On today’s show, Chris Webster joins Dr. Alan Garfinkel to deconstruct a fascinating rock drawing panel at Portuguese Bench near Little Lake in western California. There is so much going on with this panel that they only discuss a few of the more prominent elements and possible a few that you might not notice. Follow along by downloading the images and figure out what you can see and what you think it means.

For a rough transcript head over to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/rockart/153

Dr. Alan Garfinkel

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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natural materials like ochre, charcoal, and egg shell, Stephen reconstructs ancient paintings in the same way they were originally made—millimeter by millimeter.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

• APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com
• APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet
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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
• 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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