https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/history/RSS feed for HistoryenFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-hoard-of-5500-viking-age-coins-archaeologists-in-norway-found-one-so-rare-that-they-already-consider-it-a-national-treasure-180989741/Fewer than 20 coins minted under Norwegian King Olaf II Haraldsson have ever been found. "We can almost imagine Olaf himself holding this coin in his hand," one researcher saysFri, 23 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-hoard-of-5500-viking-age-coins-archaeologists-in-norway-found-one-so-rare-that-they-already-consider-it-a-national-treasure-180989741/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-mysterious-medieval-manuscript-has-stumped-scholars-for-well-over-a-century-could-its-pages-have-been-bound-out-of-order-this-whole-time-180989737/A new study claims that the pages of the Voynich Manuscript, thought to be written by several different scribes in 16th-century Europe, alternate irregularly. It may change the way codebreakers approach the textThu, 22 Oct 2026 20:21:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-mysterious-medieval-manuscript-has-stumped-scholars-for-well-over-a-century-could-its-pages-have-been-bound-out-of-order-this-whole-time-180989737/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-claimed-a-blurry-object-on-apple-maps-was-very-likely-amelia-earharts-missing-plane-it-turned-out-to-be-a-collection-of-large-trees-180989734/A 17-person crew traveled to a remote atoll in the South Pacific to investigate the so-called Taraia Object. After surveying the site, the team announced that the anomaly was not a fragment of the long-lost Lockheed Electra aircraftThu, 22 Oct 2026 16:20:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-claimed-a-blurry-object-on-apple-maps-was-very-likely-amelia-earharts-missing-plane-it-turned-out-to-be-a-collection-of-large-trees-180989734/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/arizona-otherworldly-wonderland-of-rocks-is-now-americas-newest-national-park-180989733/Chiricahua National Monument in southeastern Arizona is now Chiricahua National Park, the 64th national park in the United States. Its striking geologic landscape and biodiversity have drawn humans for thousands of yearsThu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/arizona-otherworldly-wonderland-of-rocks-is-now-americas-newest-national-park-180989733/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/where-exactly-were-the-first-humans-to-be-captured-in-a-photograph-standing-three-obsessed-filmmakers-solved-the-nearly-200-year-old-mystery-180989727/The sleuths spent two years digging into archives and building 3D models of 19th-century Paris. The location is now immortalized by a bronze plaque celebrating the historic site and the "poetic" early photographWed, 21 Oct 2026 16:29:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/where-exactly-were-the-first-humans-to-be-captured-in-a-photograph-standing-three-obsessed-filmmakers-solved-the-nearly-200-year-old-mystery-180989727/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-understand-social-divides-in-medieval-england-archaeologists-examined-tooth-enamel-from-lead-mining-communities-180989722/Some residents of the Peaks District in the 13th century may have experienced worse lead pollution than city-dwellers during the Industrial Revolution. Female skeletons showed higher lead levels and earlier ages of deathWed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-understand-social-divides-in-medieval-england-archaeologists-examined-tooth-enamel-from-lead-mining-communities-180989722/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-vast-new-database-shows-how-britain-built-a-global-empire-by-trading-goods-like-coal-wine-and-wood-closer-to-home-180989717/Using AI to comb through hundreds of thousands of handwritten pages of port records, historians have constructed an interactive map of Britain’s maritime trading routes. Even as it expanded in Asia and the Americas, Britain's commerce with Europe remained overwhelmingTue, 20 Oct 2026 18:34:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-vast-new-database-shows-how-britain-built-a-global-empire-by-trading-goods-like-coal-wine-and-wood-closer-to-home-180989717/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-searching-for-evidence-of-a-norse-church-in-greenland-have-found-the-smoking-gu-near-erik-the-reds-settlement-180989716/The site was first identified as a possible church decades ago, but researchers did not confirm that hunch until they found human remains there this summer. It could offer another clue to the Viking's unexplained 15th-century disappearanceTue, 20 