We're closing out the year with a cozy episode about heartwarming things in the archaeological record. That's right, we're just going to find examples of nice things that people did and made in the past and tell you all about them. It's a little year's-end treat for us all. There's some discussion of Dads Being Dads, some loud opinions from Anna's neighbor's dog, and an all around good time. Start your own podcast with 30% off Zencastr for the first 3 months with The Dirt! Click anywhere on this paragraph. [https://zencastr.com/pricing?coupon=DIRT&fpr=qu6pw] Links * Stone-age toddlers had art lessons, study says (The Guardian) [https://www.theguardian.com/science/2011/sep/30/stone-age-toddlers-art-lessons] * Cat Left a Pawprint in a 2,000-Year-Old Roman Roof Tile (Smithsonian) [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cat-left-pawprint-2000-year-old-roman-roof-tile-180963556/] * 2000-Year-Old Paw Print Proves Cats Never Cared About Your Stuff (Bored Panda) [https://www.boredpanda.com/clay-paw-print-cat-roman-tile-gloucestershire/?utm_campaign=organic&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google] * Curious Cat Walks Over Medieval Manuscript (National Geographic) [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/130326-animals-medieval-manuscript-books-cats-history] * On Lebanon border, salvage op rappels 2,000-year-old vessels down sheer cliff (Times of Israel) [https://www.timesofisrael.com/on-lebanon-border-salvage-op-rappels-2000-year-old-vessels-down-sheer-cliff/] * Rembrandt masterpiece thought lost is found after falling off wall (CNN) [https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lost-rembrandt-italy-restored-scli-intl/index.html] * For a Surprisingly Long Time, Humans Have Kept Mementos of Dead Loved Ones (ScienceAlert)) [https://www.sciencealert.com/we-might-have-been-keeping-mementos-of-loved-ones-for-thousands-of-years] * Tradition of keeping mementos in memory of loved ones dates back at least 2,000 years, study shows (Science Daily) [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210621202400.htm] * Digging In The Dirt Really Does Make People Happier (Forbes) [https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauratenenbaum/2020/01/29/digging-in-the-dirt-really-does-make-people-happier/?sh=998fbdc31e1c] * These archaeologists helped quell a COVID surge in Madagascar (Nature) [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01933-9] * Amazing Artefacts: The Amber Bear Of Slupsk (Digventures) [https://digventures.com/2018/01/amazing-artefacts-the-amber-bear-of-slupsk/] * Faience aryballos (oil flask) in the form of a hedgehog (Met Museum) [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254264] * The Tell Asmar Sculpture Hoard of Prayerful People (ThoughtCo) [https://www.thoughtco.com/tell-asmar-sculpture-hoard-169594] * Sharjah Archaeology Museum (Sharjah Museums Authority) [https://www.sharjahmuseums.ae/en-US/Museums/Sharjah-Archaeology-Museum#group=collection&photo=id-1] Contact * Email the Dirt Podcast: thedirtpodcast@gmail.com ArchPodNet * APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com [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 * Tee Public Store [https://www.teepublic.com/stores/archaeology-podcast-network?ref_id=5724] Affiliates * Wildnote [http://www.wildnoteapp.com/]