Mules, Masons and Moo the Mayan Queen: The Le Plungeons

A honeymoon at war, a permit to wear trousers, and an excavation mascot with a deeply unsuitable after-dinner habit. This week, Louise introduces Nat to Jane Dieulafoy: soldier, photographer, writer and archaeologist whose adventures took her from a French convent to the ancient Persian palaces of Susa. There are burning ships, extraordinary discoveries and a confrontation worthy of an action film. But there’s also looting, breathtaking hypocrisy and a hammer being used for absolutely the wrong reasons. Plus: meet Barry, the lamb who joined the excavation and immediately acquired a management position. Dirt Bags is the comedy podcast about archaeology’s biggest characters, questionable decisions and spectacular messes. Sponsored by DigVentures. Explore their work and find out how to take part at digventures.com. Contains discussion of racism, colonialism and looting. SUGGESTED READING Jane Dieulafoy, La Perse, la Chaldée et la Susiane (1887). Jane’s account of the 1881–82 journey, including her photographs, meeting with the Shah and sharply observed travel anecdotes. In French, free to read: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62108 Jane Dieulafoy, À Suse: Journal des fouilles, 1884–1886 (1888). The excavation diary behind many of this episode’s stories, including the bull, the removal of finds and, most importantly, Barrè bachy, “Lamb in Chief”. In French, free to read: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/70821 Rachel Mesch, Before Trans: Three Gender Stories from Nineteenth-Century France (2020). An exploration of Jane’s gender expression, writing and life alongside two other figures who challenged the conventions of their time. https://rachelmesch.com/before-trans-three-gender-stories-from-nineteenth-century-france-books/ Eve Gran-Aymerich, “Jane Dieulafoy (1851–1916)”, in Breaking Ground: Pioneering Women Archaeologists, edited by Getzel M. Cohen and Martha Sharp Joukowsky (2004). A detailed account of Jane’s life, archaeological work and partnership with Marcel. Bibliothèque nationale de France, “Jane Dieulafoy (1851–1916)”. A shorter introduction to her travels, photography, publications and excavations: https://heritage.bnf.fr/bibliothequesorient/en/jane-dieulafoy-1851-1916 A note on sources: Jane’s travel accounts contain racist and colonial attitudes. We discuss those critically in the episode; her accounts of dramatic events are her own versions of what happened.

A hidden staircase. “Wonderful things.” A mummy’s curse. You probably think you know the story of Howard Carter and Tutankhamun. But what about the furious French tourists, the secret visit to the burial chamber, or the Egyptian government changing the locks? This week, Louise tells Nat how a teenage artist became archaeology’s most famous name, via terrible accommodation, excavation-team betrayal and a very wealthy man from Downton Abbey. We get into the messy detail behind the discovery, the newspaper deal that helped fuel the curse story, the brutal treatment of Tutankhamun’s mummy, and the evidence that some objects left Egypt despite the governments best efforts Plus: Why Flinders Petrie has a cat name and why Carter would have to empty his pockets before leaving a DigVentures site. Dirt Bags is a comedy podcast about archaeology’s greatest legends, questionable methods and the bits that tend to get left out of the famous stories. Contains discussion of colonialism, racism, death and the treatment of human remains. Enjoyed the episode? Follow Dirt Bags, leave us a rating and tell someone who loves a good historical mess. Produced by DigVentures. Find out more: https://digventures.com

