. https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/public_lectures_mtech/104/Join us as we talk with Mark Johnson about his research on Montana's historic Chinese community. He is working to uncover this important history and present it through a global lens and in the voice of the Chinese people who lived and died in Montana. In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about the historic Chinese experience and Mark's work to document the long-silenced voices.
To learn more,
Follow this link to watch a presentation by Mark Johnson on the 1905 Special Chinese Census in Montana/Idaho. This was a presentation given at the Western History Association 2020 Annual Conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4X4x90a_HE In Their Own Words: Translating Documents from Montana's Chinese Community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGNngOlHpMY Becoming Chinese in Montana: The Chinese Empire Reform Association & National Identity among Montana's Chinese Communities. https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/public_lectures_mtech/104/
Join us as we talk with Craig Lee, Shane Doyle, and Ian Van Coller about their collaboration and friendship around high-altitude archaeology. They have worked together on many different projects over the past 10 years, each bringing their own unique perspective to the work. Craig Lee is a high-altitude archaeologist, Shane Doyle is a member of the Apsaalooke Nation and an educator, and Ian Van Coller is a photographer and professor at Montana State University.
Visit these links for more information,
https://instaar.colorado.edu/meetings/frozenpasts5/index.html https://www.ianvancoller.com/Join us as we talk with Craig Lee, Shane Doyle, and Ian Van Coller about their collaboration and friendship around high-altitude archaeology. They have worked together on many different projects over the past 10 years, each bringing their own unique perspective to the work. Craig Lee is a high-altitude archaeologist, Shane Doyle is a member of the Apsaalooke Nation and an educator, and Ian Van Coller is a photographer and professor at Montana State University.
Visit these links for more information,
https://instaar.colorado.edu/meetings/frozenpasts5/index.html https://www.ianvancoller.com/
Welcome to this week's edition of The Dirt on the Past as we speak with Dr. Kathleen Brown about her research on early America. Dr. Brown's research focuses on the 17th and 18th centuries, and the ways in which historical constructions of gender, race, and the human body were foundational to the institutions of slavery and of human rights.
Welcome to this week's edition of The Dirt on the Past as we speak with Dr. Kathleen Brown about her research on early America. Dr. Brown's research focuses on the 17th and 18th centuries, and the ways in which historical constructions of gender, race, and the human body were foundational to the institutions of slavery and of human rights.
Our latest podcast episode is a timely conversation with Kevin Kooistra as we discuss the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment through the lens of the suffragist, Hazel Hunkins. Hazel grew up in Billings, MT and joined the National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul, as a young woman. Hazel demonstrated with the Silent Sentinels, chaining herself to the White House gates in 1917, for which she was jailed. We also discuss women of color, including Ida B. Wells, who were extremely important to the women's suffrage movement but were often excluded from the national groups.
To learn more: Huzel Hunkins, Billings Suffragist. A Primary Source Investigation, https://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/education/Women/HH_LessonPlan_Final2.pdf Vangard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha Jones, http://marthasjones.com/vanguard/ Women's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss, https://elaineweiss.com/ PBS The Vote documentary, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/vote/Our latest podcast episode is a timely conversation with Kevin Kooistra as we discuss the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment through the lens of the suffragist, Hazel Hunkins. Hazel grew up in Billings, MT and joined the National Women's Party, led by Alice Paul, as a young woman. Hazel demonstrated with the Silent Sentinels, chaining herself to the White House gates in 1917, for which she was jailed. We also discuss women of color, including Ida B. Wells, who were extremely important to the women's suffrage movement but were often excluded from the national groups.
To learn more: Huzel Hunkins, Billings Suffragist. A Primary Source Investigation, https://mhs.mt.gov/Portals/11/education/Women/HH_LessonPlan_Final2.pdf Vangard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha Jones, http://marthasjones.com/vanguard/ Women's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine Weiss, https://elaineweiss.com/ PBS The Vote documentary, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/vote/
Join us for our engaging conversation with retired U.S. Forest Service Archaeologist, Carl Davis. We discuss his new book, "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana." We cover all things archaeological and why they matter today!
Join us for our engaging conversation with retired U.S. Forest Service Archaeologist, Carl Davis. We discuss his new book, "Six Hundred Generations: An Archaeological History of Montana." We cover all things archaeological and why they matter today!
Join the "Dirt on the Past" hosts, Crystal and Nancy, as they discuss mortuary customs through time. From the earliest evidence of human burial ceremonies to historic headstone symbolism. They speak to Scythian burial mounds, Egyptian mummification practices, and the importance of "ghost stories" at this time of year. Join us for our special Halloween/Samhain episode!
Join the "Dirt on the Past" hosts, Crystal and Nancy, as they discuss mortuary customs through time. From the earliest evidence of human burial ceremonies to historic headstone symbolism. They speak to Scythian burial mounds, Egyptian mummification practices, and the importance of "ghost stories" at this time of year. Join us for our special Halloween/Samhain episode!
In this episode, Dr. Riley Augé, the curator of the University of Montana's Anthropological Collections Facility, discusses her book, "The Archeology of Magic: Gender and Domestic Protection in 17th Century New England". In addition to her book, we discuss other fascinating topics including witch bottles, apotropaic magic, and the Salem witch trials.
In this episode, Dr. Riley Augé, the curator of the University of Montana's Anthropological Collections Facility, discusses her book, "The Archeology of Magic: Gender and Domestic Protection in 17th Century New England". In addition to her book, we discuss other fascinating topics including witch bottles, apotropaic magic, and the Salem witch trials.
Listen to our fascinating discussion on Neanderthal dental morphology with Dr. Shara Bailey. She is a professor and associate chair in the Department of Anthropology at New York University and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and a book on dental morphology and human evolution.
Listen to our fascinating discussion on Neanderthal dental morphology with Dr. Shara Bailey. She is a professor and associate chair in the Department of Anthropology at New York University and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and a book on dental morphology and human evolution.
Join us as we talk with Jill Falcon MacKin about Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Jill is a member of the Anishinaabe: Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, Bear Clan and is dedicated to working for the revitalization of Buffalo Nations' Food Systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and re-integration of traditional land practices.
Join us as we talk with Jill Falcon MacKin about Indigenous Food Sovereignty. Jill is a member of the Anishinaabe: Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, Bear Clan and is dedicated to working for the revitalization of Buffalo Nations' Food Systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and re-integration of traditional land practices.
Join us as we talk with Tom Rust, a professor at Montana State University Billings, about his new book, "Watching Over Yellowstone: The US Army's Experience in America's First National Park, 1886-1918." We will discuss the book, his thoughts on the symbolism of Yellowstone National Park, and chapter that was left out of the book, and why.
Join us as we talk with Tom Rust, a professor at Montana State University Billings, about his new book, "Watching Over Yellowstone: The US Army's Experience in America's First National Park, 1886-1918." We will discuss the book, his thoughts on the symbolism of Yellowstone National Park, and chapter that was left out of the book, and why.
Welcome to The Dirt on the Past. Whether digging up a site or dusting off the archives, we bring you some of the most fascinating and cutting edge research in history and archaeology, and discuss why it matters today. Join co-hosts, Crystal Alegria and Nancy Mahoney as we converse with professionals in the fields of history, archaeology, and anthropology who bring the past…into the present.
Welcome to The Dirt on the Past. Whether digging up a site or dusting off the archives, we bring you some of the most fascinating and cutting edge research in history and archaeology, and discuss why it matters today. Join co-hosts, Crystal Alegria and Nancy Mahoney as we converse with professionals in the fields of history, archaeology, and anthropology who bring the past…into the present.
