Genevieve von Petzinger, a paleoanthropologist, explores ancient symbols and their connection to early human communication. Ariana Curtis discusses inclusivity in museums, emphasizing the importance of diverse narratives. Music curator Alexis Charpentier reveals the emotional journey of unearthing forgotten records, while Katie Paterson shares her groundbreaking project, The Future Library, where literature links with nature for a century-long environmental legacy. Together, they highlight how artifacts shape our understanding of history and inform future generations.

Paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger describes cave art and its symbolism. The possibility of Neanderthal art and DNA analysis is explored. The importance of representing women's stories in museums is discussed. Two music collectors share the joy of preserving records and finding rare finds. The challenges of finding records and preserving modern music are explored. The concept of humans as a geological force and preserving language are discussed.

For millennia, humans have created artifacts of their lives—from art, to books, to music. This hour, we explore ideas about capturing the ephemeral human experience for future generations to find. Guests include paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger, museum curator Ariana Curtis, music curator Alexis Charpentier and artist Katie Paterson.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy