History
The Brutal Origins of Bear-Baiting
The practice exploded in popularity following the Norman Conquest
Rope, Twine and Thread: Invisible Technologies of the Stone Age
Missing from the archaeological record, fiber innovations like string played a huge role in the daily lives of our ancestors. Researchers are working to weave together new insights from the traces they left behind
What Archaeology Reveals About the Rise of All-Powerful Rulers
Autocracy wasn’t inevitable in early civilizations—many were more egalitarian. But when riches were there to monopolize, strongmen and inequalities emerged
40 Years Ago, Oceanographers Found the Wreckage of the RMS Titanic
The maritime disaster of 1912 wasn’t fully understood until the shipwreck was rediscovered
This Viking Dress Survived for 1,300 Years, Protected by Its Metal Ornaments
Such delicate textiles typically decompose within a few years
An Expert Pieced Together This Roman Document Like a Jigsaw Puzzle. You’ll Never Guess What It’s About
Classics researchers think it was part of a reference booklet traveling officials carried with them
Archaeologists Just Found a Fascinating Ancient Statue—Used as a Paving Stone in a Roman Road
The statue dates back 2,500 years, and offers researchers clues about the culture of the period
The Kitchen of the Realm: Even the Commoners Ate Well in Ancient Osaka
But their dental hygiene may leave something to be desired
How the Ancient Greeks Interpreted Their Dreams
Certain concepts such as metaphor may derive from early dream interpretation
The Return of a Discredited Pseudoscience
Eugenics is rearing its ugly head again in today’s crucible of politics and culture
