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.

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24 episodes
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Avg 49 min
English

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Wednesday · 42 min
Undead Ahead: The Restless Dead And the Archaeology of Deviant Burials
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Now that we are in October, it's time to talk about some graves the media has termed "vampire burials." Did the Greco-Romans have vampires? What do these graves tell us about their communities, superstitions, and magical practices? And... should we call them deviant burials instead? We're also talking about the restless dead: who they were, why they were restless, and who led them! Yes, we will chat briefly about Hekate herself! Grab some nails, an iron sword, an offering, and crack open your books for this one! - Stay curious. Travel with me, my socials, and more! https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn For more on the Sagalassos finds and the Polish "anti-vampire" burial, see: Claeys J, Van de Vijver K, Marinova E, Cleymans S, Degryse P, Poblome J. Magical practices? A non-normative Roman imperial cremation at Sagalassos. Antiquity. 2023;97(391):158-175. doi:10.15184/aqy.2022.171 Poliński, D., Zagrodzka, M., Grzybowski, T., Borrini, M., Lynch, P. A., Cybulska, M., … Czyżewski, Ł. (2026). A unique, non-normative burial of a young adult female from a 17th-century cemetery in Pień, north-central Poland. A multidisciplinary approach. Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 74(105967), 105967. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105967
September 30 · 46 min
The Final Offering of Pompeii: New Discoveries and a New Eruption Date?
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are staying in Pompeii this week as we look at what may be the last offering left before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. And new studies also show that the eruption wasn't the only thing going on! But while reports have always stated the eruption occurred on August 24, 79, is that true? Well, a charcoal finding may change that!For this, I'm bringing in the help of a professional, Dr. Caitie Barrett, an archaeologist whose focus highlights the everyday lives of people and the cross-cultural exchange between Egypt and the larger Greco-Roman world. She currently serves as co-director of the Casa della Regina Carolina (CRC) Project, a joint Italian/American excavation project at the site of Pompeii. As a National Geographic Explorer, she hopes to capture the profound human aspects of Pompeii before the eruption, as seen in National Geographic's series Pompeii: Out of Time, streaming now. For more from Dr. Barrett, follow her on Instagram: @caitie_barrett Check out her National Geographic Explorer page: https://explorers.nationalgeographic.org/directory/caitie-barrett For more on her project she is co-directing: https://blogs.cornell.edu/crcpompeii/ See her in action now on Pompeii: Out of Time, streaming now. -Stay curious Travel with me, my socials, and more! https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
September 16 · 56 min
Goddess of 10,000 names: the Mysteries & Cult of Isis
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We've talked about the mysteries of Dionysus and his secret cult, so we're examining the evidence concerning an ancient goddess of Egypt: Isis. With new discoveries in Pompeii and Turkiye, we're talking about the secret initiation, festivals, her mythology, and more!What do we know? Who was initiated? And most importantly, would you join?Grab your mythology books for this as we talk about Isis, the goddess of 10,000 names.-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
September 2 · 40 min
Immortal Ink: Ancient Tattoos and Archaeology Discoveries
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Since new archaeological discoveries came out last year about ancient tattoos on an ice mummy from Siberia, I thought it was time to bring this season 1 episode to video! Ancient ink is super rare to find in the archaeological record, and we're covering a few instances today, including one of a monogram to Archangel Michael, I was inspired by the new report on the skeletal analysis of almost 4,000-year-old Egyptian princesses, which shows evidence that they may have been trained in the weaponry they were later entombed with, so today we are diving into other cases of warrior women. We're talking about those who were found alongside weapons, those who may have inspired legends, and misidentified graves!Who was buried here? What do their remains tell us? And were these women ancient warriors?Grab your shovel and maps for this one!-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
August 19 · 48 min
Most Expensive Cargo in the Ancient World? The Uluburun Shipwreck
