Hi Reader!
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So the last 3 videos on my channel had an unplanned theme - they were all animal-related!
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However, besides one of the videos, the link to animals isn't completely clear from the title and thumbnail. Still, our connections to animals can reveal a lot about us.
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It reminded me of a book I read in grad school called, Social Zooarchaeology by Nerissa Russell. It takes a holistic view when considering human-animal relations over time. Basically, it looked at many ways we've engaged with animals and what they tell us about aspects of life in the past.

It's a text, I'm hoping to revisit in the near future.
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In the meantime, check out our recent videos below (and more!).

Fresh from the Field 🗺️

A quick round-up of my latest videos, podcasts, and features

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Here is the most recent podcast episode:
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🎙️ Episode 13: What Tiny, Overlooked Bones Reveal About the Paleolithic​
Archaeologist and paleoanthropologist, Dr. Giulia Gallo, reveals how tiny, overlooked bones hold clues to both our past and that of our ancient relatives. From evidence of fire use to the burning of specific animal bones, we explore why these materials were once disregarded and how new techniques like ZooMS proteomics are transforming what we know.
→ YouTube | Spotify | Apple | More Options​
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Check out the latest episodes of Artifact of the Day below:
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🏺 The Ancient Indus Artifact That Caught More Than Just Attention

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🏺 The Curious Feline Artifact Unearthed in Florida

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Small Finds 👝

Sharing things that sparked my curiosity recently
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​🐱 The Nine Lives of Florida’s Famous Key Marco Cat by Austen Bell
As we prepped on our Artifact of the Day video on the Key Marco Cat, I listened to this book. It’s a solid artifact history that is accessible and nuanced. The audiobook is also well-narrated and easy to follow. If you want to learn more about the Key Marco Cat, I highly recommend this book.
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🔬 IZAZ 'Ask Us Anything' Online Forum June 2025 via Integrating ZooMS and Zooarchaeology (IZAZ)​
This week's podcast guest, Dr. Giulia Gallo, helps turn this channel. This video addresses questions about how to use ZooMS to better understand animals in the past.
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Dig Back In ⛏️

Revisiting something curious from the archive
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​If you enjoyed thinking about our connection to animals, then you might like this video, which provides an overview of the archaeological sub-discipline that examines this topic.

Thank you so much for reading!
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Until next time,
Smiti