Unearthed! in July 2025, Part 2

Summary

Unearthed! in July 2025, Part 2 – Detailed Summary

Released July 23, 2025 by Stuff You Missed in History Class via iHeartPodcasts

In this episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, hosts Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson explore a myriad of fascinating historical discoveries and research findings. Structured into distinct sections, this installment—Unearthed! in July 2025, Part 2—delves deep into topics ranging from ancient DNA studies to remarkable shipwreck discoveries, and from historic culinary practices to significant exhumations. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented during the episode.

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Potpourri

1. DNA Connections Between Picures Pueblo and Chaco Canyon [03:31 – 04:56]

Tracy introduces groundbreaking DNA research conducted at the request of the Picures Pueblo, which confirms ancestral ties to sites in and near Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. The study compared DNA from 16 individuals who lived between 1300 and 1500 AD with that of 13 contemporary Picures Pueblo members, incorporating oral histories to enrich the findings.

Tracy V. Wilson [03:56]: "DNA research can be really controversial among Indigenous communities... However, in this case, Pueblo members and leaders wanted to use this as a tool to have a greater say in what happens in Chaco Canyon."

This collaboration aims to empower the Pueblo community in decision-making processes regarding environmental concerns like oil and gas drilling, while also striving to bridge gaps in their oral histories.

2. Ancient Seafaring in Malta [04:56 – 05:39]

Holly discusses the discovery of stone tools, food waste, and hearths in a Maltese cave, dating back approximately 8,500 years. The findings indicate evidence of cooking and eating both marine animals and now-extinct mammals, suggesting that ancient peoples undertook long-distance seafaring voyages—covering roughly 62 miles of open water—in dugout canoes. This discovery pushes back the timeline for known long-distance ocean voyages, highlighting the advanced maritime capabilities of early humans.

3. Neanderthal Fingerprint in Spain [05:39 – 07:18]

Tracy highlights a remarkable find in Central Spain: a distinctive red ochre fingerprint on a rock, believed to have been made by an adult male Neanderthal over 42,000 years ago. The fingerprint is thought to represent an abstract depiction of a face, potentially marking the rock's "nose."

Tracy V. Wilson [06:35]: "Maybe that Neanderthal put the dot there to add to that effect, marking the end of the rock's nose."

This discovery raises intriguing questions about Neanderthal cognitive abilities and their capacity for abstract and symbolic thought.

4. Roman Soldier’s Wrist Purse in Czech Republic [07:18 – 09:48]

Archaeologists unearthed a bronze wrist purse from a Roman soldier, approximately 1,800 years old, in an area not under direct Roman control during that period. The purse, resembling a money box, could have held up to 50 silver denarii, equivalent to nearly a year's pay for a common soldier. The presence of such a purse in this region suggests it may have belonged to an officer or someone requiring larger sums of money for their duties.

Tracy V. Wilson [08:03]: "This might have belonged to an officer or to someone whose duties required that they carry larger amounts of money."

5. Byzantine-Era Bucket at Sutton Hoo [09:48 – 10:06]

An ornate Byzantine bucket, predating the Sutton Hoo burial site's historical use, was discovered and identified as the Broomswell Bucket. Initially thought to be a diplomatic gift, recent excavations revealed it was repurposed as a cremation vessel, containing cremated human and animal remains, likely a horse. This finding provides deeper insights into the burial practices and cultural exchanges of the period.

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Shipwrecks

1. Car Found on USS Yorktown [10:16 – 11:38]

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) discovered a 1940s Ford car in the aft hangar deck of the USS Yorktown, a carrier sunk during the Battle of Midway in World War II (1942). The vehicle, marked with "ship, service, navy," appears to be a civilian model, leading to speculation about its presence aboard a military vessel.

Tracy V. Wilson [10:42]: "It's possible that this was a car that officers of the ship would use while the ship was in port."

2. Medieval Ship Hull in Barcelona [11:38 – 12:24]

Archaeologists in Barcelona uncovered the hull of a medieval ship dating back to the 15th or 16th centuries near Ciutadella Park. Comprising approximately 30 wooden ribs, the vessel is believed to have originated from present-day Turkey, indicating extensive trade routes and cultural exchanges during that era. Preservation efforts are underway to conserve the waterlogged remains.

3. Kunning Willem de Tweed Wreck in South Australia [12:24 – 13:57]

Off the coast of South Australia, researchers identified the wreck of the Kunning Willem de Tweed, a Dutch merchant ship that sank in a storm in 1857, resulting in the loss of 16 out of 25 crew members. Notably, the ship had recently transported around 400 Chinese miners during a gold rush, highlighting the maritime links between Europe and Asia in the mid-19th century.

4. USS F1 Submarine Discovery [13:57 – 14:41]

An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) located the USS F1, a submarine that sank in 1917 during a training exercise, resulting in the deaths of all 19 personnel aboard. The wreck is remarkably intact for its age, and the high-resolution imagery captured has been utilized to create a detailed 3D digital model for further study and preservation.

5. San Jose Wreck Confirmation [14:41 – 15:38]

The San Jose, a Spanish galley sunk in 1708, has been conclusively identified through the analysis of onboard cob coins and Chinese porcelain. Published in the journal Antiquity, this confirmation solidifies decades of hypothesis and investigation, underscoring the ship's role in early 18th-century transoceanic trade.

Tracy V. Wilson [15:38]: "When I got into this part of the research I was like, what do you mean confirmed? We've been talking about this shipwreck for a decade."

6. French Wreck in Deep Waters [15:38 – 16:40]

A 500-year-old shipwreck was discovered in the deepest parts of French waters. Identified through sonar as part of routine underwater surveying by the French Navy, the wreck contains hundreds of ceramic pots. While its depth offers protection from looting, the presence of modern debris like a presumably beer can highlights ongoing environmental challenges.

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Edibles and Potables

1. Oldest Vanilla Pod in Europe [21:46 – 22:26]

Excavations at Prague Castle revealed Europe's oldest vanilla pod, dating between the early 16th and mid-17th centuries. Originating from Mesoamerica, the pod underscores the complexities of early spice trade routes dominated by Spain and Portugal. Given vanilla's rarity during this period, it was likely prized for alchemical experiments rather than culinary uses.

