A cobalt mine in Cheshire, England, was recently uncovered by members of the Derbyshire Caving Club. It seems that the mine had operated in the early 19th century and was since then sealed off from oxygen, making it a time capsule for the artifacts of the workers who abandoned it one day. This discovery will shed a brighter light on what mining was 200 years ago. The 19th Century Mine...

Despite their reputation for being ruthless warriors and cunning tradesmen, historians are still struggling to piece together the mystery surrounding Viking history. Since Vikings couldn’t read or write, there aren’t many written documents to tell their story. That’s why historians rely on any and all artifacts they can find. Recently, a metal detectorist unearthed a tiny silver coin in Hungary that was marked with the name of a prominent Viking...

What do Jenne-Jeno, Alexandria, Meroë, and Thonis-Heracleion have in common? All four cities were once the jewels of ancient Africa. They were centers of wealth and sophistication, which allowed their continent to flourish. Unfortunately, as time passed, their fortunes began to wane, which led to their decline. Although their splendors have disappeared from sight, archaeology is now shedding light on their once glorious and magnificent past. 1. Thonis-Heracleion — Africa’s...

A ceramic vessel was recently found in Jerusalem that contained chemical residues that seem likely to have originated from explosives. The vessel was dated to the 12th century and represented a sort of medieval hand grenade that was likely used by Saladin's forces at the Siege of Jerusalem in 1187. The recent discovery has practically supported claims that hand-held explosive devices were, in fact, used during the Crusades. Apparently, the...

The musketeers were made famous by French author Alexandre Dumas, who published a historical adventure novel called The Three Musketeers in 1844. Since then, the stories of the valiant French soldiers have inspired numerous movies, plays, and television shows. Despite their popularity, few people know that Dumas’ heroes are actually based on real historical figures. Meet the Real Three Musketeers Henri d’Aramitz Born circa 1620 to an old aristocratic family,...

A hungry badger helped Spanish archeologists discover hundreds of ancient Roman coins in a small cave in the woodlands outside of Grado. According to experts, the animal must have unearthed the treasure after venturing into the cave to find food since it couldn’t find any after a heavy snowstorm. The Badger Had Left a Crumb Trail of Coins Archeologists first noticed several coins laying on the ground near the entrance...