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What connects the myth-busting boulder chases of Indiana Jones, revolutionary political ferment, and the mud-splattered rise of modern archaeology? In this episode of History for F**k’s Sake host Sarah Dowd sits down with Professor Dominic Tweddle, British archaeologist, museum leader, and expert in material culture for an honest, engaging journey through the origins, controversies, and future of digging up history.
From the Enlightenment’s curiosity-fuelled societies to the birth of systematic fieldwork, we explore how “holes in the ground” became battlegrounds for cultural meaning, power, and academic integrity. The episode traces archaeology’s evolution from treasure hunting and grave robbing, through the foundations of research and recording, into the revolutionary impact of pop culture (hello, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and immersive museum experiences like the Jorvik Viking Centre.
Whether you’re a history buff, a museum geek, or just want to know why a Viking street in York was a game-changer, this is essential listening for anyone curious about who gets to control the narrative of the past and how.
Here are the highlights:
00:00 Introduction: Pop culture’s impact on archaeology
02:02 Professor Dominic Tweddle’s journey
04:11 British Museum, hands-on with Sutton Hoo and medieval collections
05:15 The Coppergate Viking dig opens up a new era for public engagement
07:27 The genesis of Jorvik Viking Centre
09:45 Creating Jorvik Viking Centre: Reconstructing Viking York, immersive soundscapes, early museum innovation
15:55 Jorvik legacy, longevity, refurbishment, and financial impact
16:28 Raiders of the Lost Ark, its accuracy, and influence on archaeology
21:46 Antiquarianism, treasure hunting, and early excavation methods
22:31 The evolution of archaeological practice
34:02 Contemporary archaeology: What’s going right and wrong
About Professor Dominic Tweddle, BA, PhD, FSA, FSA Scot, MCIfA:
Dominic began his career as an archaeologist and historian at the British Museum before joining the York Archaeological Trust, where he was Assistant Director. He is a noted Anglo-Saxon and Viking specialist. In York, Dominic was a key member of the team that developed the ground-breaking Jorvik Viking Centre.
From there, he developed his own successful business, which designed, built, owned, and operated visitor attractions in the cultural heritage field across the globe. In 2008, Dominic sold his shares in the business.
He was appointed the first Director General of the new National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) in 2009. In that role, he merged the four existing museums into a coherent whole and, through twelve mergers or acquisitions, brought eight historic warships, including HMS Victory, into the group. He built the turnover of the business from £6.5 million to £24 million a year and attracted £180 million in investment. Dominic retired in late 2023.
He is currently Chairman of the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust, the leading UK charity working in the protection of underwater heritage, and is also writing a book on the Spanish Armada.
Dominic has written seven other books, five of them major academic works, and two children’s books. One, Growing Up in Viking Times, became a slightly unexpected bestseller.
About Sarah Dowd:
I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.
For 25+ years, I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.
As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.
Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, make sure you are following the show so you don’t miss an episode.
Connect with Sarah:
Website: www.historyffs.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/historyffs-pod/
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Follow the show for new episodes exploring the objects, people, and moments that shaped our world. If you want the story AND the sound of the past, this is essential listening.
