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
Priceless Artifacts Destroyed by Human Stupidity
From dynamiting ancient Troy to bulldozing Maya temples and Taliban destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, explore how human ignorance and carelessness have wiped out irreplaceable cultural treasures.
The Halifax Explosion #shorts
In 1917, a collision in Halifax Harbor between the SS Imo and the ammunition-laden SS Mont-Blanc triggered the largest man-made explosion before Hiroshima, killing 1,600 people instantly and devastating the Canadian city.
History’s Most Brutal Cultures
Explore history's most brutal cultures, from Viking berserkers and the blood eagle to Pol Pot's Cambodian genocide and the Assyrian Empire's weaponized terror.
Intriguing Archaeological Finds from Prehistoric Times
Explore fascinating prehistoric discoveries including Ötzi the Iceman, the Lascaux Cave Paintings, and the Olmec Colossal Heads, and what they reveal about ancient civilizations.
Ancient Civilizations Youve Probably Never Heard Of
Discover overlooked ancient civilizations including the Nok of West Africa, Europe's Vinča culture, Peru's Caral-Supe, and Vietnam's Dong Son bronze workers.
The Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions in History #shorts
Discover the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, from Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii to the global catastrophe of Mount Tambora's 1815 eruption.