Best Tel Tales Podcasts (2024)

1
The Case of the Missing Branch of the Nile That Everyone Sort of Knew Had to be There Right Next to the Pyramids, or, You Can See a Lot of Cool Stuff from Space or Maybe With a Really Tall Ladder 33:59

4d ago33:59

33:59

New research shows that a long vanished branch of the Nile came right up to the pyramids at Giza, which made it easier to make deliveries. You’d think someone would have noticed that a branch of the river vanished but what do we know. Maybe it was one of those slowly, then all at once situations.By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
And Now Even Iron Age Jerusalem Gets Radiocarbonated! Or, Hezekiah Climbs the Hallstadt Plateau 52:45

18d ago52:45

52:45

A new collection of radiocarbon dates from Jerusalem has clarified the westward expansion of the city in the Iron Age and helped archaeologists overcome the Hallstadt Plateau. You know, that dull and listless part of the radiocarbon curve? So why are we arguing so much? It’s a regular three ring circus, but with a shoutout to the real king of Jerus…

1
For Fuller, Redder Bronze Age Lips, or, It's That Lipstick from Iran 40:53

1M ago40:53

40:53

This week we’re talking about the discovery in Iran of a carved stone tube containing glittery red lipstick. Was it for women or men? Was it for fancy people or regular folks? Was it garish or tasteful? Who are we to judge? One way or another, pop is the word of the day!By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
A Tale of Two Rivers: Los Angeles and San Antonio 37:14

1M ago37:14

37:14

Why do urban rivers look like they do? What makes one river key to a city’s identity and another one largely unknowable? We wrap up Season Four with a trip to the banks of the Los Angeles River, where Cindy Olnick chats with new dual-degree alum Leslie Dinkin about her award-winning master’s thesis, Heritage in Practice: A Study of Two Urban Rivers…

1
A Tale of Two Cities, Which Happen to be from the Hellenistic Period and are Located on the Euphrates River Only a Few Miles from Each Other, or, Dura Europos and its One Sister 47:13

2M ago47:13

47:13

Today we’re talking about the possibility that the famous site of Dura Europos – you know, the giant Hellenistic multicultural walled city with a synagogue, church and temples etc., had a twin, just six kilometers down the Euphrates River. A twin in Bucks County, Pennsylvania would be more surprising but you take what you can get.…

1
That Sunny Little Temple at Tel Azekah, or, The Temple’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades 50:52

2M ago50:52

50:52

The Late Bronze Age temple at Tell Azekah in the Judean Shephelah has us wondering, why does it face the sun, why is it so small, how often was it used, and how could you possibly have a wedding there? Not that we’re looking for a place, mind you. With an obvious and well deserved shoutout to Timbuk 3!…

1
Beyond the Stage: Uncovering Drag Culture in Los Angeles 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

Drag performances have long been a draw for audiences in L.A., though often held “underground” because of threats of persecution. In addition to its entertainment history, drag has had a role in affirming and protecting gender identity. Architect and recent graduate Jesús (Chuy) Barba Bonilla researched this history for his master’s thesis, Drag Cu…

1
Kirk Freudenburg: The Cinematic Art of Virgil's World 40:22

2M ago40:22

40:22

Yale classicist Kirk Freudenburg discusses the epic poems of the ancient world. From the Iliad to the Aeneid.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
The Love Call of the De-Extincted Mammoth, or, Ethics in Paleo-genomic Research (for Fun and Profit) 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

Today we’re talking about efforts to recreate woolly mammoths, apparently in order to 1) combat climate change, 2) cure cancer, and 3) re-wild the tundra. Our first reactions are, what? But our second reactions are a deep dive into the ethics of paleo-genomic research. Finally, there’s a shoutout to everyone’s favorite giant armadillo tank, Tarkus,…

