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Artwork for Thin End of the Wedge

Thin End of the Wedge

Jon Taylor
Mesopotamia
Archaeology
Assyriology
Cuneiform Writing
Assyrian Queens
State Archives Of Assyria
GLOW Project
Digital Humanities
Cuneiform
Nineveh
Nimrud
Neo-Babylonian Period
Sennacherib
Neo-Assyrian Period
Electronic Babylonian Library
Gender Studies
University Of Copenhagen
Uppsala University
Archaeobotany
Babylonian History

Thin End of the Wedge explores life in the ancient Middle East. There are many wonderful stories we can tell about those people, their communities, the gritty reality of their lives, their hopes, fears and beliefs. We can do that through the objects they left behind and the cities where they once lived. Our focus is on the cultures that used cuneiform (“wedge-shaped”) writing, so mostly on ancient... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes81Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Thin End of the Wedge

Latest Episodes

Rocío and Nathan take us to Babylon in the Late Babylonian period for a remarkable public ritual. The divine love lyrics are one of the most surprising literary survivals from antiquity. Sarpanitu discovers that Marduk has been sleeping with Ishtar. ... more

Mustafa discusses his project to document the condition of the gates of Nineveh, and to plan the sustainable conservation and management. What do the gates mean to Mosulis? What reconstruction work has taken place, what condition are the gates in now... more

Augusta talks about the new excavations at Nippur. What are the goals of the new work, and how does she manage the long history of excavations at the site? What are the long term plans for the site? She reveals the first results, including news about... more

Tina explains what animal teeth and bones can tell us about life in ancient Iraq. What did people eat? And what did those animals eat? How were flocks and herds managed? What does this tell us about status and economy? We learn what new strands of ev... more

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Recent Guests

Augusta McMahon
Mesopotamian archaeologist leading excavations at Nippur.
University of Chicago
Episode: 77. Augusta McMahon: Excavations at Nippur
Moudhy Al Rashid
Assyriologist at Oxford and author
University of Oxford
Episode: 75. Moudhy Al-Rashid: Engaging interest in Mesopotamia
William McGrath
Recent graduate from University of Toronto studying Assyriology and early career Assyriologist
University of Toronto
Episode: 71. 2024 IAA Prize winners
Alessia Pelloni
PhD student at the Freie Universität Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin
Episode: 71. 2024 IAA Prize winners
Christopher Jones
Assistant professor in the Department of History at Union University
Union University
Episode: 71. 2024 IAA Prize winners
Carolyne Douché
Postdoc researcher specializing in archaeobotany
University of Oxford
Episode: 69. Carolyne Douché: Carpology in the archaeology of ancient western Asia
Rune Rattenborg
Archaeologist from the University of Copenhagen with a focus on digital archaeology and humanities
University of Copenhagen
Episode: 66. Rune Rattenborg, Seraina Nett, Gustav Ryberg Smidt: Geomapping Cuneiform
Seraina Nett
Part-time lecturer in archaeology and researcher affiliated with the GLOW project
University of Copenhagen, Uppsala University
Episode: 66. Rune Rattenborg, Seraina Nett, Gustav Ryberg Smidt: Geomapping Cuneiform
Gustav Ryberg Smidt
Archaeologist with focus on digital humanities and computational archaeology
University of Copenhagen, Gen University
Episode: 66. Rune Rattenborg, Seraina Nett, Gustav Ryberg Smidt: Geomapping Cuneiform

Host

John MacGinnis
Host of Thin End of the Wedge. John MacGinnis is an independent production creator who engages listeners with his expertise in the fields of archaeology and ancient history, focusing particularly on the cultures associated with cuneiform writing.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 62 ratings
  • Fascinating pod

    As the title implies, this podcast may turn you into an amateur assyriologist!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ch1c0p0tle
    United States21 days ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    Really enjoy this podcast. The highlight of researchers in early career status and beyond in Assyriology is interesting and much needed. Jon is also a great host!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattyCFire
    United States7 months ago
  • Fascinating!

    Great guests, interesting topics and skilled host/interviewer. I am binge listening whilst shoveling snow. Merci!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bee Kimura
    United States2 years ago
  • The Stories We Hear

    Thank you for prioritising and disseminating the work and backgrounds of those we do not get to hear from so frequently

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shesh gal
    United States4 years ago
  • Fascinating!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    tech189
    4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host's interviewing style is highly praised for being thought-provoking and insightful, contributing to an overall positive listening experience.
Many express gratitude for highlighting the work of early career scholars and promoting lesser-known research topics in the field.
Listeners appreciate the podcast's focus on engaging and accessible discussions around ancient history and archaeology.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#171
Austria/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

76. Tina Greenfield: Zooarchaeology in Mesopotamia
Q: What needs to happen at excavations in order to get that data?
Excavations should focus on systematic collection and clear context to ensure meaningful data analysis from animal bones.
76. Tina Greenfield: Zooarchaeology in Mesopotamia
Q: Could you please explain what zooarchaeology is and how it can help us understand life in ancient Iraq?
Zooarchaeology helps us analyze animal bones to uncover dietary patterns and understand social structures within ancient societies.
79. Rocío Da Riva and Nathan Wasserman: Carnival in Babylon
Q: What function did this ritual play in Babylonian society?
The ritual served to publicly air the complicated relationships of the deities, reflecting a mixture of social classes and possibly reinforcing cultural narratives around gender and sexuality.
79. Rocío Da Riva and Nathan Wasserman: Carnival in Babylon
Q: When did we first come across these texts and what did those first scholars make of them?
The Divine Love Lyrics were first identified by W.G. Lambert, who recognized their public ritual context and their erotic character.
79. Rocío Da Riva and Nathan Wasserman: Carnival in Babylon
Q: Could you introduce us please to the love lyrics? What basically are they? What's it about?
The Divine Love Lyrics involves a summer ritual in Babylon focusing on the interactions and conflicts between the gods Marduk, Sarpanitu, and Ishtar, particularly around themes of jealousy and sexual rivalry.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Thin End of the Wedge

What is Thin End of the Wedge about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring life in the ancient Middle East, the content shines a light on the stories of communities shaped by cuneiform writing, primarily focusing on ancient Iraq and surrounding regions from around 3000 BC to 100 AD. The discussions encompass a range of topics including archaeology, history, and cultural heritage within this time frame, bringing forth expert insights and the latest research presented in accessible language that resonates with both scholars and general audiences. A unique aspect is the blending of academic perspectives with engaging narratives, sparking curiosity about the complexities of ancient societies and their relevance to contemporary issues. Listeners can expect not only to learn about ancient civilizations but als... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Thin End of the Wedge:

1. This Week in the Ancient Near East
2. On the Media
3. The Ancients
4. The Rest Is History
5. Biblical Time Machine

How many episodes of Thin End of the Wedge are there?

Thin End of the Wedge launched 5 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Thin End of the Wedge?

Recent guests on Thin End of the Wedge include:

1. Augusta McMahon
2. Moudhy Al Rashid
3. William McGrath
4. Alessia Pelloni
5. Christopher Jones
6. Carolyne Douché
7. Rune Rattenborg
8. Seraina Nett

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