ARCHAEOLOGY

The Great Sphinx of Giza and the Pyramid of Khafre.

15 Things You Might Not Know About the Great Sphinx of Giza

The ancient Egyptian monument, thought to depict the likeness of the pharaoh Khafre, confounds scholars to this day.

16 Fascinating Facts About ‘Venus de Milo’

There’s much more to this iconic statue than a couple of absent appendages.

The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius destroyed Herculaneum—but may have preserved a lost library of Epicurus's writings.

The Lost Library of Herculaneum: Unravelling the Scrolls That Mount Vesuvius Almost Destroyed

Historians were struck by the tantalizing possibility that this library might contain missing works of some of history’s greatest writers—works thought to have been lost forever.

The Iceman Baldeth: New Genome Analysis Shows Ötzi Had Surprising Ancestry—and Male-Pattern Baldness

Ötzi the Iceman may have gone bald in middle age—but hey, at least he had tattoos.

The Dare Stones: The Elaborate Hoax That “Solved” the Mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke

What really happened to Virginia Dare and the rest of the Lost Colony of Roanoke? In the late 1930s, an enterprising con man claimed to know.

The deck of the Ironton beneath Lake Huron.

Newly-Discovered Lake Huron Shipwreck Paints Grim Picture of Vessel’s Final Moments

After lying at the bottom of Lake Huron for more than a century, the wreck of the ‘Ironton’ has been discovered, confirming its tragic fate.

Today's vintners are creating new wine notes with ancient techniques.

Amphorae Amore: Modern Winemakers Are Bringing Back an Ancient Tradition

The use of amphorae is a callback to the past, anchoring modern wine drinkers to history.

100 Things We Learned in 2022

There’s no better way to wrap up 2022 than by sharing a whopping 100 things we learned this year, from interesting AI developments to unintentional art heists—and, of course, the results of the 2022 Kids’ Mullet Championships.

8 Fascinating Facts About Howard Carter

It’s been a century since Howard Carter discovered the tomb of an obscure Egyptian pharaoh named Tutankhamen, kicking off a period of Egyptomania and a fascination with the pharaoh that endures to this day.

'Tutankhamun & The Golden Age Of The Pharaohs' Exhibition - Press View

15 Pharaonic Objects Buried in Tut's Tomb

Tut's tomb was stuffed to the brim with thousands of objects meant to make his afterlife eternally posh.

The Wreck of the ‘Äpplet’—Sister Ship of Sweden’s Infamous ‘Vasa’—Has Been Found After More Than Three Centuries

‘Äpplet’ had a more successful naval career than its short-lived sibling, the ‘Vasa.’ Studying its wreck could help explain why.

Many on Howard Carter’s (pictured) team fell victim to King Tut’s curse—though Carter himself was spared.

9 Victims of King Tut's Curse (And One Who Should Have Been)

When King Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922, some believed the Egyptian pharaoh unleashed a powerful curse upon all who dared to disturb his eternal slumber.

King Tut’s modern discovery was not without controversy.

9 Controversies Surrounding King Tut

King Tut’s excavation, legacy, and life remain far from settled.

The Rivals Who Cracked the Code of Ancient Egypt’s Hieroglyphs

Following the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, two scholars battled each other to decipher the mysterious Egyptian writing system.

Colonizers did not let the dead rest in peace.

9 Strange Uses for Ancient Egyptian Mummies

In centuries past, mummies were put to a variety of inventive uses: art, commerce, science, entertainment, and possibly even paper making.

Stonehenge was once in the hands of private owners.

Cecil Chubb: The Man Who Bought Stonehenge

Cecil Chubb attended an auction in 1915 and decided Stonehenge would make for a fantastic new family possession.

A piece found in the grave goods of Hatshepsut displayed at National Museum of Antiquities in The Netherlands.

The Rise of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s First Great Female Pharaoh

Hatshepsut seized the reins of power and never let go.

We know a lot about Ancient Egypt, but some things (like hieroglyphs) aren't as clear as you might have thought.

6 Misconceptions About Ancient Egypt

Find out the real deal behind mummies, the truth behind the Sphinx’s nose, and how King Tut probably met his end.

Golden funerary mask of King Tut at the Egyptian Museum.

10 Ways King Tut Influenced Pop Culture

From Steve Martin's 'Saturday Night Live' song to 'The Mummy' movies, King Tut has had an eventful afterlife.

The S.S. 'Arctic' sinking was both a tragedy and a scandal.

6 Valuable Wrecks Still Waiting to Be Found

These mysterious undersea sites might contain millions (or billions) in lost treasure.

A statue of Pocahontas stands near the Jamestown settlement site.

11 Amazing Facts About Jamestown, the First Permanent English Colony in North America

Over several decades beginning in 1607, Jamestown nearly collapsed multiple times as colonists succumbed to disease and famine.

The Tollense Valley battle site contains hundreds of victims.

10 Prehistoric Battle Sites Around the World

We sometimes think human prehistory was much more peaceful than today. But archaeological evidence suggests otherwise.

The great buckle was excavated from the Sutton Hoo ship burial.

12 Incredible Facts About the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial Treasure

One of the most important archaeological discoveries in British history, the Sutton Hoo ship burial contained a hoard of Anglo-Saxon artifacts that transformed our understanding of the "Dark Ages."

A piece of the Titanic's hull on display in San Francisco.

12 Artifacts Brought Up From the 'Titanic'

More than 5500 artifacts have been brought up since the first salvage trip to the 'Titanic' wreckage in 1987.