Genetics

The speakers examine a Smithsonian pamphlet about head shaping; Richards corrects its location and proposes connections with archaic ancestry.

Genetic ancestry

Research note: What the Comcomly report actually measured →

The speakers speculate about ancient humans’ abilities, compare animal intelligence and discuss predation and the tendency to humanise animals.

Scientific method

The speakers discuss possible advantages of extra digits, guitar playing, musicians and attending concerts.

Polydactyly

The speakers criticise pandemic messaging and discuss Rogan’s personal treatment experience, making claims about vaccines, other treatments and public reactions.

Public debate

The speakers discuss acknowledging mistakes; Richards recounts a dispute about evidence of contact between Rapa Nui and other regions.

Public debate

The speakers discuss relationships between interested amateurs and archaeologists, dispute accusations of racism and question explanations of ancient construction.

Archaeological evidence

The speakers discuss Georges St-Pierre and other personalities, promote a conference and return to the question of deliberate head shaping.

Public debate

Richards discusses reported burials and private collections, alleging that unusual remains and information about them have disappeared.

Archaeological evidence

Richards develops a breeding hypothesis through family-tree and textile imagery; the speakers discuss psychedelic interpretations and unusual remains.

Selective breeding

The speakers examine skull images, discuss head shaping and speculate about capacity, eye sockets and possible inherited differences.

Genetic ancestry

The speakers speculate about private ownership of remains; Richards alleges information suppression and criticises restrictions on access to museum collections.

Archaeological evidence

Richards interprets figures and trophy skulls as evidence for his breeding hypothesis; Rogan questions some of the visual interpretations.

Selective breeding

The speakers examine purported trophy skulls, discuss sacrifice and lost manuscripts, and question whether some displayed objects are replicas.

Archaeological evidence

The speakers examine skull-sale claims; Richards recounts Comcomly’s remains and proposes that unusual skulls could indicate another human lineage.

Archaeological evidence

The speakers compare the Paracas Candelabra with designs on Rapa Nui skulls; Richards identifies the family-tree interpretation as his own theory.

Rapa Nui

The speakers speculate about social preferences for particular traits, followed by a sponsor message and a comparison with historical fashions.

Selective breeding

The speakers question unusual specimens’ anatomy, reported age and authenticity, discussing what scans might establish.

Archaeological evidence

Richards alleges that reports of unusually large skeletons were dismissed unfairly; Rogan asks about the evidence and chain of custody.

Archaeological evidence

The speakers discuss very tall people and reported skeletal measurements; Richards criticises interpretations of historical accounts and archaeology’s scientific status.

Genetic ancestry

Richards disputes archaeology’s scientific status; Rogan raises documentation, dating, protocols and chain of custody as ways to evaluate findings.

Scientific method

The speakers criticise academic responses to unconventional claims and argue that interested amateurs should be encouraged to investigate.

Public debate

The speakers discuss missing evidence of earlier humans and societies, then consider whether researchers’ objectionable beliefs invalidate useful findings.

Scientific method

The speakers reject associating every Atlantis theory with racism, discuss political pressure and argue for responding to disagreement through debate.

Public debate

The speakers criticise professional responses to amateurs and discuss the archaeological society’s objections to Hancock’s Netflix programme.

Public debate

Richards discusses historical racial interpretations of biblical stories; the speakers question accounts of early monuments and proposed protective coverings.

Archaeological evidence

Richards proposes that archaeological controversy can encourage tourism; Rogan challenges that explanation, and the speakers discuss alleged missing remains.

Public debate

The speakers discuss access to privately held remains; Richards proposes a metal-separation function for the Baghdad Battery and acknowledges testing limitations.

Archaeological evidence

The speakers examine accounts of mummy medicine and unwrapping events, then discuss curses and the market for antiquities.

Archaeological evidence