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I talk to Susan Greaney of English Heritage about Bernard Cornwell's epic novel about Stonehenge. Despite noticing some chronological finessing, and railing against the sexism of the late Neolithic as portrayed by the author, we discuss how the imaginative storytelling allows us to think about the why behind the building of this iconic monument.

The Ravens is a children's book about the first Roman invasion in 55 B.C. set around Hertfordshire and particularly the hillfort now known as Ravensburgh Castle. It was written by the excavator himself, James Dyer, who was also a schoolteacher. My guest, Francis Pryor, dug with the late James Dyer on this very site and joins me to share his memories of this early dig and his subsequent experience of digging up roundhouses, among other things. LinksThe Ravens by James DyerFrancis Pryor's BlogContactKim Biddulph: @kimbiddulph and @schprehistoryFrancis Pryor on Twitter: @pryorfrancisMusic provided by Nigel Shaw. The track is "Yew" from Dartmoor Roundhouse by Seventh Wave Music at http://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/.Kim Biddulph Director, Schools Prehistory, www.schoolsprehistory.co.uk

The Gathering Night, by Margaret ElphinstoneI go back to the Mesolithic in earnest in this episode and talk to Caroline Wickham-Jones and Spencer Carter about a wonderful tale that is part prehistorical fiction, part family saga, part whodunnit, the Gathering Night by Margaret Elphinstone. We also talk about the relative impact of natural disasters in prehistory. LinksThe Gathering NightCaroline Wickham-Jones' websiteSpencer Carter's WebsiteSpencer Carter's Twitter: @microburinContactKim Biddulph: @kimbiddulph and @schprehistoryMusic provided by Nigel Shaw. The track is "Yew" from Dartmoor Roundhouse by Seventh Wave Music at http://www.seventhwavemusic.co.uk/.Kim Biddulph Director, Schools Prehistory, www.schoolsprehistory.co.uk

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M AuelWhat you need when discussing Clan of the Cave Bear are two Neanderthal experts, which is what I got – Rebecca Wragg Sykes of Bordeaux University and Matthew Pope of UCL, London. The fascinating subject of Neanderthal/Homo sapiens relations occupied us at length, when we weren't being diverted by thoughts of an American mini-series of the book produced by Ron Howard. Book DetailsClan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel, published in 1980 by Crown Publishing Group.http://www.jeanauel.com/books.php Contact detailsRebecca Wragg Sykes - @lemoustier on Twitter and blog at therocksremain.orgMatthew Pope – matt.pope@ucl.ac.uk and on Twitter at @matthewpope

My guests are Matt Ritchie, Forestry Commission Scotland's archaeologist, Donald Henson, studying for a PhD in Public Perceptions of the Mesolithic at York University, and James Dilley of Ancient Craft and about to embark on a PhD as well. matt quickly disabuses me of the notion that Wolf Brother is set in the Scottish Mesolithic (which is the only reason I had him on in the first place) and then we chat about the wondrous period of hunter-gatherers, wildwoods, and magic in the forest. DOWNLOAD EPISODE 2 HERE.Book DetailsWolf Brother by Michelle Paver, published in 2005 by Orion Books.Mezolith by Ben Haggarty, published in 2010 by Random House. Click on the photo! (

I talk to Tristan Boyle, host of the Anarchaeologist Podcast and the instigator of my podcasting career, and get him to care about stories in archaeology. The sage words of Game of Thrones author, George R. R. Martin are invoked, and, we inquire quite why Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age, is the only one to think of having soft trousers. Plus a bit of Aesop's Fables thrown in for good measure. DOWLOAD EPISODE 1 HEREBook Details:Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age by Raymond Briggs, published in 2001 by Red Fox.The Orchard Book of Aesop's Fables by Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark, published in 2004 by Orchard Books.Guest Contacts:Tristan Boyle: @anarchaeologist on TwitterBe sure to rate and subscribe here or on iTunes! Ratings help the podcast get noticed so more can enjoy. Thanks!