Sphinx Thinks
I'll be interviewing specialists, leading researchers and passionate figures to find out about their field, interests and what the future holds.
Dedicated to understanding humanity vis-à-vis evolution, behaviour, culture, history, and the environment.
Episodes
15 episodes
Archaeological Abuse in Nationalist Propaganda: How German Heritage Has Been Ideologically Abused and a Note on Reframing These Misleading Narratives
Focusing on the exploits of Hans Reinerth and the prehistoric archaeological research undertaken under Nazi rule, it is evident that the abuse and manipulation of archaeological evidence can be dangerously instrumental in ideological propaganda...
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15:45
The Prehistory of Malta with Professor Simon Stoddart
Professor Simon Stoddart is professor of prehistory at the University of Cambridge, and Director of Studies at Magdalene College. In this episode we discuss Simon's early interests in archaeology and how his career took him to research in Malta...
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41:26
From Curation to Repatriation: a Career in Osteology with Dr Trish Biers
Dr Trish Biers is Curator of the Duckworth Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. We discuss her early start in the field and where her interests have taken her - across the world in a variety of incredible positions from the Smithsonian In...
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46:50
Childrearing: How Different Systems Shape Us with Dr Emily Emmott
Dr Emily Emmott is a lecturer in Human Behavioural Ecology at UCL. Specialising in extended and institutional child-rearing systems (such as parenting, grand-parenting, schooling and social care provisions) and their implications for health and...
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35:54
Biomolecular Archaeology with Professor Matthew Collins
Professor Matthew Collins is a Niels Bohr Professor at the University of Copenhagen and the McDonald Chair of Palaeoproteomics at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge. We discuss his jour...
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53:15
The Indus Valley with Professor Cameron Petrie
Professor Cameron Petrie is professor of South Asian and Iranian Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. We discuss his journey to becoming an archaeologist, and finding his field, as well as his present work in the region.In the In...
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45:50
Palaeolithic: Mobility & Group Relations with Dr Amy Clark
Movement, mobility and migration - what can these facets of human behaviour in the archaeological record tell us about our past social relationships? Dr Amy Clark - lecturer and researcher at Harvard University - joins me to discuss this topic ...
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39:58
Primates: Cognition, Culture & Environment with Dr Kathelijne Koops
Cognition, culture and environment - how do they work together to influence primate behaviour? What can tool use and behavioural patterns tell us about primate society? Studying primates provides one of the best insights into the evolut...
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28:11
Zooarchaeology with Professor Peter Rowley-Conwy
From agriculture to human culture and society, there is more to zooarchaeology than just bones! Discover what we know about the human past from zooarchaeology and how we use animals to decipher history...When and why was agriculture ado...
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26:28
Palaeolithic with Professor Paul Pettitt
The earliest period in our human past - the Palaeolithic. This fascinating period covers human evolution and our early innovations as Homo Sapiens. The Palaeolithic really encompasses everything about us as a species...Why did humans de...
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40:41
Neanderthals, Bones & Burials with Dr Emma Pomeroy
Neaderthals are plagued with stereotypes - brutish, simple and less human hominids. However, evidence increasingly suggests they were capable of abstract thought and compassion just like us.What evidence do we have of Neaderthal compass...
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35:29
Bioarchaeology with Dr Rebecca Gowland
Archaeology tells us about the human past, but it's not all dirt and digging. We can explore how human biology has changed through time, through skeletons and sampling, it's all about bioarchaeology!Ever wondered how healthy people were...
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32:01
Chimpanzee Communication with Dr Cat Hobaiter
Chimpanzees are our closest living ancestor, and we are also theirs. We know how our biology has evolved - but what about our communication.Communication is a trait common to many organisms - but we don't all communicate in the same way...
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27:02