Ancient History
Lost civilizations, forgotten empires, and the archaeological discoveries that rewrite what we thought we knew about the past.
125 articlesLatest Ancient History
Temporary Solutions That Never Went Away
From income tax to the Korean War armistice, discover how history's "temporary" emergency measures became permanent fixtures of law, politics, and society.
Archaeologists Just Found 1,000 Roman Artefacts in a Swiss Lake
Over 1,000 Roman artifacts were discovered in Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, including pottery, swords, and a chariot—revealing a military cargo ship that sank nearly 2,000 years ago.
Archaeological "Discoveries"...That Were All Lies.
From the Newport Tower's Viking myths to Oak Island's endless treasure hunt, explore five archaeological "discoveries" that captured global attention only to disappoint when the truth emerged.
Discoveries That Proved Historians Wrong About the Persian Empire
Archaeological evidence and modern scholarship reveal how Greek propaganda distorted our understanding of the Achaemenid Persian Empire's governance, military, women's rights, and eventual fall.
The Discoveries That Proved Everything Wrong About the Vikings
Archaeological discoveries have shattered our stereotypes about Vikings. From female warriors and advanced legal systems to global trade networks and surprising cleanliness, the real Norse people were far more complex than legend suggests.
The Insane City Located Beneath Beijing...
Discover Dixia Cheng, the massive underground city built beneath Beijing during the Cold War to shelter millions from Soviet nuclear attack, and its strange afterlife as housing for China's poor.
SideProjects Insider
The weekly dispatch for curious builders — what gets made, what goes wrong, and what to try next.
Builders, tinkerers, and curious minds subscribed
- Weekly dispatch
- Lesser-known tales and side narratives
- The stories behind the bigger stories
- Behind-the-scenes notes from Simon
More in Ancient History
5 Strange Military Traditions from Around the World
Discover five bizarre military traditions from across the globe, from Chile's German-inspired uniforms and Norway's penguin major general to the Whisky War and the dramatic Attari-Wagah border ceremony.
The Most Shocking ALLIED War Crimes
Explore five of the worst war crimes committed by the Allies in World War II, from Japanese-American internment to the bombing of Dresden.
Darkest Things About the Dark Ages
Explore the brutal realities of life in the Dark Ages, from feudal exploitation and medical horrors to torture devices and culinary nightmares in medieval Europe.
Priceless Ancient Sites Destroyed by War
Discover how warfare destroyed five irreplaceable ancient sites, from China's Old Summer Palace and India's Nalanda University to Syria's Palmyra, Ypres, and Athens' Parthenon.
5 Weird Things About Everyday Life in the Soviet Union
Discover the bizarre realities of daily life in the Soviet Union, from the bureaucratic nightmare of car ownership and militarized schools to the strange prestige of being a taxi driver.
War Myths You Believe Because of the Movies
From infinite ammo to perfect hearing in firefights, discover the most common war movie inaccuracies that have shaped public perception of combat.