

The Dirt Diaries
Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger
Join Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger, an archaeologist and art historian, as she delves into ancient history, mythology, intricate artifacts, and more every other Wednesday beginning at 6 am EST.
History, once forgotten, lives again here.
Walk the halls with us as we tell their stories. Class is in session, and this is not your normal Indiana Jones adventure; it's so much more.
These are the Dirt Diaries.
History, once forgotten, lives again here.
Walk the halls with us as we tell their stories. Class is in session, and this is not your normal Indiana Jones adventure; it's so much more.
These are the Dirt Diaries.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 5, 2025 • 49min
Mycenae: Greek Heroes and Grave Circle A
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! I am diving into the realm of mythology slightly with this episode as we delve into the site of Mycenae.Our buddy Heinrich Schliemann dug Grave Circle A after being sued for not sharing his treasure, so we are in for a treat! We're looking in the shaft graves and in the tomb of Agamemnon himself for this episode, so you won't want to miss it!-Stay curiousWant more Dirt Diaries? Join patreon with all your history-loving friends!patreon.com/TheDirtDiariesTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Feb 19, 2025 • 48min
Eternally Yours: Ancient Love Poems
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Since February is the month of love with Valentine, I thought it would be fun to go over some ancient love poems and songs and then... rank them. I go over everything from the world's oldest love songs to those written by Sappho and Plato and everything in between.
People may say ILY today, but someone in the ancient world said, " I wish I were Heaven,
with a billion eyes to look at you."
-Stay curious
Want more Dirt Diaries? Join patreon with all your history-loving friends!
patreon.com/TheDirtDiaries
Travel with me, my socials, and more!
https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Feb 5, 2025 • 42min
Queen Puabi: When Women Ruled
Welcome back to season 2 of the Dirt Diaries! So happy to be back, and what better way to dive back in than with the famed Queen Puabi and her tomb from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. From all of the beautiful grave goods and jewelry that were found still adorning her to the guards still protecting the front door and everything in between, including a possible death pit.
-Stay curious
Want more Dirt Diaries? Join patreon with all your history-loving friends!
patreon.com/TheDirtDiaries
Travel with me, my socials, and more!
https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Dec 11, 2024 • 52min
Burying 2024: Top Archaeological Discoveries
Welcome back, explorers! Dr. K is back for the last episode of the season, this time breaking down her top finds and, yes, ranking the top 3 of 2024!
Grab your scorecards and shovels as we rank the finds and bury 2024!
And these are the Dirt Diaries...
Follow Dr. K on social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
Email me: dirtdiaries.tenn@gmail.com
We will return II.V.MMXXV

Nov 27, 2024 • 29min
Rematch: The World's Oldest Games
Welcome back explorers! Dr. K is back again this time to talk about some of the oldest board games in the world.
I'm diving into the games that swept the ancient world that even some of the famed rulers once played like King Tut and Queen Nefertari.
So grab your boards, pawns and die and let's dive into the realm of the oldest board games!
This isn't ancient aliens; this is the real thing.
And these are the Dirt Diaries...
Follow Dr. K on social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Nov 13, 2024 • 40min
Till Death: Ancient Roman Weddings
Welcome back, explorers! Dr. K is back again, discussing all things ancient weddings—well, at least as they happened in ancient Rome! Inspiration struck as I just got back from my wedding, so grab your dresses, tuxedos, and rings because we're talking weddings then and now!
This isn't ancient aliens; this is the real thing.
And these are the DIrt Diaries...
Follow Dr. K on social media:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Oct 30, 2024 • 33min
Ancient Ghosts, Exorcists, and Hauntings
It's the end of October, which means it's time for Ancient Ghosts! What is the earliest ghost story? Do ghosts show up in art? What happens when things go bump in the night? Most importantly, who did you call in the ancient world when your house was haunted?
These are the Dirt Diaries...
From us to you, Happy Halloween!
*A note: the tablet depicting a ghost is from 1500 BCE*
Follow Dr. K on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Oct 16, 2024 • 40min
Ancient Crime: A Mummy Murder Mystery and The Harem Conspiracy
The year is 1155 BCE, and the pharaoh was just killed. Who was responsible for his untimely death? Were his assassins sent from abroad, or was he killed by someone he knew and trusted? This would become known as the harem conspiracy documented on the Turin Judicial Papyrus.
This ancient crime remained unsolved until recently, and we're breaking down potential areas where it took place, suspects, motives, and more.
These are the Dirt Diaries...
Join Patreon with all your tomb mates, be part of the copper crew, and see what's in the restricted section for extra history, mythology, and archaeology content:
patreon.com/TheDirtDiaries
Follow Dr. K on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Oct 2, 2024 • 40min
Ask An Archaeologist: Answering Your Burning Questions
The Dirt Diaries are back, and before we deep dive into some spooky episodes for October, I'm sitting down to answer your burning questions, including everything from what it took to get here to the age-old question: do archaeologists really lick bones?
These are the Dirt Diaries...
Join Patreon with all your tomb mates, be part of the copper crew, and see what's in the restricted section for extra history, mythology, and archaeology content:
patreon.com/TheDirtDiaries
Follow Dr. K on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
Travel with me to Egypt and China, take my lectures, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn

Sep 18, 2024 • 29min
Cosmetics Of Antiquity: Ancient Makeup
The Dirt Diaries Podcast is back after a brief break while Dr. K was in Egypt! This episode is all about ancient makeup, where she talks about eye paint, blush, and khol. Did you know makeup has been found dating back over 5,000 years? That's right! Whether it's eye paint from Puabi's tomb, makeup kits from ancient Egypt, or face cream from Roman Britain, Dr. K is talking all about it here!
Grab your palettes and your mirrors, and let's dive in!
These are the Dirt Diaries...
Join Patreon with all your tomb mates, be part of the copper crew, and see what's in the restricted section for extra history, mythology, and archaeology content:
patreon.com/TheDirtDiaries
Follow Dr. K on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtdiaries_
https://www.instagram.com/dirtdiaries_/
Travel with me, take my lectures and more!
https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn