Orkney Islands Archaeology ~ with Neolithic Expert, Professor Colin Richards

August 9, 2025 - On this full "sturgeon" moon, Tom Muir of the Orkney Islands talks with dear friend and internationally-known archaeologist, Professor Colin Richards.If you'd like to, you can buy us a dram on Ko-fi one-time or regular: https://ko-fi.com/orkneyologyTonight we have a moonlit blether about these things and more ...How early educational prejudice and discouragement ("You'll never amount to anything, Richards.") led to Colin's early career as ... a television repairmanPutting the lie to the misaprehension that only "really clever people" can get a degreeIndiana Jones as archaeological inspirationBalanced judgements of voices writing from the pastWhen Tom met Colin, summer of 1985, Broch of Howe, OrkneyHow Colin (and partly due to his friend Miranda) discovered the Neolithic village of Barnhouse, and other Neolithic settlementsDescriptions of how an archaeological site is excavatedStories from Colin's many archaeological digs in OrkneyOngoing discoveries: re-evaluating and changing assumptions in Orkney Islands archaeologyBarnhouse, Skara Brae, Maeshowe, Ring of Brodgar, Stones of Stenness, Ness of Brodgar, Knap o' Hower, Stonehall ...Why were these settlements abandoned? What were they up to?What happened when Colin Richards spent the night inside Maeshowe?Guardian spirits in the mounds!What will Tom never forgive Colin Richards for? (Hint: It involves archaeology.)The Spirit of the Corn"We're all Jock Thomson's bairns" - people are the same, through space and timePodcast theme music courtesy of Fionn McArthur."Ower wi' the moon" artwork created by Jenny Steer.Support Orkneyology on Ko-fi one-time or regular drams: https://ko-fi.com/orkneyologyTom Muir's Tales in the Landscape Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/tales-in-the-landscapeOrkneyology shop: https://shop.orkneyology.com/Orkneyology on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHQSp7iqejatLV9g5OAF7FA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.