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are back for a bit for a redux of an episode from season 1. I was inspired to do so because during my recent trip to Bodrum in Turkiye, I saw these artifacts in person! We're talking gold, silver, copper, and of course...tin, breaking down what we have learned, testing, what the final port was, and how expensive this shipwreck was! Grab your scuba gear; we're heading underwater this week! -Stay curious Travel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
August 5 · 42 min
Ancient Warrior Women: Egyptian Princesses, Mongolian archers, the Birka Warrior and more
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! I was inspired by the new report coming out on the skeletal analysis of almost 4,000-year-old Egyptian princesses, showing evidence that they may have been trained in the weaponry they were later entombed with, so today we are diving into other cases of warrior women. We're talking about those who were found alongside weapons, those who may have inspired legends, and misidentified graves!Who was buried here? What do their remains tell us? And were these women ancient warriors?Grab your shovel and maps for this one!-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
July 1 · 48 min
Crowning Victory: The Nike Of Samothrace
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are staying in the realm of mythology, meeting reality as we talk about the famed Nike of Samothrace. This goddess announced victory in the past, but which battle was immortalized in marble on the Aegean island of Samothrace? We're diving in! Be sure to bring your chisels to get the drapery just right, as we talk about the Hellenistic masterpiece also known as the Winged Victory. -Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
June 10 · 46 min
At World's End: The Cave of Medusa
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! I hope you brought a mirror or a reflective shield, because we are heading to the edge of the world to take a peek inside Medusa's lair. Her image was found at the base of a pillar of Heracles a few years ago. So what was the image of a gorgon doing in a place connected to mythology? Who put her here and why?At world's end, we are looking for the answers!-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
May 27 · 1 hr 2 min
Dressing a Bronze Age Warrior: Arming an Ancient Hero
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! It is finally the time you all have been asking for: we are delving into the era of ancient Greek heroes and examining the helmets and shields available to Bronze Age warriors in the Aegean. And now that the full trailer is out, it's time we chatted about what we could have had. From me to you, I wish you all could see how incredible this time period is, and maybe one day we will get the epic armor we deserve. So what shields did they have? Do we have any surviving armor, and, more importantly, does it even offer protection? Grab your translations of Homer's work and get ready to be a warrior of the mind because we're talking about dressing a Bronze Age hero. -Stay curious Travel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
S3 · E6
May 6 · 50 min
Chambers of the Queens: Merneith, Sobekneferu, and Hatshepsut
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are back in the tombs today to see what we have for three female rulers of Egypt: a mother who ensured Egypt would be there for her son to rule, a woman at the end of her family line, and one who has often been vilified for taking too much power from her step-son. Yes, we are talking about Merneith (dynasty I), Sobekneferu (dynasty XII), and Hatshepsut (dynasty XVIII).What do we have? What do we know? And what do we still have to uncover?-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
April 22 · 52 min
Cursing the Competition: Doing Anything For the Ancient Win
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! With baseball back, we are talking about how the ancients ensured their teams and favorite athletes would win. It's not just rally hats and cursing like a sailor; the ancients took it a step further by involving their gods when they wrote curse tablets to bind their competitors. What did they write? How graphic were these? And more importantly, did they work? Grab your snacks and defense signs, because today we are cursing the competition. -Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tennResearch mentioned: Folmer, M., & Elitzur-Leiman, R. (2023). A Jewish Aramaic Circus Curse Tablet from Antioch. Aramaic Studies, 21(1), 64-111.Daniel, R., & Porath, Y. (2018). A Greek Curse Tablet from the Eastern Circus at Caesarea Maritima (pp. 167–174). 'Atiqot, 92(1), 11.See also: Gager, J. G. (Ed.). (1999). Curse tablets and binding spells from the ancient world. Oxford University Press, USA.
