This research examines ancient Aramaic incantation bowls used to ward off demons, revealing how religious practices in late antiquity crossed Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian boundaries. By analyzing hundreds of artifacts and tracing their modern illicit trade, the study highlights both historical interconnectedness and contemporary ethical challenges in studying looted cultural heritage.

The speaker’s archaeological research in Peru reveals that the Moche incorporated Algarrobo trees into human-sacrifice rituals, possibly viewing the tree as an ancestor. Linguistic evidence, myth, and burial patterns suggest deep spiritual ties between people, trees, and memory. The work challenges modern assumptions and reconstructs ancient worldviews.