The Rock Art Podcast

• Recreating Rock Art with Stephen Townley Bassett - Rock Art 152

  In this episode, Alan is joined by Stephen Townley Bassett, a forensic artist dedicated to preserving and recreating San rock art with striking accuracy. Using natural materials like ochre, charcoal, and egg shell, Stephen reconstructs ancient paintings in the same way they were originally made—millimeter by millimeter.With decades of field experience across Southern Africa, his work highlights the intersection of art, archaeology, and conservation, offering a powerful visual record of a fragile cultural legacy under threat.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/152LinksStephen Townley Bassett’s WebsiteStephen Townley Bassett’s artist profileStephen’s Sapien’s article on ‘Re-imaginging Rock Art in Southern Africa’Stephen Townley Bassett: Saving African Cave Art - Painted Dog GalleryContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN 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 ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion 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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• Re-imaging Libyan Rock Art with visual artist Shefa Salem al-Baraesi - Ep 151

  In this episode, Alan is joined by visual artist Shefa Salem al‑Baraesi, a Benghazi‑based creator whose oil paintings re‑imagine Libya’s archaeological heritage—like the inverted‑figure boat scene from the Acacus cave art—and ancient rituals such as the Kaska dance. Through her realistic, large‑scale works, Shefa transforms written history and myth into evocative visual narratives that resonate with everyday Libyans. Her exhibitions, I Am Libya and Ethnolibya, bring these ancestral images forward as a living, shared national memory.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/151LinksArtist - shefa salemEXHIBITIONS - shefa salemArtists Exploring Libya's History, Cultural Resilience and RebirthShefa Salem: a Libyan artist, inspired by the history of her country‘All my work is Libya’: Five emerging Libyan artists to watchContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN 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 ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion 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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• Māori Rock Art with Dr Gerard O'Regan - Ep 150

  In this episode, Alan is joined by Dr Gerard O’Regan, a Māori archaeologist and rock art specialist dedicated to preserving the ancient artworks of Aotearoa. With over three decades of research and fieldwork, Gerard shares how these powerful images—painted with natural pigments like red ochre and charcoal—offer a glimpse into early Māori life, belief, and identity.From the limestone shelters of the South Island to emerging discoveries in the North, Gerard’s work weaves together archaeology, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural stewardship, protecting a fragile visual legacy through Māori-led conservation and community partnerships.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/150LinksThe Rock Art Network - Gerard O’ReganDating South Island Māori rock art: Pigment and pitfallsEpisode 6 | Māori rock art | Aotearoa UnearthedContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN 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 ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion 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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• Social Stories In Stone! Community Archaeology and Rock Art with Dr Tertia Barrett - Ep 148

  In this episode, Alan is joined by by Dr. Tertia Barnett, a leading archaeologist whose work bridges scientific research and community engagement in the field of rock art. Dr. Barnett shares insights from her role as Principal Investigator on Scotland’s Rock Art Project, as well as her previous work on the Wadi al-Ajal Rock Art Project in Libya. Together they discuss the social and cultural dimensions of rock art that highlights the importance of collaboration, accessibility, and inclusivity in understanding ancient visual traditions.TranscriptsFor a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/148LinksDr Barrett’s BioScotland’s Rock Art ProjectThe Wadi al-Ajal Rock Art ProjectContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN 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 ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion 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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• Sexual Dimorphism and Human Hand Prints in the Upper Palaeolithic with Dr Dean Snow - Ep 147

  In this week’s episode, Dr. Alan speaks with archaeologist and emeritus professor of anthropology, Dr. Dean Snow. A leading expert in ancient populations and Paleolithic cave art, Dr. Snow shares insights into his groundbreaking research on hand stencils in Ice Age caves and what they reveal about gender and social structures in prehistoric societies. Together, they explore the broader implications of interpreting early human symbolism, rock art traditions around the world, and the evolving role of science in cultural heritage preservation.LinksDr Dean Snow’s BioContactDr. Alan [email protected]. Alan Garfinkel’s WebsiteSupport Dr. Garfinkel on PatreonArchPodNetAPN 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 ShopAffiliates and SponsorsMotion 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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