The death of a woolly mammoth provides the building material for a prehistoric storage space. A tsunami in Japan puts... more

In the Middle Ages, people source ingenious ingredients to tackle stubborn stains. Henry VIII’s laundry risks causing a scandal. The... more

A prehistoric pot from Japan inspires a fingerprinting technique used by modern detectives. A whole city is built from waste... more

Vigilantes chase a thief through the streets of medieval Winchester. A French king creates one of the world’s first gated communities. Villagers... more

The world’s oldest breadcrumbs are discovered in Jordan. Ryebread causes a devastating disease in medieval Germany. In 18th-century France, the rising price... more

In ancient Korea, ingenious underfloor heating is invented. A king in dire financial straits institutes a controversial tax on fireplaces.... more

A medieval countess swoons over tales of courtly love. Georgian families amuse themselves by playing ‘bullet pudding’. Victorian writers do... more

A miniature sundial survives the destruction of Pompeii. The most elaborate clock the world has ever seen is constructed in 11th-century China.... more

Fleas spell disaster for people living in the Middle Ages. The inhabitants of an ancient Iraqi city hurl scorpions at... more

A Roman emperor terrifies his guests with a macabre dining room display. At a feast in Norway, drunk Vikings engage... more