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PODCAST

And My Trowel

The Archaeology Podcast Network

The realms between fantasy and reality have collided and only archaeologists can pave the way through the unknown. Ash and Tilly, armed with two trowels and a backlog of archaeological theory, navigate to new, thrilling worlds, filled with magic and mayhem to answer those burgeoning questions that only archaeologists can answer. “What do you do when you find vampire teeth in a bronze age burial?” “Can you sample ecto-plasm?” “And just how DO you study dragon bones?” With the occasional help of

history social sciences

All Episodes

00:29:22

Archaeology of The Hobbit: Troll Curators with Dr...

And My Trowel ·

2026/10/02

Tilly and Ash are back with Dr Adrián Maldonado to uncover the archaeological layers of The Hobbit! We discuss the archaeological process of excavation and recording a hoard and ask some surprising questions: are the Trolls even plunderers? Has Elrond let his familial ties to the material culture ruin the runic report of Gondolin swords? Have we got the Trolls entirely wrong this entire time?Books mentioned:The Hobbit by J.R.R TolkienLinksDr Adrián Maldonado LinksBluesky -

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00:31:41

Archaeology of the Hobbit: Hoards and hobbits with Dr...

And My Trowel ·

2026/09/18

Ash and Tilly have finally made it to the Troll Caves, and they’re not alone… Joining them as a return consultant is hoard expert Dr Adrián Maldonado! Listen in as the three of them discuss the possibility of Viking antiquarians, the definition of a hoard, and how the Galloway Hoard is currently enjoying its surfing holiday.LinksThe Galloway HoardRock Crystal JarAdrián’s NMS profileAdrián’s Bluesky profileContactEmail: andmytrowel@gmail.comInstagram: @‌and.my.trowelTranscriptsFor rough transcripts

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00:44:12

Archaeology of the Hobbit: Memories and Dirt - Ep 72

And My Trowel ·

2026/09/04

Ash and Tilly have finally started chapter 2 of The Hobbit, which means its time for some frantic last-minute preparations before they set off on their quest, or on their archaeological excavation! Together, they discuss their packing essentials, their bucket-list sites, and why you should always know where your handkerchief is.Books mentioned:Jingo (Terry Pratchett)LinksCatalhöyük SitePortAnta excavations (Portugal)Black Desert excavations (Jordan)Tilly’s magazine article on digging in the

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00:55:35

PROMO - Argos, the Odyssey, and dogs in popular Media...

And My Trowel ·

2026/08/21

While Tilly and Ash are away on their own Odyssey, enjoy this episode from Ethnocynology!Links Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe - Episode 38 Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel ArchPodNet 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 Store Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company

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00:28:44

PROMO - Around the Fire: Small Animals and...

And My Trowel ·

2026/08/07

While My Trowel takes a wee break, enjoy this episode of The Great Plains podcast, Around the Fire: Small Animals and Paleoindian Camps, featuring Dr McKenna and exploring what small animals can tell us about Paleoindian camps and life on the Great Plains.Links Great Plains Podcast - Episode 46 Great Plains Podcast - Show Page Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook:

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00:35:31

Archaeology of The Hobbit: Smials Saloons - Ep 71

And My Trowel ·

2026/07/24

Ash and Tilly have finally made it through the front door of Bag End! In this episode, they discuss the archaeology of buildings, and talk about how the physical structure of a hobbit hole (or smials) can be used to learn more about hobbit culture. Tune in to hear all about window tax, historic palimpsests, and why a round door just doesn’t make sense!Books mentioned: Carpe Jugulum (Terry Pratchett) Links Prancing Pony Building Survey Episode Çatalhöyük buildings Çatalhöyük article by Ian

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00:33:08

Archaeology of The Hobbit: Mounds of Middens - Ep 70

And My Trowel ·

2026/07/10

In this episode, Ash and Tilly continue their deep dig into The Hobbit, focusing on the sedentary settlement of Hobbiton! They discuss how nomadic versus settled societies are seen within the archaeological record and Tolkien's works, to get a better archaeological understanding of hobbit-holes! Who knew pantries were a hobbit’s equivalent of conspicuous consumption? Links From Foraging to Farming: the 10,000 Year Revolution Timeline of Art History: Jōmon Culture (ca. 10,500–ca. 300 B.C.)

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00:34:32

Archaeology of The Hobbit: A Hobbit-hole means...

And My Trowel ·

2026/06/26

Ash and Tilly continue to plan their archaeological survey of The Hobbit, and finally manage to move past the map! Tune in to hear them discuss the importance of lineages in studying history, learn all about what field-walking is, and hear from some unexpected visitors… Other books mentioned: The Patriarchs (Angela Saini) The King’s Witches (Katie Foster) Links Asclepius Snake symbology Field Walking Definition Rivers in Prehistory Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram:

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00:34:33

Archaeology of The Hobbit: We're going to need a...