1
There's an App for That: 3D Scanning with a Smartphone 27:23

3M ago27:23

27:23

Tools for documenting historic buildings evolve constantly, but professional 3D scanners remain out of reach for most of us. Alumna Ye Hong, our first dual-degree student in Heritage Conservation and Building Science, sees a path to more equitable heritage conservation in the nearly ubiquitous smartphone. For her thesis, she tested the potential an…

1
The Case of the Roman Medical Instruments from Southwest Turkey, Or, The Doctor Will See What’s Left of You Now 37:35

3M ago37:35

37:35

A Roman medical office in southwestern Turkey has us talking medicine. Were the same instruments used for cataracts and hemorrhoids? What kind of insurance did gladiators have anyway? Our contestants are concerned about sanitary conditions, however. With an inevitable shoutout to Theodoric, Barber of York.…

1
S02E03 – Aron Truss – BAL Digital 16:38

3M ago16:38

16:38

In the third episode of Season 2 of the TEL Tales podcast, we discuss with Aron Truss the BAL Digital team at Portsmouth University. Aron speaks about the work his team does in the faculty of Buisness and Law and discusses the importance of building trust with academic staff to try new teaching technologies. Aron […] The post S02E03 – Aron Truss – …

1
How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep in Antiquity, or Sleeping with the Television on in the Ancient Near East? 44:27

3M ago44:27

44:27

What was sleep like in antiquity and was it really that different from today? Aside from all the sheep next to you, the guy knapping flint at midnight, and having to climb a ladder and run across the rooftops in order to go to the bathroom, that is.By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
Documenting Black Women’s History at the Wilfandel Clubhouse 28:42

4M ago28:42

28:42

Dedicated students at the University of Southern California have pulled out the laser scanners and measuring tapes to document the Wilfandel Clubhouse in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Wilfandel Club, the oldest Black women’s club in Los Angeles, was founded in 1945 by Della Williams (wife of architect Paul R. Williams) and Fannie …

1
S02E02 – Tom Lowe – Student Attendance at Timetabled Sessions in a Post-Pandemic Higher Education Sector 31:01

4M ago31:01

31:01

In the second episode of Season 2 of the TEL Tales podcast, we discuss student engagement within on-campus timetabled sessions in a post-pandemic higher education system. Tom Lowe discusses the importance of building value in timetabled sessions for students as well as increasing student engagement, using a range of examples from the higher educati…

1
Remember That Time When Alexander the Great Became Ningirsu? Or, Naming Rights in Mesopotamia 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

A temple dedicated to Alexander the Great at the Mesopotamian site of Girsu has us asking questions. Was this the meta-crossover event of the century or just some guys in an office making some plaques for a foreign chump passing through? Our contestants disagree but give a special shoutout to Molly Pitcher, heroine of the New Jersey Turnpike!…

1
S02E01 – Tom Langston – Game Design 40:21

4M ago40:21

40:21

In this first episode of Season 2 of the TEL Tales podcast, we discuss game design and gamification within teaching and learning. Tom Langston discusses the impact of using games and gamifying education, using examples from here at Portsmouth University. Tom discusses the impact it is having on teaching and learning and strategies that can […] The …

1
The Midcentury Spa-Tels of Desert Hot Springs 36:52

4M ago36:52

36:52

New alumna (and Save As producer) Willa Seidenberg has enjoyed the mineral-water spas of Desert Hot Springs for decades. In the 1950s, the Coachella Valley town became a destination for middle- and working-class families who frequented the simple spa motels, or "spa-tels." Willa and co-host Cindy Olnick took a road trip to Desert Hot Springs to see…

1
How to Decorate a Philistine Temple, or, Flower Power Tell es Safi Style 52:43

4M ago52:43

52:43

Plant remains from the Philistine temples at Tell es Safi (aka Gat) have us asking questions. Sure they’re lovely seasonal items but were they tastefully displayed? How about those strong parallels in Greece? And for the very first time the listener stops by with an unexpected tale of a visit to tunnels beneath Nineveh, newly liberated from ISIS!…