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-searching-for-evidence-of-a-norse-church-in-greenland-have-found-the-smoking-gu-near-erik-the-reds-settlement-180989716/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-burning-of-this-french-city-hall-was-a-catastrophe-for-heritage-tragically-reminiscent-of-the-notre-dame-fire-180989711/French authorities say that the Limoges city hall, built in the late 19th century and celebrated as an architectural gem, was the victim of an arson attack amid mass protests in France over the weekendMon, 19 Oct 2026 21:13:51 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-burning-of-this-french-city-hall-was-a-catastrophe-for-heritage-tragically-reminiscent-of-the-notre-dame-fire-180989711/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-a-19th-century-scottish-landowner-blocked-a-public-footpath-locals-rebelled-now-archaeologists-have-unearthed-parts-of-his-controversial-wall-180989712/The rebellion against "Harvie’s Dyke," a pair of stone walls erected in the 1820s, was a triumph for the workers and middle classes of Glasgow, who used riots, boycotts and lawsuits to win back access to the River ClydeMon, 19 Oct 2026 19:17:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-a-19th-century-scottish-landowner-blocked-a-public-footpath-locals-rebelled-now-archaeologists-have-unearthed-parts-of-his-controversial-wall-180989712/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-farmer-in-egypt-stumbled-upon-a-pink-stone-and-called-the-authorities-they-found-the-remains-of-two-colossal-statues-of-ramses-ii-beneath-the-property-180989708/Archaeologists recovered the head of one statue that might have measured nearly 28 feet tall. It could point to a major building site commissioned by the pharaohMon, 19 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-farmer-in-egypt-stumbled-upon-a-pink-stone-and-called-the-authorities-they-found-the-remains-of-two-colossal-statues-of-ramses-ii-beneath-the-property-180989708/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rembrandt-turned-ancient-myths-into-supremely-human-works-of-art-an-upcoming-exhibition-traces-the-inspiration-he-took-from-antiquity-180989705/"Rembrandt and the Ancients" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will unpack an "underexplored but vital" part of the Dutch master's career, putting his paintings and drawings in conversation with the antecedents that inspired themFri, 16 Oct 2026 20:16:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rembrandt-turned-ancient-myths-into-supremely-human-works-of-art-an-upcoming-exhibition-traces-the-inspiration-he-took-from-antiquity-180989705/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/madrids-renewed-and-expanded-sorolla-museum-lets-the-paintings-of-the-spanish-master-of-light-reemerge-into-public-view-180989701/Dedicated to the works of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, the museum is centered around his historic home and studio. The first phase of its yearslong renovation is complete, featuring expanded exhibition spacesFri, 16 Oct 2026 18:01:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/madrids-renewed-and-expanded-sorolla-museum-lets-the-paintings-of-the-spanish-master-of-light-reemerge-into-public-view-180989701/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-monumental-18th-century-portrait-of-a-young-polynesian-man-a-supreme-work-of-art-visits-the-us-for-the-first-time-180989699/The massive "Portrait of Mai" depicts the first Pacific Islander to visit Britain, a young man who became a quasi-celebrity in the 1770s after joining the expedition of explorer James CookFri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-monumental-18th-century-portrait-of-a-young-polynesian-man-a-supreme-work-of-art-visits-the-us-for-the-first-time-180989699/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/on-an-island-outside-paris-a-sprawling-contemporary-arts-center-aptly-called-large-prepares-to-open-its-doors-180989690/The landmark institution’s first exhibition pays homage to a historic Renault automobile plant that once operated on the Île Seguin in the Seine River. "The project called for a great deal of perseverance," one official saysThu, 15 Oct 2026 20:19:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/on-an-island-outside-paris-a-sprawling-contemporary-arts-center-aptly-called-large-prepares-to-open-its-doors-180989690/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-soldier-kept-a-diary-in-the-trenches-of-world-war-i-a-child-found-it-at-the-dump-decades-later-pierced-by-a-bullet-and-stained-with-blood-180989696/Corporal Claude Nuttall recorded his wartime experiences in the diary. Now, after decades of research, a museum curator is telling the soldier's story in a new bookThu, 15 Oct 2026 