Maritime archaeologist journeys across Pacific in new podcast series
Professor Helen Farr from the Department of Archaeology and Dr Erich Fisher are back with a new series of Before Us that continues to explore the deep human past.
This second series follows a very successful first season, with loyal listeners around the world. Series 2 launched this week and has already ranked #12 in the UK Apple Podcast charts for Science/Social Sciences. “This isn’t just another show about history or science,” Erich said. “Helen and I tell compelling stories about deep time through archaeological records that reminds us that these events were undertaken by people who lived lives full of emotions and challenges just like today.”
The new season continues the auditory adventure, bringing listeners along as they follow the expansion of people around the world via coastlines and waterways. Upcoming episodes follow a narrative arc across eastern Asia, the North Pacific Rim, and into the Americas, showing how people navigated challenges like ocean currents, diverse habitats, and extreme weather through innovative social behaviours and technology. Season 2 premiered on Tuesday September 29 with The lore you know. In this episode, Helen and Erich are joined by Professor Patrick Nunn, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, to explore how oral histories, myths and storytelling preserve knowledge across generations.
Notable upcoming episodes examine the role of community in Pacific Island seafaring; a voyage to the Ryukyu Islands in a log boat crafted with Palaeolithic stone tools; domesticated dogs in the peopling of the Americas; the Kelp Highway hypothesis; Shuká Káa and the debate surrounding Monte Verde in South America…. and so much more.
Helen said: “We’ve spoken to some incredible people for this series and we’re really excited to share it all. Series 1 reached listeners on every continent apart from Antarctica- so if anyone working in the Southern Ocean right now would like to listen in, we’d be thrilled!”
All episodes of Before Us are available freely worldwide on all major podcasting apps. New episodes are released weekly:
