Smart News History & Archaeology

New Research

“Arming the Rebels” Has Pretty Much Never Worked

Guns and training, but no on-the-ground support, doesn't amount to much

Cool Finds

"Vampire Grave" in Bulgaria Holds a Skeleton With a Stake Through Its Heart

The skeleton likely fell victim to vampire hysteria that gripped Eastern Europe until relatively recently

X-ray technology was invented in 1985 by Wilhelm Röntgen. This early image, along with others set to be on the block, were taken just a year later.

Cool Finds

Amazing Artifacts From the History of Science Are Going Up for Auction

Now if only we all had infinite money

Photograph of Robert E Lee's Arlington house taken in 1861

Cool Finds

Rare Photo of Robert E. Lee's Slave Acquired by National Park Service

The photograph of Selina Gray and her children sold on eBay for $700

One of the approximately 14,000 year old coprolites found at Paisley Caves

Cool Finds

Paisley Caves Added to National Register Of Historic Places

One of the earliest sites of evidence for human occupation of North America

Replicas of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria sail Past Cape Canaveral in 1992

Cool Finds

Shipwreck Probably Not Santa Maria

Shipwreck found off the coast of Haiti is probably not Santa Maria

Anna S. Harrington portrayed Aunt Jemima during promotional events in the 1930s and '40s. Her great-grandsons say she helped develop the brand's self-rising pancake mix recipe.

Trending Today

In 2014, Descendants of Woman Who Played Aunt Jemima Sued Quaker Oats

The case, which was later dismissed by a judge, accused the company of failing to pay royalties to Anna S. Harrington

Jitterbugging in a juke joint, Saturday evening, outside Clarksdale, Mississippi, 1939

Cool Finds

See Depression-Era Photos from Your Hometown

Thousands of images collected to document rural life from 1934 to 1944 are available to peruse online through an interactive project

The ruins of Tokat Castle in northern Turkey.

Cool Finds

Archaeologists Think They’ve Found the Dungeon Where Dracula Was Kept

Vlad the Impaler was likely held captive in Turkey's Tokat Castle

Part of a 600-year-old canoe was found in New Zealand, featuring this rare carving of a sea turtle.

New Research

One Very Old Canoe Could Help Explain How Polynesian Sailors Colonized New Zealand

New climate analysis and a very old canoe help researchers understand how the Polynesians got around

A different Wyandotte chicken, this one still with head firmly attached.

Cool Finds

Mike the Chicken Lived for 18 Months Without a Head

In 1945, a decapitation gone awry gave birth to Miracle Mike

Blood vessels of the neck and head

Cool Finds

Blood Vessels Left Imprint on 2,000 Year Old Mummy

An Egyptian mummy's skull contains the imprint of blood vessels surrounding its brain

New Research

More Women Have Reproduced Than Men

A new study shows that more women than men have contributed to the human gene pool

New Research

How Conversations Around Campfire Might Have Shaped Human Cognition And Culture

We can perhaps thank campfire story time for getting us where we are today

Bush Barrow was the original resting place of the intricate gold-studded dagger that researchers now believe was crafted by children.

Cool Finds

One of the U.K.'s Most Extraordinary Artifacts Was Likely Made by Children

The intricate work found on a dagger in 1808 was likely done by children

Till death do us part: This couple has been holding hands for 700 years.

Cool Finds

This Skeleton Couple Has Been Holding Hands for 700 Years

The couple's remains are just one of the discoveries recently made in the "lost chapel" of St. Morrell

The pyramids of Giza were constructed between 2575 and 2465 BC. The monument in Israel dates to between 3050 and 2650 BC.

Cool Finds

Huge Structure in Israel Older Than Pyramids

The crescent-shaped stone pile may once have been a border marker

The remains of S.S. Frank H. Buck peek above the surface during low tide off San Francisco's Lands End.

Cool Finds

The Waters Around San Francisco Conceal a Graveyard of Historic Ships

Hundreds of wrecks, potentially, await discovery and exploration

The skeleton of Richard III

New Research

Richard III Suffered Severe Head Wounds in Battle

Analysis of the skeleton revels that he was likely not wearing a helmet when he died

A screenshot from the Metafilter discussion "Plane crashes in to the wor[l]d trade center."

Trending Today

This Is How the Internet Reacted to Two Planes Crashing Into the WTC on 9/11/01

The Metafilter page discussing 9/11 is still online

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