Stuff You Missed in History Class — "Unearthed! in Autumn 2025, Part 2"

Release Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Tracy V. Wilson & Holly Frey

Episode Overview

In this episode, Holly and Tracy continue their tradition of sharing fascinating archaeological discoveries from the last several months in their "Unearthed!" series. This Part 2 installment covers a variety of categories—animals, swords, art, shoes, exhumations, and an overflowing haul of shipwrecks. The hosts explore finds both spectacular and strange, blending expert explanations, amusing anecdotes, and memorable quotes throughout.

Key Segments & Findings

"Potpourri" Finds (02:52–08:41)

• Ancient Iron Scale & Greek Weights (Turkey)

  • Archaeologists discovered a 1,600-year-old balance-style scale with a complete set of iron weights shaped like five Greek letters.
  • Multiple scales with Greek letters found in the area; this is the first with a full set.
  • “Things were sold by weight that you might not expect… like, kittens.” —Tracy (03:54)

• Cave Lion Tibia Knife — Neanderthal Multi-tool (Belgium)

  • 130,000-year-old multifunctional tool made from a cave lion bone, possibly by Neanderthals.
  • Described as a "Swiss army knife," though the hosts debate the terminology.
  • “I wonder why they didn’t just call it a multi-tool.” —Holly (04:43)

• Aboriginal Finger Grooves in Wari Brook Cave (Australia)

  • Impressions from fingers left in glittering limestone caves, linked to healing rituals by Gunaikurnai elders.
  • Over 950 grooves, in areas sparkling with luminescent crystals.
  • “They look sort of like if you were sitting at the beach and kind of dragging your fingers through the sand…” —Tracy (07:28)
  • Culturally significant, reflecting transmission of spiritual knowledge.

Animals & Unusual Artifacts (08:41–11:10)

• Romans Adorning Themselves with Fossils

  • Discovery of a trilobite fossil from the Paleozoic era, repurposed as Roman jewelry.

• Bearded Vultures as Accumulators (Spain)

  • Nests with remains from human activity: baskets, ochre-decorated sheep leather, a 650-year-old grass sandal, other footwear, and an undated crossbow bolt.
  • Raises questions about vultures’ role in preserving archaeological material.

Swords and Accidental Archaeology (11:10–12:58)

• Roman Cavalry Swords (Gloucestershire, UK)

  • Metal detectorist finds two damaged Roman swords, sparking a larger dig that reveals a villa and a person buried with an iron arm band (possibly 3,000 years old).

• Medieval Sword Discovery (Warsaw, Poland)

  • Fisherman finds almost-intact sword in a riverbank; temporarily preserved in wet T-shirts until expert advice received.
  • “The fact that it was wrapped in wet T-shirts cracked me up.” —Tracy (12:58)

Art Discoveries (17:20–19:29)

• Porcelain Treasures in UK Thrift Stores

  • Two valuable 19th-century Chinese porcelain pieces with dragon motifs spotted in charity shops, now headed to auction.

• 12,000-Year-Old Rock Engravings (Arabian Desert)

  • Life-sized animal depictions served as practical water source markers; evidence of concurrent human activities at these sites.

• 3,000–4,000-Year-Old Mural (Peru)

  • A large, three-dimensional polychrome mural with fish and plants; possibly ritualistic, marking a sacred water/fertility space.

Shoe Finds and Footwear Mysteries (19:29–22:46)

• Giant Roman Shoes (Magna Roman Fort, UK)

  • Vindolanda Trust unearths unexpectedly large Roman shoes—including one at 32.6 cm (EU 48–49).
  • Debates on whether they belonged to very tall soldiers, were used with thick padding/bandages, or other purposes.

• Medieval Shoes in Oslo (Norway)

  • Over 200 hand-stitched leather shoes found, ranging from worn, patched everyday shoes to ornate examples.

• Roman Hobnail Workshop (Germany)

  • Discovery of over 100 new iron hobnails, used to make military footwear.

Historic Exhumations & Cold Cases (22:46–26:52)

• Potential Exhumation of Sir Thomas More’s Skull (Canterbury, England)

  • Church proposes to conserve More’s skull for the 500th anniversary of his execution; pending ecclesiastical court approval.

• Exhumations Following the Volhynia Massacre (Ukraine/Poland)

  • Ongoing cooperation and requests for additional exhumations by new Polish President, emphasizing historical remembrance.

• Oldest Oregon Unidentified Case — Oak Grove Jane Doe

  • Recent exhumation after her 1946 remains had disappeared for decades.

