How can 3000 years of history, documented by a mountain of sources, be surveyed clearly in a single book? Amanda tells us all about her new history of the ancient Middle East. Why did she use micro-histories? Who among the people in her book made the biggest impacts on her? 3:36 why micro-histories? 7:46 finding the non-elites 11:38 who did Amanda empathise with? 13:22 who did she feels sorry for? 16:56 who made her laugh? 19:40 whose story to tell? 21:43 history from limited data 26:11...

Louise introduces us to the fascinating world of Babylonian textiles. How do we know about textiles when almost none survive? What were they made of and what did they look like? Who made them, and who washed them? What would someone's clothing say about them? 2:46 how do we know about textiles? 8:02 what materials were clothes made of? 11:17 how practical was wool as a material to make clothes from? 12:59 who made clothes? 15:45 were clothes plain or decorated? 18:11 what would someone's...

Laerke talks about animals in a new way, taking us beyond thinking about animals as sources of products. What was their agency? And how did they influence human behaviour? 6:10 equids not just horses 9:50 animal agency 12:59 human-horse-dog relations 15:36 animal behaviours 22:31 potential of animal studies Laerke's Academia page Laerke's Twitter Laerke's website Music by Ruba Hillawi Website: http://wedgepod.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSM7ZlAAgOXv4fbTDRyrWgw Email:...

Victor takes a fresh look at tablets as archaeological objects. Where and how are they found, and what does that mean for how we interpret them? Are we reconstructing archives from ancient office bins? 5:28 an archaeological approach to archives 11:01 in situ or rubbish? 15:28 the story of tablets from Tell Sabi Abyad 23:55 the story of tablets from Tell Fekheriye 27:46 history from office bins 35:03 current research Victor's Academia page:...

Sophie reveals the secrets of the votive statues from Mari. How did people choose to represent themselves, and why did they make those choices? Why are the male statues walking? And what do the markings on some them tell us about the life of the statue? 4:42 votive statues 7:21 Mari votive statues 12:43 what did they look like? 17:45 how do statues work? 22:59 walking statues 33:46 women watching from the sidelines? 35:47 end of life Sophie's Academia page Music by Ruba Hillawi Website:...

Nadia discusses her work on the Iraqi antiquities market of the late 19th and early 20th century. She focuses on two remarkable figures from the trade. Ibrahim Gejou was perhaps the most significant dealer used by European and American collectors. Ferida Antone Shamas is less well-known, but still a fascinating character. Who were they? What was their role in the trade? And what was their motivation? 3:24 the network: Ibrahim, Ferida and Budge 10:51 the letters, and Svoboda's diaries 15:10...

Julian looks back over his career. He explains how he developed his interests, and his unusual path into the field. He discusses some key moments: from the excavations at Nimrud, to discoveries in museum collections, and his own excavations at Tell Taya. Who influenced him? What does he think about how things are done? Plus news of his latest work. 3:03 approach to history 5:30 origins of interest 8:25 archaeological experience 13:58 community in Baghdad 17:44 PhD life 20:43 first job 26:26...

 Farouk offers his personal story. He describes his family background, his early life, and details of his career. He explains how he became interested in ancient Iraq, and the many people who influenced and helped him develop his career. We learn about life in Iraq during the 20th century, and how political changes affected one man's journey. 3:14 introduction. Rawa 6:33 family background 15:01 interest in history 19:36 after graduation 27:33 early career 34:51 student life 37:40...

Davide recently returned from a season of work at Tell Surghul in southern Iraq. He discusses the site and his team's work there. How did they choose the site and what did they want to achieve there, and what are their results so far? Why is excavation important anyway? He explains what an archaeological team looks like today, what they do, and what happens once the excavations are over. He also offers his thoughts on current discussions around how foreign teams should work in Iraq. 2:53...

Saana introduces us to the Centre of Excellence in Helsinki. She explains the new tools her team is developing to help us understand the meaning of Akkadian words. How can they help cuneiform specialists? And how can they make cuneiform resources more accessible to other specialists? 3:45 The Centre of Excellence 6:38 team goals 11:44 what digital Akkadian tools can do 19:50 why two tools? 23:23 sources and consequences 26:29 what might the future hold? ANEE:...

History isn't just about great men. Tonia introduces us to the complicated family life of King Shulgi. Who were his wives? Did they live in a 'harem'? How did he control his empire while managing the ambitions of his many sons? 2:43 the Ur III period and king Shulgi 5:47 Shulgi's family 9:19 Shulgi's children 13:01 Shulgi's motivation 14:37 the 'harem' 17:47 the court 21:35 agency of the wives 25:56 impact of Shulgi becoming a god 27:32 royal deaths   Tonia's university page Tonia's...

Tim introduces us to a dynasty that ruled over Babylonia during one of the periods of its greatest influence. Where did they come from? What were their achievements? And what is their legacy?  2:29 who were the Kassites? 4:57 where did they come from? 9:20 Kassite achievements 18:04 characteristic Kassite material culture 23:13 where to see Kassite objects 24:57 where to find out more 28:49 Tim's own research Tim's Academia page Music by Ruba Hillawi Website:...