1
Gino Caspari: Exploration on the Eurasian Steppe and Beyond 38:05

4M ago38:05

38:05

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Gino Caspari, an Explorers Club fellow and expert in the archaeology of the ancient Eurasian Steppe. Gino uses satellite imagery, LiDAR, and other forms of remote sensing paired with ambitious field surveys to discover new ancient sites. Check him out on Instagram @ginocaspari…

1
Dog Days of Domestication, or, Humans and Canines from Prehistory to the Present 47:40

5M ago47:40

47:40

Today we’re talking about what it means when dogs wags their tails, and then working backward about 15,000 years to the question of their domestication. Sure dogs help, herd and guard us humans, but in the process did they help us learn to love? If Scooby and Shaggy are any indication, then the answer is clear. With a special shoutout to Tucker, ac…

1
The Hidden Heritage of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf 36:53

5M ago36:53

36:53

A San Francisco native, alumna Emi Takahara always wondered why so many locals dismiss the historic Fisherman’s Wharf as a tourist trap. Sure, it has overpriced food, but it also has a culinary history that might surprise you—as well as longtime businesses trying to weather the changing times. In this episode, Emi talks with producer Willa Seidenbe…

1
Hello Assyriological Computer, Or, Artificial Intelligence and the Ancient Near East? 38:21

5M ago38:21

38:21

The growing ability of Artificial Intelligence to transliterate and translate Mesopotamian texts has us asking questions. Will AI be a force for good, putting texts into the hands of the people or will it throw folks out of work and let charlatans push out nonsense? You're asking us? Anyway, as a bonus, our contestants offer touching memories of th…

1
Rehabbing Old Houses into Affordable Housing 32:40

6M ago32:40

32:40

Alumna Isabel Thornton grew up in the Rust Belt town of Roanoke, Virginia. After graduating from USC, she eventually returned home and took note of the city’s beautiful Victorian homes, many vacant and in a state of disrepair. Linking her experience in affordable housing with her passion for historic places inspired her to establish a nonprofit cal…

1
Listening to Ancient Greek Sanctuaries, Or, The Past Was a Noisy Country 44:42

6M ago44:42

44:42

Psychoacoustic search at the Sanctuary of Zeus on Mount Lycaion shows that the builders constructed an entire site around sound. You could hear everything from the cheap seats, but was the experience really social rather than acoustic? With special shoutouts to The Who, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Boston area favorite, Human Sexual Response!…

1
The Neolithic Canoes of Capri, Or, Have Obsidian, Will Travel? 29:25

6M ago29:25

29:25

Like most people, the find of an obsidian core on the seafloor off Capri has us asking, how did a chunk of the Neolithic period’s favorite shiny stone get to the bottom of the Mediterranean and, was a sunken canoe involved? After answering “who knows,” our (non-sailing) contestants are left to ponder the bravery of those who sailed in the Neolithic…

1
Iron Age Gezer gets Radiocarbonated, or, From Archaeology to Text, to Text, and Back Again to, Wait, What? 40:17

7M ago40:17

40:17

In our triumphant return we’re laser focused on new radiocarbon dates from destructions at Late Bronze Age and Iron Age Gezer in Israel. These destructions might be the doing of better dated Egyptian kings like Merneptah, and could link back to events described in the Bible. So not really like a laser, more bouncing around like a ping pong ball.…

1
[Update] Meet You at Lenchita's 41:52

7M ago41:52

41:52

Alumna Sara Delgadillo grew up in Pacoima, a blue-collar neighborhood in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. Sara joined us in Season One to discuss how growing up in Pacoima influenced her life, studies, and career in heritage conservation. She also shared some of the enclave’s rich history, including some of the longtime small businesses that serve as ce…

1
[Update] Heritage and Hope at the Mafundi Building in Watts 1:00:15

8M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

After the Watts Rebellion of 1965, Black architects Art Silvers and Robert Kennard designed a Late Modern building for the Mafundi Institute, a cultural organization. The Watts Happening Cultural Center opened in 1970 as a place of creative expression, community, and healing. The popular Watts Coffee House has called the building home for decades. …

