Smart News / Smart News History &amp; Archaeology

There’s new Hope for Preserving the Wreck of the Titanic

30 years after its discovery, the Titanic is crumbling.

September 4, 2015

Archaeologists Had a Huge Reenactment Party to Verify Ancient Pit Oven

A prehistoric-style barbecue helped feed 200 guests — and prove archaeologists’ hypothetis

September 4, 2015

Ice patches that normally persist through the summer are melting in Yellowstone National Park.

Melting Ice in Yellowstone is Revealing Ancient Artifacts Faster Than Researchers Can Handle

The tools, spears and even baskets from ancient Native Americans are emerging faster than archeologists can collect them

September 3, 2015

Ariel view of the Port of Galveston in 2008

An 1830s Steamship From the Texas Navy May Be Buried Near Galveston Harbor

Author Clive Cussler first discovered the wreckage in 1986, now the port’s expansion forces an archeological excavation

September 3, 2015

Estela de Carlotto, president of Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo. de Carlotto’s grandson was recovered 36 years after he was abducted and adopted by another family.

Argentinian Grandmothers Are Using DNA to Track Down Stolen Children

A national genetic bank and novel identification techniques have helped identify over 100 children abducted during Argentina’s “Dirty War”

September 3, 2015

One Japanese Company Makes Half Of The World’s Zippers

How YKK came to dominate pants around the world.

September 3, 2015

Here’s How Victorians “Photoshopped” Photos

Early photographers used pencils to touch up photographic plates — and the results look pretty freaky

September 2, 2015

See How the Plague Swept Through London

New research shows that during mass burials, bodies were given more respect than previously thought

September 1, 2015

Legendary Nazi Gold Train Might Exist After All

Polish culture minister is “99 percent sure” the train has been found

September 1, 2015

Denali, Ongtupqa, and Other Native American Names for Landmarks

Mount McKinley was recently renamed Denali, but it’s not the only one with a Native American name

September 1, 2015

Egyptian blue on a fragment from Thebes, Egypt from around 1350 B.C. showing Nebamun hunting in the marshes

How Glistening Egyptian Blue Pigment Was Forgotten then Lost

It may be the oldest artificial pigment

August 31, 2015

These Century-Old Stone “Tsunami Stones” Dot Japan’s Coastline

“Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point.”

August 31, 2015

Denmark’s Earliest Kings Were Also Pirates

Viking piracy laid the groundwork for the Danish monarchy

August 31, 2015

Neanderthals Had Houses With Hot Water

Not bad for a caveman

August 31, 2015

Here’s Every Nuclear Detonation Ever

Watch all 2,153 nuclear detonations since 1945 in this bleak visualization

August 31, 2015

Confused Construction Workers Tore Down an Ancient Tomb and Replaced it With a Picnic Table

Is the tomb’s picnic table-like appearance to blame?

August 28, 2015

During Prohibition, Vintners Sold “Wine Bricks” Rather Than Wine

Dissolve, ferment, enjoy

August 27, 2015