April 1 · 46 min
Copper Crash Out: The World's Oldest Complaint and the Most Infamous Conman
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are staying in Ur this week to discuss the oldest crash out we have on record! What happened to cause this? What broke the camel's back? And is this, in fact, an image of Ea-Nasir? We are talking all things hate mail and votive stares today, so bring your finest clay tablet as we talk the copper complaint of Ea-Nasir. -Stay curious! Travel with me, my socials, and more! https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
March 18 · 1 hr 4 min
Monarchs of Mesopotamia: Who's Who In The Royal Cemetery of Ur
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are going on an ancient tour of sorts today as we analyze the evidence from the 16 graves at the Cemetery of Ur that Woolley termed royal. Who was buried here? Who were these tombs intended for? And what was found? Grab your shovel and notes, it's time to dig deeper into the Royal Cemetery of Ur. -Stay curious Travel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
S3 · E2
March 3 · 56 min
No Man Will Find My Tomb: Legend or Legitimate Words From the Last Pharaoh of Egypt
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are analyzing the infamous words of the last pharaoh of Egypt. Did Cleopatra actually state that no man would find her tomb? Is this legit or a legend? And if so, when did it come about? We are trying to get to the bottom of this rumor that has seemingly become bigger than Cleopatra VII herself...But what do you think?-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
S3 · E1
February 18 · 53 min
The Mummy: Analyzing What the 1999 Cinematic Masterpiece Got Right
Welcome back to Season 3 of the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are looking at what the 1999 cinematic masterpiece starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz got right in terms of ancient history, Egyptology, and more! From the curse of the Hom Dai, Imhotep, and the Book of the Dead, we are covering it all!-Stay Curious! Travel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tenn
Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Closing the Tomb on 2025: Ancient Tattoos, a Forgotten Prince, Odysseus & More Top Finds
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! In this final episode of the season, we are going over some of my top finds of the year before we shut the tomb of 2025! From ancient tattoos, new Mesopotamian myths, a sanctuary to Odysseus, and a new Egyptian prince, we are covering it all here! Out of all of them listed, which was your favorite? If it wasn't mentioned, drop it below! Of course, after I filmed this, more news and reports have come out, but that gives us more to talk about next year!-Stay curiousTravel with me, my socials, and more!https://beacons.ai/dirtdiaries.tennFor more information on the finds, see: House of Helle and Phrixus: M. Rispoli, M. Tartari, G. Zuchtriegel, Disastri stratificati: nuovi dati dalla Casa di Hele e Frixo – Regio V, insula 6, civico 10. E-Journal Scavi di Pompei 30.04.25Mesopotamian Myth: Matuszak, J. (2024). Of captive storm gods and cunning foxes: New insights into early Sumerian mythology, with an edition of Ni 12501. Iraq, 86, 79–108. doi:10.1017/irq.2024.19Ancient Tattoos: Caspari, G., Deter-Wolf, A., Riday, D., Vavulin, M., & Pankova, S. (2025). High-resolution near-infrared data reveal Pazyryk tattooing methods. Antiquity, 1–15. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10150
Nov 19, 2025 · 45 min
Amulets of Antiquity: How Scarabs, Mjölnir, and More Protected Ancient Wearers
How did the ancients protect themselves with pendants? What were some of these amulets of antiquity? Well, we're exploring a few today, including a scarab, seals of Solomon, Mjölnir, and more! With all the holiday commercials showing jewelry of today, what were people wearing millennia ago? While every kiss begins with Kay, to the ancients, it may have been more along the lines of every talisman tells a tale! Which one was your favorite, and which would you wear? -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
Oct 29, 2025 · 44 min
The Necromancy Cave: Ancient Rituals, Rites and Roman Mysteries
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are exploring the cave of skulls where ancient necromancies were believed to take place. What was found? What is necromancy? And could the ancient peoples actually raise the dead? Get ready for the Halloween episode with ghosts, spirits, scary stories, and more!-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
Oct 15, 2025 · 47 min
The Cursed Well of Athens: Ancient Magic and Curses 2300 years Later
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are delving into an ancient Greek well in the heart of Athens that turned up ancient curses! Who was cursed? What did they inflict? And what does this tell us about the people in ancient Athens?Get ready for another spooky season episode as we dive into ancient curses, magic, the underworld, and more! -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
Oct 1, 2025 · 45 min
The Tomb of Cerberus: Tales of the Underworld and an Ancient Hero
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries podcast! Today, as we welcome October, we are cracking open an ancient tomb to explore where archaeology and mythology meet! That's right, if you love Heracles or Greek Mythology this is the episode for you. From the labors of Heracles to the legends themselves, we are going into this Roman-era tomb that is slowly revealing its secrets. -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

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