Shows / The Dirt Diaries
The Dirt Diaries
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.
Episodes
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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…
- The Dirt Diaries
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!…
- The Dirt Diaries
A Clash of Chariots & Kings: The Battle of Kadesh
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are getting into our war chariots to examine an ancient battle, one that pitted kings and empires against one…
- The Dirt Diaries
Oldest Food: Ancient Eats and Crafting the World's Oldest Charcuterie
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! It's almost Fall, which means the season of baking, cooking, and more is upon us! Now, if you were to bring an appetizer to a…
- The Dirt Diaries
Ancient Initiation? Secrets of Pompeii's Villa of the Mysteries
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries. Today, we're exploring a secret room in the heart of an ancient villa that was preserved during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius…
- The Dirt Diaries
Artemis of Ephesus: The Goddess, Her Art, and the Ancient Wonder of the World
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Crack open your mythology books because we are heading to the ancient temple to Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders…
- The Dirt Diaries
Pylos Combat Agate and the Griffin Warrior
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! We are headed back to the Bronze Age to discuss the famed site of Pylos and this incredible find. Dating to approximately…
- The Dirt Diaries
Cleopatra's Dinner: The Most Expensive Meal Ever?!
Was this history’s most extravagant dinner? Well, we're diving into the legendary tale of Cleopatra’s lavish banquet, where it is said she dissolved a…
- The Dirt Diaries
William the Hippo: The Mammal, the Myth, the Icon
At 4000 years old, this small blue hippo is anything but ancient history. We are delving into the beloved faience votive known today as William, who has become…
- The Dirt Diaries
The Priestess and Poet Who Became the World's Oldest Author
Before Homer and before the Bible, there was another. Her name was forgotten for thousands of years until Sir Leonard Woolley found her name and title at Ur…
- The Dirt Diaries
Gods & Griffins: Fantastical Beasts of the Ancient World
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Open up your mythology books and bestiaries for this episode as we explore these mythical monsters. To these ancient peoples…
- The Dirt Diaries
Bronze & Bloodshed: Ancient Weaponry in Egypt and the Aegean
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are going beyond the blade as we examine some of the weapons featured in the early scenes of power in Egypt and the…
- The Dirt Diaries
Monarchs to Mythology: Ancient Legends in Solo Leveling
I've watched the anime and read the manhwa, so we're diving into Solo Leveling, looking at connections to mythology and ancient history that you may have…
- The Dirt Diaries
Titanic: Echoes in the Atlantic 113 years later
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, we are diving into the Titanic, its timeline of events, tales of heroism, and artifacts being sold. I have always been…
- The Dirt Diaries
Prehistoric Goddess Figures? The World's Oldest Venus
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Today, I am diving into some of the oldest pieces of art, which are referred to as Venus figures, named after the Roman…
- The Dirt Diaries
Elixir to Life: Ancient Quests for Immortality
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! I am diving into some of the most famed ancient quests for immortality with legends, men of myth, and of course an emperor…
- The Dirt Diaries
Mycenae: Greek Heroes and Grave Circle A
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! I am diving into the realm of mythology slightly with this episode as we delve into the site of Mycenae.Our buddy Heinrich…
- The Dirt Diaries
Eternally Yours: Ancient Love Poems
Welcome back to the Dirt Diaries! Since February is the month of love with Valentine, I thought it would be fun to go over some ancient love poems and songs…
- The Dirt Diaries
Queen Puabi: When Women Ruled