2. Domestication of Grape Vines in Italy [22:26 – 23:38]

Research published in PLOS ONE traces the domestication of grapevines in Italy, a process spanning roughly 1000 BCE to 600 CE. Analysis of over 1,700 grape seeds from 25 archaeological sites reveals a gradual transition from wild to domesticated varieties, with continual experimentation and mixing by ancient growers to develop diverse grape breeds.

3. 5,300-Year-Old Bread in Turkey [23:38 – 24:16]

At Kuloba Mound in Turkey, archaeologists unearthed a nearly intact loaf of bread from 5,300 years ago, made primarily from wild emmer wheat and lentils. The dough was fermented before baking, demonstrating early advancements in bread-making techniques. The loaf is now showcased at the Esciseje Archaeological Museum, inspiring contemporary recreations using similar recipes.

Holly Fry [24:16]: "This bread was made from wild emmer wheat as well as lentils, and the dough was fermented before it was baked."

4. Roman Culinary Practices in Mallorca [24:16 – 25:39]

Studies in Palencia, Mallorca indicate that fried thrushes were consumed not only in lavish Roman banquets but also by the working class. Analysis of animal bones in cesspits linked to tabernas (Roman fast food establishments) showed a variety of food waste, including thrush bones, suggesting democratized access to what was once considered a delicacy.

5. Great Bustards in Northern Morocco [25:39 – 26:28]

Research published in Ibis: International Journal of Avian Science reveals that 15,000-year-old inhabitants of northern Morocco partook in feasting and burying great bustards during funerary rituals. This practice highlights the cultural significance of these large birds, paralleling current conservation efforts to protect the critically endangered modern population.

6. Ancient Agricultural Site in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula [26:28 – 27:21]

Collaborative research by Dartmouth College and the Menominee tribal authorities uncovered one of the most complete ancient agricultural sites in the eastern United States. Using drones and remote sensing, archaeologists identified extensive ringed garden beds used from the 10th century over six centuries, cultivating maize, beans, and squash—the revered "Three Sisters" of indigenous agriculture.

7. Early Meat Smoking Hypothesis [27:21 – 28:49]

A study in Frontiers in Nutrition proposes that early humans may have begun smoking meat a million years ago to preserve large quantities, supplementing individual meal preparations. This practice would have also served to deter predators, offering a dual purpose for controlled fire usage in early hominid societies.

8. Earliest Rice Evidence in Pacific Islands [28:49 – 29:30]

Published in Science Advances, researchers discovered the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific at an ancient cave site in Guam, dating back approximately 3,500 years. Likely transported intentionally from the Philippines, this finding supports theories of deliberate, long-distance voyaging by the first settlers of the Pacific Islands, rather than accidental drift.

9. Neanderthal Fat Processing in Germany [29:30 – 30:48]

Archaeologists in Helle, Germany, identified a "fat factory" where Neanderthals processed large quantities of bone to extract marrow and nutrients. Analysis of around 120,000 bone fragments and 16,000 flint tools suggests a systematic approach to resource utilization, highlighting advanced processing techniques and communal effort in Neanderthal societies.

10. Avocado Domestication in Honduras [30:48 – 32:05]

At El Gigante Rock Shelter in Honduras, researchers traced the domestication and use of avocados over 11,000 years. Indigenous farmers selectively bred avocados for larger fruits with thicker skins, enhancing both yield and transportability. This meticulous cultivation process underscores the deep agricultural knowledge and adaptation of early Central American societies.

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Books and Letters

1. Medieval Book Bindings with Seal Skins [37:12 – 38:09]

Researchers at Clairvaux Abbey in France discovered that certain medieval books were uniquely bound with seal skins—specifically harbor seals and harp seals—rather than more common animal hides like boar or deer. DNA analysis traced the origins of these seals to regions connected by the Hanseatic League, such as Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, and Greenland. This finding suggests extensive trade networks and possibly limited knowledge of seal species by the Cistercian monks.

Holly Fry [37:12]: "It's speculated that these hides were chosen for their color. These books were bound by Cistercian monks who were known for their use of the color white."

2. Digitally Unfolded 13th-Century Manuscript [38:09 – 39:35]

The Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory at Cambridge University Library utilized advanced technologies—such as high-resolution multispectral imaging and CT scanning—to digitally unfold a 13th-century manuscript embedded within 16th-century property records. This innovative method allowed scholars to study the contents without physically damaging the fragile document. The manuscript is part of the French Suite Vulgate du Merlin, a rare extension of the King Arthur legends, now accessible in about 40 known manuscripts.

Holly Fry [39:06]: "This process involved high-resolution multispectral imaging, CT scanning, and hundreds of images..."

3. Oldest English Language Book About Cheese [39:35 – 40:31]

The University of Leeds has fully digitized what is considered the oldest known English language book focused solely on cheese: a 16th-century, 12-page handwritten pamphlet titled "A Pamphlet Compiled of Cheese". Spelled as "P A M F L Y T," it meticulously details the differences, nature, qualities, and benefits of various cheeses. Food historian Peter Breers regards it as the first comprehensive academic study of a single foodstuff in the English language.

Holly Fry [39:35]: "Food historian Peter Breers has described this as probably the first comprehensive academic study of a single foodstuff to be written in the English language."

4. Shakespeare’s Possible Letter to Anne Hathaway [40:31 – 42:01]

Research published in Shakespeare suggests that a letter discovered in 1978 addressed to a “good Mrs. Shakespeare” might have been intended for Anne Hathaway, William Shakespeare’s wife. The letter references the death of a Mr. Butts and requests financial assistance for his son, indicating personal concerns that imply a composite relationship beyond the commonly portrayed abandonment.

Holly Fry [42:01]: "If this really was a letter to Anne Hathaway, it does suggest that she had ongoing contact with her husband and even that she lived with him in London at some points."

5. Finless Porpoise Decline Tracked via Chinese Poetry [42:01 – 43:31]

A novel study published in Current Biology leveraged historical Chinese poetry to trace the population decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise, the only known freshwater porpoise globally. By examining over 700 poetic references, researchers estimated a 65% reduction in the porpoise’s range since the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), with a dramatic decline in connected tributaries and lakes—over 90% loss—primarily due to human activities such as dam construction.

Tracy V. Wilson [42:30]: "This new research... estimated that the range of the finless porpoise has decreased by 65% since the Tang Dynasty."

6. Magna Carta Copy at Harvard Law School [43:31 – 44:26]

A Magna Carta copy, purchased by Harvard Law School in 1946 for a mere $27.50, was re-evaluated using digitized imagery and expert analysis by Professor David Carpenter and Nicholas Vincent. They confirmed its authenticity as an official copy from King Edward I’s 1300 reissue, making it one of only seven surviving documents from that edition.

Holly Fry [43:31]: "It adheres exactly to the 1300 text, that makes it one of only seven surviving documents from that reissue."

7. Detecting Toxins in Historical Books [44:26 – 45:43]

Researchers at the University of St. Andrews developed an innovative tool to detect poisonous substances like arsenic in historical books. Utilizing various wavelengths of light, the instrument measures reflected light to identify emerald green pigments commonly used in medieval bookbindings. This technology ensures safer handling and preservation of valuable texts, preventing health risks associated with arsenic exposure.

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Exhumations

1. Salem Train Derailment Victim Identification [45:43 – 47:05]

Henry Morton, a journalism student from the University of Missouri, spearheaded the effort to exhume an unidentified body from the 1971 train derailment near Salem, Illinois, which resulted in 11 deaths. The exhumation revealed that multiple individuals were interred in the same grave, suggesting either multiple victims or previously unrecorded casualties. DNA testing is anticipated to provide clarity on the identities involved.

2. Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tomb, Ireland [47:05 – 48:12]

Eleven years following the revelation by historian Catherine Corlis that 796 children died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home in Tomb, Ireland, excavation commenced in June 2025. The project aims to exhume remains from a mass grave and, where possible, return them to surviving family members. The work is expected to span at least two years, continuing the efforts to address historical injustices.

3. Poland and Ukraine Joint Exhumations [48:12 – 49:13]

Despite a contentious history marked by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army's WWII-era massacres of Polish civilians, Poland and Ukraine have formed a joint Polish-Ukrainian Working Group to collaborate on exhumations. Recent efforts include excavating the 1945 Volun massacre victims and the 1939 Zvoiska site—now part of Viv, Ukraine—where approximately 120 Polish soldiers were killed battling Nazi forces. This cooperation marks significant progress in reconciling historical grievances and honoring past victims.

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Conservation PSA: Giant's Causeway [49:13 – 50:26]

As a closing note, Holly and Tracy issue a public service announcement regarding the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. Visitors are urged not to jam coins into the basalt columns, as the corrosive effects of the salty air accelerate the degradation of both the coins and the rock formations.

Holly Fry [50:46]: "There are conservation specialists who have done a test project to remove the coins in one part of the causeway, which was successful. So it's hoped that a bigger project can be taken on to take care of the rest of the site."

The Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remains a pristine natural wonder, and ongoing conservation efforts are essential to preserve its integrity for future generations.

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Conclusion

In this comprehensive episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class, Holly Fry and Tracy V. Wilson illuminate a spectrum of historical discoveries and research endeavors. From ancient DNA studies and maritime archaeology to the meticulous conservation of historical artifacts and exhumations addressing past tragedies, the hosts provide rich, engaging insights into the depths of human history. Notable quotes throughout the episode underscore the significance and intrigue of each discovery, offering listeners a vivid understanding of events and their broader implications.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tracy V. Wilson [03:56]: "DNA research can be really controversial among Indigenous communities... However, in this case, Pueblo members and leaders wanted to use this as a tool to have a greater say in what happens in Chaco Canyon."

• Holly Fry [06:35]: "Maybe that Neanderthal put the dot there to add to that effect, marking the end of the rock's nose."

• Tracy V. Wilson [15:38]: "When I got into this part of the research I was like, what do you mean confirmed? We've been talking about this shipwreck for a decade."

• Holly Fry [24:16]: "This bread was made from wild emmer wheat as well as lentils, and the dough was fermented before it was baked."

• Holly Fry [43:31]: "It adheres exactly to the 1300 text, that makes it one of only seven surviving documents from that reissue."

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Whether you're a history aficionado or simply curious about the untold stories of our past, this episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class offers a treasure trove of knowledge and intriguing narratives that bridge the ancient and the modern.

Transcript

[Tracy V. Wilson]

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[Holly Fry]

Welcome to Stuff you MISSED in History Class, a production of iHeartRadio.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Hello and welcome to the podcast. I'm Tracy V. Wilson.

[Holly Fry]

And I'm Holly Fry.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This is part two of our most recent quarterly installment of Unearthed. This part has shipwrecks and edibles and potables and books and letters for the first time in a while, enough historically relevant exhumations to actually have an exhumation category.

[Holly Fry]

Woo.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I feel like that hasn't happened in a long time. Also, as always, we're starting off with just some stuff that I thought was cool that I always throw together and call it potpourri.

[Holly Fry]

First DNA research done at the request of Picures Pueblo has confirmed that nation's ancestral ties to sites in and near Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. This research involved comparison of DNA from 16 People who lived between the years 1300 and 1500 and 13 Members of Pacuras Pueblo living today, as well as oral history.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

So DNA research can be really controversial among Indigenous communities and for a lot of reasons. This includes a long standing practice of DNA research being conducted on ancestral remains without the consent of the appropriate indigenous nations living today, and also the use of DNA testing for people to basically claim indigeneity when they don't have an actual cultural connection to an indigenous tribe or nation. In this case though, Pueblo members and leaders wanted to use this as a tool to hopefully have a greater say in what happens in Chaco Canyon, including decisions around things like oil and gas drilling, and also to try to bridge some gaps in their oral histories. This was a collaborative study and to be clear, its results do not invalidate any other Pueblo Nation ocean's connections to Chaco Canyon.

[Holly Fry]

That DNA research was published in the journal Nature, and so was our next piece of potpourri. Researchers working at a cave in Malta have found stone tools, food waste and hearths, including evidence of cooking and eating marine animals and now extinct mammals. This site dates back about 8,500 years, meaning that people crossed about 100 kilometers or about 62 miles of open water. This would be the oldest known long distance seafaring, a lot longer ago than people were believed to have taken these kinds of ocean voyages, and especially remarkable considering that they were probably doing this in dugout canoes.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Next, researchers have been studying a rock that was found in a rock shelter in Central Spain in 2022, and that rock has a distinctive red dot roughly in the middle of one surface of it. The rock is about 8 inches long by 4 inches wide, or 20 by 10 centimeters, and this red dot is made from ochre. It turns out that the red ochre dot is a fingerprint and it was probably made by an adult male Neanderthal more than 42,000 years ago.

[Holly Fry]

The question is why? And One possible answer is that the rock looks kind of like a face with indentations at one end that look like eyes and a ridge leading down from between them that kind of resembles a nose and another indentation for a mouth. So maybe that Neanderthal put the dot there to add to that effect, marking the end of the rock's nose.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

If that's the case, this fingerprint is the most complete Neanderthal fingerprint to have been discovered so far. And if it's really like that, if that dot really is supposed to be the nose, then it's one of the oldest known abstract representations of a face. This also ties into questions about whether Neanderthals could think abstractly and symbolically like we know modern humans are primed to see patterns in things and primed to see things like faces in the clouds. And we don't really know if the same was true of Neanderthals, if this person thought that this rock was a face. Maybe so.

[Holly Fry]

Moving on, archaeologists in the Czech Republic have found part of a Roman soldier's wrist purse made of bronze, which is about 1800 years old. It's like a little money box that soldiers used, sliding it onto their forearm like a bangle. Only about a third of that purse was found, and no coins. But when intact, it could have held about 50 silver denarii. That was almost a full year of pay for a common soldier. So this might have belonged to an officer or to someone whose duties required that they carry larger amounts of money. For some reason, this area was not Roman territory at the time this purse would have been worn, but it was an area Marcus Aurelius was hoping to take over.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

He did not take it over. He later died, and his successor pulled all the troops out of there. Our last little bit of potpourri. Archaeologists believe they have figured out what an ornate Byzantine era bucket discovered at Sutton. Who was for Sutton, who, of course, is the early English burial site in Suffolk, England. But this bucket predates Sutton Hoo's use as a burial site. It was probably made in what's Now Turkey, about 100 years before making its way to Sutton Hoo.

[Holly Fry]

Pieces of this bucket, which is known as the Broomswell Bucket, have been found since 1986, adorned with a hunting scene. Once enough of those pieces were assembled, it was clear that there was also an inscription in Greek reading. Use this in good health, Master Count. For many happy years, it was believed that this bucket may have been a diplomatic gift to whatever count was being referenced there. And it's possible that the bucket was brought back to England as a spoil of war.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

There have been ongoing questions about what this bucket was doing at Sutton Hoo. The base of the bucket was unearthed more recently and that made it possible for researchers to examine what the bucket had actually contained. And it turned turns out that it contained cremated human and animal remains. So it appears that this vessel was used as a cremation vessel, probably for somebody who was important in the Sutton Hoo community. It's not yet known what kind of animal they were cremated along with, but it is possible that it was a horse.

[Holly Fry]

Was there any mention of the possibility that this could have been brought to England and then used as a cremation vessel? Maybe not as its initial intent.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

That is what I think they are saying. Yes.

[Holly Fry]

Like that someone else just repurposed it.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, that is the impression that I am getting from it. Okay. This is sort of more than has been concluded about the bucket than before.

[Holly Fry]

Gotcha. Time for shipwrecks. Starting off with one with a car on it. In April, scientists with the national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were using a remotely operated vehicle to explore the USS Yorktown when they spotted a car in the aft hangar deck. The Yorktown was sunk during the Battle of Midway during World War II, and the wreck was discovered in 1998.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

It's not clear why there was a car on board. Based on what researchers have seen of this car, it seems to be a 1940 or 41 Ford style super deluxe woody. And its front plate contains the word ship, service and navy as well as some other word that's illegible. It's possible that this was a car that officers of the ship would use while the ship was in port. It's also possible that maybe the car was taken on board the ship for some kind of repair. It does appear to have been a civilian model car, though, not one that was made for the military. After the Yorktown was torpedoed during the Battle of Midway, Captain Elliot Buckmaster ordered the crew to jettison as much heavy equipment as possible to try to keep the ship afloat. It is not clear why they did not drive or throw that car into the ocean.

[Holly Fry]

Mysteries Archaeologists in Barcelona have been working at a site that's going to be home to a new scientific research complex. And they have found the hull of a medieval ship believed to date back to the 15th or 16th centuries. What remains of the ship consists of about 30 wooden ribs held together by wooden pegs and iron nails. The plan is to eventually remove and conserve this ship, but for now, it's been Recovered to preserve the moisture in the wood. Because it's been waterlogged for years, it would fall apart almost instantly if it were simply dug up and allowed to dry out. It's been dubbed Ciutadella1, because the site where this excavation is going on is near Barcelona's Ciutadella Park.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I went to that park when we were in Barcelona.

[Holly Fry]

I think I did as well. There was one day with a lot of walking about. Yeah, that was not part of our regular scheduled stuff.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I went there on the early day that we arrived so that I could, one can hope, not be terribly jet lagged while everyone else was around. Next. Researchers working off the coast of South Australia believe they have found the wreck of the Kunning Willem de Tweed, a Dutch merchant ship that sank in a storm in 1857. Sixteen of the 25 crew aboard died when the ship sank, but that death toll could have been a whole lot worse. Just days before this, the ship had dropped off about 400 Chinese miners. This was during a gold rush.

[Holly Fry]

It took a while for teams to become confident that this is the Conning Willem de Tweed. Earlier dives had spotted some wreckage back in 2022, but the sand in this part of the ocean is extremely fine, and it hampers visibility when it's disturbed at all. Divers compared it to being in a blizzard. This time. Searchers used a marine magnetometer to look for signs of iron underwater, and they found some iron components that they believe came from the sh. They have found a concentrated area of iron that approximately matches the dimensions of the Conning Willem de Tweed and no other large concentrations of iron that might be some kind of ship. They are, of course, hoping to follow up on this with future dives.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I like that they basically looked for this with a big old magnet. Next, an autonomous underwater vehicle has been used to find and photograph the USS F1, which is a submarine that sank during a trading exercise in 1917, killing all 19 people aboard. This search effort was also partly a training mission, allowing the trainees to get some experience operating remote vehicles and carrying out underwater archaeological projects. This submarine is being described as remarkably intact, considering how long ago it sank. And the imagery that was captured during this mission has been used to create a 3D digital model of it.

