Dr. Gino Caspari is an expert archaeologist specializing in Scythian studies and the CEO of GeoInsight. In this conversation, he shares fascinating insights from his latest excavation of a Scythian royal burial mound in Siberia. Topics include the ritualistic horse sacrifices and their implications for understanding state formation. Caspari also discusses the challenges of digging in remote areas and highlights the complexities of burial customs that shed light on societal hierarchies and the significance of horses in Scythian culture.
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Scythian Burial Mound Excavation
Dr. Gino Caspari excavates a large burial mound in Tuva, Siberia.
The mound dates back to the early Iron Age and shows early Scythian culture.
insights INSIGHT
Unique Location of the Mound
The Tuva site's location, isolated in a floodplain, is unique compared to other burial mounds.
This isolation suggests a shift in the river's course over time.
insights INSIGHT
Modern Pastoralists Inform Archaeological Interpretation
Understanding modern nomadic pastoralists' land use helps archaeologists interpret ancient landscapes.
Dr. Caspari uses this knowledge to identify potential seasonal campsites.
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Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years That Shook the World
Patrick Wyman
The Dawn of Everything
A New History of Humanity
David Wengrow
David Graeber
This book offers a dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging fundamental assumptions about social evolution, the development of agriculture, cities, the state, democracy, and inequality. Graeber and Wengrow argue that traditional theories of human history, such as those posited by Hobbes and Rousseau, are not supported by anthropological or archaeological evidence. Instead, they show that humans have lived in large, complex, but decentralized societies for millennia, often without ruling elites or hierarchical systems. The authors draw on extensive research in archaeology and anthropology to reveal a history that is more varied and hopeful than previously assumed, emphasizing human experimentation with different social arrangements and the potential for new forms of freedom and societal organization.
Dr. Gino Caspari returns to discuss the extraordinary finds at his most recent excavation of an early (maybe the earliest) Scythian royal burial mound in Siberia! We discuss horse sacrifice, state formation, the earliest Scythians, and the trials of excavating in one of the more remote places on the planet.
Patrick's book is now available! Get The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World in hardcopy, ebook, or audiobook (read by Patrick) here: https://bit.ly/PWverge. And check out Patrick's new podcast The Pursuit of Dadliness! It’s all about “Dad Culture,” and Patrick will interview some fascinating guests about everything from tall wooden ships to smoked meats to comfortable sneakers to history, sports, culture, and politics. https://bit.ly/PWtPoD
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