The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode 718: Digging Up the Details | Amanda Hope Haley, Stones That Speak

Recorded: February 22, 2026 | Host: Ginny Yurich (1000 Hours Outside) | Guest: Amanda Hope Haley (archaeologist, author of "Stones Still Speak")

Overview

This episode invites listeners into the world of biblical archaeology, exploring how the past—literally unearthed, layer by layer—can challenge cherished assumptions, illuminate ancient texts, and inspire wonder about both history and faith. Host Ginny Yurich welcomes real-life archaeologist and author Amanda Hope Haley for an honest, lively, and deeply educational conversation about hands-on curiosity, popular Bible stories, and how “stones still speak” to us today. Blending personal stories, myth-busting facts, and practical takeaways, the discussion encourages listeners of all ages to “dig” deeper—both in backyard dirt and in cherished narratives.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Becoming an Archaeologist & Early Inspirations

• Amanda’s First Dig (01:00–03:30)
  • Amanda shares her earliest encounter with archaeology in 6th grade, inspired by the satirical book Motel of Mysteries.
  • “I have this photograph of me that a teacher took doing my first dig [...] She set up little boxes for us and put layers in there. And so sixth grade, I was first introduced to it, and I enjoyed it, it was fun.” – Amanda (01:09)
  • She credits her dad’s love of history and her own curiosity for pursuing this unusual field.
• Academic Journey (03:30–04:40)
  • Details her journey from Rhodes College to Harvard Divinity School, mentorship under Larry Steger, and first “real” dig at Ashkelon, Israel.

Innate Human Urge to Dig & Discover

• Kids Love to Dig (05:00–06:57)
  • Ginny notes children’s instinct to dig, bury, and uncover objects, linking this impulse to the foundation of archaeological work.
  • “There is some sort of, like, human instinct to dig. I love that you have continued that—what a cool thing to go and try and find stuff.” – Ginny (06:46)

Biblical Archaeology: Myths, Realities, and Mindset

"Have They Found Noah's Ark?" (07:00–10:50)

• Debunking a Common Myth
  • Amanda explains why discovering Noah’s Ark is near impossible, touching on practical, historical, and geological reasons.
  • “Why on earth would Noah or any of his descendants have consciously chosen not to reuse [the Ark]? [...] When you get fixated on that one thing, sometimes objectivity sort of goes out the window a little bit.” – Amanda (08:39)
  • She emphasizes that faith does not require such artifacts for validation.

Stones as Memory & Message (11:52–19:11)

• "Stones Still Speak": Ancient Practices and Modern Echoes

  • Discussion of how erecting stones (standing stones, stone stacks) served as memorials, signposts, and storytelling devices in the ancient world.
  • “In that particular instance, it’s a signpost. It’s a marker… a memorial to the conversation they had there, you know, so that every time people can go, when people walk by there for a while… they can go, OK, hey, this is where our ancestors got together and had this… peace summit.” – Amanda (13:27)
  • The universality of stone markers: from the Middle East to Stonehenge to Canada’s inukshuk.

• Tangible Reminders Before Written Language

  • Stones' durability made them ideal for message-bearing in preliterate societies, evolving eventually into stelae and tombstones.

Re-examining Familiar Narratives

Unlearning and Relearning Bible Stories (22:53–33:29)

• Mary Magdalene: Not a Prostitute

  • Amanda recounts the pivotal classroom moment when she discovered the story of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute is unbiblical, stemming from Pope Gregory’s conflation and centuries of tradition and art.
  • “Here are at least three generations of women in my family who love the Bible… and we all firmly believe the Bible says something that the Bible doesn’t say.” – Amanda (25:06)
  • Archaeology at Magdala reveals the sophistication and wealth of Mary Magdalene’s hometown, challenging inherited assumptions.