[Holly Fry]

We talked about the discovery of the wreck of the Spanish galley in San Jose in 2015, and it has made several appearances on Unearthed since then. And none of that reporting really made it sound like there was any doubt regarding the ship's identity. Turns out this was more of a hypothesis and Headlines that came out in mid June of this year are describing the wreck as just now confirmed, thanks to analysis of the coins on board. This research was published in the journal Antiquity and notes that there have been four non invasive investigations of the wreck since 2015 and that the coins and Chinese porcelain aboard the vessel suggest that it sank in the early 18th century. This includes irregularly shaped coins known as cobs, which were minted in 1707. The San Jose's sinking was documented and it happened in 1708. So all of this backs up this identification.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

When I got into this part of the research I was like, what do you mean confirmed? We've been talking about this shipwreck for a decade. Earlier this year, the French Navy was conducting some routine underwater surveying and monitoring when they spotted something unusually large on the sonar and it turned out to be a shipwreck. This is the deepest one ever discovered in French waters. An underwater vehicle sent down to the wreck captured pictures of hundreds of ceramic pots on board. France's Department of Underwater and Submarine Archaeological Research sent another vehicle to follow up and it reported that this wreck appears to be about 500 years old.

[Holly Fry]

Authorities have noted that this wreck was protected thanks to its depth. If it were in shallower water, it might have been looted or salvaged by now, but it didn't fully protect it from litter because one of the images of the site contains what very much looks like a modern day beer can.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

It might not be beer, but it it looks like beer to me. We'll take a sponsor break and then segue into some edibles and potables.

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[Unknown]

My Uncle Chris is definitely somebody worth talking about. He was the kind of guy that used Confederate flags as window curtains, lived in a trailer with an ex con and a retired stripper, left loaded machine guns laying around, drank a bottle of whiskey a night, claimed he could kill a man with his bare hands, drove a garbage truck for a living, spoke fluent Spanish with a thick Southern accent, and is currently buried in a crypto alongside the founding families of Panama. Listen to the Uncle Chris podcast to hear all about him and a whole lot more. This collection of stories will make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and if I do my job right, they'll let you see the world and your place in it in a whole new way. I can't wait to tell you all about Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Listen to podcasts.

Kelly Harnett spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.

I'm 100% innocent.

While behind bars, she learned the law from scratch.

He goes, oh, God. Harnett, jailhouse lawyer.

And as she fought for herself, she also became a lifeline for the women locked up alongside her.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

You're supposed to have your faith in.

[Holly Fry]

God, but I had nothing but faith in her.

[Unknown]

So many of these women had lived the same stories.

I said, were you a victim of domestic violence?

And she was like, yeah, but maybe Kelly could change the ending.

I said, how many people have gotten other incarcerated individuals out of here? I'm gonna be the first one to do that.

This is the story of Kelly Harnett, a woman who spent 12 years fighting not just for her own freedom, but her girlfriend's, too.

I think I have a mission from God to sa by getting people out of prison.

The girlfriends, jailhouse lawyer. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Unknown]

There's a famous headline, I think, in the New York Daily News. It's teddy escapes, blonde drowns. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you the story really became about Ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will Ted become president?

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And he's not the only Kennedy to.

[Unknown]

Survive a scandal, the Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse? Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Now we have some edibles and potables flowers first excavations at a waste deposit at Prague Castle have unearthed the oldest vanillopod in Europe, which dates to somewhere between the early 16th and mid 17th centuries. Obviously that's not the oldest vanillopod in the world, since vanilla is native to Mesoamerica and not to Europe. But this vanilla pod dates back to a time when trade between Europe and the Americas was largely dominated by Spain and Portugal, and there just wasn't a large commercial network established for the sale and distribution of vanilla. So it's not completely clear exactly what route these pods would have taken to get from the Americas to Prague, other than generally saying spice trade.

[Holly Fry]

The timing of this on this edition of Unearth is uncanny because I just got a book about the history of vanilla.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Oh, I love this.

[Holly Fry]

Listen, we love vanilla here at this house. Regardless, though, a vanilla pod would have been extremely rare and probably seen as exotic and quite valuable. While it was probably acquired through spice merchants, it may have been used for something like alchemical experiments rather than delicious cuisine. The reign of Rudolph II took place during the time the vanilla pod dates to, and he had an interest in science and alchemy. We covered Rudolph on the show on November 13, 2013.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Next According to research published in the journal PLOS One, it took thousands of years to domesticate grapevines in Italy, with that prop process taking place between about 1000 BCE and about 600 CE. The domestication of grapes in Asia and some other parts of Europe has already been pretty extensively studied, but there has not been as much attention on the western Mediterranean.

[Holly Fry]

This research involved analyzing more than 1700 grape seeds from 25 archaeological sites. The seeds that were from before 1000 BCE all had the hallmarks of wild grapeseeds. Then, over the centuries, there were more and more seeds that were more similar to modern domesticated grapes, although still with a lot of variety. Among them, sites dating from the year 700 and later had lots of grape seeds, with virtually all of those seeds closely resembling modern seeds. In addition to suggesting that this was a very gradual process, it also suggests that growers continued to mix wild and cultivated vines for centuries, experimenting with different combinations and varieties.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Archaeologists working at Kuloba Mound in Turkey found a loaf of bread at a 5,300-year-old house. This is the first time a nearly intact loaf of bread has been found at this site, where archaeological work has been going on for about 30 years. Usually when they find some kind of baked goods, its crumbs, or maybe some amounts of unbaked dough, rather than a mostly intact baked loaf. This bread was made from wild emmer wheat as well as lentils, and the dough was fermented before it was baked.

[Holly Fry]

This loaf has been put on display at the Esciseje Archaeological Museum, and the museum also commissioned bread made from the same recipe from that municipality's public bakery. The bakery uses a grain that's similar to emmer wheat, as well as lentil flour, lentils and bulgur. This bread comes in packaging that has information about the Kaluoba mound, and it's been very popular with the bakery selling out of its stock every day. I don't think I could love this story more.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

I would buy this bread in a second. Yeah, instantly. Next, research in the Roman city of Palencia on the island of Mallorca, suggests that fried thrushes, which have long been established as a delicacy that was served in fancy banquets, were also a favorite of working class people. This comes from a study of animal bones in a cesspit that was connected with a taberna, which was kind of like a Roman fast food restaurant or food kiosk. There were pig bones and seashells in the cesspit, as well as lots and lots of thresh bones. Most likely thrushes that were served at lavish banquets were fattened up and prepared very elaborately, while the ones that were sold out of this taberna were probably just caught in nets during their migration and then spatchcocked and fried.

