Stuff You Missed in History Class: Unearthed! in Spring 2025, Part 2

Release Date: April 16, 2025
Hosts: Holly Fry & Tracy V. Wilson

1. Revisiting the Jack the Ripper Mystery

Timestamp: 02:16 - 07:38

Tracy and Holly delve into one of history's most enduring mysteries: the identity of Jack the Ripper. Recent headlines suggested that Aaron Kaminsky, a 23-year-old Polish man from Whitechapel, was identified as the infamous murderer responsible for the 1888 killings. This claim was primarily based on DNA analysis of a shawl purportedly found beside Catherine Eddowes, one of the Ripper's victims.

Notable Points:

• DNA Evidence Concerns: Tracy points out the questionable chain of custody for the shawl and the limitations of mitochondrial DNA, which can only suggest relatedness, not direct identity. (04:26)

  Tracy V. Wilson: "There are a lot of question marks about who all's DNA might be on there."

• Research Validity: The study, published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences in 2019, faced criticism for lacking detailed data, leading to an expression of concern by the journal due to the inability to independently verify the results. (07:04)

  Tracy V. Wilson: "There was very little detail about the actual research."

• Current Status: No new research has emerged since the 2019 publication, suggesting that recent claims are more sensational than substantive. (07:38)

2. Archaeological Discoveries Across the Globe

Timestamp: 08:02 - 26:37

The episode highlights several intriguing archaeological finds:

a. Roman Service Station in Gloucester, England

• Discovery: Artifacts such as horse bones, bridles, hippa sandals, coins, jewelry, and oven remnants indicate a Roman mutatio, a horse-changing station for travelers. The irony lies in its discovery during upcoming road construction. (08:32)

  Tracy V. Wilson: "It's part of me is like, that is ironic..."

b. Advanced Seafaring in Southeast Asia

• Research Findings: Tools for making ropes and fishing gear suggest that ancient Filipinos and Southeast Asians possessed sophisticated seafaring technologies up to 40,000 years ago, predating Polynesian wayfinding. (08:32 - 09:35)

c. Mega Fortress in the Caucasus Mountains

• Drone Technology: Utilizing UAV scans, researchers uncovered a fortress 40 times larger than initially thought, dating between 1500 to 500 BCE. (10:13)

d. Zapotec 15th Century City in Mexico

• LiDAR Mapping: Over 1,000 structures and 2.5 miles of walls were mapped, revealing a well-preserved city likely abandoned before Spanish contact. (11:25)

e. Inca Tunnels in Cusco, Peru

• Ground Penetrating Radar: Discovery of Chincana tunnels beneath Cusco, potentially connecting the fortress and Temple of the Sun, though their exact purpose remains unknown. (11:57 - 12:22)

f. Hidden Passages in Sforza Castle, Milan

• Radar Technology: Confirmation of known passages and the revelation of new ones, some linked to Leonardo da Vinci's sketches. (12:22 - 12:51)

3. Unveiling Historical Manuscripts and Artifacts

Timestamp: 15:03 - 41:36

a. Winnie the Pooh Manuscripts

• Discovery: Leslie Smith's attic revealed original manuscripts and correspondence related to Winnie the Pooh, along with communications with authors like Enid Blyton and J.R.R. Tolkien. These documents were auctioned, overshadowing previous minor finds. (15:03 - 16:29)

b. Innovative Book Analysis Techniques

• Fragmentoscopy: Leiden University researchers employed endoscopic cameras to explore medieval book bindings without destruction, uncovering manuscript strips within 16th and 17th-century texts. (16:29 - 17:29)

c. Roman Curse Tablets in France

• Burial Site: A line of 60 Roman-era men's graves contained lead curse tablets inscribed in the extinct Galish language, though their exact purpose remains unclear. (17:29 - 18:04)

d. Ancient Cuneiform Tablets in Iraq

• Mesopotamian Findings: Clay tablets with cuneiform writing were discovered at Kurd Kabirstan, promising insights into local populations and their regional connections. (18:04 - 18:34)

e. Norway's Oldest Known Runestone

• Runic Research: Reassembled from fragments, the runestone dates between 50 BCE and 275 CE, with ambiguous inscriptions possibly indicating multiple creators. (18:34 - 20:00)

f. Celtiberian Alphabet in Spain

• Iron Age Discovery: A spindle whorl with Celtiberian inscriptions suggests early alphabetic writing used for property or identity markings. (20:00 - 20:38)

g. Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 Manuscript

• Unique Find: A 17th-century copy of Sonnet 116, including additional lines by Henry Laws, offers a glimpse into its historical reception and political interpretations during the English Civil Wars. (20:38 - 21:31)

h. Women's Contributions to Medieval Manuscripts

• Research Insights: Analysis of colophons indicates that at least 110,000 medieval illuminated manuscripts may have been crafted by women, though the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting. (21:31 - 23:56)

i. World's Oldest 3D Map in France

• Ancient Cartography: A carved sandstone map from 13,000 years ago depicts the Ecole river valley's waterways, serving as a potential instructional tool for rainwater management. (23:56 - 24:33)

4. Insights into Ancient Diets and Animal Management

Timestamp: 24:33 - 27:24

a. Medieval Urban Bird Diets

• Ecological Adaptation: Chemical analysis reveals that birds like red kites and buzzards in medieval English towns relied heavily on human-provided food, adapting to urban environments. (24:33 - 25:24)

b. Ancient Cattle Management in Iberia

• Strategic Herding: Evidence from Pixerelle's Cave indicates that Iberian herders moved cattle seasonally and controlled reproductive cycles to optimize pasture use 6,000 years ago. (25:24 - 25:50)

c. Mammoth Bone Circles in Eastern Europe

• Mysterious Practices: Approximately 70 mammoth bone circles dating back 25,000 years were studied, revealing bones from diverse herds but leaving the purpose of these circles unresolved. (25:50 - 27:24)

