Latest Posts

The Kingdoms of Korea

August 13, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Kingdoms of Korea
Season 2, Episode 6: The Kingdoms of Korea
Heaven Lake atop Baekdu Mountain, located in modern-day North Korea, where the mythical founder of Gojoseon was born. Source: Bdpmax / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
The Korean Peninsula during the early Han Dynasty. Source: Historiographer at the English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
After the 108 BCE conquest of Gojoseon. The southernmost purple commandery is Lelang, which would later be divided and Daifung Commandery created. Source: Xakyntos / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 2

August 10, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Mandate of Heaven, Part 2
A Map of the Zhou states during the Warring States Period. Source: Philg88 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A portion of the famous Terracotta Army buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The horses behind the soldiers are pulling a chariot which did not survive excavation. Source: Ovedc / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
The figures of the Terracotta Army were originally painted using locally available pigments. This recreation gives some idea what they may have looked like shortly after they were finished. Source: Charlie / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A map of the Han Dynasty’s expansion throughout its history. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
This map shows the Han Dynasty and its western protectorates in the wider theater of East and Central Asia. Public Domain.
A mural painting on the wall of a tomb dating to the later Eastern Han Dynasty period. Public Domain.

The Mandate of Heaven, Part 1

August 6, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Mandate of Heaven, Part 1
A jade ornament of a plumed bird dating to around 1200 BCE, near the end of Shang Dynasty rule. Source: Vassil / CC0
A Map of the approximate territory claimed by the Zhou Dynasty. Note the general proximity to the Korean Peninsula. Source: Territories_of_Dynasties_in_China.gif: Ian Kiu / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A map of the Zhou states around the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period. Source: SY / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A Temple of Confucius in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, originally built in 1684 CE, reconstructed in 1976 CE. Though many temples and statues are dedicated to the person of Kong-fuzi, none were built in his lifetime. Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells

August 3, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on Bronze, Iron, Metallurgy, and Bells
Han Dynasty Era bronze scale armor. Source: Gary Lee Todd / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A bronze mirror from the Eastern Han Dynasty Period. The mirror’s face is polished and reflective, while the back displays this impressive pattern. Public Domain.
Close-up of a Han ceramic model featuring crossbow-wielding soldiers in the guard tower. Source: PericlesofAthens / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A Dotaku bell from the Yayoi. I love this image because you can clearly see some of the artwork in the panels of the bell. Animals, birds, and other images probably had distinct meaning for the Yayoi people which is lost to us today. Public Domain.
A Dotaku featuring some stylish swirls on its outer edge. Source: I, Sailko / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

From Villages to Kingdoms

July 30, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on From Villages to Kingdoms
Season 2, Episode 2: From Villages to Kingdoms
Bronze spearheads from Kyushu dating to the 1-2c CE. Source: I, PHGCOM / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
A Dotaku bell unearthed in Shizuoka prefecture, which is located just to the east of Kansai. Clusters of these bells buried on hilltops throughout central Honshu may have been part of a ritual to ratify alliances between clans. Source: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Bronze swords excavated from the Yoshinogari site. Katanas are still hundreds of years away, but these would certainly get the job done. Source: Pekachu / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

The Yayoi Way

July 27, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 2, Yayoi Comments Off on The Yayoi Way
Season 2, Episode 1: The Yayoi Way
Burial Jars from the Yoshinogari Site. Public Domain.
A stone knife from the Yayoi period on display at the Nagoya City Miharashidai Archaeological Museum. Source: KKPCW / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Check out the webpage of the Yoshinogari Site for more pictures and history!

Bonus Episode: Dinosaurs of Japan

July 6, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 1 Comments Off on Bonus Episode: Dinosaurs of Japan
The Nipponosaurus Skeleton. Note the duck bill and Lambeosaurine crest atop its noggin. Attrib.: Momotarou2012 / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Paleoartist Hattori Masato’s reconstruction of Kamuysaurus, seen here exhibiting both two-legged and four-legged movement. Attrib.: Art by Masato Hattori, published by Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, Tomohiro Nishimura, Ryuji Takasaki, Kentaro Chiba, Anthony R. Fiorillo, Kohei Tanaka, Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig, Tamaki Sato & Kazuhiko Sakurai / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Kamuysaurus compared to a human. Hi there, big fella! Image Public Domain
A skeleton of a Fukuisaurus. Note the almost ceratopsian skull which looks, to me, a bit like a rat. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A reconstruction of Fuikuiraptor (left) facing off against Fukuisaurus (right). Attrib.: 藤谷良秀(Yoshihide Fujitani)
A reconstruction of Fukuititan, still pretty big for being on the small side of the titanosaur family! Attrib.: 藤谷良秀(Yoshihide Fujitani)
Fukuivenator Skeleton, with scale model reconstruction. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
Paleoartist Tamura Nobu’s reconstruction of Fukuivenator, feathers and all. Attrib.: Nobu Tamura email:nobu.tamura@yahoo.com http://spinops.blogspot.com/ http://paleoexhibit.blogspot.com/ / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
The elusive Fukuiraptor in all of his ambiguous glory! Its skull is strikingly Tyrannosaurid, and yet its teeth are Carchodontosaurid. Attrib.: Titomaurer / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

This will probably be the last episode on Dinosaurs I ever make but it was worth it. No ragrets.

The Paleolithic Hoax

July 2, 2020 justin-david-hebert Season 1 Comments Off on The Paleolithic Hoax

I don’t really have any interesting photos or pithy captions for this episode. It’s unfortunate how far some people will go to elevate their own fame over the common good. History belongs to its people, and to mislead those people intentionally is a terrible crime. It is also tragic how these events led to the untimely death of a legitimate researcher who was likely innocent of the charges laid against him.

Suicide is not something I take lightly. It causes untold misery, sadness, and confusion for the victim’s loved ones, and if you are struggling with thoughts of harming yourself, please seek help. You are not alone.

Visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (US): 1-800-273-8255

The Advent of the Yayoi

June 29, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on The Advent of the Yayoi
The reconstructed Longhouse of the Sannai-Maruyama site, which was home to one group of Jomon people for hundreds of years. Attrib.: Diego Molla / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
A reconstructed pit dwelling at Sannai-Maruyama, this one made mostly from bark. Attrib.: I, Perezoso / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
More pit-dwellings from Sannai-Maruyama. I think the one in the foreground looks kind of like a Hobbit Hole because I am a nerd. Attrib.: 663highland / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
From the Yoshinogari site, a reconstructed elevated storehouse, longhouse, and several pit dwellings. These are Yayoi Period structures, and it might seem like they are not very different than the Jomon dwellings. We’ll discuss why that is next season…
Attrib.: Suicasmo / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A watchtower from the Yoshinogari Site, as well as a palisade. Various defensive structures were built during the latter part of the Yayoi period. Image is Public Domain.

Meanwhile in China and Korea

June 25, 2020 justin-david-hebert Jōmon, Season 1 Comments Off on Meanwhile in China and Korea
A bone flute excavated from a Jiahu site Attrib.: Cangminzho / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A map of the Shang Dynasty, Public Domain
A good example of Jeulmun Pottery. While simpler in construction than its Jomon counterparts, its design and texture are still very complex. Attrib.: Ismoon (talk) 08:14, 18 June 2018 (UTC) / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
A larger example of a Jeulmun Pot. Here you can more clearly see the “comb marks” near the rim that give the aesthetic its name. Attrib.: Asfreeas at Korean Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)