Science writer <a href="https://samkean.com/">Sam Kean</a> joins Science Quickly to explore the hands-on world of experimental archaeology—where researchers don’t just study the past; they rebuild it. From launching medieval catapults to performing ancient brain surgery with stone tools, Kean shares his firsthand experiences with re-creating the techniques and technologies of long-lost civilizations. 
His latest book, <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/sam-kean/dinner-with-king-tut/9780316496544/">Dinner with King Tut</a>, dives deep into these wild experiments and the things they have revealed about how our ancestors lived, worked and ate.

Recommended reading:
<a href="http://scientificamerican.com/article/archaeologists-recreate-prehistoric-tools-to-build-a-canoe-for-140-mile/">Scientists Used Prehistoric Tools to Build a Canoe, Then Paddled Across 140 Miles from Taiwan to Japan</a>
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/denmark-let-amateurs-dig-for-treasure-and-it-paid-off/">Denmark’s Radical Archaeology Experiment Is Paying Off in Gold and Knowledge</a>
<a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/sam-kean/dinner-with-king-tut/9780316496551/?lens=little-brown">Dinner with King Tut, by Sam Kean; Little, Brown, 2025</a>
<a href="https://samkean.com/">Sam Kean’s website</a>

Join the #SciAmInTheWild photography challenge for a chance to win a one-year Unlimited subscription to Scientific American—plus an exclusive bundle of gadgets and gear to level up your next adventure. <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/anniversary-contest-official-rules/">See the rules for entry here</a>.

Email us at <a href="mailto:sciencequickly@sciam.com">sciencequickly@sciam.com</a> if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
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Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check the show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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