This Week In History News, Apr. 16 – 22

Published April 21, 2023

Experimental submarine from 1907 uncovered in Connecticut, hidden Bible chapter found in the Vatican, ancient Maya scoreboard unearthed in Mexico.

An Experimental Wheeled Submarine Built By An Eccentric Millionaire In 1907 Was Just Uncovered In Long Island Sound

Simon Lake Submarine On Land

Chapman UniversityMeasuring in at a whopping 92 feet long, this massive vessel had been hiding in plain sight at the bottom of Long Island Sound ever since it was scuttled in 1946.

Divers in Connecticut just uncovered a legendary submarine built by an eccentric millionaire and celebrity inventor in 1907. Measuring in at a whopping 92 feet long, this massive vessel had been hiding in plain sight at the bottom of Long Island Sound ever since it was scuttled in 1946. Known as the Defender, the submarine was scrapped after the Navy refused to buy it because its design, complete with wheels and an underwater door, was just too bizarre.

Read the full story behind this astounding find here.

A Never-Before-Seen Chapter Of The Bible Has Been Discovered In The Vatican Library

Hidden Bible Chapter

Vatican LibraryThe previously hidden Syriac translation of the Bible’s chapters 11 through 12 from Matthew.

Scientists have uncovered a “hidden” chapter of the Bible written about 1,500 years ago in a manuscript stored in the Vatican Library.

The previously lost section represents one of the earliest translations of the Gospels, written in Old Syriac script, which long eluded scholars for a rather simple reason: the text had been erased over a millennium ago.

Dig deeper in this report.

A Scoreboard Used By The Maya During An Ancient Ball Game Was Just Discovered Among Mexican Ruins

Maya Scoreboard

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and HistoryThis unique artifact was discovered at the Maya Chichén Itzá archaeological site on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

From ancient Rome to the Middle Ages and beyond, archaeology has proven time and again that humans have always loved sports. This was proven true yet again recently with the discovery of a Maya “scoreboard” by archaeologists studying the Maya Chichén Itzá site on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

The scoreboard was discovered by archaeologist Lizbeth Beatriz Mendicut Pérez, who made the striking find while examining the site’s Casa Colorada (Red House). Believed to be around 1,100 years old, the circular stone is 12.6 inches in diameter and weighs 88 pounds.

It displays two figures who appear to be opposing players, alongside a ball and hieroglyphic writing. The two players are dressed differently, perhaps representing their individual teams.

See more here.

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All That's Interesting
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Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
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John Kuroski
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John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.