Uncovering the Culture of Bronze Age Logboats

The advent of metal tools created demand for a European trade network—and boats to deliver the goods.

Jan 20, 2016 | 750 words, about 3 minutes

What History Gives, the Sea Steals

In Scotland and around the world, archaeologists rush to understand ancient sites that climate change is both revealing and washing away.

Jan 12, 2016 | 1,900 words, about 9 minutes

Real Sunken Cities

These five sunken cities testify to the risks of coastal life.

Jan 11, 2016 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

The Civilizing Power of Nature

Science writer Andrew Lawler probes new ideas about how El Niño transformed ancient human societies—and what this means for our future.

Nov 30, 2015 | 2,000 words, about 10 minutes

Was Pottery Invented to Process Fish?

Wherever researchers look, the advent of pottery always seems connected to fish.

Nov 17, 2015 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Secrets of a Small Island

Before Europeans arrived, California’s Santa Cruz Island was an economic powerhouse for the Chumash people.

Nov 9, 2015 | 3,200 words, about 16 minutes

A Swedish Island’s Rare Balancing Act

On Öland, humans and grazing cattle have created a haven of biodiversity and preserved it for thousands of years.

Oct 13, 2015 | 3,300 words, about 16 minutes

The Great Quake and the Great Drowning

Mega-quakes have periodically rocked North America’s Pacific Northwest. Indigenous people told terrifying stories about the devastation but refused to leave.

Sep 14, 2015 | 3,100 words, about 15 minutes