5. Exploration of Ancient Edibles and Potables

Timestamp: 30:11 - 35:49

a. Bone Powder in Ancient Chinese Cuisine

• Nutritional Practices: Bone powder found in pottery suggests that 8,000-year-old Chinese societies used it in cooking to enhance nutrition during transitions to farming. (30:11 - 31:17)

b. Hidden Foods in Sydney's Hyde Park Barracks

• Illicit Treats: Diverse plant remains under the barracks' floors indicate that inhabitants, especially women, smuggled in food beyond official rations, likely as illicit treats amid monotonous diets. (31:17 - 32:42)

c. Ancient Distilled Spirits in China and Brazil

• Fermentation and Distillation: A 3,000-year-old distilled spirit was discovered in a bronze vessel in China, while Brazilian pottery revealed fermented beverages dating back 2,300 years, highlighting early alcohol production in these regions. (32:42 - 34:08)

d. Ancient Food Cache in Alaska

• Long-Forgotten Storage: A birch bark-lined cache at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, unexpectedly dated to nearly 1,000 years old, contained moose and caribou remains, suggesting sophisticated food storage practices. (34:08 - 35:18)

e. Bronze Drinking Filters in Turkey

• Innovative Drinking Tools: A 1,600-year-old bronze filter from Hadrianopolis facilitated the consumption of beverages without ingesting grains or pulp, indicative of advanced drinking technologies. (35:18 - 35:49)

6. Shipwreck Discoveries and Maritime History

Timestamp: 35:49 - 40:17

a. Nordic Carvel-Built Vessel

• Ship Construction Evolution: A shipwreck south of Stockholm, potentially dating to the 1480s, represents one of the oldest known carvel-built vessels in the Nordic region, marking a shift from clinker construction. (35:49 - 36:52)

b. World War II Brazilian Ship Vitalda Oliveira

• Historical Significance: The sunken Vitalda Oliveira, sunk by a German U-boat in 1944 off Rio de Janeiro, remains the only Brazilian ship lost to enemy action during WWII. Its identification was finalized using advanced sonar technologies. (36:52 - 37:29)

c. Western Reserve Shipwreck in Lake Superior

• Great Lakes History: The wreck of the Western Reserve, an early all-steel cargo ship nicknamed the "Inland Greyhound," was discovered after a two-year search. It sank in 1892 during a storm, with only one survivor out of 28 aboard. (37:29 - 38:51)

7. Sword and Weapon Findings

Timestamp: 38:51 - 41:36

a. Roman Era Swords in Poland and England

• Burial Artifacts: Excavations in southeastern England uncovered a well-preserved sword with runic scripts, while metal detectorists in Poland found a Roman sword from the 3rd or 4th century CE, possibly linked to funeral rituals. (38:51 - 39:52)

b. Medieval Sword and Axe in Poland

• Metal Detecting Insights: Another Polish find includes a late Medieval sword alongside two axe heads, indicating the continued use and significance of these weapons in the region. (39:52 - 40:17)

c. Bronze Scabbard Fittings

• Accessory Discoveries: A thousand-year-old bronze scabbard fitting, known as a "shoe," was found, illustrating the detailed craftsmanship in ancient weaponry. (40:17 - 40:57)

d. Domesticated Cats in China

• Cultural Integration: The arrival of domesticated cats in China around 1400 years ago, likely via the Silk Road, highlights their status as prized exotic pets among the elite, distinct from native leopard cats. (40:57 - 41:36)

8. Listener Mail: Scott Joplin’s Forgotten Opera

Timestamp: 41:36 - 45:59

Nancy, a listener, shares her excitement about Scott Joplin's forgotten opera, "Tree Manisha," being staged at the Kennedy Center in 2026. She reminisces about her personal connection to Joplin's music through the 1970s film The Sting and encourages the hosts to attend the opera, highlighting the beauty of Washington D.C.'s cherry blossoms during the performance dates.

Notable Exchange:

Tracy V. Wilson: "Thank you so much Nancy. We'll see what happens between now and next year regarding maybe going to see Tree Manisha because that would be really cool."

9. Conclusion

Tracy and Holly wrap up the episode by inviting listeners to share their thoughts and subscribe to the podcast. They express gratitude for Nancy's insightful message and beautiful cherry blossom photos, reflecting on their own connections to Washington D.C. and the allure of the city's iconic blooms.

Quotes:

• Tracy V. Wilson (04:26): "There are a lot of question marks about who all's DNA might be on there."

• Tracy V. Wilson (07:38): "There was very little detail about the actual research."

• Tracy V. Wilson (40:17): "It seems like using metal detectors to look for World War II era artifacts might be some kind of a pastime in Poland."

Final Thoughts:

This episode of Stuff You Missed in History Class offers a captivating journey through recent archaeological discoveries, historical debates, and fascinating artifacts from around the world. From the lingering mystery of Jack the Ripper to groundbreaking findings in ancient seafaring and weapon craftsmanship, Holly and Tracy provide listeners with a rich tapestry of history's hidden gems. The heartfelt listener mail adds a personal touch, bridging the gap between past and present.

Whether you're a history enthusiast or just curious about the stories beneath our world's surface, this episode delivers insightful content that educates and engages.