[Holly Fry]

Speaking of birds, according to research published in the journal Ibis International Journal of Avian Science, people living in northern Morocco about 15,000 years ago feasted on a large bird known as the great bustard during funerary rituals, as well as burying these birds with the dead. This was part of research into today's great bustards, which are critically endangered. There are only about 70 of them living in two small areas in Morocco, and they're genetically distinct from great bustards living in Spain. Dr. Joanne H. Cooper, lead author on this paper, has expressed hope that confirmation of the great bustards presence in Morocco and their clear cultural importance historically will help spur action to preserve the tiny population that's still living today.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Next, archaeologists from Dartmouth College, at the request of Menominee tribal authorities have been studying indigenous farming methods in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This is a forested area with a cold climate and a short growing season. Using drones and remote sensing technologies, they have found evidence of one of the most complete ancient agricultural sites in the eastern United States, with a lot of that site still intact. This field system was in use by about the 10th century, and it continued to be used for about 600 years. It has raised ringed garden beds, and one of the foods that was grown here was maize. That's a plant that was native to a much warmer climate, so it probably would have been tricky to grow here, as well as beans and squash. And of course, those are often described as the three Sisters.

[Holly Fry]

This system is much larger than was previously believed, about 10 times larger. And part of it extends beyond the survey area that was part of the study. Archaeologists estimate they've mapped only about 40% of the site.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Next, research published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition presents a hypothesis that our early ancestors were smoking meats to prolong their shelf life as long as a million years ago. The author's argument is that we don't have a lot of evidence for early humans and other hominid ancestors like intentionally using fire more than about 400,000 years ago. But there are sites that are older than that where there's evidence of fire existing, but not along with the charred meat or bones or things that you would expect if that fire was being used for cooking something. So the hypothesis here is that early humans were using fire, but only sometimes to smoke the meat of very large mammals in large quantities so that it could be preserved, not unlike a more day to day basis, to cook individual meals. In this case, the fire would have also served the dual purpose of keeping predators away from that meat as it was being smoked. An interesting hypothesis, indeed, not really an experiment to establish whether that hypothesis is correct.

[Holly Fry]

Research published in the journal Science Advances has reported the earliest evidence of rice in the Pacific islands, found in an ancient cave site in Guam. This most likely would have been transported east from the Philippines about 2,300 kilometers away, roughly 3,500 years ago. It's not clear whether this rice was used for food or for ritual purposes, but it would have been difficult to grow in the. This find is also being used to support the idea that the first people to arrive in Guam and nearby islands had traveled there intentionally, that they were not simply blown off course since they had brought culturally meaningful plants like rice with them.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, there's a growing body of evidence of people, especially in the Pacific, taking longer voyages than was thought by the field of archaeology earlier than we thought that started happening. That's come up. I feel like in the last two or three years of Unearthed, especially Next, archaeologists working outside of Helle, Germany, have found what is described as a fat factory. A place where Neanderthals processed large quantities of bone to get at the marrow and the nutrients inside of them. This came from analysis of roughly 120,000 bone fragments and about 16,000 flint tools at this site, along with evidence of fire use there.

[Holly Fry]

This process involved smashing bones with stone hammers and then boiling them for several hours, then skimming the fat from the surface of the liquid. This is a time and labor intensive process and one that requires lots of fuel to keep those fires burning. So archaeologists speculate that Neanderthals tried to make this process more efficient by bringing animals they had hunted to a designated place to do this all at once, rather than processing every animal carcass when and where it was hunted.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah, unlike the earlier Neanderthal and fire thing, this is more of a study to research whether a hypothesis was true, whereas the other one is just the hypothesis part, which I do find very interesting. Again, lastly, researchers at El Gigante Rock shelter in Honduras have been working to trace how humans have domesticated and used avocados over thousands of years. This rock shelter is home to an array of fossilized plants and other organic materials. And it's in a part of the world where the climate often means that plant matter is not preserved very well. There are about 11,000 years worth of avocado seeds and rinds at this site. And that has allowed researchers to see how indigenous farmers cultivated avocados so that they would grow larger fruit with a thicker skin, a process that took centuries. So these changes improved the yield of the avocado plants and then also made the avocados easier to transport without damaging them. I am very happy that this took place because avocados are delicious.

[Holly Fry]

Yeah, I'm like, blessings upon these ancient farmers.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

We live so far away from where they are native.

[Holly Fry]

We are going to take one more quick sponsor break before we get into our last section of Unearthed, which is going to kick off with books and letters before getting to everyone's favorite exhumations.

[Annabe]

Life's messy. We're talking spills, stains, pets and kids. But with Annabe, you never have to stress about Messes again. @washablesofas.com Discount Discover Anabe Sofas, the only fully machine washable sofas inside and out. Starting at just $699. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, that means fewer stains and more peace of mind. Designed for real life, Our sofas feature changeable fabric covers allowing you to refresh your style anytime. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa effortlessly. Perfect for cozy apartments or spacious homes. Plus, they're earth friendly and built to last. That's why over 200,000 happy customers have made the switch. Upgrade your space today. Visit washablesofas.com now and bring home a sofa made for life. That's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Unknown]

My Uncle Chris is definitely somebody worth talking about. He was the kind of guy that used Confederate flags as window curtains, lived in a trailer with an ex con and a retired stripper, left loaded machine guns laying around, drank a bottle of whiskey a night, claimed he could kill a man with his bare hands, drove a garbage truck for a living, spoke fluent Spanish with a thick southern accent, and is currently buried in a crypt alongside the founding families of Panama. Listen to the Uncle Chris podcast to hear all about him and a whole lot more. This collection of stories will make you laugh. It'll make you cry. And if I do my job right, they'll let you see the world and your place in it in a whole new way. I can't wait to tell you all about Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Kelly Harnett spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.

I'm 100% innocent.

While behind bars, she learned the law from scratch.

He goes, oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer and as she fought.

For herself, she also became a lifeline for the women locked up alongside her.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

You're supposed to have your faith in.

[Holly Fry]

God, but I had nothing but faith in her.

[Unknown]

So many of these women had lived the same stories.

I said, were you a victim of domestic violence?

And she was like, yeah, but maybe Kelly could change the ending.

I said, how many people have gotten other incarcerated individuals out of here? I'm going to be the first one to do that.

This is the story of Kelly Harnett, a woman who spent 12 years fighting not just for her own freedom, but her girlfriend's too.

I think I have a mission from God to save souls by getting people at of prison.

The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

So what happened to Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Left a woman behind to drown.