1
Wei-Cheng Lin: Stories of a Sacred Mountain in Medieval China 44:20

9M ago44:20

44:20

Art historian Dr. Wei-Cheng Lin and I discuss the arrival of Buddhism in ancient and early medieval China. We track the emergence of a major sacred site called Mount Wutai, discuss the symbolism of the mountains in Chinese history, and much more.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
Morag Kersel: Looters, Tourists, and Archaeologists in the Holy Land 41:21

9M ago41:21

41:21

Dr. Morag Kersel and I discuss the ethics of archaeology, including the challenges posed by looting, the illegal antiquities trade, and the curation crisis. We focus on these issues in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, through the lens of Dr. Kersel's archaeological and ethnographic research.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
[Update] Bunker Hill Refrain: Resurrecting a Lost Community 51:59

9M ago51:59

51:59

From 1930s census cards to virtual reality, the Bunker Hill Refrain project just keeps getting cooler. This multi-year effort is using data to reimagine downtown L.A.'s Bunker Hill—a historic, vibrant neighborhood razed in the urban renewal/removal of the 1950s. Dr. Meredith Drake Reitan offers an update on the project, which is digitally rebuildin…

1
Save As: Fall 2023! 1:10

9M ago1:10

1:10

Save As is taking a wee little break this fall. BUT we will bring you some exciting updates on previous episodes. We will be back in 2024 better than ever and with new and interesting episodes. Stay tuned and take this time to catch up on previous episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn…

1
A Note to Our Listener 0:41

9M ago0:41

0:41

This Week in the Ancient Near East is taking a short break while one member of our plucky band recovers from a nasty illness. We’ll be back soon with all new episodes and the same old schtick!By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
Architecture + Advocacy in L.A.'s Sugar Hill 35:12

10M ago35:12

35:12

A group of architecture students at the University of Southern California wants to do more than just design buildings. They want to work with communities to “un-design'' spatial injustice and leverage the power of residents in shaping their neighborhoods. In this episode, producer Willa Seidenberg talks with students Reily Gibson and Kianna Armstro…

1
Brian Bauer: At the Edge of the Wari Empire 40:29

10M ago40:29

40:29

In this episode, Dr. Bauer tells me about his work studying a remote outpost of the Wari Empire, an enigmatic civilization that preceded the Inca in Andean prehistory. We discuss imperial expansion, social hierarchy, burials, and more.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
The Prehistoric Spanish Cave of Drugs, Death and Fun! Or, the Clan of the Cave Hair? 43:16

10M ago43:16

43:16

A burial cave on the Western Mediterranean island of Minorca dating to 1000 BCE contained 200 individuals and wooden boxes of dyed human hairs. The hairs were full of drugs, which leads our contestants to ask just what kind of parties were going on down there and why we weren’t invited. A few flashbacks to the 1970s result.…

1
David Paradis: War and Honor in Medieval England 1:10:12

10M ago1:10:12

1:10:12

In this episode, David Paradis joins me to discuss the legacies of early medieval feuding and honor cultures. We examine how those forces shaped England, and Europe more broadly, across the middle ages.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
The Toilets of Iron Age Jerusalem, A View from Below, or, Dysentery and the Bible? 45:31

11M ago45:31

45:31

Excavation of Iron Age cesspits in Jerusalem has us thinking many things. These include 1) wow, they actually recovered protozoa that caused dysentery, how’d they do that, and, 2) umm, Jerusalem elites were really unhealthy. Our contestants try to keep the juvenile humor to a minimum.By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
The Copper Age Princess of Iberia? Or, I Want to Live With A Cinnabar Girl 41:57

11M ago41:57

41:57

A new article suggests that an elite Copper Age burial in southern Spain belonged to a young woman, not a man, and that society was a matriarchy. Our contestants are a little conflicted about reconstructing society starting with a single tooth, but it sounds a bit like Barbie Land, which is cool with us.…

