This Week In History News, Sept. 20 – 26

Published September 25, 2020

Human footprints dating back 120,000 years uncovered, early Christian texts about demons and wizards translated, secret Knights Templar crypt found.

Archaeologists Uncover 120,000-Year-Old Human Footprints In The Desert Of Saudi Arabia

Ancient Footprint

Stewart et al., 2020Some of the 120,000-year-old human footprints uncovered at the Alathar archaeological site in Saudi Arabia.

Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia just found 120,000-year-old footprints that capture humans as they were evolving into their modern form. At first, experts thought that these prints may have come from Neanderthals, but then found evidence that they instead belonged to taller, lighter hominids believed to be modern humans.

In the words of lead study author Mathew Stewart, “We immediately realized the potential of these findings.”

Learn more about this historic find.

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Experts Translate Early Christian Texts About Wizards That Didn’t Make The Final Cut Of The Bible

Paul The Apostle

Wikimedia CommonsAncient non-canonical Christian texts excluded from the Bible have been translated into English for the first time.

The texts in the Bible as we know it today were first “canonized” by the Church at the end of the fourth century. But before then, hundreds of other religious texts circulated across Christiandom.

More than 300 Christian apocryphal texts that weren’t included in the final version of the Bible are known to exist today. New English translations of these leftover texts were recently published by Eerdmans Publishing, and they contain some surprising tales.

Read more here.

A Secret Knights Templar Crypt Was Just Found Beneath A Polish Church — And It Could Contain The Holy Grail

Interior Of Saint Stanislaus Chapel

Wikimedia CommonsInside the chapel of St. Stanislaus.

Archaeologists have uncovered a hidden crypt beneath a Polish church that not only yielded secret tunnels and the remains of numerous Knights Templar — but might also be the resting place of the Holy Grail itself.

From their participation in the Crusades to the secret initiation rites that led to their decline, the mysterious band of Catholic warriors has captivated historians for centuries and are said to be keepers of the Holy Grail. The secret passageways of this hidden crypt could bring this legendary artifact closer than ever.

Dig deeper in this report.

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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.