19:41:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-soldier-kept-a-diary-in-the-trenches-of-world-war-i-a-child-found-it-at-the-dump-decades-later-pierced-by-a-bullet-and-stained-with-blood-180989696/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/venetian-artist-canaletto-merged-fantasy-and-architectural-detail-in-this-previously-unseen-sketch-heading-to-auction-this-month-180989692/The 18th-century painter was a key practitioner of "capriccio" artworks, which blended scenes of everyday life with bold, out-of-place structures. This work was not known to exist for centuries and could now fetch up to $80,000Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:03:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/venetian-artist-canaletto-merged-fantasy-and-architectural-detail-in-this-previously-unseen-sketch-heading-to-auction-this-month-180989692/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/londons-oldest-restaurant-frequented-by-monarchs-and-pop-stars-alike-is-a-site-of-living-history-now-its-protected-by-the-national-trust-for-generations-to-come-180989688/Rules, a historic restaurant where the likes of Charles Dickens and Madonna have dined, is changing hands for only the fourth time in over 200 years. Visitors can see artifact-covered walls and indulge in rich British cuisineThu, 15 Oct 2026 16:24:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/londons-oldest-restaurant-frequented-by-monarchs-and-pop-stars-alike-is-a-site-of-living-history-now-its-protected-by-the-national-trust-for-generations-to-come-180989688/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-work-on-the-north-dakota-governors-residence-accidentally-unearthed-seven-coffins-dating-back-to-the-states-early-settlement-180989686/The cemetery site was established in 1872, when the state capital Bismarck was a small frontier community called Edwinton. Most, but not all, of its gravesites were exhumed five years later to make way for a railroadThu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-work-on-the-north-dakota-governors-residence-accidentally-unearthed-seven-coffins-dating-back-to-the-states-early-settlement-180989686/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-contender-for-the-worlds-oldest-shipwreck-has-been-discovered-off-the-coast-of-turkey-its-ancient-cargo-is-a-time-capsule-from-4700-years-ago-180989682/The ship was likely transporting huge jars of olive oil or wine across the Mediterranean when it sank to the seafloor. One archaeologist "could not believe how much" residue remained insideWed, 14 Oct 2026 19:20:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-contender-for-the-worlds-oldest-shipwreck-has-been-discovered-off-the-coast-of-turkey-its-ancient-cargo-is-a-time-capsule-from-4700-years-ago-180989682/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-vincent-van-gogh-painting-has-not-been-seen-in-public-for-over-60-years-it-is-now-poised-to-set-a-record-at-an-upcoming-auction-180989680/The Dutch Post-Impressionist painted "Chestnut Trees in Blossom" during the highly productive yet tragic final months of his life. It is heading to auction as part of a "legendary" private collection which also includes works from Cézanne and RenoirWed, 14 Oct 2026 17:28:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-vincent-van-gogh-painting-has-not-been-seen-in-public-for-over-60-years-it-is-now-poised-to-set-a-record-at-an-upcoming-auction-180989680/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mourners-laced-an-ancient-sippy-cup-in-a-roman-toddlers-grave-it-may-have-been-meant-to-sustain-the-child-on-the-journey-to-the-afterlife-180989673/Fragments of the spouted cup, known as a "tettina," were unearthed in England over a decade ago. It has recently been restored and put on display for the first timeTue, 13 Oct 2026 19:44:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mourners-laced-an-ancient-sippy-cup-in-a-roman-toddlers-grave-it-may-have-been-meant-to-sustain-the-child-on-the-journey-to-the-afterlife-180989673/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-an-american-bomber-crashed-into-an-english-moor-during-world-war-II-a-corporal-was-declared-missing-in-action-archaeologists-have-now-revived-the-search-for-his-remains-180989672/Corporal Clarence Watson was among 10 American airmen aboard a B-24H Liberator when it crashed under foggy conditions. The crew was training for Operation Carpetbagger, a top-secret effort to fly deep into Nazi-occupied EuropeTue, 13 Oct 2026 17:58:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-an-american-bomber-crashed-into-an-english-moor-during-world-war-II-a-corporal-was-declared-missing-in-action-archaeologists-have-now-revived-the-search-for-his-remains-180989672/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unprecedented-trove-of-ancient-wooden-tools-uncovered-at-a-rock-shelter-in-spain-show-neanderthals-were-skilled-woodworkers-180989668/Wooden