Content warning: This episode contains references to animal slaughter, antisemitism, and injury to children. Listener discretion is advised.

Joe and Ollie continue their deep-dive into the history of pigs with Professor Dolly Jørgensen (University of Stavanger, Norway). This time, we explore the symbolism of pigs: from their significance in our myths and religious texts, to their use as a foil for thinking through what it is to be human.

Delve deeper into Dolly's work in her book, The Medieval Pig: https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837651689/the-medieval-pig/

See visuals from our discussion with Dolly in Dolly's Bluesky thread: https://bsky.app/profile/dollyjorgensen.bsky.social/post/3lsjukzwkzk2s

This episode contains audio from Epidemic Sound.

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Absolute Units is the official podcast of The Museum of English Rural Life. This series is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England. Theme song by Tai Dawson.

Co-hosts: Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan
Producer: Joe Vaughan

• Support our work: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/visit-us/donate/
• Shop merch: https://merl-shop.co.uk/shop/absolute-unit.html
• Complete our podcast survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73CQBG8. Help shape the future of Absolute Units!

Content warning: This episode contains references to animal slaughter and blood. Listener discretion is advised.

In medieval England, all roads led to pigs. They lived side-by-side with humans, and were a common sight in daily life.

In this episode, Ollie and Joe speak to historian Dolly Jørgensen (Professor of History at University of Stavanger, Norway) about what it was like to live with pigs in medieval England: from pigs' place in homes and food systems, to the challenges required to maintain pig populations.

We'll be following up with Dolly in two weeks' time for another episode, exploring the symbolism of pigs, and what they have represented historically and today.

Delve deeper into Dolly's work in her most recent book, The Medieval Pig: https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837651689/the-medieval-pig/

See visuals from our discussion in Dolly's Bluesky thread: https://bsky.app/profile/dollyjorgensen.bsky.social/post/3lsjukzwkzk2s

This podcast contains audio from Epidemic Sound, plus freesound_community via Pixabay.

---

Absolute Units is the official podcast of The Museum of English Rural Life. This series is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England. Theme song by Tai Dawson.

Co-hosts: Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan
Producer: Joe Vaughan

• Support our work: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/visit-us/donate/
• Shop merch: https://merl-shop.co.uk/shop/absolute-unit.html
• Complete our podcast survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73CQBG8. Help shape the future of Absolute Units!

Episode 4 marked the end of our pilot series, produced by a group of extremely talented students from the University of Reading. Now, we're at the wheel planning future episodes. The tractor wheel of our mind and our dreams.

In the meantime: for a shorter bonus adventure, join hosts Dr Ollie Douglas (curator) and Joe Vaughan (social media manager) as they reflect on the podcast to date. We talk about what we've learned, what we've loved, and what we're looking forward to for the future. Plus, follow us down some random tangents like the US-UK trade deal, our memories of meeting up for a socially-distanced coffee in Ollie's garden, and the correct terminology to describe sharing your hog on the Internet.

References:

• Katrina Navickas' Open Spaces Society map
• Guy Shrubsole with a cool map at The MERL
• The Medieval Pig, by Dolly Jørgensen

---

Absolute Units is the official podcast of The Museum of English Rural Life. This series is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England. Theme song by Tai Dawson.

Co-hosts: Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan
Producer: Joe Vaughan

• Support our work: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/visit-us/donate/
• Shop merch: https://merl-shop.co.uk/shop/absolute-unit.html
• Complete our podcast survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/73CQBG8. Help shape the future of Absolute Units!