An archaeologist, a manuscript forger and seven dogs called Dash. What could possibly go wrong? This week on Dirt Bags, Nat takes over the storytelling and Louise discovers she is very badly prepared for the emotional consequences of bringing dogs on archaeological expeditions. We’re following Aurel Stein across the Silk Roads, through desert ruins in pursuit of fake ancient manuscripts and a remarkable library hidden inside a cave at Dunhuang. There are donkey disputes, missing toes and some extremely questionable ideas about whose history you’re entitled to pack up and take home. Celebrated explorer or extraordinarily determined looter? There’s plenty to dig into. Once we’ve finished talking about the dogs. Enjoyed the episode? Follow Dirt Bags and recommend us to a friend. Word of mouth makes a huge difference to our little independent podcast. Sponsored by DigVentures, where archaeology is for everyone. Find out how to join a dig or explore the past from home: https://digventures.com Content note: discussion of colonialism, racism, looting and animal deaths. SOURCES AND FURTHER READING Main books used in this episode: • Jeannette Mirsky, Sir Aurel Stein: Archaeological Explorer (University of Chicago Press, 1977). Nat’s main source for Stein’s life, expeditions and correspondence. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo5939923.html • Peter Hopkirk, Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Cities and Treasures of Chinese Central Asia (John Murray, 1980). The international race for Central Asian antiquities, including Stein’s dealings at Dunhuang. Also quoted in the episode: • The British Academy, “Sir Aurel Stein, 1862–1943.” A contemporary biographical memoir reflecting the admiration Stein attracted in British scholarly circles. https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/4737/29p329.pdf Further reading and collections: • International Dunhuang Programme, “Discovering Cave 17.” The discovery of the Library Cave by Wang Yuanlu, Stein’s negotiations and the dispersal of its contents. https://idp.bl.uk/discover/learning/dunhuang/dunhuang-articles/cave-17-the-library-cave/discovering-cave-17/ • Ursula Sims-Williams, “Islam Akhun,” Encyclopaedia Iranica. The manuscript forger, his invented scripts and how Stein exposed the operation. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/islam-akhun/ • International Dunhuang Programme, Stein Collection. Explore manuscripts, paintings and other material collected during Stein’s expeditions. https://idp.bl.uk/discover/collection-categories/stein-collection/

In 1908, architect Frederick Bligh Bond was appointed to excavate Glastonbury Abbey. He made a series of remarkable discoveries, including the long-lost Edgar Chapel. Then he revealed that dead monks had been telling him where to dig. In this episode of DIRT BAGS, Louise, Nat and guest host Harriet investigate Britain’s most famous psychic archaeologist, his automatic-writing sessions with John Allen Bartlett and the mysterious voices that appeared to provide measurements, plans and extremely convenient excavation advice. Along the way, we meet a medieval stonemason with strong opinions about beer, fishing and being fat-shamed by his fellow monks. Was Bond receiving messages from beyond the grave, unconsciously drawing upon his considerable archaeological knowledge, or simply making the evidence fit a very good story? DIRT BAGS is a comedy archaeology podcast sponsored by DigVentures. SOURCES AND FURTHER READING Frederick Bligh Bond, The Gate of Remembrance (1918) Roberta Gilchrist and Cheryl Green, Glastonbury Abbey: Archaeological Investigations 1904–79, Society of Antiquaries of London, (2015) https://research.reading.ac.uk/glastonburyabbeyarchaeology/ “Glastonbury Abbey,” Current Archaeology. An overview of the modern reassessment, including Bond’s unsupported reconstruction of the apsidal Edgar Chapel: https://archaeology.co.uk/articles/features/glastonbury-abbey.htm Tim Hopkinson-Ball, The Rediscovery of Glastonbury: Frederick Bligh Bond, Architect of the New Age, Sutton Publishing, 2007. And a shout-out to Zakia Sewell, whose brilliant book helped send us down the Glastonbury rabbit hole. Zakia Sewell, Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain, Hodder Press, 2026:

Was Nabonidus, the last King of Babylon, also the world’s first archaeologist? More than 2,500 years ago, Nabonidus excavated ancient temples, searched for foundation deposits and attempted to date buildings. Unfortunately, he was also supposed to be running a huge empire. Instead, he disappeared off to another country for ten years, became deeply devoted to the moon god and repeatedly missed an important festival in which he was supposed to be publicly slapped. In our new episode, Louise and Nat meet the man dubbed ‘the world’s first archaeologist’ and are probably about to annoy every West Asia expert on the planet with their comedy take on some very ancient texts. Dirt Bags is a comedy archaeology podcast made by DigVentures SOURCES AND FURTHER READING BEAULIEU, P.-A. (1989). Reign of Nabonidus, King of Babylon (556-539 BC). Yale University Press. The Nabonidus Chronicle, British Museum collection The Nabonidus Chronicle, translated by R. J. van der Spek on livius.org The Last King of Babylon. Archaeology Magazine, March/April 2022 Mirelman, Sam (2022) The Babylonian Akitu Festival and the Ritual Humiliation of the King. Ancient Near East Today, Vol 10.9 All inscription translations can be found at oracc.museum.upenn.edu