STONES, BONES, AND WRECKS

A reconstruction of Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum in Italy.

13 Cool Facts About Ötzi the Iceman

Nicknamed Ötzi the Iceman, the mummified man was around 40–50 years old when he died in the Copper Age. Here are 13 surprising facts about him.

A 1790 painting of the mutiny on the 'Bounty' by Robert Dodd.

5 of History’s Most Horrible Mutinies

The mutiny on the 'Bounty' has inspired multiple movies, but the 'Hermione' revolt was way bloodier.

Not 'The Defender,' but we needed to show you something.

A Century-Old Experimental Submarine, 'The Defender,' Is Found 'Hiding in Plain Sight' in Long Island Sound

The peculiar sub had wheels and other innovative features.

Don't be afraid to throw around a curse or two!

7 Ancient Roman Curses You Can Work into Modern Life

"Never do better than the mime."

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.

Barnum Brown changed paleontology and pop culture forever by discovering Tyrannosaurus rex.

How Barnum Brown Discovered ‘T. rex’ and Became History’s Greatest Fossil Hunter

Like his most famous discovery, fossil hunter Barnum Brown was larger than life.

70 Huge Facts About the ‘Titanic’

The 'Titanic' sinking became the most infamous shipwreck in history—but what really happened on that unusually calm night in the North Atlantic?

Woolly mammoths may have existed alongside humans for millennia, according to one study.

How Mammoth Poop Is Changing What We Know About Their Extinction

When did woolly mammoths go extinct? Their fossilized bones say one thing, but their poop paints a messier picture.

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.

The wreck of the RMS Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Watch Newly Released Footage of the ‘Titanic’ Wreck Shot in 1986

In honor of the 25th anniversary of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic,’ WHOI has released never-before-seen footage of the real-life shipwreck.

12 Memorable Facts About the S.S. ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’

More than 40 years after the most famous ship in Great Lakes history vanished during a storm, the cause is still a mystery.

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.

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.

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.

See 'Titanic' in Mesmerizing 8K—the Highest Resolution Ever Captured of the Wreck

The new footage shows details of the 'Titanic' wreck that have never been captured on film before.

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.

Some priceless pieces were found by amateurs.

10 Rediscovered British Treasures

From the Alfred Jewel to the Sutton Hoo treasure, these priceless artifacts made for some royally exciting finds.

A number of Fabergé eggs owned by the Romanov family (though not this one) disappeared after the Russian Revolution.

9 Valuable Lost Treasures

From lost pieces of media to irreplaceable works of art to literal pirate booty, these are the amazing and tragic stories behind valuables that seem to be gone forever.

'The Wreck of the 'Gloucester' off Yarmouth, 6 May 1682' by Johan Danckerts circa 1682.

The Shipwreck of HMS ‘Gloucester’—Whose Sinking Nearly Killed James II—Has Been Found After More Than 300 Years

Ships sank all the time in 17th-century Britain. But this one carried the future James II—and the tragedy was partially his fault.

12 Fascinating Things Found in Shipwrecks

From seriously aged cheese to the world’s first analog computer, shipwrecks have produced some fascinating—and sometimes disgusting—artifacts.

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."

Blondel's 'La Circassienne au Bain' went down with 'Titanic.' This reproduction of the painting by John Parker has been placed in a frame.

9 Fascinating Items That Went Down With 'Titanic'

Priceless manuscripts, rare art, and jewelry all sank with the ship.

Grimm Prospects: Jack Grimm, the Eccentric Billionaire Hell-Bent On Finding the 'Titanic,' Bigfoot, and Noah's Ark

The oil tycoon tried to use a monkey named Titan to help find the sunken ship.

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.

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