1
A Late Roman Cave of Necromancy and Intrigue, or, A Backdoor to the Underworld in Beth Shemesh? 42:13

12M ago42:13

42:13

A cave near Beth Shemesh in Israel seems to have been a Late Roman portal to the underworld. How do we know? Did the detached skulls tell us? Our contestants take pro and anti-necromancy stances, but in a good way.By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
The Bird Calls of Prehistory, or the Squeaky Flutes of the Natufian 54:14

12M ago54:14

54:14

A new report on Natufian aerophones from Eynan-Mallaha has us wondering, what’s an aerophone? It’s a bone with holes, sort of like a flute or a bird call. So are humans replicating bird sounds to catch birds or to make music? Is all this ritual or is it just hunting? All the same, really, isn't it?By thisweekintheancientneareast

1
The Stone Receipts of Early Roman Jerusalem, or, Economic History on the Rocks 52:29

1y ago52:29

52:29

A new inscription from Jerusalem’s Pilgrim’s Road looks like a receipt from the Early Roman period. It’s also on a piece of stone, which seems difficult to file. We’ve got Emily Dickinson and emojis, religious observance, and the suspicious relationship between writing and literacy. With a special shoutout to Major Deegan and his expressway!…

1
The Dismembered Hands of Avaris, or How Do You Say “The Sound of One Hand Clapping” in Egyptian? 56:07

1y ago56:07

56:07

Pits with dismembered hands at the Hyksos site of Tell el Dab’a/Avaris have us asking, what is it with ancient Egypt and dismemberment? Sure the king wants to permanently defeat his enemies – really, who doesn’t want that - but isn’t all this hand chopping business just, well, performance art? It’s our most hands on episode yet!…

1
S01E07 – Dr Lynn Gribble – Artificial Intelligence 35:11

1y ago35:11

35:11

In this special AI episode of the Tel Tales podcast, Associate Professor Lynn Gribble discusses the impact of artificial intelligence in higher education, and how assessment can be adapted to become more authentic for our students. Associate Professor Lynn Gribble is an Education Focused academic in the School of Management and Governance at The Un…

1
What Pairs Well with Extreme Desert Conditions? or New Evidence for Wine in the Late Antique Negev 55:08

1y ago55:08

55:08

The discovery of grapes pips at Late Antique Avdat in the northern Negev has us asking questions, like who makes wine in the desert anyway, and how do you get the wine from the desert to the people? Is this a story of wine fancying monks or Breaking Bad style middlemen? Pour a glass and settle in with our contestants!…

1
S01E06 – Mike Wilson – WiseFlow 16:28

1y ago16:28

16:28

In this final episode of Season 1 of the TEL Tales podcast, Mike Wilson discusses the WiseFlow pilot to provide one integrated assessment platform that serves our current (and future) assessment needs within Portsmouth University. Mike discusses how the platform makes it easier for academics to design assessments, students to find their assessments…

1
Valuing the Vernacular in Beaufort, SC 33:00

1y ago33:00

33:00

When Emily Varley arrived in Beaufort, SC for a summer internship, she had no idea she’d make a discovery that would change the course of her studies at USC. Her research for the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park led her to a boarded-up Freedman’s cottage associated with both Daniel Simmons, a Black soldier for the Union in the Civil War,…

1
Adrian Chase: Mapping Ancient Maya Cities 59:06

1y ago59:06

59:06

In this episode, Dr. Adrian Chase takes us on a deep dive into the process of mapping and understanding ancient Maya cities, how the Maya shaped the natural world around them, and how studying ancient urbanism can enrich our understanding of modern cities.By Sebastian Wetherbee

1
S01E05 – Beth Hallissey – Simulation Technology / Gamification 11:38

1y ago11:38

11:38

As a teaching fellow within the dental academy, Beth discusses the importance of simulation technology and gamification for students in this episode of the TEL Tales podcast. Hear how this is creating a sense of realism and immersing students in their studies. You can find out more information about the dental academy below… https://www.port.ac.uk/…

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