[Unknown]

There's a famous headline, I think in the New York Daily News, it's Teddy Escape, Blonde Drowns. And in a strange way, right, that sort of tells you the story really became about ted's political future, Ted's political hopes. Will TED become President?

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And he's not the only Kennedy to survive a scandal.

[Unknown]

The Kennedys have lived through disgrace, affairs, violence, you name it. So is there a curse? Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the draw drama of America's royal family.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts now with books and letters. It was not at all unusual for books to be bound in animal hide during the medieval period. But researchers working with a set of volumes at Clairvaux Abbe in France noticed that the hide did not look like it had come from an animal that would typically have been used for that purpose. That they would have expected to see things like boar or deer hide. But this didn't look like either of those. Using DNA studies and electrostatic zooarchaeology, mass spectrometry, or ezooms, as well as some other technologies, they confirmed that many of these volumes were bound in seal skin, specifically harbor seals and harp seals.

[Holly Fry]

It's speculated that these hides were chosen for their color. These books were bound by Cistercian monks who were known for their use of the color white. These bookbindings look brown today, but when they were originally made, they would have been white or light gray.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

These seals, of course, do not live anywhere near this abbey, so these monks must have traded for them. The DNA research that was part of this study suggests that the harbor seal skins came from Scandinavia and the Scotland and that the harp seals came from Iceland or Greenland. All of these places would have been connected through the Hanseatic League.

[Holly Fry]

It's possible that these monks did not know what kind of animal these skins came from. There aren't many references to seals in medieval literature outside of the places closer to where those animals actually lived. And the few that do exist depicted them as a four legged animal with a head like a wolf.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

That honestly kind of delights me that the pictures of these did not look anything like what the animals look like. Next, the Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory at Cambridge University Library has digitally unfolded a 13th century manuscript that had been repurposed as part of the bindings of a 16th century property record. This allowed experts to study and analyze what that manuscript contained without physically unfolding it, which probably would have damaged it and possibly could have destroyed it. Turns out it is part of the French Suite Vulgate du Merlin or Merlin, part of the medieval Lancelot Grail cycle. The text that this manuscript contains is a rare continuation of the King Arthur legend that exists in only about about 40 known manuscripts today.

[Holly Fry]

This process involved high resolution multispectral imaging, CT scanning and hundreds of images, some of them taken using mirrors, prisms and other tools, which were then assembled into a fully openable 3D reproduction of the document.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

We've talked about a couple of digital unfolding projects on Unearthed before and I always love them. Yeah, I love that we are getting more and more ways to look at things that we could not have opened.

[Holly Fry]

Yeah.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Otherwise. Speaking of digital recreations, the University of Leeds has fully digitized the oldest known English language book about cheese, which dates to the 16th century. This is a 12 page handwritten book called A Pamphlet compiled of cheese, containing the differences nature, qualities and goodness of the same pamphlet. In that title is spelled P A M F L Y T, which is delightful. Scans of this book and a transcript of the contents are both available at the University of Leeds Library on the website. You can go look them up if you want. Food historian Peter Breers has described this as as probably the first comprehensive academic study of a single foodstuff to be written in the English language.

[Holly Fry]

According to research published in the journal Shakespeare, William Shakespeare may have had more of a relationship with his wife Anne Hathaway than is commonly believed. He's often portrayed as basically abandoning her at Stratford upon Avon to go become an actor and a playwright in London. But this research suggests that a letter first unearthed in 1978 addressed to a good Mrs. Shakespeare may have been a letter to Anne. This letter notes the death of a man named Mr. Butts, who had previously asked Mr. Shakespeare for money to cover the care of Mr. Butts son John. This letter asks if Mrs. Shakespeare might pay her husband's debt.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

So it is not conclusively proven that the Shakespeares connected to this letter are William and Anne. But there were only four married couples named Shakespeare in London at the time. This letter was also found in a book that was printed by Shakespeare's neighbor, Richard Field. Field also published some of Shakespeare's work, there was a connection there. So all of this is kind of circumstantial. But if this really was a letter to Anne Hathaway, it does suggest that she had ongoing contact with her husband and even that she lived with him in London at some points, and that she was part of his social and circle. People would think that if they wrote to her about something relating to her husband, they might get a favorable response.

[Holly Fry]

Next, researchers in China are using poetry to track the decline of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River. The finless porpoise is the only known freshwater porpoise in the world, and today there are only about 1800 of them remaining. But since the number and range of these porpoises has only been systematically tracked for a few decades, researchers haven't had a thorough sense of how large their population used to be or where in the river they have lived.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This new research, published in the journal Current Biology under the title Range Contraction of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise, inferred from classic Chinese poems, combed through databases of historical Chinese poetry and found more than 700 references to these porpoises. About half of those references mentioned where someone had seen them. Based on this work, researchers estimate that the range of the finless porpoise has decreased by 65% since the Tang Dynasty, which spanned from 618 to 907 CE. The vast majority of that decline happened in the tributaries and lakes that are connected to the river. And just looking at those bodies of water, the porpoises have lost more than 90% of their range. While this decrease was gradually going on for centuries, it really plummeted over the last century, largely due to human activity, including the building of a Dam.

[Holly Fry]

In 1946, Harvard Law School bought what it thought was an unofficial 1327 copy of the Magna Carta for $27.50. It was described as, quote, somewhat rubbed and damp stained. But after seeing digitized images of the document, Professor David Carpenter of King's College London started analyzing it, eventually collaborating with Nicholas Vincent of the University of East Anglia. And they eventually concluded that it dates from king Edward the First's reissue of the Magna Carta in 1300 and is an official copy. This conclusion comes from its similarities to the format and handwriting used on the other copies that are known from the year 1300 and the fact that it adheres exactly to the 1300 text. That makes it one of only seven surviving documents from that reissue.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

It also makes it worth a lot more than $27.50 even adjusted for inflation. And in our last book, related find, researchers at the University of St. Andrews have developed a tool that can be used to detect poisonous substances in historical books like arsenic, which was often used with copper to make an emerald green pigment that was also used in wallpapers. A lot of the time it's possible to handle and examine books that have these pigments in them without having any kind of negative health effects. But for people who are doing ongoing research or just trying to maintain collections that have a lot of these pigments, there can be health risks. This has led some libraries to restrict the access to some of their collections, kind of out of an abundance of caution, but also with the reality that, like, they're covered in a pigment that is full of arsenic.