• Scholarly Challenge vs. Faith

  • “Oftentimes what I find is when, say, secular scholarship disagrees with what the Church has said, it’s not disagreeing with the Bible. It’s disagreeing with what the Church has said, what men and women have said, the stories we’ve told.” – Amanda (32:48)

Demystifying Joseph’s "Coat of Many Colors" (33:29–37:08)

• Linguistic & Cultural Insights
  • The famous garment may have been richly ornamented or long-sleeved—not necessarily “Technicolor.”
  • “What’s probably being described is a long, long-sleeved garment… what is being described is a garment that would have been extremely costly.” – Amanda (34:35)
• Timeless Message
  • The narrative’s enduring lesson: maintaining faith in unfamiliar places, with or without the familiar trappings of tradition.
  • “Joseph teaches us that the key to thriving in another culture, no matter how we got there, is faith in God.” – Ginny (37:47, quoting Amanda’s book)

On Astronomy & Science as Open Exploration (46:08–49:49)

• James Webb Telescope & “Looking Back in Time”
  • Amanda explains with enthusiasm how all forms of exploration—cosmic or terrestrial—are about curiosity, evolving data, and humility in the face of what we don’t know.
  • “No science is ever settled so long as exploration is still occurring.” – Ginny (49:42, referencing Amanda)

The Practical Art & Science of Digging (51:11–57:35)

• Choosing Where to Dig: Not a Wild Guess
  • Basics of archaeological methods: why “tells” (man-made mounds) exist, and how tech like ground-penetrating radar makes digs precise rather than random.
  • “We’re not super creative. We just name things what they are. So almost everything in Israel is Tell-something-or-other… It just means mound.” – Amanda (51:52)
  • Cutting-edge advances: UV light, radar, sonar, lidar.

Personal Stories & Memorable Moments

Amish Family Connections (40:38–45:44)

• Amanda shares the dramatic story of her husband’s grandmother leaving the Amish community, being “rescued” for more education, and eventually reconciling after decades of being shunned.
  • “She threatened them: I am going to hug each and every one of you until you tell me where my father is. [...] She goes and hugs him, and he’s like, OK, OK, I’ll tell you where he is!” – Amanda (44:21)

Astronomy with Dad: A Childhood Memory (59:09)

• Favorite outdoor memory: stargazing with her father, learning constellations and sharing quiet awe under the night sky.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “There is some sort of, like, human instinct to dig.” – Ginny (06:47)
• “Archaeology does not exist to prove the Bible. Archaeology helps us understand the scripture better… It’s the setting.” – Amanda (57:47)
• “No science is ever settled so long as exploration is still occurring.” – Ginny (49:42, referencing Amanda)
• “When, say, secular scholarship disagrees with what the Church has said, it’s not disagreeing with the Bible, it’s disagreeing with… stories we’ve told.” – Amanda (32:48)

Major Segments & Timestamps

• Amanda’s Journey into Archaeology – 00:41–05:54
• Human Instinct to Dig/Childhood Curiosity – 05:00–06:57
• “Did They Find Noah’s Ark?” Why Not – 07:00–10:50
• The Power and Purpose of Stacked Stones – 11:54–19:12
• Demystifying Mary Magdalene’s Story – 23:39–33:29
• Joseph’s “Coat” and the Message of Faith in Exile – 33:29–37:58
• Family, Amish Reconciliation Tale – 40:38–45:44
• Astronomy and Archaeology—Science as Exploration – 46:09–51:11
• How Sites are Chosen: Science & Archaeology Today – 51:11–57:35
• Amanda’s Childhood Memory: Stargazing with Dad – 59:09–59:49

Additional Resources

• Amanda Hope Haley’s Books:
  • Stones Still Speak: How Biblical Archaeology Illuminates the Stories You Thought You Knew
  • Copper Finds a Scroll, Copper Finds a Manger (children’s books)
• Podcast: The Red Haired Archaeologist

Tone & Takeaways

This episode is warm, open, and accessible—inviting listeners not only to question what they've been taught, but to savor the adventure of active discovery, whether outdoors, in faith, or in the annals of history. Amanda’s insights bring ancient stories to life and model how curiosity, humility, and a love of learning can enrich both belief and understanding.