And My Trowel ·

2026/06/12

In this episode, Tilly and Ash finally delve into the world of The Hobbit, beginning with an overall archaeological survey of the world…or maybe just the map? Tune in to find out all about weird medieval animals, warrior women, and really the star of the episode, Thrór's map.Books mentioned: The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien) Links Window to the West: Culture and Environment in the Scottish Gàidhealtachd (information on Scáthach, Warrior of Skye) Birka Warrior Woman Weird Medieval Animals Thrór's

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00:38:45

There and Back Again - Ep 67

And My Trowel ·

2026/05/29

It’s time for a bit of a breather, as Ash and Tilly prepare themselves for a longer-term project funded by the Nextian Universe Research Institute! Tune in to hear their plans for future episodes, learn about the link between minotaurs and archaeology, and find out what is meant by the term “sorry Rachel”.Books mentioned: Thursday Next series (Jasper Fforde) Discworld series (Terry Pratchett) Bull Moon Rising (Ruby Dixon) Lord of the Rings (J. R. R. Tolkien) Links Russian version of Lord of

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00:44:50

May the Fourth Be With You (Part 2) - Ep 66

And My Trowel ·

2026/05/15

Ash and Tilly continue their archaeological survey of the galaxy far, far away, examining the material culture and planetary landscapes that defines Star Wars. Together, they explore how different civilisations, from the ancient Jedi Order to the Galactic Empire, left their mark through distinctive artefacts, architecture, and technology. Don’t worry, Order 66 was not enforced for this episode!Books mentioned: List of Star Wars Books Links Star Lores - A Star Wars Legends Podcast Wookiepedia

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00:39:08

May the Fourth Be With You (Part 1) - Ep 65

And My Trowel ·

2026/05/01

Join Ash and Tilly as they travel where no man has gone before… no wait… wrong franchise! This episode, we jump into an archaeological survey of Star Wars! Listen to our two intrepid hosts ramble about their experiences watching and reading Star Wars, try to work out what VHS stands for, and slowly realise that this time they might really have bitten off more than they can chew(ie).Books mentioned: The Courtship of Princess Leia (Dave Wolverton) Dark Apprentice (Kevin J. Anderson) List of Star

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01:00:23

PROMO - A flame from my hearth to yours - Teabreak 02

And My Trowel ·

2026/04/17

Unfortunately we couldn’t record an episode of And My Trowel this week, so instead we thought we’d travel back in time to the first ever conversation between Ash and Tilly!It's time for another journey into the past and this month Matilda will be chatting with Ashley Airey all about the development of candles. When were the earliest candles? What materials are candles made from and how do they affect our environment? How much have candles changed over time? Listen in to this second episode to find

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00:30:38

The Daub Towers (Part 2) - Ep 64

And My Trowel ·

2026/04/03

Ash and Tilly continue their discussion on archaeo-construction with experimental archaeologist and living historian Caroline Nicolay. Together, they outline the details of how to complete their quest of reconstructing a Fallohide seasonal settlement for the Anduin Fallohide Fellowship of Museums and Antiquity. Listen in to hear all about upside-down baskets, thatching (at a pinch), and why you need to build a wall before you can paint it.Links Earth building UK and Ireland Heritage Craft

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00:36:34

The Daub Towers (Part 1) - Ep 63

And My Trowel ·

2026/03/20

It’s time to get out our plastering trowels out, because this episode Ash and Tilly are (re)joined by experimental archaeologist and archaeo-construction expert Caroline Nicolay. Together, the three tackle the quest of reconstructing a Fallohide (hunter-gatherer hobbit) seasonal home for the Anduin Fallohide Fellowship of Museums and Antiquity. But all is not as simple as it seems… Listen in to hear why burnt clay is so important, what a vampire did tohis historic castle, and how you too can become

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00:34:01

Can't Make Dragons Without Clay (Part 2) - Ep 62

And My Trowel ·

2026/03/06

In this second episode, Tilly and Ash continue their quest with archaeologist and potter, Emma Harrison, to catalogue the Pennykettle Dragon Sanctuary’s current collection of (alive) dragon figurines! Join them as they explore layers of archaeological clay, deep buckets of glaze, and ponder the question: ‘are you made of poo?’Links The Myth of Prometheus Bogborn Website Bogborn instagram Contact Email: andmytrowel@gmail.com Instagram: @‌and.my.trowel Transcripts For rough transcripts of this

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00:34:26

Trowel 61: Can't Make Dragons Without Clay (Part 1) -...

And My Trowel ·

2026/02/20

This episode Ash and Tilly are scaling it down and looking at how to analyse tiny little clay dragons from the Pennykettle Dragon Sanctuary. The catch? They are alive! Which means that any destructive methods of analysis covered in previous episodes are no longer on the table. Luckily for our clay-ignorant duo, they are joined by archaeologist and professional potter Emma Harrison. Together, the three chat about playing around with clay, the diversity of sentient objects in fantasy fiction, and how

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00:38:09

Archaeology of Discworld (Part 2) - Ep 60

And My Trowel ·

2026/02/06

It’s part two of Ash and Tilly’s archaeological survey of the Discworld (as popularised through the written works of Sir Terry Pratchett), and if you thought Tilly had rambled enough in the last episode, you have underestimated her ability to spout information about this fantasy book series! Listen in to hear about the significance of material culture, the impact of belief systems, and why comedic writing is comparable to archaeological research.Books mentioned:Godkiller (Hannah Kaner)LinksStone of

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00:37:48

Archaeology of Discworld (Part 1) - Ep 59

And My Trowel ·

2026/01/23

The day has finally arrived, where Tilly can ramble on to her heart’s content about her obsession with Terry Pratchett’s writing, because Ash and Tilly are conducting an archaeological survey of the Discworld! Listen in to hear Ash frantically trying to keep her co-host on track and they navigate the landscapes and societies of the Disc, marvel at the complexity of the archaeological theory, and generally prove that Tilly has read these books far too many times.Books mentioned:Terry Pratchett’s

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00:40:06

PROMO - The Past Macabre - Ep 17

And My Trowel ·

2026/01/09

While the APN takes a break this holiday season we’re using this opportunity to present you with other great content on the network. Please enjoy this episode of The Past Macabre!In this first of a two-part series, The Past Macabre travels back to Late Iron Age Britain before the Roman conquest to explore the world that shaped one of history’s most famous warrior queens: Boudica. Her story has been told many times for nearly two millennia, but what is the truth behind the Celtic warrior queen who

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