[Holly Fry]

The university collections department worked with the School of Earth Sciences to make an instrument that shines different wavelengths of light at the book and measures how much light is reflected back. Emerald green has a distinct pattern of reflections. So this can allow staff to quickly screen books for this toxic pigment.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And now we will move on to exhumations. And as we said earlier, it's been a while since there have been enough historically relevant exhumations to have a whole section of them for unearthed. First, in 1971, a train derailed near Salem, Illinois, injuring more than 150 people and killing 11. One of those 11 victims was never identified. But Henry Morton, a journalism student at the University of Missouri, has been working to change that. After Morton's research into this derailment, the Salem City Council approved the exhumation of the unidentified body with the hope of identifying who this is. Funds for the project were donated by the DNA DOE Project and the Salem Tourism Board.

[Holly Fry]

The grave in question was exhumed in June, and it turned out that multiple people had been buried in it. As of the research into this episode, it was not clear how many people. Definitely at least two and possibly three. And it's also not clear whether one victim of the derailment was buried in a grave with at least one other person, or if there were really more than 11 people who were killed and these are all victims of the crash. It will probably be several weeks at the very least before DNA test results are available. Available to hopefully clear some of this up.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Yeah. Maybe an update in a future unearthed next. Back in 2018, we talked about the Bon Secours Mother and Baby home in Tomb, Ireland, which was a home for unmarried women and their babies that was run by an order of Catholic nuns until 1961. In 2014, local historian Catherine Corliss had uncovered the fact that that 796 children had died at this home. There were death certificates, but not burial records for most of them. In 2018, it had been announced that the site of a mass grave at the former home would be fully excavated, with all of the bodies exhumed and, if possible, returned to surviving family members.

[Holly Fry]

We've had a couple of updates about that since then, but this time in June, 11 years after Corliss's report on the home, and seven years after the decision to excavate, work actually began at the site. This work is expected to take at least two years.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And lastly, for the exclamation news today, Poland and Ukraine are allied against Russia. But these two neighboring nations have a history that has been at times incredibly contentious and violent, and that has continued to affect their relationship to one another today, even as they are allies against the common enemy. During World War II, a nationalist group called the Ukrainian Insurgent army massacred Polish civilians in areas that are considered western Ukraine today, but at the time were eastern Poland. Eventually, Ukraine and Poland started cooperating on projects to exhume Polish people from what's now Ukrainian territory. But then in 2017, the government of Ukraine issued a moratorium on these exhumations. This was after several Ukrainian Insurgent army monuments and memorials were destroyed in Poland.

[Holly Fry]

Ukraine and Poland have now established a joint Polish Ukrainian Working Group and have begun cooperating on issues related to this. In April, Ukrainian and Polish researchers worked together to exhume Polish victims of the 1945 Volun massacre, which was perpetrated by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. At that time, the region was occupied by Germany. Poland's Minister of Culture and National Heritage has also announced that exhumations are expected to take place in what used to be Zvoiska, Poland, later this year, where an estimated 120 Polish soldiers were killed in combat against Nazi Germany in 1939. Zboiska is now part of the city of Viv, Ukraine.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And we will end this installment of Unearthed with one short psa. If you're visiting the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, please do not jam coins into it. Coins degrade very quickly there because of the salty air, and as they do, they expand, which puts pressure on the basalt columns that make up the causeway. This is the thing people have been doing, and decaying coins are also leaving streaks of various metals on the rocks.

[Holly Fry]

There are conservation specialists have done a test project to remove the coins in one part of the causeway, which was successful. So it's hoped that a bigger project can be taken on to take care of the rest of the site. Giants Causeway is both a National Nature Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

And that is the end of our Unearthed for this quarter. We'll talk about various things on Friday, I am sure. And I have another national park related listener mail.

[Holly Fry]

Fabulous.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This is from Amica Amelia and Amelia said hi ladies. I already had a trip planned when your episode came out. My partner loves going on drives and I love national parks so I thought a trip to Shenandoah was the perfect weekend away for his birthday. We drove the whole length of Skyline Drive and he pulled into all the overlooks that had information boards for me. My favorite overlook was at a little stand where you placed your phone and took a picture and uploaded it to Chronolog to show the time lapse of the ecological changes. There is a link to this website here. In the email I'm attaching pictures of us with our four legged child Zella, a ten year old snappy mix who loves car rides just as much as we do and my photo for the time lapse. Amelia number one. I did not know that this existed and so we got this email. It is that Pass Mountain Overlook. This currently as of this minute on 07-15-2025 there are 9620 photos from 9059 contributors and if you hit play on it it gives you all of these pictures from folks phone going from September 30th of 2020 all the way until now. So super super cool. If you google the words Pass Mountain overlook chronolog it'll take you right to it. So that is super duper cool. Also very cute dog, a white dog making a kind of simultaneously to me happy face and I think maybe just wants to jump down and start running around. That's the impression that I get it. Boy do I love the idea of a drive that suits one partner and all of the historical signs that suits the other partner for a trip together. Super good. Very lovely thing to do for a birthday. And what a great picture of the mountains from this overlook in Shenandoah National Park. Thank you again Amelia for or this email. If you would like to send us a note about this or any other podcast, we're at history podcastheartradio.com and you can subscribe to our show on the iHeartRadio app and anywhere else you like to get your podcasts. Stuff youf Missed in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio visit the the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime.

[Holly Fry]

On the new podcast America's Crime Lab.

[Annabe]

Every case has a story to tell.

[Holly Fry]

And the DNA holds the truth. He never thought he was going to.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Get caught and I just looked at.

[Unknown]

My computer screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha. This technology is already solving so many cases.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Listen to America's Crime Lab on the.

[Annabe]

Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Join iHeartRadio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one year anniversary of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

With powerful interviews and insider analysis, our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's Sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting iHeart Women's Sports and our founding sponsors, Elf Beauty, Capital One and Novartis.

[Annabe]

Just open the free iHeart app and.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Search iHeart Women's Sports to listen now.

[Unknown]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree?

[Tracy V. Wilson]

Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Unknown]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Holly Fry]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Unknown]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Girlfriends is back with a new season and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett. Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit. As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law.

He goes, oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer.

And became a beacon of hope for the women locked up alongside her.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

You're supposed to have your faith in.

[Holly Fry]

God, but I had nothing but faith in her.

[Unknown]

I think I was put here to save souls by getting people out of prison.

The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tracy V. Wilson]

This is an I heart podcast.