Hi Reader!
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This past Sunday, I returned from a multi-day festival put on by the Independent Media Initiative. They host independent creators in the video and podcast world. It was my 2nd year attending, and I LOVED IT!
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Connecting with fellow creators refueled my creativity surrounding my archaeology content, and I have some fun things planned for 2026! I'll also be sure to share some of my fellow creators' work in this and upcoming newsletters.
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We also released a podcast episode (see below) with my friend Dr. Jacob Bongers, and it's already racked up over 8k on YouTube. His research, published last week, applies both scientific rigor & creativity to propose a new hypothesis about the famous Andean site, Monte Sierpe (aka The Band of Holes) in Peru.
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I also just submitted a grant application about an hour ago (which is why this newsletter is technically being sent on a Thursday EST). While it was a down-to-the-wire submission, I appreciated the opportunity to get creative with the archaeology-related learning solutions I pitched.
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I'm also looking forward to a planned creative rest this winter, but more on that a future newsletter!

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 15: How Archaeologists Are Rethinking 5,200 Andean Holes

Digital archaeologist, Dr. Jacob Bongers, takes us inside his team’s new research at Monte Sierpe in Peru, a site known for its over 5,200 holes. We discuss how their emerging hypothesis reshapes long-held ideas about the site’s purpose, as well as how archaeologists follow curiosity through evidence, collaboration, and community engagement.

→ YouTube | Spotify | Apple | More Options​

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🧩 FIRST LEGO League Archaeology Resources​
I got a lot of requests for folx participating in the 2025-2026 FIRST® LEGO® League UNEARTHED™, so I created a resource page.

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Small Finds 👝

Sharing things that sparked my curiosity recently​
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🕳️ Indigenous accounting and exchange at Monte Sierpe (‘Band of Holes’) in the Pisco Valley, Peru​
This is Jacob and his team's open-access (aka FREE) peer-review publication. Jacob also wrote a piece for The Conversation.
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🧠 I’m Building an Algorithm That Doesn’t Rot Your Brain​

I found this video by Jack Conte (founder of Patreon) quite compelling, and though it was published on Nov. 19th, it's already making its way around the creator community. (P.S. We do have a Patreon that's totally free to join and access)
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🎨 How to Happy​
I met abstract painter and filmmaker, Jennifer Bechem, at IMI Fest. I love her vibrant and colorful art. She has a really cool series where she interviews people and paints their abstract portraits. She's like Bob Ross' cool cousin.​
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Dig Back In ⛏️

Revisiting something curious from the archive
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​If you're curious to learn more about a type of Andean artifact that Jacob and I discuss, check out this video.

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

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