This Week In History News, May 16 – 22

Published May 21, 2021
Updated May 24, 2021

A treasure trove of stolen artifacts, new footage of the Hindenburg disaster, and ancient Taino graves found in Guadeloupe.

British Metal Detectorist Finds Stolen Viking And Roman Artifacts On His First Treasure Hunt

Stolen Treasure Trove

West Mercia PoliceThe trove included Viking jewelry, ancient Egyptian relics, and Bronze Age objects.

A first-time treasure hunter just discovered nearly 300 historic artifacts in England — and then found out that they were all stolen.

Forty-three-year-old Charles Cartwright was testing out his new metal detector when the machine suddenly “went crazy.” To his excitement, he found Viking and Roman jewelry, ancient Egyptian relics, and even some Bronze Age objects. But he soon realized that something wasn’t “quite right” with this discovery: Most of the items were hidden inside an Aldi bag.

As it turned out, the objects had been buried four years earlier — after the items were stolen in a mysterious home burglary. Up until now, the owners were convinced that they would never see the artifacts again. Luckily, the collection has now been returned to them.

Read more about this spectacular find here.

Previously Unseen Footage Of The Hindenburg Disaster Sheds New Light On Why It Exploded

Hindenburg Explosion

Wikimedia CommonsThe 1937 disaster killed 13 passengers, 22 crew members, and one man on the ground.

At a recent memorial service for the Hindenburg disaster, aviation historian Dan Grossman was approached by a man in the crowd. Offhandedly, the stranger mentioned that he had some footage of the German airship that exploded in Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937.

“I’ve got some film of the Hindenburg disaster,” the man, Bob Schenck, said. “You probably don’t really care. It was taken by my uncle, but if you want to see it I will show it to you.”

That film has now provided an unseen angle of the disaster — and may have solved a mystery about what actually caused the explosion.

Read more about this newly released footage here.

Discovery Of 113 Ancient Taino Graves In Guadeloupe Sheds Light On A Lost People

Taino Grave In Guadeloupe

INRAPBurial No. 67, whose subject was buried in a semi-seated position like dozens of others.

A trove of 113 remarkably well-preserved skeletons was recently uncovered from ancient Taino graves in Guadeloupe. Now, scientists are hoping to use DNA analysis to further understand the Taino people — who were nearly made extinct by Columbus and the Spanish after 1492.

Experts believe that the shockingly intact skeletons can give them new insights into how the Taino lived and the familial connections between those who were killed and those who migrated elsewhere.

Read more about this fascinating discovery here.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
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.