• Railroad Death Mystery Identified (North Dakota)

  • 1970’s “Unknown Male” identified as William Howard Tate, traced via denture markings; plans for new grave marker.

Shipwrecks Galore (31:25–41:25)

• Mahogany Canoe after Hurricane Ian (Florida, USA)

  • Unusual mahogany-wood canoe—possible Spanish or Caribbean origin, unlike others in Florida collections.

• Golden Age Pirate Ship Found (Madagascar)

  • Wreck of the Nossa Senhora de Cabo, plundered by pirate Olivier Levasseur in 1721, with a trove of goods and religious items.

• Fox River Steamship Wreck (Wisconsin, USA)

  • Underwater archaeologists locate the LW Crane, confirming identity through location and structure.

• "Ghost Ship" FJ King (Lake Michigan, USA)

  • Three-masted schooner lost in 1886 finally located after years of fruitless searching.

• Antikythera Shipwreck Final Excavation (Greece)

  • Ship’s hull excavated for first time; technique findings confirm hull-first construction; new artifacts like a clay mortar and statue fragment recovered.

• The 'Earl of Chatham' Shipwreck Confirmed (Orkney, Scotland)

  • Dendrochronology matches timbers to specific region and period; crew survived 1788 sinking.

• WWII Japanese Destroyer Teruzuki (Solomon Islands)

  • First photographs of wreck, with several other historic Guadalcanal campaign wrecks surveyed.

• HMS Northumberland (Kent, England)

  • Well-preserved 17th-century ship being thoroughly surveyed; connects back to Samuel Pepys’ naval reforms.

• Colonial Waterfront & La Fortuna Privateer (North Carolina, USA)

  • Multiple colonial-era wrecks identified at Brunswick Town Fort Anderson; site threatened by climate-driven erosion.

• Artifacts from HMHS Britannic (Aegean Sea)

  • Sister ship to Titanic; first successful recovery of ship’s bell and navigation light, now under conservation.

Haunted Histories & Creepy Objects (41:25–42:44)

• Gravoir Hairdressing Tool (Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland)

  • 13th-century tool carved from red deer antler, possibly depicting Saint Donna.
  • “It’s reported to be haunted… one of the reported ghosts is nicknamed Carlos and he’s often reported in the gift shop carrying his head.” —Holly (42:16)

• Castle Ghost Lore

  • Tied to ghost stories of the castle, including the mysterious Lady Mary said to haunt the bedrooms.

Listener Mail: How Did Historic Letters Survive? (46:24–48:17)

• Letter Copying Practices
  • Tracy explains how drafts, copying clerks, and early carbon-copy methods all preserved outgoing correspondence before e-mail and photocopiers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Things were sold by weight you might not expect… like, kittens.” —Tracy (03:54)
• “I wonder why they didn’t just call it a multi-tool.” —Holly (04:43)
• “The fact that it was wrapped in wet T-shirts cracked me up.” —Tracy (12:58)
• “And now we’re going to move on to a couple of things about animals.” —Holly (08:41)
• “Let’s give it a whirl, hey.” —Holly, about the accidental shipwreck find (35:52)
• “It’s reported to be haunted… one of the reported ghosts is nicknamed Carlos and he’s often reported in the gift shop carrying his head.” —Holly (42:16)
• “Lies and deception! Tracy has a black cat agenda.” —Holly, teasing about listener mail selection (47:34)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 02:52 Potpourri Finds
• 08:41 Notable Animal-Related Archaeology
• 11:10 Swords and Accidental Archaeology
• 17:20 Art Discoveries
• 19:29 Shoe Finds & Footwear Mysteries
• 22:46 Historic Exhumations & Cold Cases
• 31:25 Shipwreck Bonanza
• 41:25 Haunted Histories & Creepy Objects
• 46:24 Listener Mail: Letter Copying

Tone & Style

Holly and Tracy maintain their signature blend of informational depth, genuine curiosity, and warm, lightly irreverent banter. They present scholarly details accessibly, often inserting playful asides and speculation, especially regarding the practical mysteries behind ancient objects.

Conclusion

This episode is densely packed with discoveries from all corners of the globe and eras of history, emphasizing the diversity and interconnectedness of human experience through the lens of archaeology. The focus on shipwrecks offers a sense of scale, while quirky finds (giant shoes! wet T-shirt sword rescue! ancient glitter caves!) provide humor and humanity. The episode ends with thoughtful reflection on how we preserve history’s everyday records, answering listener questions and sharing tales of beloved cats—proving that history is alive not only in the ground but in our daily lives.