The Great Emu War: When Australia’s Military Lost to Flightless Birds
The Great Emu War of 1932 saw Australian soldiers with machine guns defeated by 20,000 emus in one of history’s strangest military failures.
Historical Oddities
Strange but true events from history that are too bizarre to believe.
USS Craven (TB-10): The Cursed Torpedo Boat That Met a Fiery End
USS Craven (TB-10) suffered a mysterious boiler explosion in 1913 that killed four sailors and ended her cursed career in flames.
Hodag: Wisconsin’s Terrifying Hoax That Fooled Thousands and Sparked a Legend
The Hodag terrorized Wisconsin in 1893 when Eugene Shepard claimed to capture this fearsome beast. His elaborate hoax fooled thousands before scientists exposed the truth.
Prillwitz Idols: The Bronze Forgeries That Fooled European Nobility for Decades
The Prillwitz Idols fooled scholars for decades. These bronze figurines claimed to be ancient Slavic gods but hid a darker secret of deception.
Delhi Purple Sapphire: The Cursed Amethyst That Terrorized Victorian London
The Delhi Purple Sapphire carries a deadly curse that has haunted owners for over 150 years, bringing misfortune and death to all who touch it.
Disappearance of Owen Parfitt: The 1760s Mystery That Defied All Logic
The disappearance of Owen Parfitt in 1760s England remains unsolved. He vanished in broad daylight, leaving only his coat behind.
Folkton Drums: The Mysterious Neolithic Objects That May Have Measured Ancient Britain
The Folkton Drums are enigmatic chalk cylinders found in a child’s grave. Their true purpose remains one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries.
Longyou Caves: China’s 2,000-Year-Old Underground Mystery That Defies Explanation
The Longyou Caves in China remain unexplained after 30 years. No records exist of their construction. Strange details baffle experts.
Shapira Scroll: The Mysterious Biblical Manuscript That Drove a Man to Suicide
The Shapira Scroll sparked one of archaeology’s greatest controversies. Was it an ancient biblical text or an elaborate 19th-century forgery?
Dancing Plague of 1518: When Hundreds Danced Themselves to Death in Medieval Strasbourg
The Dancing Plague of 1518 swept through Strasbourg when hundreds danced uncontrollably for months. Many collapsed from exhaustion.