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Blackwall Yard from the Thames by Francis Holman (1784) (Public Domain)

Plain Sailing: Shapes And Speed In Historic Naval Designs

During the 1700s, European naval studies were decisive and very important, so much so that espionage by Spain and France against England for military and naval purposes alone had become a real...
Top image: Roman Soldiers at rest at a Roman camp.	Source: Андрей Журавлев/Adobe Stock

When Soldiers Play: The Surprising History of Gaming in the Roman Army (Video)

Think gaming is a recent phenomenon? Think again. The ancient Roman Army was also known to indulge in various forms of games and gambling, particularly during their leisure time. But these games were...
Detail of a painting depiction the Sati of Ramabai, the wife of Madhavrao Peshwa the ninth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire who reigned from 1761 to 1772. Source: Public domain

Sati Widow-Burning: A Dark Chapter in Indian History

Sati, the practice of a widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre, remains one of the most controversial and emotive issues in South Asian culture. While some view it as a sacred funerary...
Some of the stages of skull photogrammetry and initial anatomical deformation (Moacir Elias Santos & Cicero Moraes /CC BY 4.0)

Digital Scientists Resurrect A 30,000-Year-Old Egyptian Man

Fusing scientific theory with artistry, a team of researchers has generated “stunning” 3D images of the oldest person ever discovered in Egypt. Using photogrammetry, a team of researchers have...
Ancient city of Babylon. Source: Berit Kessler / Adobe Stock.

The Monumental Fall of Babylon: What Really Shattered the Empire? (Video)

The fall of Babylon was one of the most momentous events in ancient history. The conquest of Babylon by the Achaemenid Empire, led by Cyrus the Great , marked the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire...
The new research revealed that the giant snails were cooked on hot embers by hunter-gatherers in southern Africa thousands of years ago. (Gorodenkoff / Adobe Stock)

Prehistoric Hunters Roasted and Ate Giant Snails 170,000 Years Ago

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unearthed the remains of enormous snail shells at a 225,000-year-old archaeological site in southern Africa. What makes this find truly remarkable is...
The new research revealed that the giant snails were cooked on hot embers by hunter-gatherers in southern Africa thousands of years ago. (Gorodenkoff / Adobe Stock)

Vigilant and Ready: Life as a Roman Frontier Watchman (Video)

The Roman frontier was a dangerous place, and the soldiers who manned the Roman Limes (a network of forts , walls and outposts ) along the Rhine frontier had a crucial role to play in keeping the...
Sketch of the Chalcaltzingo Project 2008. Source: Courtesy of Mario Córdova/INAH

Mexican Government Recovers One Ton Olmec Statue Of “Earth Monster”

Mexican officials have announced the recovery of a large carved statue from the Olmec period that was allegedly stolen decades ago - a sculpture known as ‘Monument 9’. It is colloquially known as an...
Easter egg and rabbit. Source: Milenko / Adobe Stock.

Easter Rebirth: How Rabbits and Eggs Came to Symbolize New Life (Video)

The Easter holiday, known for its themes of resurrection and rebirth, has a history that dates back thousands of years. One of the most recognizable symbols of Easter is the rabbit , which was a...
On display at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia, Rome, Italy. Source: Dan Diffendale/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The Tomb of the Silver Hands - An Enigmatic Etruscan Burial

The highly advanced and powerful culture of the ancient Etruscans could not persevere in the face of the rising Romans. By 500 BC, the political situation in the Italian Peninsula was quickly...
Upper ivory denture with human teeth. Source: Science Museum, London / CC BY 4.0

Teeth Scavenged from Fallen Soldiers at Waterloo Were Used as Dentures

Get ready to sink your teeth into a little-known fact about the infamous Battle of Waterloo! While many of us have heard of this bloody European battle that sent Napoleon Bonaparte packing, what you...
Representation of Pocahontas. Source: likoper / Adobe Stock.

