Unpacking the Medicine Wheel: Blackfoot History and Archaeological Interpretation with Dr. Trevor Peck - Ep 48

In this episode of The Great Plains Archaeology Podcast, Carlton speaks with Dr. Trevor R. Peck about one of the most recognizable, and often misunderstood, archaeological features of the Northern Plains: the “medicine wheel.” Drawing on his article “Unpacking the ‘Medicine Wheel’ Rubric,” Trevor discusses why archaeologists have historically grouped a diverse range of stone features under this broad label and why more careful identification of their function and cultural affiliation matters. The conversation then focuses on Death Lodges, a distinctive type of stone feature that Trevor argues represents a Blackfoot cultural tradition. He discusses the archaeological, historical, ethnographic, and Blackfoot knowledge used to identify these features, including evidence from the Ellis Death Lodge and the Onistah (Calf Robe) robe. Together, the discussion explores how Indigenous knowledge can help archaeologists reinterpret the archaeological record and better understand the cultural landscapes of the Northern Plains. The episode concludes by considering what moving beyond the catch-all term “medicine wheel” means for Plains archaeology and how greater collaboration with Indigenous communities can lead to more accurate and culturally informed interpretations of the past. Article Citation: Peck, T. R. (2026). Unpacking the “medicine wheel” rubric: Ramifications of identifying function and ethnicity of “Death Lodge" (Subgroup 4) Form. Plains Anthropologist, 1–22. Unpacking the “medicine wheel” rubric: Ramifications of identifying function and ethnicity of “Death Lodge Transcript For rough transcripts of this episode go to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/great-plains-archaeology/48 Links The Archaeology of the North American Great Plains by Douglas B. Bamforth (2021) Archaeology on the Great Plains Edited by W. Raymond Wood (1998) Carlton's KU Anthropology Faculty Bio Plains Anthropological Society Website Plains Anthropologist Online Journal Access Contact Instagram: @‌pawnee_archaeologist Email: [email protected] APN APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Shop Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.