We all love a good archaeological discovery. Every time something significant is found in the ground, it tells us a little more about the places and people who existed before us, and laid the foundations of the lives we enjoy today. An archaeological discovery doesn’t have to be ancient in order for it to be amazing - it just has to make you sit back and say ‘wow.’ Every discovery you’re about to see in today’s list has the ‘wow’ factor, so enjoy this collection of spectacular archaeological finds from all over the world!
The Fall of Constantinople 1453
On Easter Monday in 1453, an Ottoman army led by the young and ambitious Sultan Mehmed II arrived at the gates of the Byzantine capital Constantinople. This marked the beginning of a siege characterized by the determination of leaders, a city with extraordinary fortifications, and the most extensive siege artillery the world had seen to this day. The fall of Constantinople was a true watershed in history. It cemented the position of the Ottoman empire as the major power in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean and it ended the long chapter of Roman history for good. The Roman Empire had in some ways outlasted the so-called fall of Rome in 476AD almost for a thousand years as it continued to exist as what we nowadays call the Byzantine Empire.
Up to this day thousands of pages have been written on the fall, or conquest, of Constantinople, and barely any other siege in history has received more attention by scholars and history buffs alike. In this video we tell the story of the staggering siege of Constantinople by weaving together the insights of the most recent scholarly literature. This required – given the many controversies about this siege - quite a lot of reading.
The continuing discoveries at Pompeii
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the erupting Mt. Vesuvius covered the bustling Roman metropolis of Pompeii in volcanic ash. Archaeologists are still uncovering buried portions of the city, piecing together a tantalizing puzzle about life before the disaster. Correspondent Seth Doane reports. Enjoy!
Hercules faces the Mighty Cretan Bull - The 12 Labors of Hercules
In today’s video we will be talking about the capture the Cretan Bull, one of the 12 labors of Hercules. Watch the video below to find out more!
San José galleon: Two new shipwrecks found off Colombian coast
Colombian naval officials monitoring a sunken Spanish ship laden with treasure have discovered two other historical shipwrecks nearby, President Iván Duque has announced.
The San José galleon was sunk by the British in 1708 near Colombia's Caribbean port of Cartagena.
The wreckage was located in 2015.
It has been described as the holy grail of shipwrecks, as the ship was carrying one of the largest amounts of valuables ever to have been lost at sea.
A remotely operated vehicle filming the wreckage has now discovered two other nearby wrecks - a colonial boat and a schooner thought to be from around the same period as Colombia's war for independence from Spain, some 200 years ago.
"We now have two other discoveries in the same area, that show other options for archaeological exploration," navy commander Admiral Gabriel Pérez said. "So the work is just beginning."
The new images offer the clearest view yet of the treasure aboard the San José - including gold ingots and coins, cannons made in Seville in 1655 and an intact Chinese dinner service.
Archaeologists are working to find out the origin of the plates based on inscriptions, officials said.
Ownership of the wreck has been the subject of a long-running legal row.
Spain says the ship and treasures are a "ship of state" as it belonged to the Spanish navy when it was sunk and is protected as such by United Nations regulations.
10 Terrifying Places Science Still Can't Explain
How to Learn More about the Earth. The scientific community has made great strides in discovering a lot about the planet we call home. Yet there’s still so much we don’t know! In this video, we’ll tell you about 10 of the most mysterious and bewildering places on Earth that even scientists can’t explain! Magnetic Hill, Skeleton Lake, Boiling River and a Dancing Forest. Plus, some mysterious waters where ships disappear.
Why Dodos Actually Went Extinct
Part one of three! Most people know only two things when it comes to the dodo: they were stupid, and now they are extinct. But this simplistic view leaves out the full picture. In this video, we're exploring the many reasons why dodos ended up extinct, as well as the larger evolutionary forces at play.
Inside The First Ever Pyramid of Egypt | The Nile: Egypt's Greatest River
Travel with us along the Nile to see The Great Pyramid of Giza which, is the only remaining of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Bettany Hughes gazes inside the first-ever pyramid as well as seeing the mummy of Tutankhamun's Grandmother! Watch on to see Bettany set sight on the Egyptian Pharaoh Tombs!