The Heartbreaking True Story of Pocahontas (Video)

The true story of Pocahontas is far from the fairy tale depicted in the Disney movie . Pocahontas, whose real name was Matoaka, was the daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of the Powhatan...
The supposedly “magical” gold pendant was discovered at Great Tey near Colchester. Source: Surrey County Council

“Magical” Gold Pendant with Hebrew Inscription Discovered in Great Tey

A metal detectorist had the good fortune to hit upon an incredible garnet and gold pendant dating to the Middle Ages at Great Tey near Colchester, Essex, in August 2021. The pendant was inscribed...
Carved mother-of-pearl Thai art. Source: YouTube Screenshot / Insider Business.

Thai Artist Carves Snail Shells into Ancient Art That Costs Thousands (Video)

Jukkit Suksawa is a Thai artist who has been creating traditional mother-of-pearl inlay, a 700-year-old tradition, for the past 30 years. Suksawa's dedication to preserving ancient Thai art forms and...
An ancient cooper fish hook used to hunt sharks was found on Israeli coasts. Source: Israel Antiquities Authority

6,000-Year-Old Fishhook Indicates Shark Was on the Menu

This ancient copper “fishhook” is the earliest of its type ever discovered in Israel. But this hook wasn’t used for hauling up inshore tiddlers, rather, it was designed for hunting huge sharks off...

Clare Castle, Seat Of Elizabeth De Clare Who Defied Her King

Not all castles are occupied by fairy princesses. In the 14th century, Elizabeth de Clare was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women of her time, who defied her king to defend her lands. Today...
An ancient cooper fish hook used to hunt sharks was found on Israeli coasts. Source: Israel Antiquities Authority

The Final Journey: What Happened When a Roman Soldier Died? (Video)

The Roman Empire was built on the backs of its soldiers , who marched and fought tirelessly to expand its borders and fend off its enemies . But what happened when a Roman soldier died? How did the...
The newly discovered “golden tomb” at the Metsamor necropolis in Armenia. Photo Credit: Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw.

Bronze Age Romeo and Juliet Buried in Loving Embrace in Tomb in Armenia

Archaeologists recently opened a Late Bronze Age (c 1,200 BC) tomb at the huge Metsamor site in Armenia . Inside was a cornucopia of small gold artifacts, including dozens of loose pieces from three...
Aerial view of Sigiriya, Lion Rock, Sri Lanka. Source: Anton Petrus / Adobe Stock.

The Ancient Rock City of Sigiriya: Fit for a King and Built by the Gods

Rising majestically 650 feet (200m) above the Sri Lankan landscape, Sigiriya is an ancient city built on a megalithic rock that has puzzled visitors for centuries. This remote wonder, located in the...
Egyptian warrior with a khopesh. Source: Obsidian Fantasy / Adobe Stock.

Unleashing the Fury of the Khopesh: A Look at Egypt’s Deadliest Weapon (Video)

An often overlooked area of Egyptology is perhaps one of the most important of all, Ancient Egypt’s incredibly impressive military technology . Take for example, the Khopesh - the ultimate weapon of...
From the Codex Mendoza — a father teaches his son the art of war, and a mother teaches her daughter house chores. The speech is in the scroll glyph. (Public Domain)

Codex Mendoza: A Glimpse into the Aztec World

Ever wanted to step back in time to the days of the Aztecs? With the Codex Mendoza, you can. Reading this document takes you back to the mid-16th century, shortly after the Spanish conquest of Mexico...
Traditional copper handicrafts. Source: pinkfloyd YilmazUslu / Adobe Stock.

The Art of Endurance: 11 Ancient Crafts That Have Stood the Test of Time (Video)

The world is a treasure trove of ancient crafts that have been passed down through generations, surviving the test of time and preserving the rich cultural heritage of their origins. From the mole...
Pirate Port facing the sea. Source: Xilon/Adobe Stock

Pirate Havens: 8 of the Most Notorious Pirate Strongholds

Pirates have captured our imagination for centuries with their tales of adventure, daring raids, and hidden treasure. From the Caribbean to the South China Sea, pirates have prowled the high seas,...
A severed hand that was apparently amputated in a trophy taking practice by the Hyksos in Egypt. Source: Gresky, J. et al 2023 / Nature

Severed Hands Reveal Gruesome Trophy-Taking Practices in Ancient Egypt

Twelve severed hands have been discovered in Egypt, part of a gruesome "trophy-taking" practice that has just been revealed in a groundbreaking study. This finding marks the first known physical...

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