Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe

In this episode, David sits down in Nashville with archaeologist Aaron Deter-Wolf, a leading researcher in the archaeology of tattooing and co-editor of Ancient Ink: The Archaeology of Tattooing.

They explore how tattoos function as deep cultural expressions across human societies, from Ötzi the Iceman’s 5,000-year-old tattoos to newly documented tattooed mummies in Peru. The conversation dives into experimental archaeology, ancient tattoo tools made from bone and stone, and what tattoos can reveal about identity, belief, and social structure in the past.

Together they discuss how tattoo traditions changed under empires, how archaeologists identify tattooing in the archaeological record, and why body modification may be one of humanity’s oldest cultural universals.

Links:

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Aaron’s Book: Ancient Ink

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In this episode of Ethnocynology, David talks about his recent trip to Mexico. Initially, David went to Oaxaca to experience the local culture and take pictures of dogs, and he also spent a lot of time touring mezcal facilities and archaeological sites.

After Oaxaca, David then took a bus to Mexico City, where he gave a talk about his upcoming book at UNAM, the largest university in Latin America.

As well, David details how incredible the Museum of Anthropology is and takes you on a tour of the museum through his words, describing what he saw and how large and grand the collections and displays are.

Links:

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In this episode of Ethnocynology, David talks about the book he's writing, reflects on the recent passing of his dog and his uncle, and what those have in common. With an upcoming trip to Mexico to research dogs in ancient and classical Mexican culture, David weaves in themes of dogs as spiritual constants and symbols of death around the world, including ancient Persia and China. He also asks the audience to consider how dogs and death may go hand in hand in their own lives.
Transcripts
For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ethnocynology/30
Links:
davidianhowe.com
Davidianhowe.com/store
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In this episode of ethnocynology, David gets back to dogs!
Ever wanted to hear his full manifesto on dogs, culminating nearly a decade of research? Well, here it is!
What are dogs, where do they come from, and why are they so prevalent in history, legend, and mythology?
Transcripts
For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/ethnocynology/29
Links:
David’s video lecture
davidianhowe.com
Davidianhowe.com/store
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What if one of the most important technologies in human history wasn’t a spear, a stone tool, or writing, but a bone needle?
In this episode of Ethnocynology, David sits down with Dr. McKenna Litynski, an interdisciplinary anthropologist, to explore how sewing needles, clothing, and thermoregulation fundamentally reshaped human survival during the Ice Age. And helped Homo sapiens expand across the globe.
This conversation is both a deep dive into Ice Age archaeology and a clear, behind-the-scenes walkthrough of how you actually earn a PhD in anthropology, from preliminary exams to dissertation defense. This episode acts as both a spiritual successor to the viral “Why a Clovis Bone Needle Is the Most Important Artifact in North America” video and a practical guide for students curious about graduate school.
Links:
davidianhowe.com
Davidianhowe.com/store
ArchPodNet
APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet
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