While we’re hard at work on some exciting new things, we wanted to start the new year off with one of our favorites from 2017: If These Bones Could Talk. Explorer, scholar and 19th Century Smithsonian darling Robert Kennicott seemed destined to lead a full and adventurous life. Then, at the age of 30, on an expedition to Russian Alaska in 1866, Kennicott was ... Show More
Jun 17
U.S. History in 100 Objects (with Roman Mars)
A screw. A stuffed possum. A shoe-sizing device. What could any of these objects possibly tell us about the history of the United States?When we think of historic artifacts, we tend to picture the extraordinary: Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch, the original Kermit the Frog, Martin ... Show More
31m 13s
Oct 2024
Unearthed! in Autumn 2024, Part 1
<p>Part one of this edition of Unearthed! is mostly updates - about two-thirds of the episode. The rest is weapons, medicine, and books and letters. </p> <p><strong>Research:</strong></p> <ul> <li>19 News Investigative Team. “Exhumation of Cleveland Torso Killer’s unidentified vi ... Show More
45m 40s
Oct 2025
Unearthed! in Autumn 2025, Part 2
<p>Part 2 of this installment of Unearthed! features animals, swords, art, shoes, shipwrecks, and the miscellany category of potpourri.</p> <p><strong>Research:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Abrams, G., Auguste, P., Pirson, S. et al. Earliest evidence of Neanderthal multifunctional bone ... Show More
39m 15s
Nov 2024
Journey inside Africa's cave of Great Apes to upend your understanding of the human origin story
<p>Lee Berger, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and real-life Indiana Jones with tales of his hominid discoveries, many of which have rewritten the story of palaeoanthropology. (R)</p><p>National Geographic Explorer in Residence, Lee Berger, entered the field of palaeoan ... Show More
51m 30s
Apr 2025
Unearthed! in Spring 2025, Part 2
<p>Part two of the spring 2025 installment of Unearthed! features the potpourri category, plus drones/radar/lidar, books and letters, animals, edibles and potables, shipwrecks, swords (sort of) and cats. </p> <p><strong>Research:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Roque, Nika. “Mar ... Show More
38m 50s
Aug 2024
483. The Mysterious Case of the Ape Man
In Sussex, in 1912, men quarrying in a gravel pit near Piltdown village turned up a human skull. According to Charles Dawson, a lawyer and amateur archeologist with a remarkable track record for finding ancient treasures, it belonged to a palaeolithic man, possibly millions of ye ... Show More
50m 21s