objects usually decompose quickly, but periodic flooding and minerals in the water helped preserve those at a site called Abric Romaní. Archaeologists documented nearly 600 wooden objects—or their imprints—and 13 were clearly shaped by human handsTue, 13 Oct 2026 17:00:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unprecedented-trove-of-ancient-wooden-tools-uncovered-at-a-rock-shelter-in-spain-show-neanderthals-were-skilled-woodworkers-180989668/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-community-led-archaeology-dig-on-a-tiny-scottish-isle-has-unearthed-a-medieval-monastery-of-international-importance-180989654/The settlement, founded by an early Christian saint in the 500s, is "far more than a small island church." It may have played a larger role in the Christianization of Britain than historians once realizedFri, 09 Oct 2026 14:35:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-community-led-archaeology-dig-on-a-tiny-scottish-isle-has-unearthed-a-medieval-monastery-of-international-importance-180989654/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/just-inches-below-the-forest-floor-archaeologists-in-germany-unearthed-a-roman-temple-likely-dedicated-to-mars-the-god-of-war-180989650/Researchers found the structure's remains, as well as fragments of statues, while excavating near the Kapersburg fort, an ancient Roman military fortification on the outskirts of modern-day FrankfurtThu, 08 Oct 2026 19:32:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/just-inches-below-the-forest-floor-archaeologists-in-germany-unearthed-a-roman-temple-likely-dedicated-to-mars-the-god-of-war-180989650/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hundreds-of-british-college-students-clashed-with-wooden-swords-in-a-1966-re-enactment-of-the-battle-of-hastings-watch-the-rediscovered-time-capsule-of-lost-footage-180989635/A local videographer shot 300 reels of color film during the re-enactment, which shows "soldiers on foot getting remarkably close to horses" and "a rather relaxed attitude towards health and safety." The event sparked an annual tradition that continues to this dayThu, 08 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hundreds-of-british-college-students-clashed-with-wooden-swords-in-a-1966-re-enactment-of-the-battle-of-hastings-watch-the-rediscovered-time-capsule-of-lost-footage-180989635/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-ship-carrying-stacks-of-ancient-dishware-sank-off-the-coast-of-turkey-2100-years-ago-its-ceramic-cargo-is-still-remarkably-intact-180989626/Researchers believe that the vessel's plates and bowls were made in the ancient city of Rhosus, once praised by Roman statesman Cicero for its "fine pottery"Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-ship-carrying-stacks-of-ancient-dishware-sank-off-the-coast-of-turkey-2100-years-ago-its-ceramic-cargo-is-still-remarkably-intact-180989626/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-are-medieval-english-coins-doing-in-rome-they-could-be-rare-evidence-of-a-little-england-enclave-that-received-special-papal-privileges-180989625/Researchers argue that the tenth-century coins provide new evidence of a bustling English community located next to the Vatican that was permitted to use its own currencyTue, 06 Oct 2026 20:33:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-are-medieval-english-coins-doing-in-rome-they-could-be-rare-evidence-of-a-little-england-enclave-that-received-special-papal-privileges-180989625/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-shows-that-these-ancient-egyptian-servants-may-have-been-brutally-sacrificed-and-buried-alongside-their-pharaohs-180989619/Forensic research has identified deliberate and fatal wounds on skulls from simple grave sites near First Dynasty royal tombs in Upper EgyptTue, 06 Oct 2026 15:09:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-research-shows-that-these-ancient-egyptian-servants-may-have-been-brutally-sacrificed-and-buried-alongside-their-pharaohs-180989619/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-soldiers-were-buried-in-an-unmarked-grave-during-the-revolutionary-war-now-historians-finally-know-their-names-180989621/At a recent memorial ceremony, officials honored 28 Continental soldiers and at least 38 British soldiers who were buried in Wilmington, Delaware, nearly 250 years agoTue, 06 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-soldiers-were-buried-in-an-unmarked-grave-during-the-revolutionary-war-now-historians-finally-know-their-names-180989621/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-roman-city-of-claudivium-disappeared-from-historical-records-almost-2000-years-ago-it-may-have-been-hiding-in-austria-180989614/Archaeologists have discovered a previously unknown