Digging Deep: Exploring Iran, Mesopotamia, and the Persian Gulf | Daniel T. Potts

Dive into the fascinating world of Near Eastern archaeology with Daniel T. Potts, a distinguished scholar whose extensive field excavations in Iran, Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have significantly advanced our understanding of ancient civilizations. With an AB and PhD in Anthropology from Harvard, specializing in Near Eastern archaeology, Potts has dedicated his career to uncovering the mysteries of the “Cradle of Civilization.“ As the founding editor-in-chief of the journal Arabian Archaeology & Epigraphy and a Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute and ISMEO, Potts’s work bridges the past with the present, offering insights into the complex history and cultural heritage of the Gulf region. 0:00 Overview of Daniel T. Potts’s contributions to Near Eastern archaeology 1:05 Potts discusses contemporary methodologies in archaeology 3:11 Importance of archaeological discoveries in the Near East 5:15 Exploring the Near East as the cradle of civilization 9:02 Impact of geographical and political boundaries on research 13:35 Influence of political contexts on archaeological interpretations 17:03 Reflections on the knowledge gained from years of excavation 19:43 Archaeological significance of the Gulf region 27:53 Archaeological findings and contributions in Kuwait 30:42 Cultural and historical insights from Gulf coastal excavations 35:41 Connecting ancient discoveries to contemporary narratives 42:12 Potts’s views on the future of archaeology and technology 43:29 Anecdotes from Potts’s field excavations 45:50 Q&A on Near Eastern archaeology and Potts’s research 53:57 Audience questions on technology in archaeology and Potts’s ideal final project Daniel T. Potts is a preeminent archaeologist specializing in the Near East, with a career spanning decades of fieldwork and scholarly research. His expertise encompasses the ancient civilizations of Iran, Mesopotamia, and the broader Persian Gulf region, contributing invaluable knowledge to the fields of anthropology and archaeology. Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST: » Apple Podcasts: » Spotify: » Anghami: THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: ABOUT AFIKRA afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity. 📍 Local events in 40 locations worldwide 🎧 New podcasts videos weekly ⚡ Become a member: 🔗 Instagram: 🔗 Facebook: 🔗 Twitter: #DanielTPotts #NearEasternArchaeology #FieldExcavations #CradleOfCivilization #PersianGulfArchaeology #ArchaeologicalResearch #AncientCivilizations #ArabianArchaeology #CulturalHeritage #ArchaeologicalFuturism