In this episode, Alan is joined by Stephen Townley Bassett, a forensic artist dedicated to preserving and recreating San rock art with striking accuracy. Using natural materials like ochre, charcoal, and egg shell, Stephen reconstructs ancient paintings in the same way they were originally made—millimeter by millimeter.

With decades of field experience across Southern Africa, his work highlights the intersection of art, archaeology, and conservation, offering a powerful visual record of a fragile cultural legacy under threat.

For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/152

• Stephen Townley Bassett’s Website
• Stephen Townley Bassett’s artist profile
• Stephen’s Sapien’s article on ‘Re-imaginging Rock Art in Southern Africa’
• Stephen Townley Bassett: Saving African Cave Art - Painted Dog Gallery

Dr. Alan Garfinkel

• avram1952@yahoo.com
• Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website
• Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon

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In this episode, Alan is joined by visual artist Shefa Salem al‑Baraesi, a Benghazi‑based creator whose oil paintings re‑imagine Libya’s archaeological heritage—like the inverted‑figure boat scene from the Acacus cave art—and ancient rituals such as the Kaska dance. Through her realistic, large‑scale works, Shefa transforms written history and myth into evocative visual narratives that resonate with everyday Libyans. Her exhibitions, I Am Libya and Ethnolibya, bring these ancestral images forward as a living, shared national memory.

For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/151

• Artist - shefa salem
• EXHIBITIONS - shefa salem
• Artists Exploring Libya's History, Cultural Resilience and Rebirth
• Shefa Salem: a Libyan artist, inspired by the history of her country
• ‘All my work is Libya’: Five emerging Libyan artists to watch

Dr. Alan Garfinkel

• avram1952@yahoo.com
• Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website
• Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
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In this episode, Alan is joined by Dr Gerard O’Regan, a Māori archaeologist and rock art specialist dedicated to preserving the ancient artworks of Aotearoa. With over three decades of research and fieldwork, Gerard shares how these powerful images—painted with natural pigments like red ochre and charcoal—offer a glimpse into early Māori life, belief, and identity.

From the limestone shelters of the South Island to emerging discoveries in the North, Gerard’s work weaves together archaeology, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural stewardship, protecting a fragile visual legacy through Māori-led conservation and community partnerships.

For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/150

• The Rock Art Network - Gerard O’Regan
• Dating South Island Māori rock art: Pigment and pitfalls
• Episode 6 | Māori rock art | Aotearoa Unearthed

Dr. Alan Garfinkel

• avram1952@yahoo.com
• Dr. Alan Garfinkel’s Website
• Support Dr. Garfinkel on Patreon

• 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

• Motion

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