Bone Fraud: The Piltdown Man

“Power is having impunity.” In January 1997, a photojournalist is found murdered on the side of the road in General Madariaga, Argentina. The investigation into his death becomes a cultural flashpoint, exposing a sprawling conspiracy with ties to some of the most powerful forces ... Show More

For over a century, common belief was that Vincent Van Gogh died by suicide. But in 2011, two Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers suggested the art world had it all wrong, and Vincent covered up his own homicide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

On New Year’s Day in Sydney, Australia, two dead bodies are discovered near a river. Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler are married – but not to each other. And both of their spouses have strong alibis.They’re found just hours after dying, and yet experts can’t determine wha ... Show More

In October 2000, the first and only Persian mummy in history was offered for sale. This unique discovery rocked the world of archeology — and raised immediate questions. Where did it come from? Who found it? And above all… was it real? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc ... Show More

What was life like for our earliest ancestors? Which of our qualities are uniquely human, and which are just... primal? From the discoveries of paleoanthropologists, to the experiments of evolutionary biologists, today we’re examining the mysteries of our species — and what exact ... Show More

From ancient caves to subterranean cities, humans have lived underground for centuries throughout history. Why? And what happens when people from above descend into the dark? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

From South Africa's Kingdom of the Sky comes the story of Kammapa: a shapeless, ravenous beast that nearly swallowed all of humanity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

It has existed for as long as human history, and yet it remains taboo. From government fines to public humiliation to murder—wandering outside your relationship has always been fraught with danger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

From the early 20th century author Algernon Blackwood comes a chilling story of how an innocent mistake subjected a young man to an otherworldly encounter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

What do we know about the earliest hominins to exist? With a story spanning one million years and counting, we're discovering more about how we came to be every day. In this episode of The Ancients, we're on location in the Natural History Museum in London as Tristan covers a hug ... Show More

Where do humans come from? Or, perhaps more interestingly, who did humans evolve from? A question once posed by the likes of Charles Darwin and other early naturalists, the answer has changed throughout history. But now, thanks to advancements in archaeology and developments in g ... Show More

This episode is a mystery in the most classic literary sense of the word. It’s a whodunit detective story that spans more than a century - the saga of the Piltdown Man Hoax. From a gravel pit in Sussex, we follow the faked fossils through history, to what’s now the Natural Histor ... Show More

In the late 1980s he claimed to be the final savior of the world, but behind Hogen Fukunaga’s grandiose claim was a shrewd businessman who scammed millions from loyal followers. His method? Detailed foot readings that cost hundreds of dollars. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi ... Show More