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Category: history

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From the Smithsonian Magazine: If Mount Vesuvius Erupted in August, Why Were Pompeii Victims Wearing Heavy Wool Garments?

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E., it famously blanketed the ancient Roman city of Pompeii in ash and volcanic debris. Based on historical records, researchers have long assumed the volcano erupted in late August—but new research is complicating that timeline.

At least four individuals who died in the natural disaster were wearing clothing made out of thick wool—a fabric often associated with winterwear.

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From the Norwegian news site called News In English: Viking ship mounds proposed as new World Heritage sites.

Norway’s Directorate of Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren) announced on Monday that it is recommending seven burial mounds around the country for inclusion as Unesco World Heritage sites. All are confirmed as containing the remains of Viking ships.

The directorate delivered its recommendation to the government ministry in charge of climate and the environment on Monday. It’s hoping that Norway’s Viking heritage can become the country’s latest inclusion on the World Heritage list.

“The ship burial mounds in Norway are unparalleled in the world,” said Hanna Geiran, who leads the directorate charged with taking care of Norway’s cultural heritage. “The seven we have chosen are the most important from the Viking Age in Norway.”

One of the photos published with this article shows an excavation site, and houses nearby. Can you imagine what it would be like to have a Viking ship excavation site so near to your house?

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From Interesting Engineering: New fingerprint found on Hjortspring boat might help to solve century-old mystery.

New evidence has surfaced on the legendary Hjortspring boat, the oldest wooden plank boat in Scandinavia. Researchers are closer than ever to solving a century-long mystery. Who did the boat belong to?

One can imagine the dramatic crashing of the sea as the innocent Hjortspring forged forward 2,000 years ago. Except, they weren’t alone or benign. In an armada of four, these curve-ended boats, 65 feet long, carried about 80 warriors who had recently attacked the nearby island of Als. A counter-strike was gaining speed, intending to retaliate, and they would win.

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From SciTechDaily: Forgotten eruption could rewrite Black Death origin story.

New research suggests that volcanic eruptions may have triggered climate cooling and famine that pushed Italian city-states to import grain from the Black Sea—unknowingly bringing plague-infected fleas with it.

So maybe your history teacher was wrong, and so was that essay you had to write.

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From archaeologymag.com: 1,500-year-old reindeer hunting system emerges from melting ice in Norway.

A team of archaeologists working high on the Aurlandsfjellet mountain plateau in Vestland County, Norway, has made a fantastic discovery: a remarkably well-preserved 1,500-year-old reindeer trapping system revealed by retreating ice. The discovery, led by Vestland County Council and the University Museum of Bergen, is being hailed as one of Norway’s most significant archaeological finds of 2025. [continue]

There are photos, and details. Archaeology Magazine is fabulous.