settlement on the banks of the Danube RiverMon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-roman-city-of-claudivium-disappeared-from-historical-records-almost-2000-years-ago-it-may-have-been-hiding-in-austria-180989614/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-arson-investigation-is-underway-after-a-suspected-sensless-act-of-vandalism-destroys-a-newly-installed-benjamin-harrison-statue-180989605/The 3D-printed piece was created by students and faculty at Indiana University Indianapolis and had been installed on September 16Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:33:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-arson-investigation-is-underway-after-a-suspected-sensless-act-of-vandalism-destroys-a-newly-installed-benjamin-harrison-statue-180989605/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-an-exciting-but-brutal-find-a-5000-year-old-arrow-emerges-from-norways-rapidly-melting-mountain-ice-180989599/Archaeologists discovered 48 prehistoric arrows during a recent three-week expedition in the mountains of JotunheimenThu, 01 Oct 2026 14:39:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-an-exciting-but-brutal-find-a-5000-year-old-arrow-emerges-from-norways-rapidly-melting-mountain-ice-180989599/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-jane-austen-took-a-turn-about-the-ballroom-in-bath-ancient-roman-artifacts-were-hiding-beneath-her-feet-now-archaeologists-have-finally-found-them-180989592/Recent excavations at the Bath Assembly Rooms in England revealed Roman-era coins, roof tiles, pottery, glassware, a network of ditches and a fragment of a military helmetWed, 30 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-jane-austen-took-a-turn-about-the-ballroom-in-bath-ancient-roman-artifacts-were-hiding-beneath-her-feet-now-archaeologists-have-finally-found-them-180989592/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-1884-gale-force-winds-ran-a-ship-aground-near-cape-code-now-the-noreaster-lashing-the-east-coast-may-have-uncovered-part-of-it-180989583/The wreckage could belong to the “Warren Sawyer,” a three-masted cargo schooner that foundered more than 140 years agoTue, 29 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-1884-gale-force-winds-ran-a-ship-aground-near-cape-code-now-the-noreaster-lashing-the-east-coast-may-have-uncovered-part-of-it-180989583/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-anomalies-have-been-detected-beyond-king-tuts-tomb-could-they-be-secret-passageways-leading-to-the-long-lost-remains-of-queen-nefertiti-180989576/Geophysical surveys provide new evidence for a theory that the Egyptian pharaoh was interred in the outer rooms of an existing burial complex. Researchers are trying to get approval to investigate for themselvesFri, 25 Sep 2026 21:08:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-anomalies-have-been-detected-beyond-king-tuts-tomb-could-they-be-secret-passageways-leading-to-the-long-lost-remains-of-queen-nefertiti-180989576/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-thousand-years-ago-julius-caesar-conquered-the-settlement-that-eventually-became-paris-archaeologists-may-have-just-found-it-180989569/While conducting excavations at a hospital on the Île de la Cité, in the Seine River, researchers discovered part of a wall that may have once protected Lutetia, the Gallic precursor to France’s capitalFri, 25 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-thousand-years-ago-julius-caesar-conquered-the-settlement-that-eventually-became-paris-archaeologists-may-have-just-found-it-180989569/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-metal-detectorist-exploring-a-field-in-germany-was-stunned-to-discover-a-massive-hoard-of-roman-coins-180989561/Together, the 943 silver denarii span nearly 300 years of Roman history, from 148 B.C.E. to 124 or 125 C.E.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-metal-detectorist-exploring-a-field-in-germany-was-stunned-to-discover-a-massive-hoard-of-roman-coins-180989561/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-woman-who-lived-in-imperial-china-may-have-had-her-nose-cut-off-as-punishment-for-theft-or-adultery-180989551/Researchers found signs of healing on her 700-year-old skull, which suggests that she survived the painful sanction—and may even have gone on to wear a prosthesisWed, 23 Sep 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-woman-who-lived-in-imperial-china-may-have-had-her-nose-cut-off-as-punishment-for-theft-or-adultery-180989551/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/workers-excavating-gravel-from-the-danube-river-dredged-up-a-2200-year-old-rusty-treasure-that-could-have-equipped-an-army-180989542/The cache comprises the remains of at least 500 iron bars, which were likely headed downstream