Amir al-Zubaidi is Director of Nasiriyah Museum, and now SBAH Director of Archaeology for Dhi Qar province. He introduces us to Nasiriyah Museum, and discusses both his achievements so far and his dreams for the future. What interests the people of Nasiriyah, and what role does heritage play in civic life there?  This is the first in an experimental mini-series where we hear the thoughts of colleagues who are doing important work in Iraq. Yet while their work may be well known in Iraq itself,...

The abundance of records from Babylonia between the 6th and the 4th century BC shows us how justice functioned. Why was the trial process so intimidating? How could you avoid it? And what happened if you couldn't? 3:05 how we know 5:01 where crime happened 7:58 motives 9:35 white collar crime 11:01 law enforcement 15:53 trials 18:07 judges 22:28 where courts met 23:49 access to justice 26:01 trials 32:38 torture 34:29 an eye for an eye? Małgorzata 's Academia page Małgorzata's ResearchGate...

Tiffany introduces us to Urartu, Assyria's great neighbour and rival. What can we learn from its network of fortresses? And how can deep maps and digital storytelling help us engage people with our work? 3:48 Urartu and the Urartians 9:36 Vayots Dzor Fortress Landscapes Project  12:56 the fortress network 15:16 fire beacon stations 18:42 digital storytelling 20:50 deep maps 23:16 community engagement Music by Ruba Hillawi Website: http://wedgepod.org YouTube:...

It's back to school season. So it's story time. In this special episode, we hear the stories of how our guests became interested in the ancient Middle East.  

András discusses the medical conditions that showed themselves through heat of some kind. 'Heat' could affect many different body parts, for various reasons. Which medicinal ingredients were used to cure 'heat' and why? András also gives an introduction to his latest work on 'glosses' in medical texts, and what the broader significance of the different types is. 2:51 about Mesopotamian medicine 5:19 fever in the ancient texts 9:52 how to catch a fever 12:08 how to cure a fever 20:57 why...

Stefania introduces us to one of the dominant figures of early assyriology--Austen Henry Layard. She guides us through the archival sources that put his famous publications in context, and reveal the man behind the legend.  3:03 Why was Layard famous? 5:34 Why study Layard? 7:50 Layard's cuneiform skills  9:24 The sources and what we learn from them 15:08 Are the archives everything or just a selection? 16:42 Do the archives agree with his publications? 18:48 Stefania's...

Elynn introduces the historical geography of the Neo-Elamite kingdom. What do we know about the borderlands and their role in Assyrian-Elamite relations? Why don't we know where so many places are, and why is that so significant?  2:32 who were “the Elamites”? 5:24 the Elamite language, writing, and texts  7:33 about the Elamite kingdom  10:21 relations with Elam's neighbours 11:50 the borderlands and Elamite-Assyrian relations 15:36 on Elamite identity  16:28 where are the places mentioned...

While the pandemic keeps us apart, colleagues are working hard to find ways to organise virtual conferences. The 67th RAI is hosted by Turin this July. Elena Devecchi and Stefano de Martino explain what to expect this year, and what it means to Turin to host a RAI now. Walther Sallaberger explains the IAA's role in coordinating the RAIs. 

Sophus explains the most famous piece of literature from ancient Iraq: the Epic of Gilgamesh. He guides us through the many meanings that have been found in it, from antiquity to the present day. Why does it fascinate us, and what can it offer us? 2:21 about the Gilgamesh Epic 6:38 what Gilgamesh meant in antiquity 9:39 meanings in the modern world 15:51 what Gilgamesh has meant for Iraqis in particular 22:21 Sophus’s new book, and a reading from his...

Reinhard reveals the wealth of information recorded in the so-called "astronomical diaries". The astronomical component was, and still is, a valuable resource. But there is so much more. The diaries document fascinating historical details, help us understand the Babylonian economy, and offer remarkable details about the ancient environment.  2:32 introduction to astronomical diaries 5:40 what do the diaries say? 10:37 who wrote them? 12:21 why were they written? 13:47 why are they...

Müge introduces us to the Hittites and their artistic world. We focus on kings, and why there are so few depictions of kings in human form. What do they look like? What are they communicating and who to? What does it tell us about the relationship between human and divine worlds?   3:45 nature and scope of Hittite art 7:22 who is it for? 10:49 relation to other ancient Middle Eastern traditions 12:41 why are there so few representations of kings in human form? 15:37 individuality or timeless...

Adelheid, Nicolò, and Ingolf explain about the ICAANE. Why was it started, and how did it become what it is today? What does it take to organise an ICAANE? What lessons were learned from the recent, virtual ICAANE? And what can we expect from future...

The world’s first Assyrian museum opened in 1847 in Paris, at the Louvre. Since then, the Louvre has curated one of the most important collections of antiquities from the ancient Middle East. What is the modern approach to curation there? Ariane...