A Rare First-Edition Copy of Machiavelli’s Notorious Political Treatise ‘The Prince’ Heads to Auction
This copy of the 16th-century text is owned by a private collector. Until recently, historians weren’t aware that it existed
Rare 1,600-Year-Old Pendant Discovered in Turkey Depicts King Solomon Defeating the Devil
The fifth-century artifact was found in the ruins of a structure that may have been connected to the military. Historians think it was used as a protective amulet
Read the 132-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Found Hidden Inside the Walls of a Scottish Lighthouse
Engineers discovered the mysterious missive while working on repairs at Corsewall Lighthouse last month. Now, they plan to write their own note for future generations to find
Listen to the Resurrected Voice of Richard III—Who Speaks With an Unexpected Accent
A team of experts has created a digital avatar of the maligned monarch, who speaks with a Yorkshire accent. The 15th-century king was born in Northampton, but he spent much of his life in northern England
Why the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb Was the Most Significant Archaeological Find of the 20th Century
The intact burial—unearthed on this day in 1922—contained a “wonderful” cache of objects linked to the ancient Egyptian pharaoh
Scientists Are Trying to Make Whiskey Using Rye Seeds That Were Submerged in a Lake Huron Shipwreck for Nearly 150 Years
Divers, distillers and researchers recently recovered grain from the “James R. Bentley,” a wooden schooner that sank during a storm in 1878
Researchers Uncover the Oldest Record of Humans Using Fire in Tasmania, Almost 2,000 Years Earlier Than Previously Known
A new paper reveals how Aboriginal people changed the landscape by burning, demonstrating how similar practices could help manage modern bushfires
Ancient Egyptians Drank Psychedelic Concoctions From This 2,000-Year-Old Mug, Study Finds
Scientists have discovered traces of hallucinogens in a small vessel depicting an Egyptian deity that may have been used in ancient rituals
The Shocking Moment When a Group of Confederate Spies Plotted—and Failed—to Burn Down New York City
Southern operatives tried to light New York businesses on fire and bring the Northern city to its knees on this date in 1864
How Henry VIII’s Armies Defeated a Much Larger Scottish Force, Humiliating His Nephew, the King of Scotland
On this day in 1542, the Battle of Solway Moss left James V enfeebled and ill, clearing the way for his young daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, to claim the throne weeks later
Read Freddie Mercury’s Heartbreaking Announcement of His Diagnosis With HIV/AIDS, Released on This Date in 1991, Just a Day Before the Queen Frontman Died
Until Mercury released the statement, tabloid newspapers hounded the ailing singer, while only a smaller inner circle knew about the extent of his illness
Archaeologists Say These Mysterious Markings Could Be the World’s Oldest Known Alphabetic Writing
Found etched into clay cylinders in Syria, the strange symbols date to around 2400 B.C.E.—500 years before other known alphabetic scripts
A Little Girl Dropped a Message in a Bottle Into a Lake. Her Daughter’s Classmate Found It 26 Years Later
Makenzie Van Eyk wrote the letter as part of a class project in 1998, when she was in fourth grade. Recently, the note was discovered by a boy who goes to school with her daughter—who is now in fourth grade herself
These Ice Age Artworks Etched Into Rock 15,800 Years Ago May Be the Earliest Known Depictions of Fishing
Found in western Germany, the stone plaques feature etchings of fish trapped in grid-like nets, according to a new study
Italian Police Arrest ‘Clumsy’ Tomb Raiders Who Allegedly Posted Stolen Etruscan Artifacts on Facebook
The items include artistic urns, a bone comb and an ancient sarcophagus with a full skeleton inside
How British Authorities Finally Caught Up to the Most Notorious Pirate in History
On this day in 1718, the Royal Navy attacked and killed Blackbeard, also known as Edward Teach, off the coast of North Carolina
Airbnb Plans to Host an Immersive ‘Gladiator’ Experience in the Colosseum, and Politicians in Rome Are Furious
The short-term rental giant will help pay for the Colosseum Archaeological Park’s educational programs in exchange for use of the monument
American Colonists Minted This Humble Silver Coin in 1652. It Just Sold for $2.52 Million
Settlers in Massachusetts needed cash, but England wouldn’t send any. So, they created their own mint in Boston and began making coins
Meet the Woman Who Was the First Female Senator and the Last Senator to Be an Enslaver. She Served for Just One Day
Rebecca Felton was sworn in on this day, and despite her short time in power, her legacy reveals deep contradictions in American history
A Rare Atlas of Astronomy From the Dutch Golden Age Goes on Display in England
The copy of “Harmonia Macrocosmica” dates back to the 17th century and includes ancient theories of the universe
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