to be forged into finished productsTue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/workers-excavating-gravel-from-the-danube-river-dredged-up-a-2200-year-old-rusty-treasure-that-could-have-equipped-an-army-180989542/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-cutting-edge-english-project-replaces-lawnmowers-with-scythes-to-protect-wildflowers-and-save-the-bees-180989537/English Heritage has recruited volunteers to mow meadows the old-fashioned way at some of its historic sitesMon, 21 Sep 2026 17:46:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-cutting-edge-english-project-replaces-lawnmowers-with-scythes-to-protect-wildflowers-and-save-the-bees-180989537/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-have-created-a-digital-map-of-the-roman-empires-190000-mile-network-of-roads-turns-out-not-all-of-them-led-to-rome-180989509/For a new study, archaeologists attempted to answer age-old questions about Rome’s roads, including how connected the capital was and whether current motorways trace Roman routesThu, 17 Sep 2026 14:10:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-have-created-a-digital-map-of-the-roman-empires-190000-mile-network-of-roads-turns-out-not-all-of-them-led-to-rome-180989509/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-ruins-of-a-long-lost-medieval-convent-have-been-discovered-just-a-few-feet-beneath-a-soccer-field-180989506/St. Clare's Convent closed in the 16th century, and researchers assumed all traces of it had been lost. But a new ground-penetrating radar survey revealed surprisingly intact remains of pillars, rooms, cloisters, a courtyard and a churchWed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-ruins-of-a-long-lost-medieval-convent-have-been-discovered-just-a-few-feet-beneath-a-soccer-field-180989506/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-if-emmett-till-had-lived-a-new-exhibition-imagines-an-alternate-future-for-the-murdered-black-teenager-180989498/Featuring photographs by more than 110 artists, the show honors Till’s memory by inviting viewers to contemplate the person he might have become had he made it to adulthoodTue, 15 Sep 2026 16:01:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-if-emmett-till-had-lived-a-new-exhibition-imagines-an-alternate-future-for-the-murdered-black-teenager-180989498/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-romes-largest-fresco-and-mosaic-complex-featuring-depictions-of-a-mysterious-maritime-city-opens-to-the-public-after-2000-years-180989484/The massive artworks, created in the first century C.E., were discovered in the 1990s during excavations of the Baths of TrajanFri, 11 Sep 2026 15:31:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-romes-largest-fresco-and-mosaic-complex-featuring-depictions-of-a-mysterious-maritime-city-opens-to-the-public-after-2000-years-180989484/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-the-worlds-oldest-evidence-of-habitual-drug-use-in-the-teeth-of-a-hunter-gatherer-who-lived-up-to-25000-years-ago-180989485/This individual may have regularly sucked on betel nuts, known for their mind-altering properties, leading to worsening dental disease. Researchers say the discovery sheds light on addiction in prehistoric environmentsFri, 11 Sep 2026 15:12:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-the-worlds-oldest-evidence-of-habitual-drug-use-in-the-teeth-of-a-hunter-gatherer-who-lived-up-to-25000-years-ago-180989485/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-a-neolithic-sculpture-of-a-human-riding-a-leopard-thats-unlike-anything-we-have-encountered-before-180989477/The artifact was found during excavations at Karahan Tepe, an 11,000-year-old site in southeastern Turkey. Created long before the invention of writing, the 2.3-foot-tall sculpture's purpose is a mysteryThu, 10 Sep 2026 14:09:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-a-neolithic-sculpture-of-a-human-riding-a-leopard-thats-unlike-anything-we-have-encountered-before-180989477/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-excavating-a-roman-era-cemetery-in-poland-were-surprised-to-stumble-upon-a-5000-year-old-necklace-made-of-42-teeth-180989471/Crafted from the teeth of large mammals, such as wolves, deer, bears and perhaps even humans, the jewelry was found in a grave in southern Poland that may belong to an important patriarch of the Corded Ware cultureWed, 09 Sep 2026 21:05:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-excavating-a-roman-era-cemetery-in-poland-were-surprised-to-stumble-upon-a-5000-year-old-necklace-made-of-42-teeth-180989471/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-legendary-132-year-old-dime-recently-sold-for-more-than-12-million-at-auction-what-makes-it-so-extraordinary-180989476/Only 24 of the 1894-S Barber