History

In 1872, New York’s devastating epizootic gave the ASPCA’s young founder a powerful moral argument for animal protection

Another archaeological cold case solved

A new technique could unlock the secrets of the Herculaneum scrolls

Introducing the “natural kiln hypothesis”

The practice exploded in popularity following the Norman Conquest

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

Autocracy wasn’t inevitable in early civilizations—many were more egalitarian. But when riches were there to monopolize, strongmen and inequalities emerged

The maritime disaster of 1912 wasn’t fully understood until the shipwreck was rediscovered

Such delicate textiles typically decompose within a few years

Classics researchers think it was part of a reference booklet traveling officials carried with them

The statue dates back 2,500 years, and offers researchers clues about the culture of the period

But their dental hygiene may leave something to be desired