History's 10 Most Ruthless Queens and Brutal Rulers
When most people picture a dictator, the first thought that comes to mind is usually of a strongman in military regalia. Seldom does one picture a dictator as a woman, and for good reason. There really hasn't been a female dictator in the modern sense of the word, but that doesn't mean that powerful women throughout history have never ruled with an iron fist. In fact, some of the most famous queens and female rulers in history have committed cruelties on par with their male counterparts.
What Hygiene Was Like During the Black Plague
What was hygiene like during the Black Death? In the 14th century, the bubonic plague swept through Europe, wiping out as many as 50 million people - or more than half the continent. During this time, it was common for people to dump their chamber pots in the streets and sleep on dirty straw. These unsanitary practices attracted rodents and spread disease. Could better hygiene have prevented the black plague?
5 More Ancient Mysteries We Still Haven't Solved
In the video below we will analyze 5 ancient mysteries that we still haven’t solved. Watch the video to find out more!
Randall Carlson & Graham Hancock on Lost Technology and the Great Pyramids
In the following video we will see Randall Carlson and Graham Hancock talking about lost technology and the Great Pyramids. Enjoy!
13 Bizarre Pirate Traditions Most People Don't Know About
Pirates have a reputation--admittedly earned--for being ruthless, bloodthirsty killers. Life on the high seas demanded so much of those willing to brave it that it became customary for new pirates to develop an honorable accord.
Pirates had a surprisingly complex culture, and what’s crazier to us is that movies have barely scratched the surface of their traditions.
Scientists' Terrifying New Discovery In Brazil That Changes Everything
Have you heard about the Ilha da Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island before? Join us in the video below as we explore a new terrifying discovery made by scientists, that changes everything. Enjoy!
15 Unsolved Mysteries That Cannot Be Explained | Compilation
There is nothing more tantalising to the human species than a good mystery. Thrillers in the forms of novels, movies, and even campfire tales are often consumed by the thousands who love the adrenaline rush of solving a mystery. However, some of the most pervasive mysteries are those that occur in real life, and these are the ones that are often most difficult to solve.
So today, we take a look at these 15 unsolved mysteries that cannot be explained!
The Most Distant Places Visited by the Romans
The Romans sailed south to Zanzibar, north to the Hebrides, and east to China. This video surveys the most distant places they explored. Enjoy!
360° VR - Terrifying Sea Creatures
Are you brave enough to venture deep into the ocean and discover creatures from the past and present? How many creatures did you spot? Watch out for the Plesiosaur and Pliosaur! Also the wild Kyogre?
Dead Animals Scientists Are Going To Revive
Here are some amazing ancient and extinct animals that no longer roam the earth, but that scientists are very close to reviving and bringing back to life! From giant woolly mammoths to moas and dodo birds!
Swimming With Giants 360
Earth’s oceans have been home to giant animals for hundreds of millions of years. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to swim with some of these giants? Watch the video below and enjoy!
The Fascinating Wildlife in Deep Mountain Lakes
Germany’s inland waterways, rivers, streams and lakes are a colourful and, in some cases, virtually untouched natural refuge. Hardly any two bodies of water are the same. A magical delve into their depths provides insights into bizarre and often completely unknown worlds. From a microcosm of millions of tiny dancing organisms, to exotic immigrants, to the giants of the deep – sturgeon and sheatfish, our largest native freshwater fish. An unusual expedition takes audiences from the snow-capped peaks and glaciers of the Alps, to the Mittelgebirge low mountain range, to the North Sea, showing perhaps the most colourful side of Germany’s natural world, but certainly the least known: our local waters.
The journey begins at the Watzmann mountain. Every year, tiny drops are released from the ceiling of the Eiskapelle (“Ice Chapel”), collectively forming streamlets, before thundering their way into the valley as the Eisbach river. The Röthbach, fed by vast quantities of snowmelt, similarly crashes down 475 m as Germany’s highest waterfall, before petering out at the foot of the mountain massif. Watch the video to find out more!
