Overview of Unearthed! In July 2026, Part 2
This episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class continues the “Unearthed” roundup format, covering a wide range of recent archaeological, historical, manuscript, and bioarchaeological discoveries. The biggest themes are the ongoing recovery of rare texts, surprising evidence from shipwrecks and ancient toilets, and a cluster of new studies challenging old assumptions about Neanderthals. The hosts also close with a brief discussion of a politically charged Smithsonian report and a listener email about Shenandoah National Park and Blackwork embroidery.
Highlights from the Archaeology and Science Roundup
Unexpected finds in ancient waste and artifacts
- Roman toilet remains in Poland revealed not just common parasites, but also Cryptosporidium, described as the earliest reliable evidence of the parasite in Europe and evidence it existed there long before contact with the Americas.
- A 2nd-century glass bottle found in York, England has been identified as an Egyptian kohl bottle, the first and only one of its kind found in Roman Britain.
- Ming Dynasty surgical tools were found to have been treated with a topical numbing agent, likely derived from toxic plants such as monkshood or wolfsbane and processed to reduce their toxicity.
- Analysis of the bones of Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici and Grand Duke Francesco de’ Medici supports the long-held conclusion that both died of malaria, not poison.
Texts, manuscripts, and recovered writings
- A papyrus fragment from Cairo yielded 30 previously unpublished verses by Empedocles, offering a rare direct glimpse at the philosopher’s original work.
- A monk in Poland was found to have preserved two previously unknown sermons by Augustine of Hippo in a 12th-century manuscript.
- Two broken fragments from a Silla-era stele in Gyeongju, South Korea, were digitally matched and reassembled, revealing a previously unreadable character in the inscription.
- A fragment of Homer’s Iliad was discovered under the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy, apparently incorporated intentionally during mummification.
- A secret diplomatic letter from 1496, written by Pedro de Ayala from Scotland, was deciphered and found to contain valuable information about Henry VII, James IV, and John Cabot’s voyages.
- Eight missing John Keats letters to Fanny Brawne were recovered and returned to the Whitney family, along with other books from the Whitney collection.
- New documents established the exact site of Shakespeare’s London house, showing the property was actually on the site now marked by a historical plaque, not merely nearby.
- The oldest known copy of Caedmon’s Hymn was rediscovered in a manuscript of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, showing the Old English version was valued early on.
- The Danish National Museum has begun digitizing its cuneiform tablets, including 4,000-year-old material with medical recipes, magical incantations, royal lists, and even a beer receipt.
- Researchers developed a non-destructive method for analyzing parchment manuscripts using swabbing techniques adapted from human cellular collection.
- Archaeologists found a medieval reusable notebook in a latrine in Germany, likely belonging to a merchant in Paderborn.
- A Roman curse tablet from the Netherlands, written in Greek with Egyptian-style magical language, was deciphered using advanced imaging.
- A Vesuvius scroll was digitally unwrapped and read using AI-assisted imaging, though the hosts emphasized that the real work still depended on human papyrologists.
- The National Library of France identified a previously unknown Mozart manuscript, likely written while he was tutoring a young harpist/composer; the piece was performed publicly just days after the announcement.
Shipwrecks and Maritime Discoveries
- Divers recovered artifacts from the Danabrog, a ship sunk in the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, before the area is developed.
- Spain’s Project Heracles identified 151 archaeological sites in a bay near Gibraltar, including 134 shipwrecks, spanning from the Punic era to the early modern period.
- Off Cornwall, divers may have located the USS Tampa, sunk by a German submarine in 1918 with the loss of 131 sailors.
- The wreck of the USS Herring, a submarine lost in 1944, was confirmed by the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command.
- In a standout sustainability story, researchers in Finland turned wood from a 17th-century shipwreck into fiber, yarn, and finally machine-knit dresses, later displayed in museum exhibitions.
Neanderthals Reframed
This episode devotes a large final section to several new studies that push back against outdated views of Neanderthals as unintelligent scavengers.
Hunting and food use
- A reanalysis of an old German excavation suggests Neanderthals likely hunted a straight-tusked elephant with a wooden spear, rather than merely scavenging it.
- Another study argues Neanderthals hunted European pond turtles, not primarily for food, but to use their shells as tools or containers.
- Fossil rhinoceros teeth show wear consistent with being used as percussion tools, possibly chosen because older teeth were flatter and easier to handle.
Health, cognition, and behavior
- A nearly 60,000-year-old molar shows evidence that a Neanderthal may have undergone tooth drilling to treat an infection, possibly the oldest known successful dental procedure.
- Genetic and anatomical studies suggest Neanderthals may have had language-related capabilities and brain organization more similar to modern humans than once thought.
- Research on infant development indicates Neanderthals may have grown similarly to modern humans in early childhood.
Extinction debates
- One modeling study argues Neanderthal extinction cannot be explained by climate or direct competition alone; social networks among Homo sapiens may have provided a major survival advantage.
- Another paper points to declining genetic diversity as a vulnerability.
- A third study found more genetic diversity than expected in late Neanderthals, showing the debate is still active.
Political and Cultural Commentary
The hosts briefly discuss a 162-page U.S. Domestic Policy Council report attacking the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. They criticize the report as ideologically driven, selective, and whitewashed, and affirm support for historians, archivists, librarians, teachers, and museum professionals working to preserve nuanced and accurate history.
Listener Mail
- A listener named Kiki wrote about:
- visiting a memorial for families displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park,
- a childhood history program that included learning about the park’s creation,
- and enjoying the podcast’s embroidery episodes, especially a reference to Blackwork.
- Kiki also shared a photo of a new cat, Yari, who “ran into the house” and became part of the family.
Main Takeaways
- Archaeology continues to uncover surprising evidence in places as varied as toilets, mummies, manuscripts, and shipwrecks.
- Digital imaging and scientific analysis are increasingly revealing texts and artifacts once thought unreadable.
- Recent Neanderthal research strongly reinforces the idea that they were capable, adaptable, and much closer to Homo sapiens than older stereotypes suggested.
- The episode closes by underscoring the importance of historically honest interpretation over sanitized national narratives.