The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast

Join Professor Carlton Shield Chief Gover on an immersive journey through the heart of North America's Great Plains as we uncover the rich and fascinating histories buried beneath the prairie. In each episode, we delve into the latest archaeological discoveries, past cultures, and historical insights that shape our understanding of this vast and storied region. From ancient artifacts to the echoes of Indigenous civilizations, "The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast" brings you closer to the hidden past of the Great Plains, revealing the stories of the people who once called this land home. Whether you're an archaeology enthusiast, history buff, or curious mind, tune in to explore the mysteries of the Great Plains with us.

The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 52 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, a education show with 52 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #47

  The Southern Plains and the Pueblo World: Commerce, Conflict, and Connection with Magdalena Lewandowska - Ep 47

  Aug 6, 202625 min

  In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Magdalena Lewandowska to discuss her article, “Trade, Conflict, and Alliance – Relationship Between the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande Pueblos in the Protohistoric Period.” Together they explore the dynamic relationships that connected Indigenous communities across the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The conversation examines how trade in goods such as bison hides and Pueblo pottery fostered economic partnerships while also creating competition, political alliances, and occasional conflict. Drawing on archaeological and historical evidence, Lewandowska explains why Plains–Pueblo interactions cannot be understood as simply peaceful exchange or persistent warfare, but instead reflect a complex network of diplomacy, adaptation, and shifting relationships that shaped the Indigenous history of the Great Plains and the Southwest before European colonization. Article Citation: Lewandowska, M. (2025). Trade, conflict, and alliance – relationship between the Southern Plains and the Rio Grande Pueblos in the protohistoric period. Plains Anthropologist , 70 (273), 64–94. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/47 Links https://doi.org/10.1080/00320447.2025.2612454 The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #46

  Around the Fire: Small Animals and Paleoindian Camps with Dr. McKenna Litynski - Ep 46

  Jul 23, 202628 min

  In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. McKenna Litynski to discuss her recent article, “Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming.” While Paleoindian archaeology often focuses on mammoths and other large game, this study demonstrates how tiny animal remains can provide equally important insights into the lives of the first peoples of North America. Dr. Litynski explains how archaeologists distinguish natural from human-created bone accumulations, what burned microfaunal remains reveal about activities around Paleoindian hearths, and why these small bones likely represent everyday camp behaviors rather than food waste. The conversation highlights how careful analysis of overlooked evidence is transforming our understanding of Paleoindian lifeways and the complexity of daily life at one of the Great Plains' most significant Early Paleoindian sites. Article Citation: Litynski, McKenna L., Todd A. Surovell, K. McCarty, C. Bothwell, T. R. Murdock, S. M. BenChaabane, D. N. Walker, P. H. Sanders, Spencer Pelton, Robert L. Kelly, Madeline E. Mackie, and Matthew O'Brien 2026 Anthropogenic Burning of Small Mammals at the Early Paleoindian La Prele Site in Converse County, Wyoming. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 73:105849. Links Article Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X26002841 Plains Anthropological Society Website Plains Anthropologist Online Journal A ccess The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (20 21) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/46 Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #45

  Adornment and Exchange at the River Bend Site, Wyoming with Dr. Spencer Pelton and Alexis Hollander - Ep 45

  Jul 9, 202633 min

  In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton welcomes Dr. Spencer R. Pelton and Alexis Hollander to discuss their recent article, “Early Eighteenth Century Plains Indian Adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming.” Together they explore one of the largest adornment assemblages ever documented in Wyoming, examining locally produced beads and pendants alongside exotic materials that reveal extensive Indigenous exchange networks during the early post-Contact period. The conversation highlights how new technologies, including the introduction of metal tools, transformed ornament production while Indigenous communities maintained long-standing traditions of craftsmanship and identity. Spencer and Alexis also discuss what archaeological collections can reveal beyond archaeology, including ancient freshwater mussel ecology, and how the River Bend site offers a unique window into technological innovation, trade, and Indigenous adaptation on the eighteenth-century Great Plains. Article Citation: Pelton, S. R., Eckles, D. G., Johnen, C. C., Shimek, R., Kirkwood, D. R., Hollander, A., & Buff, C. (2025). Early eighteenth century plains Indian adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming. Plains Anthropologist , 70 (273), 3–28. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/45 Links Early eighteenth century plains Indian adornment at the River Bend Site, Wyoming The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website The APN Awards: The APN Awards - Nominations Open! Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #44

  Filling the Gap: New Evidence of Paleoindian Life in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa with Dr. Thomas Loebel and John Lambert - Ep 44

  Jun 25, 202633 min

  In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton is joined by John M. Lambert and Thomas J. Loebel to discuss their recent article with Dr. David Easterla, “Addressing a Gap in the Late Pleistocene Record of the Midwest: Fluted Points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa.” The conversation explores why this region has long been underrepresented in Paleoindian research and how the documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including dozens of previously unreported specimens, helps illuminate the lives of some of North America's earliest inhabitants. Lambert and Loebel discuss the challenges and value of integrating museum collections, private collections, and published records, as well as what Clovis and Folsom projectile points reveal about technology, mobility, and land use across the Midcontinent and Great Plains. The episode highlights how overlooked collections and regional documentation projects continue to reshape our understanding of Paleoindian settlement, movement, and adaptation during the late Pleistocene. Article Citation: Lambert, J. M., Loebel, T. J., & Easterla, D. A. (2025). Addressing a gap in the late Pleistocene record of the Midwest: fluted points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa. Plains Anthropologist, 70(273), 40–63. Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/44 Links The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Websit e Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_arc haeologist Email: greatplainsarchpodcast@gmail.com APN APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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  Episode #42

  Clay and Connection: New Insights from the Tobias Site with Dr. Bob Hoard and Dr. Zachary Day - Ep 42

  May 28, 202630 minS0

  <p>In this episode of the Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton sits down with Robert Hoard and Zachary Day to discuss their recent article, “Ceramic artifacts from the 2019 excavations at the Tobias site, 14RC8 — evidence of local manufacture and trade at a Great Bend aspect site.”</p> <p>Together, they explore the significance of the Tobias site within Great Bend aspect archaeology and the broader ancestral Wichita world of the Central Plains. The conversation examines the Little River focus, the goals of the 2019 excavations, and the surprising discoveries revealed through ceramic compositional analysis. Although pottery was likely produced locally at Tobias...

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