Welcome back to season 2 of the Dirt Diaries! So happy to be back, and what better way to dive back in than with the famed Queen Puabi and her tomb from the…
- The Dirt Diaries
Burying 2024: Top Archaeological Discoveries
Welcome back, explorers! Dr. K is back for the last episode of the season, this time breaking down her top finds and, yes, ranking the top 3 of 2024! Grab your…
- The Dirt Diaries
Rematch: The World's Oldest Games
Welcome back explorers! Dr. K is back again this time to talk about some of the oldest board games in the world. I'm diving into the games that swept the…
- The Dirt Diaries
Till Death: Ancient Roman Weddings
Welcome back, explorers! Dr. K is back again, discussing all things ancient weddings—well, at least as they happened in ancient Rome! Inspiration struck as I…
- The Dirt Diaries
Ancient Ghosts, Exorcists, and Hauntings
It's the end of October, which means it's time for Ancient Ghosts! What is the earliest ghost story? Do ghosts show up in art? What happens when things go bump…
- The Dirt Diaries
Ancient Crime: A Mummy Murder Mystery and The Harem Conspiracy
The year is 1155 BCE, and the pharaoh was just killed. Who was responsible for his untimely death? Were his assassins sent from abroad, or was he killed by…
- The Dirt Diaries
Ask An Archaeologist: Answering Your Burning Questions
The Dirt Diaries are back, and before we deep dive into some spooky episodes for October, I'm sitting down to answer your burning questions, including…
- The Dirt Diaries
Cosmetics Of Antiquity: Ancient Makeup
The Dirt Diaries Podcast is back after a brief break while Dr. K was in Egypt! This episode is all about ancient makeup, where she talks about eye paint…
- The Dirt Diaries
Handbooks to the Afterlife: Funerary Texts of Ancient Egypt
Welcome back to another episode of the Dirt Diaries podcast! Dr. K is back and is talking about the ancient handbooks for the recently deceased in ancient…
- The Dirt Diaries
Hobby Lobby and Stolen Art: The Epic of Gilgamesh, Dead Sea Scrolls and More
The Dirt Diaries are back again this week with another crazy topic! Did you know a craft store bought stolen art and forgeries? Well, now you do! That's right…
- The Dirt Diaries
The First Emperor of China: Quests For Immortality & The Terracotta Army
In this week's episode, we are moving from Mesopotamia over to China as we cover the period of the warring states, the first emperor of China, his quest for…
- The Dirt Diaries
The World's Oldest Complaint: The Infamous Copper Dealings From Ea-Nasir
Welcome back, everyone! We are diving into a new episode all about the infamous businessman from ancient Mesopotamia! That's right—we're staying at the site of…
- The Dirt Diaries
The Death Pits of Ur: Treasures, Royal Tombs, and Tales of Death
Welcome back, explorers! Dr. K is back with a new episode about the death pits in the royal cemetery at Ur. This cemetery, which houses over 1800 graves, was…
- The Dirt Diaries
War On The Gods: The Heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten
Crack open your books. The Dirt Diaries is back again, with Dr. K delving into one of the most well-known pharaohs in ancient history: Akhenaten. As a ruler…
- The Dirt Diaries
Secrets of the Uluburun: The Ancient Shipwreck, The Riches On Board, And More!
Welcome back, explorers! Ready to get wet? Because The Dirt Diaries is back again with Dr. K discussing the Bronze Age shipwreck, the Uluburun. She's talking…
- The Dirt Diaries
Ink of Eternity: Tattoos of the Ancient World
Welcome back, explorers! The Dirt Diaries is back again, and Dr. K discusses ancient ink and tattoos of the ancient world. While there are many incredible…
- The Dirt Diaries
I Curse You! Tomb Curses of the Ancient World
Crack open your books as the Dirt Diaries is back again to discuss actual tomb curses of the ancient world, specifically from the Levant, Mesopotamia, and…
- The Dirt Diaries
The Curse of the Mummy: From Royalty to Rumors
The Dirt Diaries is back again, discussing the curse of the mummy that had people during the 1920s in an absolute chokehold following the famous discovery of…
The Dirt DiariesCan You Dig It? Tales, Tombs, And Top Finds
Welcome to The Dirt Diaries! I am Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger, and I will be your guide as we uncover ancient history. Today's episode is all about answering…