Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe

• Horses (Part 2) | Horses in Early Contact North America with Cassidee Thornhill - Ep 24

  In this episode of Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe, I sit down with my good friend and former graduate school cohort member Cassidee Thornhill, Collections Manager at the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository.Cassidee’s research dives into the early contact era in Wyoming, focusing on the arrival and spread of horses before and during European colonization. We discuss her fascinating thesis work on the Black’s Fork River site, where a young foal was found buried alongside three coyote skulls—an extraordinary archaeological discovery that sheds light on early human–horse relationships on the Plains.Topics we cover include:The Black’s Fork horse burial and its cultural significanceEarly radiocarbon dates showing horses in Wyoming decades before the Pueblo RevoltEvidence of early veterinary care and human–horse bondsHow horses transformed Native economies, sovereignty, and resistanceGenetic research linking early horses in the Americas to Spanish (and later British) stockThe broader story of how horses reshaped Indigenous life across the PlainsCassidee also shares her perspective on whether horses or dogs have been more influential in human history—a big question we love to ask on this show.This episode is the extended interview version you won’t find on YouTube—perfect for listeners who want the full deep dive into Cassidee’s groundbreaking work.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ethnocynology/24Links:davidianhowe.comDavidianhowe.com/storeArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• Horses (Part 1) | Hoof Beats with Dr. William Taylor - Ep 23

  In this episode of Ethnocynology, host David Ian Howe sits down with archaeologist and anthropologist Dr. William Taylor (University of Colorado Boulder), author of Hoofbeats: How Horses Shaped Human History.While this show usually focuses on dogs, today we shift to the other animal that transformed humanity: the horse. Dr. Taylor walks us through the evolutionary history of horses, their domestication on the Eurasian steppe, and their reintroduction to the Americas after the Ice Age. Together we explore how humans first interacted with horses—as prey, symbols in cave art, sources of milk and meat, and eventually as partners in transport, warfare, and belief systems.Topics include:The origins of domestic horses around 2000 BC in the Caucasus steppesHorses evolving in North America, going extinct, and being reintroduced by the SpanishHunting evidence from sites like Schöningen in Germany and Bluefish Caves in the YukonHorses in Paleolithic cave art (Lascaux, Chauvet) and the Vogelherd ivory carvingEvidence for early horse riding and chariot use in Egypt, Assyria, and beyondThe role of horses in indigenous North and South American societies before widespread European contactEthno-equine parallels in Mongolia, Australia, and Patagonia, where horses shaped cultural, spiritual, and economic lifeThis is Part 1 of a two-part series: next time, David speaks with Cassidy Thornhill of the University of Wyoming, who researches the protohistoric introduction of horses into the Americas.If you enjoy the episode, please rate and review Ethnocynology on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It helps more people discover the show and supports the entire Archaeology Podcast Network.Links:Hoofbeats: How Horses Shaped Human History by Dr. William Taylor — available on Amazon and other retailers.davidianhowe.comDavidianhowe.com/storeArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• The Old Copper Culture with North02 - Ep 22

  In this episode of Ethnocynology, host David Ian Howe sits down with friend and creator North02 to dive into one of North America’s most fascinating and overlooked archaeological stories—the Old Copper Culture.Together, they explore how Native communities in the Great Lakes region began shaping some of the world’s earliest metal tools and weapons, thousands of years before metallurgy took hold in Europe. From massive copper swords and fishing hooks to spear throwers and intricate ornaments, this culture reveals a technological world far beyond the usual “stone tool” narrative.We discuss:Why Michigan and the Great Lakes hold the purest copper deposits in the worldHow hunter-gatherers mined and hammered copper into tools as early as 9,500 years agoThe mysterious rise and fall of copper mining, and why production suddenly stoppedConnections to Paleoindian cultures like Clovis and Agate BasinThe difference between copper use in the Americas and the Old World’s Bronze AgeHow copper shifted from practical tools to symbols of power and statusAlong the way, North shares insights from his upcoming documentary on the Old Copper Culture, his hands-on experiments with copper tools, and why this forgotten chapter of prehistory deserves a place in public imagination.If you’ve ever wondered whether North America had its own “Copper Age”, this episode will change the way you think about early technology, innovation, and the ingenuity of ancient peoples.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ethnocynology/22Links:Great Water: The Lost Mines of Lake Superior by David P. Pompeanidavidianhowe.comDavidianhowe.com/storeArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• ENCORE - Talking Dogs, Data, and Mental Health (but mostly dogs) with Dr. Angela Perri - Ruins 101

  On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, David and Connor talk to Dr. Angela Perri about her lengthy CV and her academic/professional career. Dr. Perri is currently the top researcher in the world in terms of understanding the relationship between humans and dogs in the ancient world. So clearly, David's ears perked up.As usual, we first dive into Angela's early life and career in anthropology, and talk about her interesting transition from a Las Vegas bartender and Oregonian undergrad, to being a PhD student in the UK.We then discuss her time at Durham University and her dissertation research, which took her to Japan, Mongolia, and the American Southeast. We also talk about her time and research at the Max Planck Institute studying dog genomics and DNA. David and Connor also ask Angela multiple questions about dogs, dog domestication, and the human/dog relationship.We then end on Angela's career advice and have a heart to heart conversation about mental health, Academia, and CRM.Links:Dog Domestication published on YouTube by The AtlanticOrigin: A Genetic History of the Americas by Jennifer RaffDog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You by Clive D. L. WynneA Dog's History of the World: Canines and the Domestication of Humans by Laura Hobgood-OsterWhite Fang by Jack LondonCall of the Wild by Jack Londondavidianhowe.comDavidianhowe.com/storeArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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• Anthro Chat with Stefan Milo - Ep 21

  An Anthro Chat With Stefan Milo.In this episode of ethnic psychology, David sits down with good friend Stefan Milo, archaeologist, YouTuber, and overall outstanding chap.David and Steve catch up on recent anthropology news and discussed the recent archaeological findings at White Sands national Park, as well as the recent genetic findings surrounding Dragon Man, the Denisovans, and the peopling of the Americas.David and Stefan also discuss the growing concern among content creators regarding automated intelligence and whether or not the recent advancements with AI video generation will put people like David and Stefan out of work.Stefan is a brilliant guy, and this conversation is as educational as it is pretty funny. So be sure to give it a listen!Links:davidianhowe.comDavidianhowe.com/storeArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN ShopAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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