Jim and a very excited Brenna are joined by our original listener Dr Jennifer Jones to discuss the Archaeology of... Cave Bears. A prehistoric species of bear that went extinct around 25,000 years ago.

Using isotope analysis of Cave Bears from across Europe Jennifer discusses what we know about their ecology and what may have caused their extinction – climate change or modern humans. This leads to the discovery that Brenna’s personal scale works on Lada’s, the old Russian car. Jim goes all hippish and thinks Cave Bears and humans could have been friends and all discuss the merits of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear. We also delve into Brenna’s reinterpretation of the ‘lion man’.

The Archaeology of.. is produced by the ⁠⁠Archaeology team⁠⁠ from the University of Lancashire. It is presented by Drs James Morris and Brenna Hassett. Filming and editing by Mariusz Kuczaj.

You can read more on Jennifers research on Cave Bears ⁠here⁠.

Jim and Brenna are joined by Dr Rick Peterson to discuss the Archaeology of... the earliest northerner, ‘Ossick Lass’ a 11,000 year old early Mesolithic burial.

Rick discusses his detailed work with local archaeologist Martin Stables at a cave in Great Urswick on the Furness peninsula, Cumbria, UK. Including the discovery of a series of prehistoric burials along with tiny early Mesolithic jewellery. Ancient DNA and osteological work shows ‘Ossick Lass’ is a female child between 2.5 and 3.5 years old, buried between 9290 and 8925 cal BC, making her the 3rd oldest Mesolithic burial in northwestern Europe and the oldest burial from Northern Britain. This allows Jim and Brenna to dive down into why Mesolithic hunter-gathers would be burying people in caves, with Rick highlighting a possible European wide Mesolithic burial rite.

The Archaeology of.. is produced by the ⁠⁠Archaeology team⁠⁠ from the University of Lancashire. It is presented by Drs James Morris and Brenna Hassett. Filming and editing by Mariusz Kuczaj.

You can read more on Ricks research on Ossick lass ⁠here⁠.

Jim and Brenna are joined by Dr Allie Stewart to discuss the Archaeology of... Dental Biographies, which is a fancy way of saying… teeth, little treasure troves of information.

Whilst giving a good excuse for anyone who doesn’t want to floss, Allie explains how dental biographies can inform on familial connections and individual stories. Using the example of two early medieval burials (apologies to ep1 guest Duncan for not using Anglo-Saxon), Allie tells us how teeth can help us think about micromobility – people moving shorter distances between places within their lifetime, for a variety of personal reasons. This allows Brenna to rant about Risk, Jim to get excited about a cow and all to think about women moving for childbirth and care, connecting the early medieval to the modern day.

The Archaeology of.. is produced by the ⁠Archaeology team⁠ from the University of Lancashire. It is presented by Drs James Morris and Brenna Hassett. Filming and editing by Mariusz Kuczaj.

You can read more on Allie’s research here.

Jim and Brenna are joined by Prof Dave Robinson to discuss the Archaeology of... drugs, yes we’ve gone for sensationalism in only the 2nd episode.

Dave discuses one of the first confirmed archaeological findings of hallucinogens with rock art, in California. Jim and Brenna learn some cool new words, including entheogen, why they really shouldn’t take datura and get shocked by drugged hawkmoths! We delve into the deep appreciation of hallucinogenic plants, for many purposes including medicine, and hear how Indigenous American people discuss how these might have been used at rock art sites, along with the link between a rock art site, drugs, midsummer solstice and even those intriguing hawkmoths.

The Archaeology of.. is produced by the ⁠Archaeology team⁠ from the University of Lancashire. It is presented by Drs James Morris and Brenna Hassett. Filming and editing by Mariusz Kuczaj.

You can read more on Dave’s research into datura here