ARCHAEOLOGY

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.

A shadowy serpent appears at Chichen Itza on the equinox.

10 Enchanting Places That Align with the Spring Equinox

From massive shadow serpents to spectacular sunrises, here are some mesmerizing sites that align with the vernal equinox and herald the first day of spring.

The still-intact wheel of Shackleton's ill-fated vessel.

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 'Endurance' Shipwreck Has Been Found After More Than a Century

Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated ‘Endurance’ sunk 107 years ago near Antarctica, kicking off one of the most thrilling survival stories of all time.

Intestinal Worms Just Helped Researchers Identify an Ancient Roman Chamber Pot

Roughly 1500 years ago, someone in Sicily suffered from intestinal worms. Here’s why researchers are excited about that.

One of the beheaded skeletons in Fleet Marston.

Archaeologists Just Unearthed Dozens of Ancient Beheaded Skeletons in a Tiny British Village

Were they all executed criminals, or were some decapitated after death (possibly to prevent haunting)? Researchers aren’t sure.

The Panagyurishte Treasure's gold phiale is on display in a Bulgarian museum.

11 of the Most Dazzling Hoards Ever Discovered

Stuffed with gold, silver, and precious jewels, these fabulous hoards were buried by people who forgot to retrieve them.

Matayang (pool), Bun_Visit (arm)/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Our 40 Favorite Stories of 2021

From Universal Orlando's wild (and usually inoperable) 'Jaws' ride of the '90s to the very real—and very captive—tiger shark that threw up a human arm and sparked a 1935 murder investigation, the Mental Floss team is sharing some of our favorite stories f

This hand contains one of Saint Nicholas’s fingers.

7 Places You Can See St. Nicholas's Bones

Over the centuries, relic fragments of what are said to be St. Nick’s bones have been acquired by an impressive number of churches around the world.

6 Misconceptions About the Vikings

From those famous horned helmets to the vaunted fiery funerals, we're busting your favorite Viking misconceptions.

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