dimes were minted in San Francisco in June 1894, and just nine known specimens exist todayWed, 09 Sep 2026 19:33:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-legendary-132-year-old-dime-recently-sold-for-more-than-12-million-at-auction-what-makes-it-so-extraordinary-180989476/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/routine-yard-work-reveals-a-trove-of-viking-silver-the-largest-treasure-of-its-kind-ever-discovered-in-denmark-180989456/The collection includes coins, jewelry, silver bars and a tiny artifact shaped like Thor's hammer. Experts say the roughly 700 items were buried during the tenth centuryTue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/routine-yard-work-reveals-a-trove-of-viking-silver-the-largest-treasure-of-its-kind-ever-discovered-in-denmark-180989456/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/kermit-the-frog-was-just-trying-to-put-on-a-variety-show-fifty-years-later-the-muppets-are-some-of-the-biggest-stars-in-television-history-180989451/The first episode of Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show" premiered in the United Kingdom on September 5, 1976. Enthusiasm for the eclectic ensemble has endured ever sinceFri, 04 Sep 2026 19:21:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/kermit-the-frog-was-just-trying-to-put-on-a-variety-show-fifty-years-later-the-muppets-are-some-of-the-biggest-stars-in-television-history-180989451/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historical-pollution-not-current-industrial-emissions-damaged-worlds-largest-oldest-collection-ancient-rock-art-180989416/Researchers say that past exposure to sulfur dioxide is likely to blame for the increased porosity of the Murujuga rock art created by the Ngarda-Ngarli people tens of thousands of years agoFri, 28 Aug 2026 18:04:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historical-pollution-not-current-industrial-emissions-damaged-worlds-largest-oldest-collection-ancient-rock-art-180989416/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-people-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its-original-location-after-a-decade-of-restoration-work-180989401/The chance to help move the castle keep drew thousands of applications from Japan and abroad. Groups of lottery winners took turns tugging on thick ropes attached to the massive structureThu, 27 Aug 2026 19:43:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-people-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its-original-location-after-a-decade-of-restoration-work-180989401/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-alabama-hotel-linked-civil-rights-movement-is-falling-apart-can-conservationists-fighting-to-save-it-turn-the-tide-180989407/Selma's Edistone Hotel has witnessed pivotal chapters in American history, from Reconstruction to "Bloody Sunday." Now, after years of neglect and a recent wall collapse, the Conservation Fund is working to secure its futureThu, 27 Aug 2026 18:35:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-alabama-hotel-linked-civil-rights-movement-is-falling-apart-can-conservationists-fighting-to-save-it-turn-the-tide-180989407/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-medieval-manuscript-fragments-were-reused-as-parchment-inadvertently-preserving-them-for-centuries-180989398/Recently discovered on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, the pages include Bible passages, poems, plays and other texts. They were repurposed as book bindings during the 16th and 17th centuriesWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:20:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-medieval-manuscript-fragments-were-reused-as-parchment-inadvertently-preserving-them-for-centuries-180989398/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-statue-honors-moby-dick-author-herman-melville-in-the-massachusetts-city-where-his-whaling-adventures-began-180989388/The 7.5-foot-tall bronze artwork stands in the heart of historic New Bedford, the 19th-century whaling port that inspired the author's famous 1851 novelTue, 25 Aug 2026 17:57:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-statue-honors-moby-dick-author-herman-melville-in-the-massachusetts-city-where-his-whaling-adventures-began-180989388/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-skeleton-found-inside-mysterious-stone-structure-in-scotland-archaeologists-still-dont-know-why-it-was-buried-there-180989391/Built with fitted stone and a clay-like material that may have helped retain liquid, the unusual structure has left researchers searching for an explanationTue, 25 Aug 2026 17:51:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-skeleton-found-inside-mysterious-stone-structure-in-scotland-archaeologists-still-dont-know-why-it-was-buried-there-180989391/