Latest from History

'Weird trick' to build pyramids
Just how did the ancient Egyptians shift stones weighing as much as 2.5-tonnes with technology no more complex than a sledge?

Hawking: AI could end civilisation
Stephen Hawking explains why he believes Artificial-intelligence could be the worst thing the human race does to itself - and the last thing it does too.

Kiwi Dambuster's new portrait in London
Les Munro earned a place in history when he flew the famous Dambusters raid during World War 2. Now he will have his own place in London's Imperial War Museum.

3D printer makes replica of Tutankhamun's tomb
The most famous of all Egyptian burial sites, Tutankhamun's tomb, has been replicated with a 3D exact facsimile in a project led by a British artist in order to protect the original site from the ravages of mass tourism.

Early 'image of Jesus' found in tomb
A team of Catalan archaeologists believes it has unearthed one of the earliest images of Jesus Christ buried deep in an ancient Egyptian tomb.

Haka highlights Gate Pa ceremony
History came alive with the cries of hundreds of warriors yesterday afternoon as one of the most significant battles of the NZ Land Wars was commemorated.

Cunliffe in military medal mix-up
Labour leader David Cunliffe’s incorrect claim that his grandfather won a Military Medal was the result of a family mix-up, his office says.

Quest to find Cervantes begins
Archaeologists are on a quest to discover the lost bones of Miguel de Cervantes, author of the adventures of knight-errant Don Quixote of La Mancha.

Store: 'Golliwog' sales to continue
A shop display of golly dolls, previously known as golliwogs, has some shoppers angry the "racist symbol" continues to be sold.

Readers say Sir Ed coolest
The Herald's list of the 50 coolest New Zealanders has polarised the opinions of more than 2000 readers who claim Sonny Bill Williams, Lorde and Tame Iti are not cool.

Ngapuhi fear medal lost for good
Descendants of a slain Ngapuhi chief fear that a re-discovered taonga that had been lost for over 200 years will be gone for good after an auction last night.

Mummies exposed in scanner
Archaeologists have used the latest technology to scan Tamut's mummified body and discovered a wealth of information.

Warhol's famous phrase: A fabrication?
Andy Warhol's famous quote may have predicted fame's fleeting nature in our celebrity-saturated culture - but fittingly for a pop artist who built a fortune by mass-producing other people's creations, he may never have actually said those words.

Historic bach ready to rent
Restored cottage on Rangitoto will soon take paying holidaymakers back to 1930s.

Maria Armoudian: Rwanda - legacy of an evil media
After decades of inter-marrying and living in relative harmony, Rwandan Hutus rose en masse and began mutilating, raping, torturing and murdering their Tutsi neighbours.

A courageous mother at Gallipoli
Gallipoli means more to New Zealanders than words can convey. But when the names of Mary and Doug Hill were drawn from the ballot this week for places at the 100th Anzac Day, the moment was especially poignant.

Editorial: Pride of colonial fighters worthy of at least a sigh
The Prime Minister is probably not correct to say few New Zealanders know what happened at Orakau.

Large crowd remembers crucial battle
Prime Minister John Key acknowledges the New Zealand Wars as an important part of the country's history but says a national holiday to commemorate them is unlikely.

Augustus' tomb restored
He was Rome's first emperor, the founder of a world-dominating imperial dynasty, and a builder of roads and stunning temples.

Gallipoli ballot thrill for Singapore-based Kiwi couple
A Singapore-based Kiwi couple were among 950 NZers selected from a ballot to attend the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing in Gallipoli next year.