STONES, BONES, AND WRECKS

A replica of Paleolithic cave drawings of deer, horses, and aurochs, dating to 15,000 BCE, from Lascaux cave in France.

7 Misconceptions About the Stone Age

The Stone Age timeline encompasses a huge chunk of prehistory—and life wasn’t only about hunting and gathering.

The ruins of the Maya settlement Palenque in Mexico.

5 Civilizations Destroyed by Climate Change

The changing climate did not bode well for Khmer Empire, the Maya Civilization, and more ancient cultures.

Tollund Man on display at the Silkeborg Museum, Denmark.

A Brief History of Bog Bodies

The bodies of Iron Age Europeans are so well preserved in peat bogs that they’re sometimes mistaken for modern murder victims.

This $45 Million Stegosaurus Is Now the Most Expensive Fossil Ever Sold at Auction

"Apex" is among the most complete Stegosaurus specimens ever discovered.

A portion of the preserved Maya village Joya de Ceren (“Jewel of Ceren”) under a protective roof.

The “New World Pompeii”: 10 Fascinating Facts about the Maya Village of Joya de Ceren

Buried by a volcanic eruption 1400 years ago, well-preserved remains of the Maya village in modern-day El Salvador have earned a provocative nickname: The Pompeii of the New World.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, at sunset, c26th century BC.

Egypt’s Giza Pyramids Might Have Been Built Next To A Now-Vanished River

A recent study claims that the pyramids of Giza were constructed alongside an almost 40-mile long artery of the Nile river that no longer exists today.

The mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’ has confounded historians for more 150 years.

The Unsolved Mystery of the ‘Mary Celeste’

What really happened to the crew of the ‘Mary Celeste’? Delve into the theories and speculation surrounding this enduring maritime mystery.

Recreated Viking sod houses behind a wooden fence at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada.

10 Facts About L’Anse aux Meadows, North America’s Only Viking Ruins

Discover the mysteries of L’Anse aux Meadows, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America.

The massive megafauna of the Ice Age / Getty / VICTOR HABBICK VISIONS/SPL

Misconceptions About the Ice Age

In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd thaws out a few myths about the ice age, from the idea that Earth was once frozen solid to what actually caused the mammoths’ extinction.

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.

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.

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