During the frigid winters of Scandinavia, it’s no wonder that ancient people looked to a goddess who embodied the harsh beauty of the frozen landscape. Skadi (Skaði), the formidable deity of winter, ...

The 19th century was the golden age for con men. Quacks could ride into town and promise that a swig of their medicine could cure any ailment. These charlatans became known as snake oil salesmen. But ...

The rise of industrialism in the decades following the Civil War brought untold wealth to the United States. But beneath the lavish lifestyles of the robber barons, millions of Americans were living ...

Two sets of iron shackles were found at the site of an ancient gold mine in Egypt, highlighting the human cost of gold mining in the Ptolemaic era. The shackles were discovered at Ghozza, the ...

Archaeologists always knew that there had been a 13th-century castle on the site of Rusovce Manor House just outside of Bratislava, Slovakia. But during recent renovation works at the historical ...

In modern times, the term Pax Romana — a period spanning from 27 B.C.E. to 180 C.E. — may seem inaccurate, especially since there was some violence and unrest during the era. However, for many ancient ...

Light skin is a relatively recent feature of Europeans, according to a groundbreaking new study. While prior research has shown that many prehistoric humans across the continent had darker skin tones, ...

From Antarctica's remote Vostok Station to the bustling Russian city of Yakutsk, these places frequently see temperatures drop well below zero and are covered in snow and ice for the majority of the ...

For decades, a little-known war raged in the Arctic. Called the “Whiskey War” or the “Liquor Wars,” it was fought over a tiny piece of uninhabited land called Hans Island, located between Canada and ...

Today, Greco-Roman statues are striking in their simplicity due to their stark white coloring and blank eyes. But, during antiquity, these statues were actually brightly colored — and, as explored in ...

Archaeologists have long known that Langmannersdorf an der Perschling in Lower Austria was rich with mammoth remains. However, a recent excavation of the site surpassed all expectations. During this ...

Of all the esteemed warriors in Viking history, few reached the renown of Björn Ironside. Like his father, Ragnar Lothbrok, Björn appears frequently in old Viking legends and Scandinavian histories — ...