Story Archaeology

A conversation with Professor Lisa Bitel

Story Archaeology

Show Notes

Lisa Bitel is a Professor of Religion and a Medieval historian specializing in Britain and Ireland. and is the author of her new book 'Otherworld'. Join Chris and Lisa as they explore some favourite stories and discuss how best to contintinue the transmission of these wonderful tales, from the deep past, to an audience today.

Links for this episode

Read more abour Lisa's book Otherworld, Nine tales of early Irish literature

Explore more of Lisa's publicaions

Story Archaeology Links

Our conversation references a number of different stories and story cycles.

Explore all the podcast links to episodes about Etain and Midir and Bricriu's feast

(This episode was uploaded after a 22 hour power outage, immediately before I flew to the UK for Xmas. If there prove to be minor editing issues, they will be corected shortly)

More from Story Archaeology

Aug 8, 2026

The story of Sinann, who gave her name to the river Shannon, was first recorded, in written form, in the Metrical Dindshenchas, 'the Lore of Prominent Places'. Such tales morph and shapeshift as they are retold through time yet still retain unexpected applicabilities. Join Chris as she traces her own meandering journey in Sinann's company.

May 30, 2026

William Robinson: Tallanbanna with cloud front. 1988

May 13, 2026

Animal companions have played a variety of important roles in human societies over the millenia. Join Chris as she explores how dogs, cats and even the occasional crane, have been regarded and regulated both in the comprehensive early Irish law texts and Irish stories, mythology and folklore.

May 3, 2026

From 'Understories', by Phillipa Klaiber

Apr 20, 2026

Recent DNA testing on a long ignored jawbone fragment has opened a viewpoint on the distant past to when and how animal companions began to alter the everyday lives of human communities. Join Chris as she explores this new research and wonders, on the way, what 'pet' names might they have chosen!

See all episodes →