Beyond the 50-Year Rule

About Beyond the 50-Year Rule

Welcome to the Utah Archaeology Podcast, brought to you by the Utah State Historic Preservation Office. Join us every month as we explore the rich history and prehistory of this fascinating western state. From ancient cultures and unexpected artifact finds to forgotten stories and modern preservation science, we dig into everything archaeology across the Beehive State. New episodes drop monthly. Hit subscribe and unearth Utah’s past with us!

Publisher

Utah State Historic Preservation Office

Category

education · history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Feb 2025

Latest episode

25 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Sept 2026

   How Fire Archaeologists Uncovered a Lost Piece of the Fremont Expedition

   What happens when wildland fuel management meets 19th-century history in the middle of a sagebrush field? In this episode, new hosts Emma and Chris sit down with US Wildland Fire Service archaeologists Emily Swett and Roy Plank to discuss an extraordinary find just off I-15 near Parowan, Utah. While conducting routine site assessments to protect habitat and manage wildfire risks, field crews stumbled across a unmarked, weathered red sandstone headstone, hidden in plain sight for over 170 years. Join the team as they piece together historical journals, rule out local legends, and uncover the tragic story of Oliver Fuller, a cartographer on John C. Fremont’s ill-fated fifth expedition in the winter of 1854. Discover how modern land management agencies collaborate to protect fragile cultural resources, how ground-penetrating radar is helping safeguard the site today, and how you can practice respectful visitation when exploring public lands.

2. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Who Were the Fremont? Decoding Utah’s Ancient Culture

   The Utah Archaeology Podcast welcomes its new host, Chris Merritt! Chris is the State Historic Preservation Officer for Utah and an archaeologist by training. In this season's inaugural episode, Chris sits down with archaeologist Elizabeth Hora to unpack the enduring mystery and vibrant legacy of Utah’s Fremont culture. Together, they explore the realities behind the Fremont name, the science of recreating ancient ochre pigments, and what prehistoric rock writing reveals about territorial life in the Uinta Basin.

3. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Pages of the Past: The Archaeology of Rare Books

   Exploring books as physical artifacts, this episode features Lyuba Basin, Rare Books Librarian at the University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library, as she uncovers the history behind the overland trail guides that shaped early Utah. The conversation delves into the delicate science of preservation, offering practical advice for anyone looking to safeguard their own family treasures.

Who has been a guest on Beyond the 50-Year Rule

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Emily Utt
• Joseph Nielson
• Claire Dean
• Nate Thomas
• Chris Delany

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

17

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Beyond the 50-Year Rule

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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