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SEE A NEARLY 2,000-YEAR-OLD FIND

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

In today’s newsletter, we discover remarkably preserved Roman swords hidden for millennia in a Dead Sea cave, visit the five 'Blue Zones' where the world’s healthiest people live, question why humans started drinking cow’s milk ... and hang out with two shark best friends.

A conservator adjusts a foam wedge protecting the distinctive iron hilt of a Roman ring-pommel sword.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAOLO VERZONE

Were they the weapons of Romans, or of Jewish rebels fighting them?

Hidden and remarkably preserved in their wooden and leather scabbards for nearly 2,000 years, these two-foot-long swords—four of them—have been discovered in a cave near the Dead Sea.

Israel made the announcement today, and Nat Geo got these exclusive photographs (one, above).

HOW WERE THEY PRESERVED?

The wooden grip of this spatha sword features a tailored leather covering.

First look: The wooden grip of this spatha sword features a tailored leather covering. Researchers hope to determine the origin of the wood, leather, metal, and other materials that make up the swords, revealing critical information on how weapons were made across the Roman empire. Read more.

Related: Daring ‘rescue’ mission results in Dead Sea Scroll finds, other rare discoveries

Unlock this article with Nat Geo Premium! Get access now to exclusive stories, plus a century of archives, photos, and videos. See subscription options starting at just $19/yr.

STORIES WE’RE FOLLOWING

a shark swimming next to a boat

PHOTOGRAPH BY OCEARCH/CHRIS ROSS

Meet Simon and Jekyll, two great white sharks on a 4,000-mile journey together. Are they … friends? (Jekyll pictured above)

Meet 5 of the fiercest queens from medieval times

The 5 'Blue Zones' where the world’s healthiest people live

No one wanted to buy 2,000 rhinos up for auction. What happened next is good news.

Noticing more cicadas this year in the U.S.? There may be a reason

This unique fish farm could feed America's appetite for protein. Why does only one exist?

How can tourists help Maui recover? Here’s what locals say.

These shoes are nearly 2 feet tall, and women really wore them

The Mediterranean diet has stood the test of time for a reason: It works

How magnesium affects your sleep and anxiety

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A milking operator at a dairy farm in the Netherlands.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCA LOCATELLI, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

A staple in our modern diet: The majority of humans are lactose intolerant, yet dairy is found in so many things we love. Think: ice cream, yogurt, cheese. How did we start tapping other animals for milk? And if you can easily digest it, you may have a pastoral heritage. Here’s what we know. (Above, a milking operator at a dairy farm in the Netherlands.)

PHOTO OF THE DAY

programmed lit drones circle above Utah’s Yant Flat sandstone formations

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY REUBEN WU

Something’s missing: Introducing unnatural lighting in natural environments opens the mind to a new way of seeing beauty—at least according to photographer Reuben Wu. Above, lit drones circle above Utah’s Yant Flat sandstone formations. In some of Wu’s images, he retouched the final version to remove the drone but leave the light it cast.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

carrots

PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBBIE GEORGE, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

How should you store your food? Over a third of the food grown globally is thrown away every year—and part of that has to do with how we store perishable food at home. Fridge or counter? Paper bag or plastic? Here’s how to store your fruits and veggies so they last.

KEEPING IT FRESH

Today’s soundtrack: Walkin’ on the Sun, Smash Mouth (R.I.P.)

This newsletter has been curated and edited by Jen Tse, Hannah Farrow, Nancy San Martín, and David Beard. Want to say hello? We'd love to hear from you: [email protected].

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