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Cultural Preservation

The Aztec snakehead was discovered beneath a law school in Mexico City after an earthquake.

Cool Finds

Earthquake in Mexico City Reveals 500-Year-Old Aztec Snakehead

The nearly six-foot-long sculpture features well-preserved colors on 80 percent of its surface

Crews painstakingly removed mud layer by layer to expose the vessel.

Cool Finds

Workers Unearth 19th-Century Shipwreck Beneath a Road in Florida

The 19-foot-long vessel was found alongside a kerosene lamp, leather shoes, coins and other artifacts

Taíno cacique Francisco Ramírez Rojas beats a palm frond to drive away bad spirits at a seaside ceremony of thanksgiving. A three-sided idol known as La Muñequina is thought to represent the Taíno belief that spirits of the dead are present among the living.

Who Were the Taíno, the Original Inhabitants of Columbus’ Island Colonies?

The Native people of Hispaniola were long believed to have died out. But a journalist’s search for their descendants turned up surprising results

The Old War Office building was originally constructed in 1906.

London’s Historic Old War Office Building Becomes a Luxury Hotel

The building is connected to Winston Churchill, Ian Fleming and other famous figures

The intact gold torc discovered last month in northwest Spain

Cool Finds

Water Worker Stumbles Upon 2,500-Year-Old Gold Necklaces in Spain

The artifacts could shed new light on the Iron Age history of the region

Inside the restored women's cold room

Stunning 16th-Century Turkish Bath Reopens in Istanbul

The revitalized space will feature a museum and contemporary art in addition to traditional bathing

St. Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine

UNESCO Adds Sites in Kyiv and Lviv to List of World Heritage in Danger

The agency has been trying to protect Ukraine’s historic sites since the beginning of the war with Russia

People gather around the damaged Kharbouch Mosque on September 9, 2023 in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Ancient Mosques Damaged in Morocco Earthquake

A UNESCO representative says the country has suffered an “inestimable loss”

Construction workers used an excavator to widen an existing gap in the Great Wall.

Construction Workers Plow a Shortcut Through the Great Wall of China

They caused “irreversible damage” to the wall when they used an excavator to widen an existing gap

When it comes to historical markers, the hidden truth is this: In any given state, as many as a dozen entities could be putting up signs at the same time.

History of Now

Why Historical Markers Matter

Few realize that the approval process for these outdoor signs varies widely by state and organization, enabling unsanctioned displays to slip through

Venice is struggling to manage an overwhelming number of visitors.

Venice Will Start Charging an Entry Fee Next Year

By charging daytrippers to visit on peak travel days, the city hopes to combat overtourism

A view of Stonehenge from the road

New Legal Challenge Reignites Battle Over Tunnel Near Stonehenge

The plan could threaten the landmark’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

One of the more than 200 bouquiniste stalls along the Seine in Paris

The Paris Olympics

Parisian Booksellers Have Lined the Seine for Centuries. Now, They’re Fighting to Stay

Ahead of the 2024 Olympics, city officials are trying to relocate the bouquinistes for security reasons

Brooker began collecting in 1959 in Paris and has been assembling his library ever since.

Trove of Rare Renaissance Books Could Fetch $25 Million at Auction

T. Kimball Brooker has amassed a collection of more than 1,300 texts from the 16th century

Bélizaire and the Frey Children features an enslaved 15-year-old alongside three white children who were likely in his care.

Who Was the Enslaved Child Painted Out of This 1837 Portrait?

The painting of Bélizaire, 15, shown behind the children of his enslavers, has been acquired by the Met

Artists have long used these rustic dune shacks in Cape Cod as creative retreats.

Tennessee Williams and Jack Kerouac Once Found Refuge in the Dune Shacks of Cape Cod. Now, Longtime Residents Are Being Forced Out

The National Park Service plans to lease out some of the structures, which have long been used by artists and writers

This triptych by Francis Bacon is listed as being owned by Roman Abramovich in the new database.

Ukraine Launches Database to Track Art Owned by Sanctioned Russians

The searchable list contains some 300 works by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci and more

Phin Sokol, the abbot of Khemararangsi Buddhist Temple, performs a Buddhist blessing at a ceremony for the repatriation of three bronze statues that were previously part of the collection of the National Gallery of Australia.

Australia Returns Three Looted Statues to Cambodia

The rare artifacts will remain on display at the National Gallery of Australia for up to three years as the Cambodian government prepares a place for them

Built in 1919-20, the lighthouse stands 68 feet tall and measures about 1,000 square feet.

You Can Now Buy a Lighthouse of Your Very Own in Michigan

So far, bidding is only up to $16,000 for the historic 68-foot-tall structure in Lake Superior

From his home in Ontario, Samuel Peralta displays a sample gold NanoFiche—similar to the smaller, nickel-based NanoFiche that will be traveling to the lunar surface.

The Lunar Codex Will Archive the Work of 30,000 Artists—on the Moon

A series of time capsules will honor and preserve contemporary art from around the globe

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