The 5 Best YouTube Channels about Archaeology and Human Evolution

By: Greg Schmalzel

I'm coming up on one year since I started my own YouTube channel, Evolve.2, and so I wanted to share some of my favorite YouTubers who deeply inspired the creation and direction of my channel. Plus a bonus channel at the end.

These five YouTube channels truly bring the ancient world to life. They allow us to experience prehistoric times as closely as possible in our modern world. The number of “Online Archaeology” creators is expanding exponentially, but if you're looking for the best of the best, you’ve come to the right place. If you're a fan of what I do and want to explore some other channels making phenomenal content related to archaeology, anthropology, and the like, then go subscribe to them too!

#1: North02

Possibly the biggest inspiration for my own channel, North02 has been making well-researched, documentary-style videos since 2018. His channel is truly global, exploring everything from extinct animals, to ancient human species, to the copper culture of North America. Each video is backed by peer-reviewed articles and/or books written by experts in their respective fields. I can’t give this channel enough praise!

One of the highlights of North02 has to be his “Ancient Human” series, where he presents extensive research into the various human species that existed before us. So far the catalogue consists of the following species:

• Homo habilis
• Homo erectus
• Homo antecessor
• Homo naledi
• Homo heidelbergensis
• Homo floresiensis
• Denisovans
• Neanderthals

I’m sure more installments are to come, but with an episode on Neanderthals over 3-hours long, there is no shortage of binge-worthy content here. Get ready for some deep dives! 

#2: Stefan Milo

Hands down, one of the best channels for accessible, well-researched videos on prehistory and human evolution. Stefan Milo has a knack for explaining scientific concepts in a way that’s both entertaining and easy to understand. He holds a B.A. in Archaeology and Anthropology which has surely influenced his "3 golden rules" for his channel: 

1. Use only academic sources for my videos. 
2. List all my sources so people can read and discuss the evidence for themselves. 
3. Try explicitly mentioning when I'm giving my personal opinion. 

Something Stefan does exceptionally well, is building a personal connection between the viewer and the individual (or species) he’s discussing. A great example of this is his “Life & Death in Prehistory” series. Here, he explores what it was like to be these ancient humans, eliciting powerful and vivid imagery of their most intimate experiences. From birth to death, these people had full lives and experienced emotions probably not too dissimilar from ours. Go give Stefan’s channel a watch if you want that interpersonal connection to your ancient ancestors.

#3: Ancient Americas

If you are especially interested in the prehistory of North, Central, and South America, look no further than Ancient Americas. Pete, the host of this channel, presents the most extensive and comprehensive documentaries on everything from the origins of people in North America to the rise and fall of the Maya Civilization. 

According to his bio:

“Pete is an average guy in the midwestern United States. He's not a professional archaeologist nor historian but he's always been fascinated by history and loves sharing what he learns.”

All I’ll say is don’t underestimate this “average guy.” Although he may not conduct primary research professionally, the man knows what he is talking about and has the ability to boil down the complexity of pre-Columbian America into digestible documentaries. 

#4: Nathanael Fosaaen

Unlike a lot of other "online archaeologists" (not disparaging anyone!), Nathanael Fosaan actually walks the walk. Not only does he hold an M.A. in Anthropology, but he's actually a professional archaeologist. His focus is on the eastern woodlands of the United States and is a specialist in zooarchaeology, which is the study of animal remains within archaeological contexts. You can read his master’s thesis here, where he explores the faunal assemblage of a cave site located in Northwest Arkansas.

As for his YouTube channel, I highly recommend checking out his videos on Native American Monuments. His podcast with Dr. Seth Grooms from Appalachian State University was enlightening, to say the least. They discuss the mound complex of Poverty Point, how it was constructed by Archaic hunter-gatherers, and its significance for understanding the cultural complexity of prehistoric Americans.

As a working archaeologist myself, I appreciate someone else with real-life field experience contributing to the growing world of archaeology on YouTube. It’s one thing to present the work of others, which certainly has its place and I do so myself, but it is another to educate the public with years of fieldwork behind you. Digging holes all day can be physically brutal work, and Nathanael does it so you don’t have to!

#5: ArchaeoEd Podcast

Another figure with years of archaeological field experience making his way into the YouTube and social media world is Dr. Ed Barnhart. I found him through his appearance on the Lex Fridman Podcast, and have been following his work ever since, even citing him in my video on Ancient American Architecture. If you’re not familiar, Barnhadt is a professional archaeologist whose expertise is in the Maya Civilization. He led the Palenque Mapping Project, which uncovered and documented hundreds of previously unknown structures associated with the ancient Maya city of Palenque.

My favorite part of ArchaeoEd, his YouTube channel, is his episodes diving into the Mapping Project itself. His overview of the techniques, survey methods, and discoveries associated with the project is fascinating. But more than that, he shares the behind-the-scenes tales of his explorations. His Indiana Jones-esque adventures consist of run-ins with deadly snakes and hostile locals. If you really want to know what it's like to be an archaeologist working in the jungles of Central and South America, subscribing to ArchaeoEd is a non-negotiable!

Bonus Channel: Caden Howlett

Caden Howlett is the curve ball on this list. His channel isn't focused on archaeology or human evolution - it's a geoscience channel. He’s a field geologist documenting his life as a PhD student at the University of Arizona. He studies how geological landscapes change over vast periods of time, and his enthusiasm for his work is contagious. 

His channel has expanded my interests beyond humanity and into the physical sciences. I now have a deep interest in the evolution of the earth's surface, and how that influences our interpretations of our own evolution. It’s a relatively small channel and deserves so many more subscribers, so go make it happen. It’s a hidden gem! 

Conclusion

Each of these creators brings something unique to the table, making archaeology, human evolution, and even geoscience more accessible, engaging, and well-researched. If you’re hungry for more knowledge about our species' past, go spam their videos with likes, comments and subscriptions!